In this review, we will be comparing DCR52 and ElectroMotion ESL C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from ELAC and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 and MartinLogan ESL C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" aramid fiber Woofer
- 55-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 120watts
- Weight:10.14kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 188.0" x 20-13/16" x 9-9/16"( 188.0 x 529.0 x 243.0mm )
MartinLogan ESL C Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1 x 1-7/16" Folded Motion Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" high-rigidity aluminum woofers Woofer
- 66-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:14.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 194.0" x 22-7/8" x 16-1/8"( 194.0 x 582.0 x 410.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Debut Ref DCR52 and MartinLogan ESL C 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 DCR52 |
MartinLogan ESL C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 Ref DCR52 and MartinLogan ESL C 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 ElectroMotion ESL C 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 |
MartinLogan ESL C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1 x 1-7/16-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
DCR52 features a 1" cloth dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" aramid fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the ElectroMotion ESL C features a 1 x 1-7/16" Folded Motion Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" high-rigidity aluminum woofers Woofer .
Frequency Response
DCR52 has a frequency range of 55-35k Hz whereas ElectroMotion ESL C has a frequency range of 66-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the DCR52 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ElectroMotion ESL C's min frequency of 66Hz.
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 ElectroMotion ESL C which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the ElectroMotion ESL C can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. DCR52 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the ElectroMotion ESL C's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan ESL C a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut Ref DCR52, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
DCR52 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas DCR52 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 180 watts less than the ElectroMotion ESL C.
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 ElectroMotion ESL C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut Ref DCR52's 5-Way post terminals
MartinLogan ESL C's Binding post terminals
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 MartinLogan ESL C'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 MartinLogan ESL C has external dimensions of 194.0 x 582.0 x 410.0mm ( 7-5/8 x 22-7/8 x 16-1/8inch) .
MartinLogan ESL C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 53mm wider, 6mm taller and 167mm deeper than ELAC Debut Ref DCR52.
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 MartinLogan ESL C is approximately 2386.2cm2 / 369.9inch2. The DCR52 requires 46% less surface area than the ElectroMotion ESL C which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.