In this review, we will be comparing Debut IW-D61-W and R-5502-W II, two Passive In-wall speakers from ELAC and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut IW-D61-W and Klipsch R-5502-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Debut IW-D61-W Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer
- 45-20kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:30-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 296.0" x 7.4375" x 3.9375"( 296.0 x 189.0 x 101.0mm )
Klipsch R-5502-W II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-loaded Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer
- 46-20kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 75watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 416.0" x 6.5000" x 3.3750"( 416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Debut IW-D61-W and Klipsch R-5502-W II 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 IW-D61-W |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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 IW-D61-W and Klipsch R-5502-W II compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Debut IW-D61-W and R-5502-W II are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut IW-D61-W |
Klipsch R-5502-W II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Debut IW-D61-W features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the R-5502-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
Debut IW-D61-W has a frequency range of 45-20kHz whereas R-5502-W II has a frequency range of 46-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Debut IW-D61-W can go slightly deeper then the R-5502-W II's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
High Frequency
In-wall 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 IW-D61-W is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-5502-W II which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut IW-D61-W sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the R-5502-W II's is rated at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5502-W II a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut IW-D61-W, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall 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 IW-D61-W can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-5502-W II has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the Debut IW-D61-W.
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 IW-D61-W features Spring post type posts and R-5502-W II has a Spring post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 IW-D61-W's and Klipsch R-5502-W II's external dimensions. ELAC Debut IW-D61-W has external dimensions of 296.0 x 189.0 x 101.0mm ( 11.6250-inch x 7.4375-inch x 3.9375-inch) whereas Klipsch R-5502-W II has external dimensions of 416.0 x 166.0 x 86.0mm ( 16.3750-inch x 6.5000-inch x 3.3750-inch) .
Klipsch R-5502-W II is 23mm narrower and 15mm less deeper than ELAC Debut IW-D61-W but it is also 120mm taller.
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut IW-D61-W?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Debut IW-D61-W:
In-wall speakerGrille
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-5502-W II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5502-W II:
In-wall speakerWhite metal mesh grilleCardboard templateOwners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
Max Input Power 
Woofer Size 
Height 
Sensitivity 
Nominal Impedance 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*