In this review, we will be comparing Solstice 3 and DBR63, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Solstice 3 and ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Solstice 3 | ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Natural cellulose pulp | 6.5" Aramid fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-22k Hz | 49-34k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-130 watts | 20-140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.90kg / 28.4lbs | — |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16-7/16" x 8-11/16" x 14-9/16"
418.0 x 221.0 x 370.0mm | 14-1/8" x 8-3/4" x 10-13/16"
359.0 x 222.0 x 275.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Triangle Solstice 3 and ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 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* |
Triangle Solstice 3 |
ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 Solstice 3 and DBR63 are 2-way speakers.
Triangle Solstice 3ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Triangle Solstice 3 |
ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Solstice 3 features a 1" Magnesium alloy dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Natural cellulose pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the DBR63 features a 1" Aluminium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Solstice 3 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas DBR63 has a frequency range of 49-34k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Solstice 3 can go slightly deeper then the DBR63's min frequency of 49Hz.
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
Solstice 3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the DBR63 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Solstice 3 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the DBR63's is rated at 86.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Triangle Solstice 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
Solstice 3 can handle a max power of 90 watts RMS, whereas DBR63 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the Solstice 3.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Solstice 3 and DBR63 have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Triangle Solstice 3's and ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63's external dimensions. Triangle Solstice 3 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 221.0 x 370.0mm (16-7/16 x 8-11/16 x 14-9/16inch) whereas ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 222.0 x 275.0mm (14-1/8 x 8-3/4 x 10-13/16inch).
ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 is 59mm shorter and 95mm less deeper than Triangle Solstice 3 but it is also 1mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Triangle Solstice 3 needs about 34% more floor or shelf area. Triangle Solstice 3 is 95mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Triangle Solstice 3 is 59mm 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 Triangle Solstice 3 is approximately 817.7cm2 / 126.7inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 is approximately 610.5cm2 / 94.6inch2. The Solstice 3 requires 34% more surface area than the DBR63 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.