After the Hype! Living with the ELAC Debut Reference (DBR 62) Loudspeakers.

I've lived with the DBR 62's for awhile now. This is my true take on these well-regarded bookshelf loudspeakers.
My dedicated review of the Debut Reference 62's can be found here:
• Review! The ELAC Debut...
My review of the Debut (2.0) B6.2's can be found here:
• Review! The ELAC B6.2 ...
My comparison between the Triangle BRO3, Elac DBR62, and Klipsch RP600M:
• Three HIGH VALUE speak...

[@GeraldGarcia]

As a DBR62 owner, I am certain of two things 1) absolutely zero listening fatigue and 2) I’m keeping it.

[@edwardbalboa5528]

Bin it

[@ricardolopes2014]

Hello! I’m going to schedule an audition! Which amp/speaker cable are you using?Best Regards

[@GeraldGarcia]

@@ricardolopes2014 I use a Rotel RA-1572. Any speaker cable will do and won't affect the sound as long as the gauge is sufficient for the length.

[@Hirnlego999]

@@GeraldGarcia I was going to ask if you still use 'em, but I guess I got the answer :)

[@streamcnoremorse3323]

UFR62

[@johnbittman5975]

I've had my DBR62s for around 2 years now (paired with Bryston) and love them. As others have said, no listening fatigue, which goes a long way to enjoying extended listening sessions. I have a pair of Monitor Audio tower speakers (RS6?) and while they give better dynamics and punch (understandably), they are fatiguing. You can't go wrong with the DBR62s, they are excellent speakers. Great video, thanks.

[@jogmas12]

Speakers just keep getting better this is good for us who cannot afford the more expensive ones but we can still get the kind of sound that was only afforded those with higher incomes years ago.

[@larry4802]

I have had speakers that were the price of a home! Then there were the Elac 2.0/6.2 Zero fatigue-no need for a sub woofer-great with any amp - its totally magic

[@peterbaugh51]

Totally agree. I gave away two good subs. Better sound without them.

[@peterbaugh51]

But need tube amp if u ditch the subs... My opinion.

[@kozmiczian795]

I've always felt that a speaker system is only as good as the signal fed them. Proof is in the pudding, exactly what you are promulgating . . . and, after careful review of the 'mainstreamed' (re: affordable) audio gear reviewers . . . We believe your channel is the most honest, technically correct and professional (along w/ the audiophilliac) on the tube. Keep up the good work, Sean!

[@deputy3690]

Your exactly right ZF! I have them hooked up to my Musical Fidelity M5si with 150 wpc with a REL T7i and I am totally blown away with the performance of these speakers. I found a keeper for a long long time! Thank you for your review on these Elacs, it convinced me to purchase them!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Cheers!

[@peterbaugh51]

The Douk ST-01 Pro with tube preamp and around 45 clean WPC is a great amp to drive Elac DBR62 Reference speakers at a low proce. After two years breaking in, they play down to 30 htz, filling the room with bass that you can feel sitting on the couch, 8' from the speakers. I can feel the bass at 28 htz. The amp is a class D with tube preamp, claiming 200 watts max. I'm not using a sub for now. I can hear the tubes "wake up" the speakers even at lower volumes. My setup is not standard, so other rooms may yield other results. Dimensions may help explain why my setup sounds balanced. Room is 13' deep, 12' wide. Speaker placement; Left, 50" from back wall, 20" from left wall. Right; 16" from back wall, 28" from right wall. Both speakers tilted up 5 degrees, cross streamed 10 degrees toed in, on speaker stands ear level. A 7' couch is parallel to speakers and TV. Sources are; IBM I5 PC, DVD, CD, Smartphones on WLAN, and Sony Bravia Smart Inet TV, copper connections. Being older I only hear to about 17 khz, but still know what a real cymbal sounds like. Elacs sound real to me. Power plus tubes helps all speakers sound better. Elac Reference likes some power. They sound great to me, better than my B&W's at 5x the cost. Pretty=pricy, not better. Walnut Elacs look fine to me. Thank you Andrew Jones, and thanks for this honest review.

[@aceofspades6667]

I'll be honest my favorite content from Sean comes in the form of after the hype. I always find that with my purchases I have a difference of opinion sometimes months after the purchase.

[@jyharris]

I have the Debut 2.0 B5 & B6 set. I absolutely love them. I have just above budget receivers hooked up to them. They are great value for money.

[@joelopez7459]

Just wait til u get to the jbl 530 on sale

[@patrickthunnus]

I agree; put in a good signal and the Debuts will reward you with gorgeous sound. I use a Shure SC35C on a Denon VL12 plus Schiit Mani. Extremely dynamic, alive sound that’s downright addictive.

[@peterbaugh51]

Orchestras sound like you are in a concert hall, live. Chilling!

[@khalid969]

Thanks for keepin' it real. I would expect nothing less from you.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks for watchin'.

[@77Cardinal]

I bought a pair (June 2020) for my son along with a 50w vintage analog receiver. For someone who previously used his phone with ear buds and really horrible external "speakers" this was a major upgrade. I told him that I thought the DBR 62 would be really good with the amp but that those same speakers would perform even better if he wanted to start upgrading and matching gear on his own. I wanted him to have something he could enjoy now that could grow into an even better system.

[@peterbaugh51]

Advise getting a tube amp. Awesome with Elac speakers.

[@hughjanus5093]

Great dad. My parents have used their audio from the tv my whole life, use their old dusty stereo only on big holidays. I might upgrade their system when I upgrade my own

[@NickP333]

I noticed zero rambling or stumbling, Sean. Just another great vid. I really dig these, “after the hype” vids. Thanks, man.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Plenty of stumbling, that's for sure! But hey, one take videos are a bit more difficult than they appear! :D

[@NickP333]

Yeah, but he wouldn’t go for it.

[@alm5693]

I'm running these speakers with a Vincent SV-500 Integrated Amp w/a tube preamp section. With a good CD, I'm totally satisfied with the sound coming out of this system in my small room. I was happy to find demo versions of the speakers for under $500.

[@peterbaugh51]

They come alive with tubes, but all great speakers do. Bad speakers, no.

