In this review, we will be comparing Debut 3.0 DC63 and Prime Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from ELAC and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 and SVS Prime Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer
- 50 to 38K Hz Frequency Response
- 87.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:30 - 140watts
- Weight:10.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 197.0" x 21-1/16" x 12-1/4"( 197.0 x 535.0 x 312.0mm )
SVS Prime Center Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 3-1/2" Midrange
- 2 x 5.25" polypropylene Woofer
- 3-1/2" Midrange
- 48-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-200watts
- Weight:9.18kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 196.0" x 18-11/16" x 9-1/8"( 196.0 x 475.0 x 232.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 and SVS Prime Center speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 |
SVS Prime Center |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 and SVS Prime Center compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Debut 3.0 DC63 is a 2-way design whereas the Prime Center is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 |
SVS Prime Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-1/2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Debut 3.0 DC63 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the Prime Center features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter , a 3-1/2" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 3.0 DC63 has a frequency range of 50 to 38K Hz whereas Prime Center has a frequency range of 48-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Prime Center can go slightly deeper then the Debut 3.0 DC63's min frequency of 50Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Debut 3.0 DC63 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Prime Center which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut 3.0 DC63 sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the Prime Center's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Center, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Debut 3.0 DC63 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Debut 3.0 DC63 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 60 watts less than the Prime Center.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Debut 3.0 DC63 features 5-Way post type posts and Prime Center has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63's 5-Way post terminals
SVS Prime Center's 5-Way post terminals
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63's and SVS Prime Center's external dimensions. ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 535.0 x 312.0mm ( 7-3/4-inch x 21-1/16-inch x 12-1/4-inch) whereas SVS Prime Center has external dimensions of 196.0 x 475.0 x 232.0mm ( 7-11/16 x 18-11/16 x 9-1/8inch) .
ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60mm wider, 1mm taller and 80mm deeper than SVS Prime Center.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ELAC Debut 3.0 DC63 is approximately 1669.2cm2 / 258.7inch2 and base area of the SVS Prime Center is approximately 1102.0cm2 / 170.8inch2. The Debut 3.0 DC63 requires 51% more surface area than the Prime Center which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.