Elac Debut Reference DBR-62 Speaker Review

[pvdputte]

1) Which budget 100~150 W amplifier can drive this speaker well? You won't mean Fosi V3: it's been reported that it can't drive the woofer well, it's anemic, and it has load dependence. Which other? 400€ hypex NC12MP? No, it doesn't sound good, treble sounds damn metallic, I tried it. A 45W Onkyo sounds better, more realistic. Cheap class D doesn't have good tonality from midrange to high frequencies. Measurements can say whatever, you listen to real sounds, not pulse sweeps.

( ^ is a reply to
ZolaIII said:
1) Needs deacent 100~150 W amplifier that's available even on budget for more than 20 years now.
2) tweeter response is what it needs to be, if you want cheap excitement this is not for you.
3) really take a look at measurements... )


I just started scrolling back a little in this huge topic, so I guess I already have my answer?

 

[ZolaIII]

( ^ is a reply to
ZolaIII said:
1) Needs deacent 100~150 W amplifier that's available even on budget for more than 20 years now.
2) tweeter response is what it needs to be, if you want cheap excitement this is not for you.
3) really take a look at measurements... )


I just started scrolling back a little in this huge topic, so I guess I already have my answer?

Don't get mini Denon, try to stretch out for Yamaha R-N 800a if such all in one is what you wish for. If you search enough you will catch it on discount somewhere. I found it in Espana in couple minutes for example.

https://www.studio-22.com/yamaha-r-n800a

 

[Koeitje]

1) Which budget 100~150 W amplifier can drive this speaker well? You won't mean Fosi V3: it's been reported that it can't drive the woofer well, it's anemic, and it has load dependence. Which other? 400€ hypex NC12MP? No, it doesn't sound good, treble sounds damn metallic, I tried it. A 45W Onkyo sounds better, more realistic. Cheap class D doesn't have good tonality from midrange to high frequencies. Measurements can say whatever, you listen to real sounds, not pulse sweeps.

You are trolling.

 

[ZolaIII]

You are trolling.

More so as those Denons are cheap class D for 30+ years and never aimed too perform very good. Have a old one boxed out on attic tho it still works if nothing else.

 

[DeadAndCompany]

For all kinds of reasons beyond my control I'm thinking about buying a Denon RCD-N12DAB (= CEOL N12DAB without speakers) and pairing it with a good but moderately-sized speaker.

There are multiple reviews online that pair this Denon with B&W 606 S3 or 607 S3, trying to convince me it's an incredible combination. But if I read on ASR about e.g. the 606 S2 anniversary edition I'm very hesitant to put my money on B&W anymore.

So I'm very interested in these DBR62 speakers, but it seems people pair it with amps that are more powerful than this Denon all-in-one. Is it worthy or should I look at something else to pair it with?

It's specced 2-channel 65 W + 65 W (4 Ω/ohms, 1 kHz, THD + N 0.7 %)

How loud do you listen?
I think what matters more than the amp is the sound character of the speakers. Which is detailed in this and many other reviews.

 

[pvdputte]

Don't get mini Denon, try to stretch out for Yamaha R-N 800a if such all in one is what you wish for. If you search enough you will catch it on discount somewhere. I found it in Espana in couple minutes for example.

https://www.studio-22.com/yamaha-r-n800a

Thanks, I haven't been following up on the latest and greatest apparently. The Denon also has an HDMI ARC port, I guess I could look up to the R-N1000A for that but ouch, getting into expensive territory then.

As a matter of fact I'm even unsure if using ARC is any better than connecting the optical out of my TV when it comes to audio transmission and ease-of-use (the rest of my household will usually not want to use the external speakers, and also won't fiddle with TV audio settings).

 

[pvdputte]

How loud do you listen?
I think what matters more than the amp is the sound character of the speakers. Which is detailed in this and many other reviews.

Let's call it "moderate"

What actually got me looking at the Denon was fatigue... It should work rather well at any task be it bluetooth, spotify, HCMI ARC, optical in while not breaking the bank hence low risk.

And devices like the Denon DRA800H were a disappointment as they're more of a mediocre AVR with channels ripped out instead of being a true stereo-first design.

