In this review, we will be comparing XT70 and Debut 2.0 F5.2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT70 and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk XT70 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 Polk XT70 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.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that XT70 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 |
Polk XT70 |
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 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
XT70 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper 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
XT70 has a frequency range of 35-40k Hz whereas Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the XT70 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
XT70 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Debut 2.0 F5.2 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.
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.
XT70 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the XT70.
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
XT70 features 5-Way post type posts and Debut 2.0 F5.2 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Polk XT70's and ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2's external dimensions. Polk XT70 has external dimensions of 1031.0 x 275.0 x 340.0mm ( 40-9/16 x 10-13/16 x 13-3/8inch) 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) .
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 is 86mm narrower and 79mm less deeper than Polk XT70 but it is also 12mm 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 Polk XT70 is approximately 935.0cm2 / 144.9inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 is approximately 493.3cm2 / 76.5inch2. The XT70 requires 90% 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 Polk XT70 weighs 15.91kg / 35lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 weighs 15.64kg / 34.4lbs. This makes the XT70 2% heavier than the Debut 2.0 F5.2.
Here is a comparison of how XT70 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 Polk XT70?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT70:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
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
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
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 |
35 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Passive Radiator |
two 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Height |
1031mm
vs
1043mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
698USD
vs
800USD
|
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 |
Base Surface Area |
493cm2 (189x261mm)
vs
935cm2 (275x340mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Polk Audio Monitor XT70 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
25-200 watts |
up to 140 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
35-40k Hz |
42-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Bi-laminate paper |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
dome |
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 |
1031.0mm (40.6") |
1043.0mm (41.1") |
Width |
275.0mm (10.8") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
Weight |
15.91kg (35lbs) |
15.64kg (34.4lbs) |
Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |