In this review, we will be comparing UBR62 and DBR62, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 | ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aluminum | 6.5" Aramid fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-35k Hz | 44-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 140 watts | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.70kg / 23.5lbs | 8.23kg / 18.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/8" x 8-1/4" x 13-1/16"
359.0 x 210.0 x 332.0mm | 14-1/4" x 8-1/4" x 10-7/8"
362.0 x 210.0 x 277.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 |
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that UBR62 is a 3-way design whereas the DBR62 is a 2-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.
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62ELAC Debut Ref DBR62
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 |
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
UBR62 features a 1" soft dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the DBR62 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
UBR62 has a frequency range of 41-35k Hz whereas DBR62 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the UBR62 can go slightly deeper then the DBR62's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
UBR62 and DBR62 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. UBR62 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the DBR62's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62, 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.
UBR62 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS, whereas DBR62 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the UBR62.
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
UBR62 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. DBR62 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62's 5-way post terminals
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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62's and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62's external dimensions. ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 210.0 x 332.0mm (14-1/8 x 8-1/4 x 13-1/16inch) whereas 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).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 is approximately 697.2cm2 / 108.1inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 is approximately 581.7cm2 / 90.2inch2. The UBR62 requires 20% more surface area than the DBR62 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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 weighs 10.70kg / 23.5lbs and the ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 weighs 8.23kg / 18.1lbs. This makes the UBR62 30% heavier than the DBR62.
Here is a comparison of how UBR62 and DBR62'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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of UBR62:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62?
Here are the items that come with the DBR62:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
 Max Input Power |
140 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
359mm
vs
362mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Base Surface Area |
581cm2
vs
697cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
700USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 |
ELAC Debut Reference DBR62 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 140 watts |
up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-35k Hz |
44-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aramid fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
10.70kg (23.5lbs) |
8.23kg (18.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black with Walnut Sides, Satin White with Oak Sides |
White Baffle / Oak Cabinet, Black Baffle / Walnut Cabinet |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 costs roughly 1.7x what ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 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 Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 digs deeper - 41Hz against 44Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (140W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 is cheaper - $700 against $1,200, about 42% less; arguably a different class. |
A ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 B ELAC Debut Ref DBR62
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?
The usual trade-off: ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 measures better, ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 costs about about 71% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $500 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.