[@fzesgru]

Good overview. I did an experiment a while back based on the comments among reviewers (inc you:) that the B6.2's were extraordinarily scalable. Bought a pair and dropped them into my good bang for buck but high end (sound quality) system and was floored. This was in the context of a well set up stereo sub system, which increased system dynamic range to the point the B6.2's were nudging SOTA level playback. I went back to much more expensive main speakers, but I still remember things about the B6.2 that were better.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Yep. They can be a real treat when you treat them in a way that's disproportionate with their price.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

I have learned so much from this channel !!!! Thanks Sean 😃 Great looking speaker , really enjoying the revisit series ,

[@anthonyrondolino8148]

Love your new acoustic wall panel...but seriously, another good review.

[@charlesclifton5896]

Vintage Skid, circa last year. needs a proper frame... I was so into the review I failed to even notice.

[@JG-gg9wk]

Thanks, for another for the price, good enough review. We have to start somewhere.

[@dazb8246]

Pleasure to listen to you as always

[@chem_e_markmark6374]

I thought all your videos were one take…. I’m always impressed with presentation skills. I have the Elac uni-fi UB5 as my front stage in my home theater. Powered with my 20 yr old B&K amp (43lbs of toroidal 120watt/ch goodness) fed by a Denon receiver. Sounds awesome to my ears.

[@ronaldrice2936]

I love mines too, best pair I own now, I got paradigm and Advent's,etc... ,All sounds good to me but Un-fi B5's, Good,🔊🔊

[@ZeroFidelity]

My videos are still 100% unscripted. I still perform pure one-takes in my After the Hype videos as well as anything topical. The reviews have to be broken down into sections, or else I'd spend literal *days* trying to get the right one-take review. Anyway, gratz on the Uni-Fi's.

[@Chapterrifik]

I have the Elac debut B6 version 1 and the unifi ub5 love them both. On my present setup i have the unifi ub5 with cambridge audio cx60 and the cxc, as humble as that setup may seem, sound is just wow. Yeah i invested in good cables from Biss Audio and room treatment but the uni5 is really something special. Awsome review again Sean.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Cheers!

[@Chapterrifik]

Zero Fidelity 🍻

[@blake6615]

I love the original rear fired b6

[@Chapterrifik]

@@blake6615🤜💥🤛

[@Soaringkiwi1]

I own the original B6, but I would like something with a little more treble presence/better imaging with less boomy bass. What do you think of the Uni-Fi series? I have a pair of lower end Klipsch R-15M but they have a metallic, sometimes harsh treble but they are a lot more exciting to listen to. It'd be nice to have something in-between.

[@Chiroman527]

Hi Sean, excellent vid. After doing more research on new book shelf speakers, these Elacs keep coming up Number 1. Although i recently purchased the Fluance Signature HiFi Series about 10 days ago from Amazon, pursuant to this and other reviews, i placed my order to buy theze Elacs. Price drop too!!!!! $279 from $349. I will put these up against the Fluances in my own Taste Test. I play the sound system in my basement , "man cave", where i play My Music (68 years old), where i play my Drums. The speakers will be connected a cheap Pyle Preamp / Recei ver. I know, thats tacky, but the Pyle seems to do the job to drive the Fluances easily. Worse is that the Pyle is hooked up to really cheap multi player Boytone unit which has a cassette deck, CD player, "turntable", USB and SD card players, and to top it off, can record those sources directly to a flashdrive without software. Yeah its not audiophile to any extent but works . I do have the quality stuff upstairs in the LR: NAD 1300 Preamp, NAD 2600 Amp, Dual CS5000 TT, and Onkyo CD player all connect to Superb KEF 103 tower speakers.

[@bintandream]

An excellent post honeymoon overview, and in my opinion, spot-on. These DBR62's really woke up and started slamming (sans subwoofer) when I hooked them up to a ten year old Naim XS integrated amplifier. The bass was fast, solid, super punchy. Highs, never got grating and it always seemed like it could keep powering on and on regardless of genre. I also have a Cambridge Audio Azur 540A that I use for running speakers in and they were not too bad too, but if you really want to hear this speaker do some audiophile acrobatics, do like Sean said. Pair it up with some better quality electronics and listen to it start singing, slamming and dancing all at the same time. Very entertaining speaker and the best sub $1000 speaker I can think of. As a dyed in the wool audiophile (like Sean said) for over 25 years, I have heard and still own quite a few exotic products including a pair of Magico Q1's and S1's. I love two way speakers and rarely deviate from that format in spite of my rather large listening room. The most fun I get from this has always been finding these budget products that are so well built, they rock my socks off. P.S. Zero Fidelity changed my opinion about video reviews for audio products.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Eyyy I had the Magico S1's as well. I miss em' sometimes. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the music!

[@hi-fihaven2257]

Sean havin' some fun! Still impressed by the sound, and build quality of my Debut 2.0 6.2 speakers. Got them from Amazon Black Friday 2018 for 143.99 for the pair. Definitely got a lot of bang for my buck. Using the B6.2's in a secondary system. If I did not have them already, I would definitely consider getting a pair DBR62's for that system. Have a great day!

[@streamcnoremorse3323]

I also have B6.2. But what is your primary system?

[@hi-fihaven2257]

@@streamcnoremorse3323 Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ speakers. Parasound P3 preamplifier, Parasound A23 X 2 power amplifiers. Marantz UD-7007 universal disc player for CD's, SACD's, and DVD Audio. Rega Planar 1 turntable, with Ortofon 2M Bronze Cartridge. To round things of I have a Pioneer RT-909 reel to reel deck that has been totally overhauled. The turntable is black, everything else is silver.

[@streamcnoremorse3323]

@@hi-fihaven2257 Thanks!

[@hi-fihaven2257]

@@streamcnoremorse3323 What is your primary system?

[@streamcnoremorse3323]

@@hi-fihaven2257 @Hi-Fi Haven Elac Debut B6.2, Aiyima TPA3255 amp, SMSL M300DAC. I also have Sennheiser HD598 but can connect it only to ALC1220 from my X570 motherboard. I had Xonar Essence STX but destroyed. Also first time I paired B6.2 with PMA-720AE, but it can`t control bass and have a lack of dynamic at high frequencies. So I do not like it PMA-720AE. I sold it. I like debut B6.2 and listen music on it and enjoy it. But one time 4 years eariler I was at audioroom and listened Wharfedale Denton 80th with Pathos amplifier. It was astonishing. B6.2 is good at it`s price. Also I can imagine how music should sound by listening it on headphones. I would pair my DAC with headphone amplifier next time. Anyway SMSLM300 differs from ALC1220 in term of sound when listening speakers. But it is not big margin.

