In this review, we will be comparing A190 and Debut 2.0 F5.2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A190 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage A190 | ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide | 1" dome with wide-dispersion waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Polycellulose | 2 x 5.25" Woven Aramid-Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-40k Hz | 42-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-225 watts | up to 140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.61kg / 49.7lbs | 15.64kg / 34.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-15/16" x 13-1/4" x 17-1/2"
1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm | 41-1/16" x 7-7/16" x 10-1/4"
1043.0 x 189.0 x 261.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Stage A190 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 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* |
JBL Stage A190 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that A190 is a 2-way design whereas the Debut 2.0 F5.2 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.
JBL Stage A190ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Stage A190 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
A190 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the Debut 2.0 F5.2 features a 1" silk dome with wide-dispersion waveguide Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 90Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
A190 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz whereas Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the A190 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Debut 2.0 F5.2's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
A190 and Debut 2.0 F5.2 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. A190 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Debut 2.0 F5.2's is at 86 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A190 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
A190 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 85 watts less than the A190.
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
A190 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2'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 JBL Stage A190's and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2's external dimensions. JBL Stage A190 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm (43-15/16 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/2inch) whereas ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 has external dimensions of 1043.0 x 189.0 x 261.0mm (41-1/16 x 7-7/16 x 10-1/4inch).
JBL Stage A190 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 148mm wider, 74mm taller and 184mm deeper than ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A190 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A190 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 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 JBL Stage A190 is approximately 1499.7cm2 / 232.5inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 is approximately 493.3cm2 / 76.5inch2. The A190 requires 204% more surface area than the Debut 2.0 F5.2 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 JBL Stage A190 weighs 22.61kg / 49.7lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 weighs 15.64kg / 34.4lbs. This makes the A190 45% heavier than the Debut 2.0 F5.2.
Here is a comparison of how A190 and Debut 2.0 F5.2'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 JBL Stage A190?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A190:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outriggers
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spikes
- 8 Screws
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2?
Here are the items that come with the Debut 2.0 F5.2:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spikes (hex-nuts attached)
- Operating Instructions
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
1043mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
493cm2
vs
1499cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage A190 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 |
| Brand |
JBL |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
up to 140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-40k Hz |
42-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
dome with wide-dispersion waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
90Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1117.0mm (44") |
1043.0mm (41.1") |
| Width |
337.0mm (13.3") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Depth |
445.0mm (17.5") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Weight |
22.61kg (49.7lbs) |
15.64kg (34.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | JBL Stage A190 digs deeper - 36Hz against 42Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | JBL Stage A190 is more sensitive (91dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | JBL Stage A190 takes more power (225W vs 140W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 is easier to place; JBL Stage A190 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL Stage A190: bi-amping; ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2: Atmos drivers. |
| Price | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 is cheaper - $800 against $1,000, about 20% less. |
A JBL Stage A190 B ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2
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?
JBL Stage A190 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate JBL Stage A190 the better fit for a very large room, and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 for a mid-size 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.