Elac Debut or Polk Signature? and which size?

[wwenze]

My local shop is having a sale with coupons so these are what's available

I was considering Elac Debut until I saw Polk Signature series at similar price point. I think favorably of Debut but the Panther rating is only a *shrug*, while Polks get a good Panther rating. Which is really weird considering the measurements and preference score.

Then there's also the issue of size, Polk S20 is 35cm deep which is deeper than what my table would like. I like bass but I also like small speakers, Elac B5.2 seems to have the same amount of bass extension as B6.2 but overall more distortion, how much does distortion matter? (There's also the issue of B5.2's shelf treble response)

I think I should probably be going for Elac B6.2 but I'd like to hear some $0.02

 

[Deleted member 48726]

I like bass but I also like small speakers

Well. I hope you don't like to listen very loud then?

 

[Power Pop 23]

View attachment 347016

My local shop is having a sale with coupons so these are what's available

I was considering Elac Debut until I saw Polk Signature series at similar price point. I think favorably of Debut but the Panther rating is only a *shrug*, while Polks get a good Panther rating. Which is really weird considering the measurements and preference score.

Then there's also the issue of size, Polk S20 is 35cm deep which is deeper than what my table would like. I like bass but I also like small speakers, Elac B5.2 seems to have the same amount of bass extension as B6.2 but overall more distortion, how much does distortion matter? (There's also the issue of B5.2's shelf treble response)

I think I should probably be going for Elac B6.2 but I'd like to hear some $0.02

Given your constraint in 'placement', substituting the ELAC B6.2 for a Polk S20, seems like a reasonable 'tradeoff'

 

[Doenerkunde]

View attachment 347016
Then there's also the issue of size, I like bass but I also like small speakers, Elac B5.2 seems to have the same amount of bass extension as B6.2 but overall more distortion, how much does distortion matter? (There's also the issue of B5.2's shelf treble response)

Compression tests (as performed by ErinsAudioCorner) also indicate differences in linearity with rising volume between the 5.2 and 6.2:



The exchange rate lets me assume you are canadian? Always good to mention, since other users might chime in with some good local deals that you are not yet aware of.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

It's difficult to integrate speakers with lots of bass on a desk.

 

[Teeter]

I have the ELAC B6.2 as the mains and Polk S15 as side surrounds. The Elacs are 5 feet apart, pointed straight out into the room for the perfect balance. Movie DD sound is the best with my speaker set-up.

 

[mhardy6647]

I owned a pair of the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 (jeepers, I do hope they didn't pay anybody for coming up with that name/model number!) and a pair of Polk R200. I tried for a long time, fiddling with placement and other things most folks here don't believe in but I could not get the ELACs to sound good to my taste. The R200s are still here. The ELACs are not.

Of course:
1) This doesn't address the OP's question, as the R200 is a more expensive little loudspeaker than the S20 (or ES20) -- although still not really an expensive loudspeaker in 2024 terms.
2) The ELACs are very "transparent" in the loudspeaker sense of the term. They do a good job, for a cheap loudspeaker, of disappearing as discrete sources of sound. I'll give them that.
3) De gustibus non est disputandum.




I do, FWIW, have a pair of the Polk S20s. They are noticeably heavy sounding (i.e., midbass bumped) but pleasant to listen to overall and easy to drive. The pair I have was given to me by a very kind friend & hifi fellow traveler.

 

[Teeter]

@mhardy6647

Polk Reserve R200 Bookshelf Speaker Review

Polk Reserve R200

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

I had looked at the Polk R-200, but the review was not all that positive, for that amount of money. You didn't say how you are using them. In a 5.1 home theatre, use a sub-woofer, used straight out of the box, speakers used in near field - 7 feet or less, speakers toed in or straight out, room condition? Is your listening primarily Music? Nice you like your R-200's. Having a really good Amplifier/AVR, can make a difference in presentation.

My ELAC's are straight out into the room and 5 feet+ apart. My TV and front speakers are 6.5 feet from my listening position. The Elac's tweeters are at ear level. Center channel is at ear level. The SS are 3 feet above and a bit behind ear level and pointed down. My Denon celebrates the speakers for optimum performance, based on conditions.

ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Speaker Review

ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Granted, everybody's ears are not the same, but based on the reviews couple years ago and cost, I went with the German ELAC. I watch a lot of Movies,and listen to some internet Mp3, via the Denon. AVR. With my set-up, Folk, Soft Rock, Classical, Some Country, sound pretty good.

Just my view for having the ELAC's over the Polk R200 and positioning of speakers are noteworthy.