[@TorToroPorco]

Interesting review that highlights the difficulty with picking speakers and component matching. Steve Guttenberg did say that when Steve Jones demos the speakers he uses much higher spec amplification which makes these speakers shine. PS Audio bundles these with their Sprout integrated amp as an entry level package. I recommended a pair of these to a friend but he seems to prefer the B&W 606 which have more of that hi-fi sound.

[@DougMen1]

His name is ANDREW

[@ItalianCJM8232]

Love living with the hype series!!!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Cheers!

[@redstarwraith]

Agreed. This is an incredibly useful series. Nice work, Sean.

[@caseycjc1890]

Sean, I remember asking you if these speakers would match up with the Sprout 100 and you said that you thought it would be a pretty good match. This was after I returned the BRO3 which was clearly not a good match. I was reluctant but I went ahead and bought them. A match made in heaven, I found my sound. 😊

[@ZeroFidelity]

I specifically mentioned how the Triangles will not pair up well to Class-D amps, yet you tried em anyways huh? :D. Yep, glad you're enjoying the DBR62 / PS combo. Rock on!

[@jlmain5777]

Good follow up. Still sounds like a quality affordable option.

[@geoffreyvanhouwaert8677]

Hey Sean, just finished my review and then i see your video pop up and guess what. You stole my endline dude: it's an excellent allrounder!!! No, just kidding it's indeed exactly that. And also what you say about the amps needed is also spot on. That's actually a real bummer because no one is going to use these with high-end gear. Anyway, great job!!!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Hey Geoffrey - Thanks! Yep, the compromise with products like the DBR62 and Maggie LRS is that the price can be misleading. The performance ceiling is well beyond their general price 'tier'.

[@geoffreyvanhouwaert8677]

@@ZeroFidelity Maggie LRS is coming next...Very curious!!!

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@geoffreyvanhouwaert8677 Have fun!

[@bingoberra18]

​@@ZeroFidelity If the budget is 2g for speakers and an integrated amp. Would you get these and a 1400 dollar amp, or less toward the amp and get other speakers that are more easily driven?

[@riccitone]

Excellent. Really glad you are going back and doing these overviews! But, I still think the Bose Waveradio is the way to go (jk)😜

[@ZeroFidelity]

Oh I do as well! WaveRadio Bros!

[@alberthalim7767]

@@ZeroFidelity mj

[@gizzy2403]

🤣

[@QoraxAudio]

Ikea Symfonisk or Crosley Cruizer speakers😜

[@scottlowell493]

Sure, if you like radio stations to make everyone sound like James Earl Jones with a mouthful of socks.

[@anhy10ful]

Thanks for the review. When you have a chance, I would like to hear your thoughts on the Elac Carina.

[@deepakthammaiah5749]

Hey Sean. Great video. Appreciate your honest perspective. Just want to know your thoughts on whether the Cambridge Audio CXA61 would be a great match for these speakers.

[@lucianvictorgudiu8926]

Was thinking at the same combination :D . But I also consider the iotavx ... tell me if you reached a conclusion in what to buy .

[@douglasyong6939]

Yes, sounds like revealing high end speakers that has it's sweet spot paired with higher end gear.. imo

[@joepokro4824]

Great job as always Sean. Love these follow up reviews. Was thinking of these but decided on Jamo 93. Couldn’t pass up their sale price. Plus I will move them to home theater duty later on. Really want the Uni-Fi ub5 which are on sale often. But like you said you need the right front end. And I don’t have the electronics for it. 🙁

[@carlingtonme]

I bought its younger brother,the The ELAC B6.2 (Debut 2.0). I have enjoyed the music more and worrying about my system less and ..at the the price...lets just say I'm REALLY satisfied!! I'll let others get the sizzle and boom

[@socratesbsd]

More than a bit late to the party here but... @8 mins or so when you talk about how great the speaker is with a better source and electronics, that, in my experience is true for any quality speaker. The typical mythology in the US is that speakers make the most difference and should take up the majority of the budget. But you can't get great sound from a crappy source and cheap electronics. A speaker will reward or punish your upstream choices. Full disclosure: I came to this after seeing your latest video rant on "calling out audiophile BS" and this is one of my pet peeves - audiophiles with $2000 speakers and a $200 cd player or turntable. Keep on keepin on Sean

[@WACONimages]

Nice video again! Also great no intro teasers, loud music etc. Curious if you will gonna review the Danish iron cast made Jern's too maybe

[@jcisme]

I look forward to your review of the new elac uni-fi reference

[@erikmartin63]

Hi Sean, big fan of the channel. I recently picked up a pair of these Elacs and, to my ears, you are 100% correct on their sound character. I really like them, but I am looking to add that touch of excitement. Would you recommend the Emotiva A-300, sprout 100 or the XTZ edge for a more dynamic and forward presentation (medium-large sized room) ? Both of which you mention will pair well with neutral/warm speakers. A quiet noise floor is a plus for me😁. Thanks for the help

[@ZeroFidelity]

Forgot about the XTZ. All of them should add that extra touch of excitement, but among those three, the XTZ it should be.

[@amb3cog]

@@ZeroFidelity You totally contradicted yourself there Sean. I think? I'm confused 😕

[@yannick930]

I'm still burning in the triangle signature theta so i spend most of my time listening to the borea br02 and the elac debut 2 5.2. I felt exactly what you said about both of those speakers. I paired it with the Atoll In30 modified with Audio Note kasei capacitors in the signal path and Mundorf cap in the power supp, The sound is amzing ! It's only 50W into 8ohm but enough for a small space. Paired with a chord mojo Dac and audioquest cinnamon interconnects (your reviews :), good power cord (150euro). Triangle borea br02 (modified: changed caps for jantzen superior z caps, mills resistors and new coils with higher gage for the woofer and tweeter) Before modifications the Elac were clearly superior with more accurate sound and the voices were clearer and the bass impact more pronounce. The Triangle were sweet with a better tone and more enjoyable bass. I was constantly switching depending of what kind of sound i was listening to. Singing and hip hop were for the triangle and jazz for the elac. But since i made the changes in the triangle and the amp : The triangle became more define, the bass has texture and nuances. It feels like it can expend and contract the soundstage. Create waves + different notes in the bass. It is really enjoyable. Specially when i play rock music, it feels like it can electrify the air. can you explain that phenomenon ?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Killer mod projects. Enjoy! As for the phenomenon: That's likely the natural sound of the driver being realized to its potential. Great tone. Great speed. Lots of micro-details.

