In this review, we will be comparing DIAMOND 12.1i and DBR63, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i and ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i | ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Advanced polypropylene | 6.5" Aramid fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-20k Hz | 49-34k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 20-140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | — |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/16" x 7-1/16" x 10-15/16"
312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm | 14-1/8" x 8-3/4" x 10-13/16"
359.0 x 222.0 x 275.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i 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* |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i |
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 DIAMOND 12.1i and DBR63 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1iELAC 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 |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i |
ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
DIAMOND 12.1i features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Advanced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. 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
DIAMOND 12.1i has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas DBR63 has a frequency range of 49-34k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 49Hz, the DBR63 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the DIAMOND 12.1i'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
DIAMOND 12.1i 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. DIAMOND 12.1i sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the DBR63's is rated at 86.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i 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.
DIAMOND 12.1i can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas DBR63 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the DIAMOND 12.1i.
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
DIAMOND 12.1i has a rear firing port whereas DBR63 has a front firing ports. ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i 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 Diamond 12.1i's and ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63's external dimensions. Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i has external dimensions of 312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm (12-5/16 x 7-1/16 x 10-15/16inch) 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).
Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is 42mm narrower and 47mm shorter than ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 but it is also 3mm deeper.
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.
ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 needs about 22% more floor or shelf area. ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 is 47mm 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 Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut Ref 3.0 DBR63 is approximately 610.5cm2 / 94.6inch2. The DIAMOND 12.1i requires 18% less surface area than the DBR63 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.