In this review, we will be comparing DBR62 and TSi100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 and Polk TSi100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 | Polk TSi100 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aramid fiber | 5.25" Organic Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-35k Hz | 61-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.23kg / 18.1lbs | 4.53kg / 10lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 11.0" x 7.0" x 10.1"
279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 and Polk TSi100 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 |
Polk TSi100 |
| 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 DBR62 and TSi100 are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62Polk TSi100
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 DBR62 |
Polk TSi100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
DBR62 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
DBR62 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz whereas TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the DBR62 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi100's min frequency of 61Hz.
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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the TSi100 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. DBR62 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the TSi100's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk TSi100 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.
DBR62 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas TSi100 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the DBR62.
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 Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts and TSi100 has a Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
DBR62 has a front firing port whereas TSi100 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 Polk TSi100 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 Polk TSi100'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 Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm (11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch).
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 32.2mm wider, 82.6mm taller and 18mm deeper than Polk TSi100.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 and Polk TSi100 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 and Polk TSi100 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 Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2. The DBR62 requires 26% more surface area than the TSi100 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 and Polk TSi100 on a Media Console
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 Ref DBR62 weighs 8.23kg / 18.1lbs and the Polk TSi100 weighs 4.53kg / 10lbs. This makes the DBR62 82% heavier than the TSi100.
Here is a comparison of how DBR62 and TSi100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
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 Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that come with the TSi100:
- 2 Black bookshelf speakers
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Wall-Mount template
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
61 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
279mm
vs
362mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
460cm2
vs
581cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Debut Reference DBR62 |
Polk Audio TSi100 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-35k Hz |
61-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aramid fiber |
Organic Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
362.0mm (14.3") |
279.4mm (11") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
177.8mm (7") |
| Depth |
277.0mm (10.9") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
8.23kg (18.1lbs) |
4.53kg (10lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
White Baffle / Oak Cabinet, Black Baffle / Walnut Cabinet |
Black, Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
16-30" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 costs roughly 4.7x what Polk TSi100 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 digs deeper - 44Hz against 61Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Polk TSi100 is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk TSi100 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Polk TSi100 is easier to place; ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Polk TSi100 is cheaper - $149 against $700, about 79% less; arguably a different class. |
A ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 B Polk TSi100
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?
Polk TSi100 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 61Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk TSi100 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Polk TSi100 for near-field listening and a small room.
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.