[@yannick930]

@@ZeroFidelity yeah i went really far with it (changing binding post for pure copper and internal wires for occ ones, +....). This time i want to enjoy and listen for a while. I'll wait before upgrading the theta :)

[@mmdusa]

Really enjoying 'After the Hype'. What you said about the speaker sounding so much better with more expensive equipment makes me wonder. Is there anyone that is going to go out and buy a(n) integrated / separates that cost 2x- 3x the price of these so they can get the best out of them? I don't believe there is. Seems a shame really. Kinda like having a jet-ski in a swimming pool. Keep up the awesome reviews my friend. Be safe.

[@NirreFirre]

mmdusa Actually, I have a poor man's Benchmark AHB2 (2 bridged Anaview AMS1000 modules, performance is on par with Hypex NC500) that my budget allowed me to buy a few years back. Knowing they are an "amplified wire" with ~500W@8ohm I now looking at these, the KEF R3, LS50 and Revel M106 that are all more (very much more) expensive. So having decided going "flat" with my gear and not trying to compensate this with that makes me happy that products like this get made. And other consumers would be happy to know any upgrade (actual, not a distortion heavy tube amp) in the signal chain upstream will make their experience better. A speaker to grow with I guess

[@jdominc3387]

Hi Sean, loved the video, you describe exactly my experience! I chose the Elacs (+Iota SA3) over the BR03 as I listen much to old recordings, and there I am happy, but I long for the liveliness of the Triangles on better recordings, so I am trying tweak things a bit. Any improvements you recommend besides the stands? Would adding the Iota PA3 help, or should I save the money to upgrade in the future? Cheers, and thanks for the great content!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Adding a PA3 will do a few things. You'll lose some of the balanced sound with the SA3, and trade it for something that has stronger bass and more midrange presence. The sound gets a bit more "rock and roll". Hard to say if that will compliment your Elac's.

[@jdominc3387]

@@ZeroFidelity I guess I will give the PA3 a try! By curiosity, did you try the DBRs with the Yamaha A-S1200? If so, how did you like it? Those are two beautiful pieces of gear!!

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@jdominc3387 heh Cant say I tried out the combo. Just .. too much stuff going on! The Yamaha is smexy though. :)

[@lucianvictorgudiu8926]

Oh man , im so happy I found this chat :) im interested in the elac ( not debut , the previous ones) and I’m curious if they would work with Iotavx sa3 and for later on hook them up with pa3 . I have a small living room and enjoy the house music and movies , would this combination be ok ? I appreciate your advices .thanks !

[@lucianvictorgudiu8926]

Or triangle With iotavx ? :D

[@yannick930]

The debut 2 and debut reference work very very well with integrated tube amps like Taga Harmony hta 700 v2. I get an amazing sound with this combo.

[@joeygonzo]

even at 86Db at 1 watt ?

[@peterbaugh51]

Tubes make dbr62 sound like loudness is on at lower volumes, but clear at higher volumes. Plenty of punch with tubes. Try it.

[@jimbo35br5]

Well I picked up a pair of these as the BRO3's were quite hard to come by where I live. I paired them up with a Moon Neo Ace and... I love them.

[@DJJASProductions]

how would you compare the two. It appears the BRO3s have something magical that these don't. Are these more forgiving?

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

I would say that the Triangles are less precise than the Elacs. Forgiving? The Elacs are not 'punishing'. :-) They are easy to listen to.

[@donbustoarigato2997]

I really can't disagree. I've owned the 6.2s for a while now and though they are a good speaker, they just didn't have that WOW factor I was looking for. So when the original B6 became available again, I just had to hear them to compare. AND, yeah, although the 6.2 is more accurate, perhaps tighter base, more detail up top. Oh the soundstage and the PUNCH of the originals. They sound BIG very BIG indeed compared to their younger brother. And the bass, SLAMS, yeah it's not as tight, but WOW the sound that is coming out of these small two ways. They fill up a room, they are big, bold, loud and just plain fun. They sound good and don't need a ton of power or super high end amps to please. They're just GOOD, real good! Forget that audiophile stuff, this is something different. I've rarely heard anything in this price range that does what these do and that includes the Klipsch RP600ms. Sure the Klipsch do that horn stuff. BUT, OMG, the BASS on the original Elacs make the Klipsch sound anemic. They cannot compete with this LOW END so I don't know what people mean when the say the Elacs are not dynamic? What? What about the bass. The bass slam shames the Klipsch, no contest. And the highs are oh so smooth and easy on the ears. At the current price of $229, forget about it. If you like this sound, there are no better speakers. B6.2 good yes, better yes. But which would I rather listen to? The originals!

[@andreassouth1523]

I totally agree.Τhe bass slam the soundstage and the non fatigue highs (better from a floorstand speaker) drives you crazy!! Unfortunately in Europe they have not existed for 3 years ..

[@Purpleyamz]

The Reference series is almost like a mashup of the 6.0's and 6.2's. My dad has the 6.0's, I bought the 6.2's hoping they would sound like his and was surprised at how kind of analytical and thin they were in comparison. I recently got the DBR62's and its the best of both worlds. Notable stronger and deeper/warmer bass than the 6.2 but better extension and imaging etc. than the originals, plus just a dash of "refinement" which is hard to describe but it's like a smoothness in tone to the midrange.

[@peterbaugh51]

U nailed it.

[@jim_fear_]

please straight one thing up here - you mean that bass punch is big in reference 6.2? or standard debut 6.2? im in the moment when i want to buy them, but i listen to lot of different music and want that punchy bass in electronic and heavy guitar tunes with subbass breakdowns.

