In this review, we will be comparing DCR52 and Carina CC241.4, two Passive Center Channel speakers by ELAC Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 and ELAC Carina CC241.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 and ELAC Carina CC241.4 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 and ELAC Carina CC241.4 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that DCR52 is a 2-way design whereas the Carina CC241.4 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.
Driver |
ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 |
ELAC Carina CC241.4 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-1/4-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
DCR52 features a 1" cloth dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" aramid fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the Carina CC241.4 features a " JET folded ribbon Tweeter , a 5-1/4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" aluminum-cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
DCR52 has a frequency range of 55-35k Hz whereas Carina CC241.4 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Carina CC241.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the DCR52's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
DCR52 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Carina CC241.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
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
DCR52 features Binding post type posts and Carina CC241.4 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
DCR52 has a front firing port whereas Carina CC241.4 has a rear firing ports. ELAC Debut Ref DCR52's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to ELAC Carina CC241.4 with its rear-firing port.
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 Ref DCR52's and ELAC Carina CC241.4's external dimensions. ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 has external dimensions of 188.0 x 529.0 x 243.0mm ( 7-3/8 x 20-13/16 x 9-9/16inch) whereas ELAC Carina CC241.4 has external dimensions of 205.0 x 621.0 x 243.0mm ( 8-1/16 x 24-7/16 x 9-9/16inch) .
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 DCR52 is approximately 1285.5cm2 / 199.3inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina CC241.4 is approximately 1509.0cm2 / 233.9inch2. The DCR52 requires 15% less surface area than the Carina CC241.4 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 Ref DCR52 weighs 10.14kg / 22.3lbs and the ELAC Carina CC241.4 weighs 10.20kg / 22.4lbs. This makes the Carina CC241.4 1% heavier than the DCR52.
Here is a comparison of how DCR52 and Carina CC241.4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut Ref DCR52?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of DCR52:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleOperating Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina CC241.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina CC241.4:
Center-channel loudspeaker2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)Operating Instructions
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
Base Surface Area |
1285cm2 (529x243mm)
vs
1509cm2 (621x243mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
460USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
General |
ELAC Debut Reference DCR52 |
ELAC Carina CC241.4 |
Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
30-120 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
55-35k Hz |
50-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
aramid fiber |
aluminum-cone |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
Tweeter Type |
dome |
JET folded ribbon |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
5-1/4" |
Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
205.0mm (8.1") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
Width |
529.0mm (20.8") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
Depth |
243.0mm (9.6") |
243.0mm (9.6") |
Weight |
10.14kg (22.3lbs) |
10.20kg (22.4lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Available Colors |
White Baffle / Oak Cabinet or Black Baffle / Walnut Cabinet |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |