In this review, we will be comparing Debut 3.0 DF63 and Imagine X2T, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 and PSB Imagine X2T first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 | PSB Imagine X2T |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aramid fiber | 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
|---|
| Frequency response | 31 to 38K Hz | 30-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87.5 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 180 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.64kg / 38.8lbs | 23.60kg / 51.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-1/16" x 9-5/8" x 12-9/16"
1094.0 x 245.0 x 320.0mm | 40-1/8" x 9" x 16-3/4"
1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 and PSB Imagine X2T 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 DF63 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Debut 3.0 DF63 and Imagine X2T are 3-way speakers.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63PSB Imagine X2T
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.2-inch
|
Debut 3.0 DF63 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 550Hz and 2000Hz. On the other hand, the Imagine X2T features a 1" titanium with neodymium magnets Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 3.0 DF63 has a frequency range of 31 to 38K Hz whereas Imagine X2T has a frequency range of 30-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Imagine X2T can go slightly deeper then the Debut 3.0 DF63's min frequency of 31Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Debut 3.0 DF63 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Imagine X2T which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 DF63 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut 3.0 DF63 sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the Imagine X2T's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine X2T a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Imagine X2T can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Debut 3.0 DF63 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Imagine X2T.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Imagine X2T features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Debut 3.0 DF63 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63's 5-Way post terminals
PSB Imagine X2T's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Debut 3.0 DF63 has a rear firing port whereas Imagine X2T has a front firing ports. PSB Imagine X2T's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 with its rear-firing port.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 DF63's and PSB Imagine X2T's external dimensions. ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 has external dimensions of 1094.0 x 245.0 x 320.0mm (43-1/16-inch x 9-5/8-inch x 12-9/16-inch) whereas PSB Imagine X2T has external dimensions of 1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm (40-1/8 x 9 x 16-3/4inch).
PSB Imagine X2T is 16mm narrower and 74mm shorter than ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 but it is also 106mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 and PSB Imagine X2T in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 and PSB Imagine X2T 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 DF63 is approximately 784.0cm2 / 121.5inch2 and base area of the PSB Imagine X2T is approximately 975.5cm2 / 151.2inch2. The Debut 3.0 DF63 requires 20% less surface area than the Imagine X2T which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 weighs 17.64kg / 38.8lbs and the PSB Imagine X2T weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs. This makes the Imagine X2T 34% heavier than the Debut 3.0 DF63.
Here is a comparison of how Debut 3.0 DF63 and Imagine X2T's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of PSB Imagine X2T?
Here are the items that come with the Imagine X2T:
- Floor-standing speaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spiked Feet
- Wrench
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6.2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
784cm2
vs
975cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
31 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
1020mm
vs
1094mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
| Brand |
ELAC |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30 - 180 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87.5 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
31 to 38K Hz |
30-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.2" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aramid fiber |
Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
550Hz and 2000Hz |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1094.0mm (43.1") |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
245.0mm (9.6") |
229.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
17.64kg (38.8lbs) |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (31Hz vs 30Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | PSB Imagine X2T is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | PSB Imagine X2T is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (180W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | PSB Imagine X2T: bi-amping. ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 is cheaper - $1,099 against $1,500, about 27% less. |
A ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 B PSB Imagine X2T
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: PSB Imagine X2T measures better, ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 costs about about 36% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63 the better fit for a very large room, and PSB Imagine X2T for a mid-size room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, PSB Imagine X2T is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.