In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by ELAC. ELAC Debut Reference DBR62 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the DFR52 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 | ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aramid fiber | 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-35k Hz | 42-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | up to 140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.23kg / 18.1lbs | 16.77kg / 36.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/4" x 8-1/4" x 10-7/8"
362.0 x 210.0 x 277.0mm | 40-9/16" x 9-1/8" x 11-1/8"
1031.0 x 232.0 x 283.0mm |
|---|
DBR62 and DFR52 are members of ELAC's Debut Reference series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
ELAC Debut Reference Series
History
What size room are the ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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 DBR62 |
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that DBR62 is a 2-way design whereas the DFR52 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.
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62ELAC Debut Ref DFR52
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 Ref DBR62 |
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
DBR62 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the DFR52 features a 1" cloth dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
DBR62 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz whereas DFR52 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the DFR52 can go slightly deeper then the DBR62's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
DBR62 and DFR52 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. DBR62 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the DFR52's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut Ref DBR62, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
DFR52 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS, whereas DBR62 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the DFR52.
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
DBR62 features 5-Way post type posts and DFR52 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62's 5-way post terminals
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
DBR62 has a front firing port whereas DFR52 has a rear firing ports. ELAC Debut Ref DBR62's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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 DBR62's and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's external dimensions. ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 has external dimensions of 362.0 x 210.0 x 277.0mm (14-1/4 x 8-1/4 x 10-7/8inch) whereas ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 has external dimensions of 1031.0 x 232.0 x 283.0mm (40-9/16 x 9-1/8 x 11-1/8inch).
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 669mm taller and 6mm deeper than ELAC Debut Ref DBR62.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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 Ref DBR62 is approximately 581.7cm2 / 90.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The DBR62 requires 11% less surface area than the DFR52 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of DBR62:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut Ref DFR52?
Here are the items that come with the DFR52:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet (spikes installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Dials
- 8 Screws
- Hex-key