[@jseichhorn]

I have them paired with a Marantz PM7000N with Mogami cables and using Amazon to stream high resolution FLAC audio and they're perhaps the best bookshelf speaker I've heard. They have broad, flat, and incredibly smooth frequency response without being fatiguing on the high end and good imaging even on the outside(s) of the placement. I began with an old set of Energy speakers, tried the KEFs from my living room, tried a Monitor Audio Bronze, ELAC Uni-Fi, and these were easily the best of all. Highly recommended.

[@andreassouth1523]

Some say that the highs sometimes are a little shrill/sibilant?

[@jseichhorn]

@@andreassouth1523 not at all, very smooth and balanced. I returned a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 2 before getting these because they were harsh and fatiguing. The DBR 62 have been wonderful IMO.

[@andreassouth1523]

@@jseichhorn Thanks for the respond!

[@andreassouth1523]

@@jseichhorn Thanks,i like non fatigue speakers.Also i saw the 35 khz frequency responce (from elac) and got worried...about highs.

[@Gman4MF]

comment deleted ? seriously ? that was a genuine response & added tip(s) for everyone who is interested in the subject...

[@sheerkhanful]

I bought a pair of these for a second system that does tv audio most of the time. I was pretty happy with them for a few months until their lack of airiness in the highs became a quality I couldn’t “unhear”. Having said that I would still echo the high value proposition offered by the DBR and also the fact that in my case, it took a speaker costing more than twice as much(KEF R3’s) to “solve” my issue with the DBR. The slotted bass port in the front will literally blow your hair back in action scenes in movies too, which amused the hell out of me when it happened.

[@uhugvjkbkjh]

From what distance lol

[@sheerkhanful]

@@uhugvjkbkjh 8-9 feet away.

[@uhugvjkbkjh]

@@sheerkhanful wow

[@TheDenix8]

Im currently using Klipsch RP160M with Yamaha RX-V450 and I get very unpleasant feeling in my ears and tinnitus gets worse very quickly even at moderate levels. I was thinking about getting either this speaker or Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 as a replacement. Im mostly doing moderate level HT and moderate level music listening. Which one would you recommend more? Thank you! I was almost convinced by Uni-Fi but I have that little fear inside me that doesnt want to get burned again like with Klipsch RP160M

[@themastroiannis]

beautiful thoughtful review, as always! bravo! your last comment comparing them to the Uni-fi line, was revealing. It is obvious, by your comment, that the speakers to buy, for me at least, would be the Elac-Uni fi ub5. I currently own the IOTA stack, powering (lovin' that IOTA presentation!) a pair or Revel Concerta 2M16. I like what i'm getting, but I feel the revels are a tad heavy on the mid bass (could of course be my room, and a bit of lack of space between walls and the speakers; they are placed 60cms from the walls). tried moving the revels around, but there's still a bit too much mid bass to my ears. Looking to change my revels for something a bit more honest and revealing (listen to classical and jazz), and that will allow a better placement of instruments. Do you think the elacs uni-fi could be a way to go? or a lateral move? in which case, could you recommend a pair (that would also not suffer from close wall proximity) up to $1600US. A good musician friend of mine told me I should wait until I can afford a pair of ATC SCM11. Would love your thoughts about it... thanks for your dedication and love to this passion...

[@ZeroFidelity]

As you check out measurements, bear in mind that a graph does not = fact. This is not a slight to ASR. I'm a fan of the operators work and applaud his intentions to bring objectivity back into the fore. However, like all of us, the publisher is human and has unintentionally released misleading data on multiple occasions due to mistakes on his end. I doubt that will stop overnight. But so long as there are engineers to correct and educate him behind the scenes, I think it will continue to move along in a positive direction. But still, a graph does not = complete fact.

[@themastroiannis]

@@ZeroFidelity Hi Sean. thanks for your response. Any recommendation around $1600 for a more honest speaker with my IOTA stack? Do you think the Unifi-UB5 could be the ticket? any thoughts about the ATC SCM11? thanks!

[@gregorymorrill7558]

@Sly foxxx Even though I used EQ and stuff in my car I shyed away in the home for years buying into the "purist" shtick. Nothing and I mean absolutely nothing changed my mind more than using quality DSP and PEQ. Get yourself a proper mic for $100 and download REW for free. Find an appropriate DSP to load the PEQ and other filters to(miniDSp or other/ or there is even free laptop software that a web search will reveal) Your room is in charge below 200-300hrz (even up to 7 or 800). No speaker doesn't benefit from at least using DSP/room correction and/or PEQ for the 300hrz down zone. You also must factor in SBIR - ESPECIALLY if not using subs.(This is science and all my measurements confirm the SBIR predictions to a "T".) Learn how the speaker placement in relation to the front and side walls, floor and even ceiling, creates the deep nulls that suck and how room modes create the huge bass peaks that are not HiFi. Honestly after using this stuff for awhile now, with zero arrogance I say that the opinion of anyone who is not, really has no cred in my book outside of a common love of audio. No matter how great your system feels now you will be shocked, this is mandatory in modern audio.

[@user-bf7no5sl9q]

Hi, thanks for yet another great review. I have DBR62s and driving them with a Yamaha Aventage RXA4A avr with below 40hz bypassed to my active sub. Is this avr enough to properly drive these Elacs? I'm wondering if there would be any benefit to adding a power amp to my avr just for these elacs for 2-channel listening and if so, what reasonably priced power amp/s might improve my listening experience. I listen between 50-65% volume and wonder if by adding a power amp will it smoothen the treble and midrange more. thanks

[@ccwnyc5671]

I own these. Yes, the tweeter is more mellow than my Klipsch, but it's probably more accurate. I prefer this pairing with my Bluesound DAC which is known to be a bit metallic, so this works.

[@peterbaugh51]

Elacs are very accurate. Love reference speakers. Can not beat Elac price. Esp with tube amp.

[@bradleydurbin6784]

I don't put much credence in these you tube videos of speakers. Simply because they never play any music. I don't know why they don't do this. Your just simply taking the word of what's being said about the sound quality of the speakers. Like I've been saying for years, your choice of amplifier or receiver driving them, your room acoustics and how you position the speakers and where you sit. And last but not least how they sound to your own ears. Amen!

