In this review, we will be comparing Concord and DFR52, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Concord and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Concord and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Concord is a 2-way design whereas the DFR52 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.
| Driver |
KLH Concord |
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the DFR52 features a 1" cloth dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz whereas DFR52 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord 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
Concord is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the DFR52 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Concord sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the DFR52's is rated at 87 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the KLH Concord 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.
Concord can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Concord has a max power handling value of watts RMS , 140 watts less than the DFR52.
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
Concord features 5-Way post type posts and DFR52 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Concord's 5-Way post terminals
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's 5-Way post terminals
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 KLH Concord's and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's external dimensions. KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm ( 40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch) whereas 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) .
KLH Concord is 20mm narrower and 5mm shorter than ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 but it is also 97mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Concord and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Concord and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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 KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The Concord requires 23% more surface area than the DFR52 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 KLH Concord weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs and the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 weighs 16.77kg / 36.9lbs. This makes the Concord 22% heavier than the DFR52.
Here is a comparison of how Concord and DFR52'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 KLH Concord?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Concord:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet (w/ locking nut attached)4 Protective discs4 Rubber feetPort plugManualATTENTION! note
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut Ref DFR52?
Here are the items that come with the DFR52:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet (spikes installed)4 Rubber feet4 Dials8 ScrewsHex-key
 Sensitivity |
94 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 |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1026mm
vs
1031mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
1400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
656cm2 (232x283mm)
vs
805cm2 (212x380mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KLH Concord |
ELAC Debut Reference DFR52 |
| Brand |
KLH |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 225 watts |
up to 140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-23k Hz |
42-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Aramid fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1026.0mm (40.4") |
1031.0mm (40.6") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
283.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
16.77kg (36.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
White Baffle / Oak Cabinet or Black Baffle / Walnut Cabinet |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
3 Years |