In this review, we will be comparing DFR52 and C 97 II, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 and Jamo C 97 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer
- 42-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 140watts
- Weight:16.77kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1031.0" x 9-1/8" x 11-1/8"( 1031.0 x 232.0 x 283.0mm )
Jamo C 97 II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 3 x 6" Composite Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 32-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:50-180watts
- Weight:24.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1070.0" x 9-3/4" x 15-13/16"( 1070.0 x 248.0 x 402.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 and Jamo C 97 II 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 DFR52 |
Jamo C 97 II |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 and Jamo C 97 II 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
Both DFR52 and C 97 II are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
Jamo C 97 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
3 x 6-inch
|
DFR52 features a 1" cloth dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the C 97 II features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6" Composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
DFR52 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz whereas C 97 II has a frequency range of 32-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the C 97 II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the DFR52's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
DFR52 and C 97 II have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. DFR52 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the C 97 II's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Jamo C 97 II a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut Ref DFR52, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
DFR52 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas DFR52 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 40 watts less than the C 97 II.
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
C 97 II features Posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. DFR52 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's 5-Way post terminals
Jamo C 97 II's Posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both DFR52 and C 97 II have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 DFR52's and Jamo C 97 II's external dimensions. 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) whereas Jamo C 97 II has external dimensions of 1070.0 x 248.0 x 402.0mm ( 42-1/8 x 9-3/4 x 15-13/16inch) .
Jamo C 97 II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 16mm wider, 39mm taller and 119mm deeper than ELAC Debut Ref DFR52.
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 DFR52 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2 and base area of the Jamo C 97 II is approximately 997.0cm2 / 154.5inch2. The DFR52 requires 34% less surface area than the C 97 II which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.