[@arianshahrokh1439]

The ub5 and 5.2 floor standing I have are incredible. Looking at this one next.

[@victorpirsoul3979]

I agree that they failed to reach out and grab me; they're kind of boring, to be honest. Nothing specifically wrong with them but I prefer the sound of the Triangle Borea BR03 much better AFTER an extended break-in period (30-60 days, the more time I put on them, the better they got). Thank you for the follow-up and your honest opinions. Much appreciated!

[@amazoidal]

It's the only ELAC model with a "Yes" recommended product review by Audio Science Review.

[@awwtergirl7040]

Amir rarely recommends ANY speaker so when he *does* its a big deal.

[@ConnahJay]

After I saw Amir's recommendation, I ordered a pair. Cheapaudioman loves them too.

[@jimshaw899]

I bought these, but not because of this review. You place a lot of emphasis on equipment matching, but I place even more emphasis on music matching. If you buy this speaker because you like the way it plays orchestral, jazz, and solo instrumental music, you might find it a bad match for tambourines, Pro Tools plugins, and rock guitars. Basically, these speakers don't ADD much to the program by themselves. They reproduce what they are given. So, they will lack presence and excitement over speakers that add color. They are high trueness speakers. They are not what I call "high thrill" speakers. But, they ARE high fidelity speakers, adding little in sparkle, whomp, and forwardness where it was never intended by the recording. And, because they don't try to add stuff and tilt stuff, they make it a wonderful way to also play old, not-so-good recordings. These don't become annoying, but rather just sound like not-so-good recordings. What you like/dislike in speakers closely parallels what you enjoy/don't-so-much enjoy in music. As obvious as that may be, it seems a closely guarded secret across the industry.

[@pavlobilous4030]

I’m personally keeping them - great midrange

[@darrenyuan5461]

Pairing with a parasound halo, is it good enough to "make the speakers special" like you mentioned in the review?

[@stevec3526]

Sean, have you received the new Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 bookshelf speakers for a review?

[@howardmims8376]

Can you take a look at the wharfedale EVO 4.2, I just purchased the 4.2 and the Soundstage is very very wide with great Instrument separation

[@simoSLJ89]

Can I ask you a question? I love the "warm and not fatiguing sound" of these Elac Reference, as living room speakers. I think they are not meant to be used as desktop speakers (right?), do you know if there are some speakers with a similar warm sound, that can be used on a desk? Kinda nearfield (desk is 60cm deep). Thank you

[@ZeroFidelity]

Correct. The good news is that I have a review coming up on some speakers that represent an OUTSTANDING value for desktop use. It's next up on deck.

[@simoSLJ89]

@@ZeroFidelity Great!

[@xray111xxx]

Correct. I have the Debut 6.2. No they are not for everyone. They never piss me off, pleasant to hear and tuneful. Curious about the Klipsch RP bookshelves but I am in no hurry. These do great in the bedroom where costs were a factor. You are right otherwise Sean that it is not really going to float everyone's boat, but that could be said about any speaker. You love them or not. Easy right?

[@agibaja17]

Hello friend and thanks for your disclosure !! I wanted to ask, would these monitors work well with a Denon pma 600 amplifier? Or would it fall short,? .. If with a better quality amplifier, it would get more benefit, and performance. Or would it not be worth investing more money in an amplifier?

[@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio]

Great video - this is very useful information for people. I've found similar qualities in other models designed by Andrew Jones. They were balanced and coherent, somehow lacking in enough get up and go (even at lower levels) for my taste.

[@AmericanConstellation]

I bought these and the Klipsch RP600m's and believe it or not the Sony SS CS5's, all at the same time. I think they all sound good. It depends on what I want to hear that day. I just swap em out. I power them with an Adcom GFA555 amp, and Adcom preamp and for CD's I use an Adcom DAC. Variety is the spice of life!

[@bogdanbarabas1]

How do the Elacs differ compared to the Klipsch? Thanks

[@AmericanConstellation]

@@bogdanbarabas1 The Klipsch are more of a lively, rock and roll speaker. Elacs are like buttery smooth. I have both and I rotate them out. I also have a pair of Sony SS-CS5's that I bought on sale on Amazon for $70.00. They sound fantastic. I don't know how Sony did it. I bought all 3 pairs at the same time. I love them all. I power them with an Adcom preamp and an Adcom GFA-555 200 watt per channel amp. I have two sets of them in two different rooms. My other room has JSE Infinite Slope model 2 speakers. They are huge. Each one has five drivers, they weigh 125lbs each.. I love music.

[@RanTausi]

@@AmericanConstellation I have the GFA 555 MK2 , bought it two years ago it was new in original sealed box , the owner had two of them stored for more then 25 years I think. I have bought used PRE GFP 565 , it is fantastic. Now I am looking to upgrade my speakers , I am torn between these ELAC or Dynaudio. I am confused for long time ... I know the ADCOM is overkill AMP for bookshelf's

[@Drackleyrva]

Great review Sean. Did you try them with your Parasound HINT 6?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Yep. You'd think it would make for an awful match, but they sound pretty good on it.

[@jamesbennett1634]

Your comments on the Unifi series made me think - would the Crown 2502 be a great match for them? Plenty of power and pretty neutral presentation. As always, thanks Sean.

[@ZeroFidelity]

That's a pretty good question. I don't know. Come to think of it, the pairing could work out well.

[@RKSidd]

Great review. The fact that this is "warm" would this be a suitable speaker for a bright sounding amplifier which has a tad harse treble?

[@H3aby84]

Amplifiers don't have a sound signature. They're either correctly built with enough power or not. Room correction and room treatments will make more of a difference for how a speaker sounds.

[@leomansueto5878]

Hi Sean, would you recommend them paired with a Denon PMA 600ne amp? Is it powerful enough to make them sing properly? Thanks and congrats for your reviews

[@andreassouth1523]

Excellent presentation! With yamaha a-s 701 are a good match?Wharfedale diamond 11.2 test??

[@mika2oo1]

Shawn, my brother gave me his NAD C388 integrated amp, and I have a $2000 CAD budget for speakers. What do you recommend for a match in a medium size room?

