In this review, we will be comparing Alpha T20 and Debut 2.0 F5.2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Alpha T20 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the PSB Alpha T20 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Alpha T20 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Alpha T20 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.
Driver |
PSB Alpha T20 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Alpha T20 features a 0.75" anodized aluminum with front waveguide Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. 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
Alpha T20 has a frequency range of 36-21k Hz whereas Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Alpha T20 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.
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
Alpha T20 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Debut 2.0 F5.2 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Alpha T20 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Debut 2.0 F5.2's is rated at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the PSB Alpha T20 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. 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.
Alpha T20 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Alpha T20 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the Debut 2.0 F5.2.
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
Alpha T20 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Alpha T20 and Debut 2.0 F5.2 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 PSB Alpha T20's and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2's external dimensions. PSB Alpha T20 has external dimensions of 869.0 x 212.0 x 250.0mm ( 34-3/16 x 8-5/16 x 9-13/16inch) 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) .
PSB Alpha T20 is 174mm shorter and 11mm less deeper than ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 but it is also 23mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha T20 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 in scale.
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 PSB Alpha T20 is approximately 530.0cm2 / 82.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 is approximately 493.3cm2 / 76.5inch2. The Alpha T20 requires 7% 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 PSB Alpha T20 weighs 11.89kg / 26.2lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 weighs 15.64kg / 34.4lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 F5.2 32% heavier than the Alpha T20.
Here is a comparison of how Alpha T20 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 PSB Alpha T20?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha T20:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feet8 Spike feet8 Hex-nutsQuick Start GuideWarranty 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 loudspeakerGrille4 Spikes (hex-nuts attached)Operating Instructions
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
869mm
vs
1043mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
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 |
High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Base Surface Area |
493cm2 (189x261mm)
vs
530cm2 (212x250mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
PSB Alpha T20 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 |
Brand |
PSB |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
15-120 watts |
up to 140 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
36-21k Hz |
42-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
dome with wide-dispersion waveguide |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
90Hz and 2200Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
869.0mm (34.2") |
1043.0mm (41.1") |
Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
Weight |
11.89kg (26.2lbs) |
15.64kg (34.4lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain 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 |