In this review, we will be comparing DFR52 and Borea BR09, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and Triangle. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 and Triangle Borea BR09 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 and Triangle Borea BR09 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 DFR52 and Triangle Borea BR09 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 Borea BR09 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
Triangle Borea BR09 |
|
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 Borea BR09 features a 1" silk dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6" fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 310Hz and 3900Hz.
Frequency Response
DFR52 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz whereas Borea BR09 has a frequency range of 35 - 22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Borea BR09 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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Borea BR09 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. DFR52 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Borea BR09's is rated at 92.5 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR09 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 170 watts RMS from the amp the whereas DFR52 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the Borea BR09.
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
DFR52 features Binding post type posts and Borea BR09 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's 5-Way post terminals
Triangle Borea BR09's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
DFR52 has a rear firing port whereas Borea BR09 has a front firing ports. Triangle Borea BR09'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
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 Triangle Borea BR09'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 Triangle Borea BR09 has external dimensions of 1095.0 x 206.0 x 314.0mm ( 43.1 x 8.1 x 12.3inch) .
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 is 64mm shorter and 31mm less deeper than Triangle Borea BR09 but it is also 26mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 and Triangle Borea BR09 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 and Triangle Borea BR09 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 DFR52 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2 and base area of the Triangle Borea BR09 is approximately 646.8cm2 / 100.3inch2. The DFR52 requires 2% more surface area than the Borea BR09 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 DFR52 weighs 16.77kg / 36.9lbs and the Triangle Borea BR09 weighs 21.80kg / 48lbs. This makes the Borea BR09 30% heavier than the DFR52.
Here is a comparison of how DFR52 and Borea BR09's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut Ref DFR52?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of DFR52:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet (spikes installed)4 Rubber feet4 Dials8 ScrewsHex-key
What's in the Box of Triangle Borea BR09?
Here are the items that come with the Borea BR09:
2 x Borea speakers 2 x protections grids 2 x pedestals 8 x screws 8 x adhesive rubber plots 8 x decoupling spikes 1 x user manual
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1031mm
vs
1095mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1400USD
vs
1850USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
170 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
646cm2 (206x314mm)
vs
656cm2 (232x283mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
ELAC Debut Reference DFR52 |
Triangle Borea BR09 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Triangle |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 140 watts |
up to 170 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
92.5 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-35k Hz |
35 - 22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aramid fiber |
fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
310Hz and 3900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1031.0mm (40.6") |
1095.0mm (43.1") |
| Width |
232.0mm (9.1") |
206.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
283.0mm (11.1") |
314.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
16.77kg (36.9lbs) |
21.80kg (48lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
White Baffle / Oak Cabinet or Black Baffle / Walnut Cabinet |
Light Oak, Walnut, Black, White |
| 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 |