In this review, we will be comparing HFS and Debut 2.0 B6.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Fluance and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fluance HFS and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fluance HFS | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
|---|
| Brand | Fluance
Canada · founded 1999 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Glass fibre | 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-20k Hz | 44-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs | 7.40kg / 16.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-13/16" x 7-7/8" x 8-1/4"
325.0 x 200.0 x 209.0mm | 14.8" x 7-3/4" x 10-9/16"
375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fluance HFS and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 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* |
Fluance HFS |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.
Drivers
Both HFS and Debut 2.0 B6.2 are 2-way speakers.
Fluance HFSELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Fluance HFS |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
HFS features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Glass fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz. On the other hand, the Debut 2.0 B6.2 features a 1" Cloth Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
HFS has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz whereas Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Debut 2.0 B6.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HFS's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
HFS is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Debut 2.0 B6.2 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. HFS sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Debut 2.0 B6.2's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Fluance HFS, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 120 watts RMS, though HFS is rated 30-120 watts and Debut 2.0 B6.2 up to 120 watts.
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
HFS features 5-Way post type posts and Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HFS and Debut 2.0 B6.2 have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Fluance HFS's and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's external dimensions. Fluance HFS has external dimensions of 325.0 x 200.0 x 209.0mm (12-13/16 x 7-7/8 x 8-1/4inch) whereas ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm (14.7 x 7.6 x 10.5inch).
Fluance HFS is 50mm shorter and 59mm less deeper than ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 but it is also 5mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 needs about 25% more floor or shelf area. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is 59mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is 50mm taller.
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 Fluance HFS is approximately 418.0cm2 / 64.8inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is approximately 522.6cm2 / 81.0inch2. The HFS requires 20% less surface area than the Debut 2.0 B6.2 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 Fluance HFS weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 weighs 7.40kg / 16.3lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 B6.2 68% heavier than the HFS.
Here is a comparison of how HFS and Debut 2.0 B6.2'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 Debut 2.0 B6.2?
Here are the items that come with the Debut 2.0 B6.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
325mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
418cm2
vs
522cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
200USD
vs
400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Fluance HFS |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
| Brand |
Fluance |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-20k Hz |
44-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass fibre |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2300Hz |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
325.0mm (12.8") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
195.0mm (7.7") |
| Depth |
209.0mm (8.2") |
268.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
7.40kg (16.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Ported |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
Lifetime |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
Lifetime |
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 costs roughly 2x what Fluance HFS 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 | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 digs deeper - 44Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is more sensitive (87dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Fluance HFS is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Fluance HFS is easier to place; ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Fluance HFS is cheaper - $200 against $400, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Fluance HFS B ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
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?
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 100% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Fluance HFS looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Fluance HFS much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Fluance HFS the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.