The whole thing motors along at a clip, the speakers demonstrating timing the equal of any of their price-point rivals. To our eyes these changes have worked, helping to make the Debut B5.2s look more modern. But they complied in my smaller reference music room. Having listened to the Debut’s for months using the PS Audio Sprout (see review ), Quad VA-One (see review ), NAD D 3020 V2 (see review ), and my Leben CS600, I can tell you that the ELACs adapt to their mate extremely well. The cabinet dimensions are … The bass below 80Hz sounds rolled off, but they play down to 50Hz fairly well although it's not really "there" unless you crank on the volume a good bit. Some real expertise on display, but not the all-round game to worry the class leaders. Everything we do is different. This, married to the superb tweeter, and the total is yet another musical winner from the ears of Mr. Jones. And great news it is. Debut 2.0 B5.2 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by ELAC. They’re now taller (34cm), narrower (18cm) and deeper (23cm) in a bid to look smarter and be less visually obtrusive. Akin to the 2nd Coming. 2, Andy Zimmerman—Half Light; 180g vinyl limited edition, Newvelle Records, Art Blakey with Thelonious Monk; Analog Sparks 180 gram LP, Breaking Silence—Janis Ian (Analogue Productions 45 RPM vinyl reissue), Christian McBride Trio 'Live At The Village Vanguard', Hesitation Marks — Nine Inch Nails; 2 LPs, Keys to My Heart—Anne Bisson/45RPM Vinyl pressing, Shabaka & the Ancestors—We Are Sent Here By History/Vinyl Me Please Edition, Smack Up; Art Pepper Quintet; Fantasy [LP], Yes—Fragile/Mobile Fidelity 45 RPM Limited Edition, DeVore Fidelity Monkeyhaus Event: Newvelle Records, Vancouver Audio Festival @hificentre 2017, World of McIntosh Loudspeaker Unveiling—New York City, SONOS PLAY:1 Loudspeaker; 5.1 Surround Sound; Stereo Pair, The Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento Loudspeaker, Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 Diamond Loudspeakers, DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96 Loudspeaker, Emerald Physics KC II Open Baffle Speaker, The Focal – JM Lab Utopia III ‘Grande Utopia EM’ Loudspeaker, The Focal – JM Lab Utopia III ‘Scala Utopia’ Loudspeaker, Monitor Audio Platinum PL200 Loudspeakers, Paradigm Prestige 95F Floorstanding Speaker, Anticables Level 6.2 and 4.1 Interconnects, Audio Art Cable Statement Interconnect XLR, Questyle Audio Engineering QP1R Portable Digital Audio Player, Beethoven Symphonies: Barenboim—Dolby Atmos Music on Tidal HiFi, Sonos Arc—Three months later (incl. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is an upgraded version of a speaker that was released back in 2015. Ordinarily, speakers that sound as small-scale as this are physically pretty small too – which brings advantages of its own. This speaker plays louder and without audible compression than any $229.99 speaker has any right to play. At only about 7” wide by 13” tall and 9” deep, it is considered a bookshelf speaker, although it … And, yes, listening this weekend was of a bit of a shock. 5; Wiener Philharmoniker; Carlos Kleiber; DG 180g Vinyl Reissue, Bernard Haitink conducts Bruckner’s Seventh on Direct-to-disc vinyl, Brahms 4; Vienna Phil; Carlos Kleiber; DG 180g Vinyl Reissue, Brahms: The Four Symphonies—DG Limited Edition 180g vinyl reissue, Classical Vinyl Box Sets you may not know that should be in your collection, Curzon plays Beethoven Concerto No. Thinking about purchasing speakers from Elac's Debut 2.0 series? Even if that does seem an overly simple answer to real musical prayers, Jones did spill on camera the B5's show debut was the first time he'd heard the full speaker constructed. That why Elac’s Debut B5 standmounters look the way they do. No no need for reinvention. Best soundstage and imaging for my favourite repertoire. Akin to the 2nd Coming. Even vibrato in this Allegro tempo did not escape scrutiny. The Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers use a larger, 16.5cm version of the same revised mid/bass unit found on the Award-winning B5.2s, using a new blend of aramid fibres for the cone, combined with a different shape to improve stiffness and damping. The host answered and looked at me with surprise. 'Actually, the party's just winding down'. In terms of balance, integration and timing, the Debut B5s are among the best pound-for-pound speakers around. Not as good, of course, but trending that way. Fast as quicksilver. Authentically dynamic recordings like Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue or Underworld’s Push Upstairs simply don’t have the attack or scale required, leaving the field open for the Elacs’ more assertive rivals to make their case. Yes, the magical beans Jones worked on at his KEF bench, modified for real cheap Pioneers and very expensive TADS, and here, magically rediscovered for ELAC. It features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer. And if we include a silly season, I tried them with 50K hooked on [Antipodes Audio, Bel Canto, Transparent, Audio Research Corporation]. A little scrutiny -- and a little YouTube research -- led me to believe the magic was in the drivers. