In this review, we will be comparing DBR63 and 3030c, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 and Q Acoustics 3030c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 | Q Acoustics 3030c |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aramid fiber | 5.5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 49-34k Hz | 48-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.5 dB | 86.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-140 watts | 25-90 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/8" x 8-3/4" x 10-13/16"
359.0 x 222.0 x 275.0mm | 12.8" x 8.1" x 13"
325 x 205 x 329mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 and Q Acoustics 3030c 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 Ref 3.0 DBR63 |
Q Acoustics 3030c |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 DBR63 and 3030c are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63Q Acoustics 3030c
TweeterWoofer
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 Ref 3.0 DBR63 |
Q Acoustics 3030c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
DBR63 features a 1" Aluminium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the 3030c features a 1" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
DBR63 has a frequency range of 49-34k Hz whereas 3030c has a frequency range of 48-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the 3030c can go slightly deeper then the DBR63's min frequency of 49Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
DBR63 and 3030c have the same Impedance of 6 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
3030c can handle a max power of 90 watts RMS, whereas DBR63 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the 3030c.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
DBR63 has a front firing port whereas 3030c has a rear firing ports. ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Q Acoustics 3030c with its rear-firing 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 Ref 3.0 DBR63's and Q Acoustics 3030c's external dimensions. ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 222.0 x 275.0mm (14-1/8 x 8-3/4 x 10-13/16inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3030c has external dimensions of 325 x 205 x 329mm (12.8 x 8.1 x 13inch).
Q Acoustics 3030c is 17mm narrower and 34mm shorter than ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 but it is also 54mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Q Acoustics 3030c needs about 10% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics 3030c is 54mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 is 34mm taller.
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 Ref 3.0 DBR63 is approximately 610.5cm2 / 94.6inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3030c is approximately 674.5cm2 / 104.5inch2. The DBR63 requires 9% less surface area than the 3030c which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3030c?
Here are the items that come with the 3030c:
- 2 x 3030c bookshelf speakers
- 2 x Speaker Grilles
- 2 x Foam Bungs
- 1 x User Manual