[@cnhhnc]

I have a set of the B6.2 I bought used for the hype. I also have a pair of Polk Lsi-7s, also used. When I compare the two, the Elacs are more forward and edgy in their highs. The Polks are smoother more tonally pleasing to me. Many say they're veiled, but I don't agree. I will say that amp pairing is even more important with the Polks. They need good power to shine. Otherwise they sound meh. I do like the Elacs and appreciate what they can do, but the old Polks are less gritty and more laid back, soothing. Of course they were more than twice the Elac MSRP.

[@ZeroFidelity]

The original LSi series could sound veiled if you didn't pair em' up to the right gear. Once you treat them right however, they delivered exceptional value for the money. Especially back in the day.

[@crazymetallian]

OMG i don't know what should go for... my main speakers to day uses horns (but not over detailed, i like horns for the way they project and disperce the sound) so i think the DBR's should be a best matching for my needs (but i don't know if these or the older model) or go with uni-fi for more precense in treble and a more precise bass (which i actually like)

[@Tinez87]

Is it recommend to plug the ports on these? I have them on my office desk in a corner as I can't put them anywhere else and I'm getting some boundary reinforcement.

[@lucadibiase6816]

Thanks for the review, honest and accurate to me. Do you think yamaha as801 could be a good match with these speakers?

[@user-oy1nt3zt1n]

Yamaha A-S301 matches very well. A-S801 should sound the same.

[@TheHammerofDissidence]

Got these after your reviews. Have em hooked up to the IOTAVX stack. I'm pretty happy. They definitely need to have stands and isolation material though, you're right. Just off the top of your head, what's a good solid state integrated around $1k - $1.5k that would match well these? I was thinking maybe upgrading to a new Rogue Audio Sphinx, though that's hybrid (with an insane damping factor).

[@ZeroFidelity]

Yeah, Iotavx pairs up way better to speakers that have more of a quick or immediately nature to them. The DBR's will need something like a Dayens Menuetto to get them to sing. As for the Sphinx... eh. A lateral move to your stack and in some ways, a downgrade.

[@TheHammerofDissidence]

@@ZeroFidelity good to know!

[@nethai]

@@ZeroFidelity I also have the Elacs and since yersteday the SA3. I am somewhat underwhelmed with the performance of the built in DAC and rather use my Khadas Tone Board (which I usually use for my headphone amp). Since I would have to buy another DAC, is there something else I should be looking at in the 500 $ price range? I could borrow the PM5005 from a colleague of mine for comparision (you mentioned in one of your reviews, that it livens up the sound of the elacs)

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@nethai The DACS inside all those integrated amps suck. I'd just buy an affordable DAC like the Topping E30 or the old iFi iDAC 2 and call it a day. The only benefit to going with a different integrated is to get a different sound. The SA3 is superb. It's also very balanced, which when combined with ELAC, may make for a rather dull listening experience. Would recommend the PS Audio Sprout II if you're on a budget and want features.

[@timc_2433]

Where are you at now? Sphinx came up in my current search so curious if you still have the dbr62 and if you found a different stack/integrated

[@the-Alexandrus]

What speakers do you personaly like? I'd like them not too bright with enough bass and a wide scene! Please, tell only 1 or 2 for the price range under 500 USD. I'm not sure what I will hear, but I'd like to buy some speakers, that I'll enjoy! What do you think about Audio Bronze 100, Borea BR03, Wharfedale Diamond 225, Klipsch RP-600M, Elac Debut Reference DBR62, Dali Oberon 3, SVS Prime Bookshelf and at what price is the next step forward!?

[@mcjonner]

Would be nice to see a unifi 2.0 eventually. With maybe 6 ohm load instead of 4, nicer cabinet and a 6.5" woofer and higher sensitivity.

[@charlesclifton5896]

Maybe Andrew Jones is listening??????????? I would not be surprised .... neat idea.

[@gregorymorrill7558]

Why not buy the KEF R3? Sounds like exactly what you want but since KEF still holds many of the best coaxial patents, ELAC will have to wait for them to expire to actually compete.

[@frantotti9754]

Which one you recommend Edifier 3000pro vs Elac debut speakers DBR62 . thank you for great video.

[@r423sdex]

All they need to be great speakers is a real wood veneer and change the name to harbeth, then up the price to $2000. Then they would really sound good. In audio the price tag is a real killer !!!

[@ZeroFidelity]

If that perspective floats your boat, sure. In Casa Del Zero, products like the ELAC DBR62 sit around collecting dust, while my Harbeth P3ESR's receive daily use. Why? Because the Harbeth's sound so much better to me, that I find speakers like the DBR62's to be almost unlistenable by direct comparison. And yes, I've done plenty of "blind A/B"s with the P3's and affordable speakers throughout my 8-year ownership of them.

[@r423sdex]

Zero Fidelity I watched a review where they are compared to the revel 126be. His conclusion was they are 95 percent of the performance for one eighths of the price. One thing though, he did the cardinal sin of measurements. No!!!!!

[@r423sdex]

www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/harbeth-monitor-30-speaker-review.11108/ found this on harbeth speakers. Don’t look that good for the money !!

[@Kibwunga]

So I am really torn. I keep coming back to my 25 year old Energy C2's. I returned the Unifi's, and also the 6.2s. Yet I am looking for the next move. I am using a Denon PMA1600NE, so plenty of power. What do you think?

[@DSupremeLounge]

Love you’re honesty

[@richardshippful]

A few months ago I bought the cheaper Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2s with stands, A P.S.Audio Sprout 100, repowered an old Infinity UB 120 sub, and a Rega Planar 2. the system sounds surprisingly good. After break in it has good deep bass, and super clean mids, and you can listen for hours. I am very happy with the setup. Elacs are an easy way to get very good sound without bleeding cash. The speakers, and the double port sub, did "chuff" UNTIL everything was broken in, not any more.

[@stopthefomo]

Replaced my Revel m126Be bookshelves with these.

[@ZeroFidelity]

hehe Enjoy!

[@stopthefomo]

@@ZeroFidelity Most definitely and thanks for keeping it real - love your no-holds barred monthly rants.

[@Phastm3]

I guess you needed to free up that cash for another TV :)

[@carlb641]

final verdict based on your choice: Elac DBR 62 or Triangle BR03? I'm waiting for your loudspeaker review for desktop use :D. Awesome video as always.

