In this review, we will be comparing R200 and DBR62, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk R200 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk R200 | ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone | 6.5" Aramid fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-38k Hz | 44-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.69kg / 19.1lbs | 8.23kg / 18.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/8" x 7-9/16" x 13-15/16"
359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm | 14-1/4" x 8-1/4" x 10-7/8"
362.0 x 210.0 x 277.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk R200 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 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* |
Polk R200 |
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 R200 and DBR62 are 2-way speakers.
Polk R200ELAC Debut Ref DBR62
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk R200 |
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
R200 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the DBR62 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
R200 has a frequency range of 51-38k Hz whereas DBR62 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the DBR62 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R200's min frequency of 51Hz.
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
R200 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the DBR62 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.
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.
R200 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas DBR62 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the R200.
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
R200 features 5-way post type posts and DBR62 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut Ref DBR62's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
R200 has a rear firing port whereas DBR62 has a front firing ports. ELAC Debut Ref DBR62's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk R200 with its rear-firing port.
Polk R200 Port
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 Polk R200's and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62's external dimensions. Polk R200 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm (14-1/8 x 7-9/16 x 13-15/16inch) whereas ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 has external dimensions of 362.0 x 210.0 x 277.0mm (14-1/4 x 8-1/4 x 10-7/8inch).
Polk R200 is 17mm narrower and 3mm shorter than ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 but it is also 78mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk R200 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk R200 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 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 Polk R200 is approximately 685.2cm2 / 106.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 is approximately 581.7cm2 / 90.2inch2. The R200 requires 18% more surface area than the DBR62 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Polk R200 and ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 on a Media Console
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 R200 weighs 8.69kg / 19.1lbs and the ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 weighs 8.23kg / 18.1lbs. This makes the R200 6% heavier than the DBR62.
Here is a comparison of how R200 and DBR62's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk R200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R200:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut Ref DBR62?
Here are the items that come with the DBR62:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
359mm
vs
362mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
581cm2
vs
685cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
700USD
vs
749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Reserve R200 |
ELAC Debut Reference DBR62 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
51-38k Hz |
44-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
Aramid fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
355.0mm (14") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
8.69kg (19.1lbs) |
8.23kg (18.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
White Baffle / Oak Cabinet, Black Baffle / Walnut Cabinet |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-26" |
| 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 |
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 | B | ELAC Debut Ref DBR62 digs deeper - 44Hz against 51Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Polk R200 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Polk R200 takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk R200 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($749 vs $700 a pair). |
A Polk R200 B ELAC Debut Ref DBR62
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?
Polk R200 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 51Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead.
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.