In this review, we will be comparing D310 and Debut 2.0 B5.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale D310 | ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Woven Kevlar | 5.25" Woven Aramid-Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-20k Hz | 46-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-60 watts | 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs | 5.90kg / 13lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-7/16" x 6-1/8" x 8-13/16"
266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm | 13.4" x 7.0" x 9.2"
341.0 x 180.0 x 234.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Wharfedale D310 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 D310 and Debut 2.0 B5.2 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale D310ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale D310 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
D310 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the Debut 2.0 B5.2 features a 1" Cloth Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
D310 has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas Debut 2.0 B5.2 has a frequency range of 46-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Debut 2.0 B5.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the D310's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
D310 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Debut 2.0 B5.2 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.
Debut 2.0 B5.2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas D310 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the Debut 2.0 B5.2.
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
D310 features 5-Way Metal post type posts and Debut 2.0 B5.2 has a 5-Way Metal post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale D310's Post terminals
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2's 5-Way Metal post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
D310 has a bottom firing port whereas Debut 2.0 B5.2 has a front firing ports. ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale D310 with its rear-firing 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 Wharfedale D310's and ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2's external dimensions. Wharfedale D310 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm (10-7/16 x 6-1/8 x 8-13/16inch) whereas ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 has external dimensions of 341.0 x 180.0 x 234.0mm (13.4 x 7.0 x 9.2inch).
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 24mm wider, 75mm taller and 10mm deeper than Wharfedale D310.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 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 Wharfedale D310 is approximately 349.4cm2 / 54.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 is approximately 421.2cm2 / 65.3inch2. The D310 requires 17% less surface area than the Debut 2.0 B5.2 which gives it a small advantage 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 Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 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 Wharfedale D310 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 weighs 5.90kg / 13lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 B5.2 48% heavier than the D310.
Here is a comparison of how D310 and Debut 2.0 B5.2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale D310?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of D310:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)
- 2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2?
Here are the items that come with the Debut 2.0 B5.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
266mm
vs
341mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
349cm2
vs
421cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
330USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Wharfedale D310 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Compact bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-60 watts |
120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
65-20k Hz |
46-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Polyether |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
266.0mm (10.5") |
341.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
156.0mm (6.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
224.0mm (8.8") |
234.0mm (9.2") |
| Weight |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
5.90kg (13lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
CARB2 Rated MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
24-28" |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 costs roughly 1.7x what Wharfedale D310 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 digs deeper - 46Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Wharfedale D310 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 takes more power (120W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale D310 is easier to place; ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale D310 is cheaper - $199 against $330, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale D310 B ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
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?
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 66% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale D310 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale D310 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale D310 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.