[@ZeroFidelity]

For me? BRO3. Hands down.

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

@@ZeroFidelity I would have to agree, BRO3 are really fun speakers. They have some sort of magic in the mid range and lows. Only negative about this speaker is the build quality, the cabinet on mines is not put together well, its a shame for a $550 speaker.

[@mdsveda]

@@ZeroFidelity I bought the BR03's over the Elacs

[@streamcnoremorse3323]

@@ZeroFidelity Thanks! I would try to upgrade to Triangle BR03 from Elac B6.2

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

From the top to the bottom of your bookshelf speaker reviews, what would you say is the percentage difference in overall enjoyability & SQ? 10%? More? Less?

[@ZeroFidelity]

I don't 100% follow you.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@ZeroFidelity I mean from the cheapest or least favorite to the most expensive and favorite bookshelf you've reviewed, what would you say is the percentage difference between them, generally speaking? It's been my experience that most audiophile brand speakers over the past decade or so are very good, even entry-level ones. I own a pair of very very inexpensive Infinity Primus 362 floorstanders, and I've owned a boatload of speakers over the years, and I'd say that these cheap speakers offer at least 90% of the enjoyability & SQ of speakers costing at least 10X the price. So I guess I'm asking where do you think the sweet-spot is for the Hi-Fi enthusiast?

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@MrChristopherMolloy Let me put it this way: The affordable gear I have collects dust when I'm not using it for reviews. Mostly because I find it to be nearly unlistenable when compared to higher-end speakers. Once you get used to a certain level of playback, it's hard to go back to anything less. That isn't to say I look down on affordable gear. Quite the opposite. I frequently review affordable-fi at this channel due to how exciting that particular market has become! But when you get right down to it - - if you know what you're doing - - you pay, you get. As for a sweet spot: That's almost impossible to say. Personally speaking, I think $3,000 is where things start to get really good for bookshelf speakers. Beyond that price however, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify the additional expense. Especially when there are large, high-performance, high-value tower speakers like the Tekton DI's to consider.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@ZeroFidelity Thank 👍

[@mydogskips2]

@@MrChristopherMolloy I agree with you, but that's what it is to be an audiophile, spending more and more money for smaller and smaller returns, but they are still gains nonetheless. At some point the question really becomes, when is good enough, good enough, and how much are you willing to spend to get just a little bit more, a little bit better? And the higher you go, the more you have to spend to get smaller and smaller gains. The way I see it, like to explain it, is that it's like walking into a Best Buy store and checking out all the TVs. The differences are subtle and many won't see and appreciate them, but for discerning viewers, the difference is noticeable and worth the added expense. But a strange and interesting thing happens when you make your purchase and take it home; without the more expensive sets nearby to compare, will you still notice the slightly inferior picture quality of the TV you bought, or will you enjoy the likely good picture you settled on, one that's 80 to 90 percent of the performance of the more expensive products? Personally, I'm content with my $330 LG HDTV, just as happy as I was with the $1,000 TV I bought years ago, and likewise, over time I've come to be happy with my relatively inexpensive speakers, blu ray player, and integrated amp, and I regret having spent thousands on high-end gear, separates, early on in my journey. I did it backwards, spent a lot when I was starting out, buying things out of my initial budget because I was trying to get it right from the outset and not have to upgrade, but now I only want to simplify and downsize. Yeah, I can definitely tell the difference, but I don't personally think it's night and day, nor worth $10k, but that's just me, each person needs to make that determination for themselves. I'll just point out that a lot of ego and vanity exists in this hobby, too many of us are trying to keep up with the Joneses just to prove we can, and we get deluded by price tags thinking erroneously that more expensive necessarily means better, that $2,000 is twice as good as $1,000, and ultimately, most probably take themselves just a bit too seriously. The speakers in my car absolutely suck, cheap Toyota stock garbage, but I still love listening to music as I run down the road, and that's what really matters.

[@unabonger777]

Lower sensitivity speakers in general seem to call for better amplification to get the most out of them.

[@jordantewari]

I have the Cambridge CXN v2 streamer which is very revealing and clear hooked up to an emotiva amp. I wonder if I should do this or the Triangle BRO3.?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Probably the ELAC. Triangle likes gear that's a bit warmer than what you have.

[@ariannycheong]

imo these are a steal if you already have capable source and power. I run these with a luxman 505ux and it's awesome.

[@bogdanbarabas1]

How do you think these will pair up with the Cambridge Audio CXA61 amp? @Zero Fidelity Thanks for the great review

[@nyccrcsx]

I listen to both I preferred the 2.0 better than reference the 2.0 sounds lively to me plus almost the half price I’ll take the 2.0s

[@MrRonnmaui]

How would they sound on the Peachtree Nova 125? Very tempted to "buy and try" for 30 days. How much better than my cheap Definitive Technology SM45's?

[@ZeroFidelity]

I cant answer either of your questions. Haven't tried the combo, nor have I tried the SM45's. This is one of those "Suck it and see" scenarios.

[@MichelLinschoten]

I know the older top series with jet tweeter elacs really well . The Andrew Jones series, I had the debut ?! Totally disappointed me and I did not venture any further into it .. This might be a good time to try one again

[@arthurwatts1680]

Sure, but are they as good as the Bose Wave Radio, Sean ?

[@michaelboyce3619]

Will driving these with a Parasound New Classic 200 be a suitable amp for these speakers? Thanks.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Yep. Should make for a solid match.

[@froidd758]

I have a Totem Rainmaker for 5 years now. Is an ELAC Unifi Reference be a good upgrade?

[@FarHagh]

Like many others, I like the series. Now, what would be interesting is a video with a considerable change of mind. I know it may not happen that often for trained ears, but it would be interesting to watch a video about something you initially didn't like and it significantly grew on you, or vice versa....

[@soulshinobi]

OSHA gonna fine you for that pallet stood on-end. 👀

[@sting64az]

"Over Rule"..

[@TheBorsMistral]

Thanks for the DR vs Uni-Fi2 line-up comparison. For a 5.1.2 setup on a something like a simple X1700h receiver in a mediumish room, which of the two would you go for?