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, River Plate vs Palmeiras free live stream: watch the Copa Libertadores semi-final, Tottenham vs Brentford live stream: team news, League Cup semi-final in 4K. Placement is a doddle — they played great firing off/on axis, close to the rear and side walls, or sitting out on my 28” 'Firm' Target stands. To be fair to Elac, the Debut B5s are, in terms of their showroom appeal, build quality and finish, entirely competitive. Helpful. You will receive a verification email shortly. The ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 offer up a picture of music that is limited only by physics and our ability to connect with music. IT was back in August 2016 that ELAC’s first-generation Debut B6 made its “debut” here in audioFi.net; in 2018, the company revised the range with the Debut 2.0 series.. Positioned reasonably close to a rear wall (where the Debut B5s’ swift and textured low end gains welcome body), toed-in just slightly towards the listening position and supported on some appropriately sturdy stands, the Elacs immediately reveal themselves as a well integrated, even-handed and impressively rapid listen. Visit our corporate site. A speaker many times the price of the ELAC B5s. To be fair, stars like these don't appear all that often. *When nominal/RMS power isn’t specified by manufacturer, we use an approximation of ~30% of the specified peak/dynamic power for comparison purposes. To be fair to Elac, the Debut B5s are, in terms of their showroom appeal, build quality and finish, entirely competitive. The original bookshelf speaker, the B6, is also the brainchild of Andrew Jones who previously worked as a designer at Pioneer. 5; Speakers Corner [LP], Easy to find Classical Mono LPs that should be in your collection, Franz Schubert—Trout Quintet (Speakers Corner 180g vinyl reissue), Karajan conducts Debussy and Ravel/DG 180g Vinyl Reissue, Kleiber conducts Beethoven Symphony No. The B5.2s are a big improvement on the original Elac B5 (below) – in fact, almost everything about them has changed. ELAC's Uni-fi series features two other speaker models—UC5 (center channel model) and UF5 (floor-standing model). Their shortcomings, though – while hardly numerous – are significant. During that time of mezzo forte volume, I heard a lively presentation right out of the box. The new B5.2 is the smallest speaker in the lineup, yet it packs an amazing amount of sound into a cabinet that can disappear on most shelves. This speaker has to be one of the stone cold deals in high end audio. Welcome to the party. The B5 Debut is a small bookshelf model, probably fitting more comfortably under 'mini monitor' designation. Not these. They have the dynamic expression, details and tonal sophistication to cope with whatever you throw at them – not to mention enough stretching of their skills to get even further when connected to … © Few speakers have garnered such critical acclaim as the original Debut Series by ELAC. The cabinet is a similar volume to before but its proportions are around 2cm different in all directions. And at the hands of a $229 monitor. Time for Audiophilia to have a listen. In a rare convergence of enthusiasms, it won the hearts of high-enders and mainstreamers alike. They work individually, and in tandem. Build 5.2 | Sound 5.0 | DSP Sound 6.4 | score breakdown. Or plain Jane as the center of my computer desktop setup. 9, Karl Böhm conducts Mozart Symphonies on Esoteric, Nelsons conducts Shostakovich Sym Nos. 20—Seong-Jin Cho, Murray Perahia plays Bach's French Suites, Paganini: 24 Caprices, Op. So Elac B5.2, while being a cheaper option, tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than the $225 Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2, as seen on the chart below. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers. The search for musical good news pressed me to return to the drivers. The Elacs, though, simply sound smaller than they are, which isn’t that much help to anyone. All this heaped praise as heard with quality ancillaries attached. Steely Dan's Green Earrings was superb, too. But still a go getter and punching way above lightweight. Frustration crept in and tried to dilute delight. These speakers are precise at picking out individual instruments and separating them from each other rather than producing an harmonious rounded conglomerate of sound. Unnervingly so. It's … It's all entry level stuff to keep the prices rock bottom. However, The very low total cost of ownership (TCO) for MCR-61x/51x with Elac debut B5 will beat (as far as I know) everything in Hi-Fi world. All well designed electronics need some break in. They’re absolutely par for the course in terms of specification, too. So well, that the woodwind section's fast downward staccato G minor scale in the Mozart Symphony opening movement was crisp and tactile. Debut “changed the game,” and now it’s changed again with the Debut 2.0 Series—proof that ELAC can’t leave well enough alone. Custom design by Andrew Jones Both the tweeter and bass drivers have been custom designed by renowned audio expert, Andrew Jones. It goes deeper, (or sounds as if it does) and without muddying up the midrange, than any speaker of this size has any right to go. Elac B5/B6 sound better with D3020 (with MCR-61x being the front end) than with MCR-61x. So with configuration and build well up to the norm, all the Debut B5s need do is show the competition a clean pair of sonic heels and the job’s done. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Recently I wrote about the Elac Debut B5 (Short Take, Issue 259), a two-way compact with mighty intentions and an unpretentious $229-per-pair sticker. My choice was sitting out a few feet from each wall on my stands firing straight out. The perfect trifecta of sound, design, and value. It is not good for the money. ELAC Debut 2.0 C6.2 Center Speaker, Black. And failing, courtesy of the personality and energy of the band. ELAC B5.2 Debut 2.0 Series 5.25" Bookshelf Speakers by Andrew Jones. The drive units deliver an exceptional audio experience that's hard to match with typical off-the-shelf parts. That's the short view. The Debut B5.2s are solid and straightforward in terms of placement. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our ... For $130.00 these are a investment you won't regret. Weight is 11.5 lb each. 10, Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. Protected by a shapely grille, that tweete… I was excited to hear how these sounded more than any high end kit in a while. On initial assessment, pretty wonderful. ELAC's website text explains: “The ELAC Debut series delivers superior performance thanks to custom made key components, with no off-the-shelf parts. 7; Speakers Corner LP, Schubert 3 & 8 (Unfinished); Vienna Phil; Carlos Kleiber; DG 180g Vinyl Reissue, Strauss: Tod und Verklärung & Vier letzte Lieder, Ticciati conducts Haydn; LP (45rpm Supercut), Vinyl you may not know that should be in your collection, Vinyl you may not know that should be in your collection Vol. Pretty damn glorious. Brief History of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2. 4 & 11 “The Year 1905”, Tchaikovsky Symphonies Vol.1; Petrenko [2 CD], Tchaikovsky Symphonies Vol.2; Petrenko [2 CD], Miles Davis -- Great 5 [5CD Esoteric remaster], Ansermet conducts Petrushka; Speakers Corner [LP], Argenta conducts Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique; Speakers Corner LP, Argerich & Abbado Complete Concerto Recordings [6 LPs], Beethoven: Symphony No. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Why not just use a gentle rework? Exposed pins on the speakers’ front panel for attaching the (black, cloth) grilles look a little prosaic, but the textured/brushed vinyl wrap (just one finish is available) adds a little more tactility than most rivals can muster. 5, 8 & 9, Nelsons conducts Shostakovich Symphony No. Switch to Kedrick Lamar’s altogether heftier King Kunta and the B5s’ powers of focus and integration come to the fore. Listening intently for gaffes. What Hi-Fi? King Kunta also exposes the B5s’ relative lack of scale, and a rather pedestrian lack of drive. For our test we received from the Benelux importer Servi-Q an extensive ELAC Debut 2.0 system, consisting of the F5.2 floorstander (349 euro / piece), B5.2 bookshelf speaker (159 euro / piece), the C5.2 center (249 euro) and the SUB 3010 (559 euro). Incredibly coherent with a timbral accuracy that is frankly unnerving and a front/back and side that goes for miles. II All Valve Phono Stage, Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 Integrated Amplifier MM/MC Phono Board, The Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena Phono Preamplifier, Sutherland Engineering DUO Phono Preamplifier, VPI Industries HW-40 Direct Drive Turntable, Anticables Level 5 Signature Speaker Wires, Anticables Level 6.2 and Level 4.1 Interconnects, Antipodes Audio ‘Reference’ Interconnects and Speaker, Audio Art Cable Statement Interconnect XLR, Harmonic Technology Melody Link MK III Interconnect Cable, High Fidelity Cables CT-1 Interconnects and Speaker Cables, Morrow Cable MA7 Grand Reference Interconnects, Nordost Frey 2 Speaker Cables, Interconnects and Power Cords, Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 USB 2.0 Cable, Audioengine D2 24-bit Wireless Computer Interface, Astell&Kern AK120 Portable Digital Player, Lindemann 825 High Definition Disc Player, Mass Fidelity Relay Hi-Fi Wireless Receiver, Metronome Technologie Le Player 3 CD Transport, Mojo Audio Mystique EVO Pro D/A Converter, Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition Universal Player, PS Audio DirectStream (DS) DAC: Windom Update, Questyle Audio CMA400i DAC with Headphone AMP, Questyle Audio Engineering QP1R Portable Digital Audio, Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones, The Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones, Master & Dynamic MW07 True Wireless