In this review, we will be comparing Prime Tower and DFR52, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from SVS and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Prime Tower and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
SVS Prime Tower Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 30-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-250watts
- Weight:18.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 931.0" x 8" x 11-11/16"( 931.0 x 204.0 x 297.0mm )
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 42-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 140watts
- Weight:16.77kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1031.0" x 9-1/8" x 11-1/8"( 1031.0 x 232.0 x 283.0mm )
What size room are the SVS Prime Tower and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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* |
SVS Prime Tower |
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the SVS Prime Tower 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Prime Tower and DFR52 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
SVS Prime Tower |
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4.5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Prime Tower features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2100Hz. 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
Prime Tower has a frequency range of 30-25k Hz whereas DFR52 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Prime Tower 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
Prime Tower is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the DFR52 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 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.
Prime Tower can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas DFR52 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 110 watts less than the Prime Tower.
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
Prime Tower features 5-Way post type posts and DFR52 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Prime Tower's 5-Way post terminals
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Prime Tower and DFR52 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 SVS Prime Tower's and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's external dimensions. SVS Prime Tower has external dimensions of 931.0 x 204.0 x 297.0mm ( 36-5/8 x 8 x 11-11/16inch) 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) .
SVS Prime Tower is 28mm narrower and 100mm shorter than ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 but it is also 14mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Prime Tower and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS Prime Tower 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 SVS Prime Tower is approximately 605.9cm2 / 93.9inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The Prime Tower requires 8% less surface area than the DFR52 which gives it a small advantage 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 SVS Prime Tower weighs 18.23kg / 40.1lbs and the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 weighs 16.77kg / 36.9lbs. This makes the Prime Tower 9% heavier than the DFR52.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Tower 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 SVS Prime Tower?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Tower:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (pre-installed)4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Protective discsOwners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card
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
 Max Input Power |
250 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 |
30 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
931mm
vs
1031mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
605cm2
vs
656cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
SVS Prime Tower |
ELAC Debut Reference DFR52 |
| Brand |
SVS |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
up to 140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-25k Hz |
42-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Aramid fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350Hz and 2100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
931.0mm (36.7") |
1031.0mm (40.6") |
| Width |
204.0mm (8") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
297.0mm (11.7") |
283.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
18.23kg (40.1lbs) |
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 |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |