In this review, we will be comparing Debut 3.0 DF53 and Debut 2.0 F5.2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by ELAC
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer
- 38 to 38K Hz Frequency Response
- 87.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30 - 150watts
- Weight:15.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1031.0" x 8-11/16" x 11-5/8"( 1031.0 x 221.0 x 296.0mm )
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome with wide-dispersion waveguide Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 5.25" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 42-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 140watts
- Weight:15.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1043.0" x 7-7/16" x 10-1/4"( 1043.0 x 189.0 x 261.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 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 DF53 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| 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 DF53 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 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
Both Debut 3.0 DF53 and Debut 2.0 F5.2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Debut 3.0 DF53 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2100Hz. On the other hand, the Debut 2.0 F5.2 features a 1" silk dome with wide-dispersion waveguide Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 90Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 3.0 DF53 has a frequency range of 38 to 38K Hz whereas Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Debut 3.0 DF53 can go slightly deeper then the Debut 2.0 F5.2's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 DF53 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Debut 2.0 F5.2 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Debut 3.0 DF53 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut 3.0 DF53 sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the Debut 2.0 F5.2's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 DF53 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the Debut 3.0 DF53.
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 DF53 features 5-Way post type posts and Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53's 5-Way post terminals
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Debut 3.0 DF53 and Debut 2.0 F5.2 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 Port
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 DF53's and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2's external dimensions. ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 has external dimensions of 1031.0 x 221.0 x 296.0mm ( 40-9/16-inch x 8-11/16-inch x 11-5/8-inch) whereas ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 has external dimensions of 1043.0 x 189.0 x 261.0mm ( 41-1/16 x 7-7/16 x 10-1/4inch) .
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 is 32mm narrower and 35mm less deeper than ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 but it is also 12mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 3.0 DF53 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 Size and External Dimensions
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 DF53 is approximately 654.2cm2 / 101.4inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 is approximately 493.3cm2 / 76.5inch2. The Debut 3.0 DF53 requires 33% more surface area than the Debut 2.0 F5.2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.