Earphones, Master & Dynamic MH40 Headphones — Follow up, Master & Dynamic MH40 Over-Ear Headphones: 5th Anniversary New Wireless Model, Master & Dynamic MW07 True Wireless Earphones: The new GO and PLUS models, Master & Dynamic MW60 Wireless Headphones, Puro Sound Labs BT-5200 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones, The Audia Flight Strumento n1 Stereo Pre Amplifier, The Classé Audio Delta CP-500 Preamplifier, Luminous Audio Axiom II Signature Passive Preamplifier, Marantz SC-7S2 – Stereo Control Amplifier, VPI Limted Edition 299D Vacuum Tube Integrated Amplifier, Batiashvili plays Tchaikovsky and Sibelius, Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas—Igor Levit, Beethoven: The Symphonies—Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Steinberg, The Complete Unreleased Recording Sessions June 1955--GLENN GOULD: The Goldberg Variations, Emil Gilels -- The Seattle Recital (1964), Erica Morini—Milestones of a Legend (13 CD box set), Isabelle Faust plays Mozart Concertos [complete], Jörg Widmann plays Mozart Clarinet Quintet, Mahan Esfahani plays the Goldberg Variations, Mahler Symphony No. The construction is basic black brushed vinyl with 5 way metal binding posts. I loved they were back in the system. Cheap drivers act like slugs. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! The Elacs are more-than up to the task, following the sinuous bassline faithfully and giving Lamar’s complaints real expression. Musically and mechanically joined at the hip. I was smiling a lot, at least on the inside. This is a wide, busy and relatively dense recording, one that requires real midrange dexterity and detail to properly transmit the malevolence of the vocal. Rare, and found In the time domain of much more expensive tweeters. All rights reserved. Three weeks earlier, it felt as though I was knocking on the door of a very cool house party location. PROS. At 85 dB sensitivity, the B5 requires some solid power to get its drivers moving. Each amp/speaker pairing offered different interpretations … The old staple for the old town, London Calling, sounded fresh and driven. BA1 1UA. The pint-size, two-way compact simply crushed it with its big, hearty sound and puny $229 price tag (reviewed in Issue 260). 'B5' indicates 'Bookshelf 5 inch'. If you want the speakers to drive some, throw on The Clash. Break in was 50 hours of my splendid Esoteric remaster of Mozart's Symphony No. ELAC's Debut speaker line designed by Andrew Jones includes the B5, a diminutive 2 way loudspeaker that sells for $229.99/pr. 1, Vilde Frang plays Korngold and Britten Concertos, Audiophilia's Recordings of the Year 2017, The Bowers & Wilkins Audio System for the Volvo XC90, Focal Powered by Naim: Scottsdale, AZ Grand Opening, In the Trenches: Angie’s Audio Corner, Toronto, In the Trenches: Audio and Music in New York City, In the Trenches: Sound Hounds, Victoria BC, Philadelphia Orchestra plays Carnegie Hall, 2017 New Year's Concert with Gustavo Dudamel, André Cluytens—The Complete Orchestral and Concerto Recordings, Barenboim conducts Bruckner Symphonies [complete], Brahms Symphonies from the Detroit Symphony, Bruckner: Symphony No. The subject of our review, the B5 Debut available from Amazon for USD$229.00 and the slightly dearer B6 Debut and the Uni-Fi UB5 version (both less than USD$500) have all received raves in the audiophile press. I have the same feeling about the new line of petite, inexpensive speakers from German manufacturer ELAC. Exposed pins on the speakers’ front panel for attaching the (black, cloth) grilles look a little prosaic, but the textured/brushed vinyl wrap (just one finish is available) adds a little more tactility than most rivals can muster. There’s a time and a place all right, but the budget end of the loudspeaker market is not it. These were no different. It was designed by Andrew Jones for ELAC's Uni-fi series as an upgrade to the ELAC Debut B5. Dimensions are Height: 12.8 in, Width: 7.9 in and Depth: 8.7 in. 9 (four-movement version), Volkmar Andreae conducts Bruckner Symphonies [complete], Daniel Harding conducts Mahler—Symphony No. The angst heard against the speakers trying to add a 21st Century sophistication. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. Just connect them with a pair of good speaker-wires, you will be very very happy. They established a new value proposition, with build quality and performance never before attainable at such an affordable price. Our turn to hear if the Jones ELAC magic is real. In this review, we will be comparing specifications of Debut 2.0 B5.2 and Bronze 2, two Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Monitor Audio. Did I hear those two incredibly subtle musical cues on the my 32 times more expensive reference monitors? The balance was there, an attempt at coherence within the parameters of the small, untreated box. The cabinet is taller, narrower and deeper, which makes them look more modern and less obtrusive. Some inexpensive MDF construction with no bracing, a simple crossover and a reflex port shown in an exploded view. BA1 1UA. It feels invigorating to get your long held audiophile pre conceived notions smashed to smithereens on occasion. A rear-firing bass reflex port and single pair of chunky speaker cable terminals complete a predictable and sensible picture. In the past six months, a lot of praise has been directed his way. Click to learn more and checkout our entire product line. The need to bring a worthwhile speaker to the masses at an affordable price means there’s no point (or profit) in going off-piste. He is going back, back to the beginning, and giving a copy of my ELAC Debut B5 review to his past self. They’re absolutely par for the course in terms of specification, too. ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 is a member of ELAC's Debut series of speakers. A great song for an emerging speaker class. Elac Debut 2.0 B5-2 Bookshelf Speakers Review The B5.2 is an upgrade on the original B5 series, and it is easy to see that there are significant differences. But, with my standby NAD C356BEE Integrated Amplifier and Kimber PBJ, Bluetooth, Tidal and a MacBookPro, the ELACs sunny nature remained, albeit less of everything that audiophiles crave. For all their sprightliness and ability to differentiate low frequency textures, there’s a palpable disinclination to sink their teeth into a beat and properly force the issue. The new ELAC line had a good start in life, the product of ex KEF, Pioneer and TAD designer, Andrew Jones. Elac has its work cut out to stand out from the pack. Best hi-fi systems 2021: micro, hi-fi, vinyl, Best iPhones 2021: the best budget and premium iPhones, Best earbuds 2021: brilliant in-ear headphones for every budget. Each note a gem in its space, and fast. The Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 reviewed here manages to make some improvements on the original speaker, namely in terms of build quality, but in the meantime there has been a … Elac Debut B5.2 Review - These are very talented speakers for the money. Think about the old Esotar or Focal’s superb Beryllium models. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. Here they really shone. Rich and detailed. Photo credit: ELAC. The Danish beauties are fantastic speakers. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for ELAC Debut B4 Bookshelf Speaker (Black, Pair) at Amazon.com. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Impervious. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for ELAC Debut B5 Shelf Speakers (Pair) 50/70W Black Décor at Amazon.com. Not effulgent and all enveloping, but balanced. Gotta be at the price, right? There, I heralded its class-shattering performance and sonics, and the stupendous value that the speaker represents. Energetic, cheerful with a definite spring in its step. However, I did forget them for a while. 1–Roman Simovic, violin, Paul Lewis plays Brahms Piano Concerto No. However, it's fairly safe to say that Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 are more popular speakers, based on their 100+ reviews. There’s a time and a place for innovation in the hi-fi industry, for tearing up the rulebook, for blank-sheet thinking and all the other exciting-sounding initiatives that indicate a break from the norm. The drivers took time to lighten up but the character of the speaker remained from the start. The subject of our review, the B5 Debut available from Amazon for USD$229.00 and the slightly dearer B6 Debut and the Uni-Fi UB5 version (both less than USD$500) have all received raves in the audiophile press. Bath More on these magical beans of drivers later. There are seven models in the Debut 2.0 lineup and the B6.2 sits just below the ELAC F5.2 floorstander. Playing some late-period Johnny Cash (his version of U2’s One is poignant and authoritative, even if the Elacs do on occasion make his dentures all too apparent), the sound is sweetly communicative through the midrange and has just enough bite at the top end to prevent it becoming sugary. Where the ELACS shone was in its very lovely midrange. Debut 2.0 B5.2 Bookshelf Speakers - $249.98/pair. And stayed that way during most of the three week audition stretch. Please refresh the page and try again. Every product we create delivers stunning performance, exquisite craftsmanship and unequalled value. Andrew Jones of ELAC. Detailed, punchy, but with a sophistication well up the very cool ladder. The 5.25cm mid/bass unit is thoroughly revised too… No one can deliver that much musical promise on so few dimes. There's no criticism meant in suggesting this. But, of course, the market is at its most competitive here – the likes of Q Acoustics, Monitor Audio and others are all vying to be your first system/micro-system speaker upgrade, and £250 or so buys some startlingly capable efforts. That has to tell us something important about our avocation. Unlike many more expensive speakers that mix parts-bin drivers, bare-bones crossovers and generic cabinets—every ELAC speaker is built from a clean-sheet design.”.
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