A Yamaha R-N800A with these DBR62s might fit the bill, perhaps I'll get some practical experience with that digital out on the TV then.

 

[Roland68]

Let's call it "moderate"

What actually got me looking at the Denon was fatigue... It should work rather well at any task be it bluetooth, spotify, HCMI ARC, optical in while not breaking the bank hence low risk.

And devices like the Denon DRA800H were a disappointment as they're more of a mediocre AVR with channels ripped out instead of being a true stereo-first design.

A Yamaha R-N800A with these DBR62s might fit the bill, perhaps I'll get some practical experience with that digital out on the TV then.

Buy a WiiM Pro or better yet, Pro Plus and buy the amplifier separately. Both have digital and analog inputs and outputs and you can use any amplifier. Much more flexible and functional.
A used Yamaha A-S 500/501/700/701/1000 makes the whole thing even cheaper. Or a Sabaj A30a, then the WiiM Pro is completely sufficient because this amplifier does not need a DAC.

 

[pvdputte]

Well, that would be just the ticket for me personally, but the rest of the household would be better served if they can open up their Heos or MusicCast or whatever app and enjoy the music they like.

Otherwise they'll just be very annoyed about the 'cumbersome' stuff I dragged in. And keep listening to their high-pitched smartphone on max volume. :-|

Unless that WiiM can also turn the amplifier on/off and modify the volume?

 

[Roland68]

Well, that would be just the ticket for me personally, but the rest of the household would be better served if they can open up their Heos or Musicast or whatever app and enjoy the music they like.

Otherwise they'll just be very annoyed about the 'cumbersome' stuff I dragged in. And keep listening to their high-pitched smartphone on max volume. :-|

Unless that WiiM can also turn the amplifier on/off and modify the volume?

I'm about to burst out laughing.
Heos or Musicast apps can be used, but the much better, more useful and more proven Wiim app can't?
Wiim is much more future-oriented, more sociable and is constantly being developed with much more energy.
Buy a Wiim Mini for around €100 for every place you need it and you will have acceptance and you won't be tied to overpriced and not future-proof technology.

 

[pvdputte]

Unless that WiiM can also turn the amplifier on/off and modify the volume?

I'm happy that I made you laugh, but this was an honest question ^

<getting off-topic>

I'm running my own music collection from an Ampache server, playing it on DSub on my phone and in the car, but when it comes to home audio I haven't found a proper solution that will work for others too. I've looked at Moode and Volumio on Raspberry Pi, HifiBerry etc.

I'd like something simple that will just work for the others. WiiM may fit that description, I'm going to look into it. I haven't used Heos or Musicast myself either. It just comes with the package.

Now that I think about it, integrating with OpenHAB or HA is also on my list :-|

 

[ZolaIII]

Thanks, I haven't been following up on the latest and greatest apparently. The Denon also has an HDMI ARC port, I guess I could look up to the R-N1000A for that but ouch, getting into expensive territory then.

As a matter of fact I'm even unsure if using ARC is any better than connecting the optical out of my TV when it comes to audio transmission and ease-of-use (the rest of my household will usually not want to use the external speakers, and also won't fiddle with TV audio settings).

It's not better (HDMI vs Toslink) but have in mind how there are a lot of TV's with broken Toslink implementation this days (basically all Korean's with their own IP and others using it). It won't be a problem on synchronous implementations on receiver but on asynchronous (mainly newer AKM DAC's) it's a known problem. Not related to that and other Yamahas using mainly ESS but better part of good Denon AVR's.

 

[Honken]

So I'm very interested in these DBR62 speakers, but it seems people pair it with amps that are more powerful than this Denon all-in-one. Is it worthy or should I look at something else to pair it with?

I paired them with some fairly beefy monoblocks (Hypex NC400) and a nondescript Onkyo stereo receiver. The speakers sounded exactly the same to me, not sure what the last few posters are on about to be honest. The Onkyo didn't go very loud.

 

[SmokedBurger]

I just matched my dbr62 with an edifier t5 subwoofer and holy sh- this subwoofer has ALOT of power so i had to turn down the physical volume on the subwoofer to the lowest setting and set the crossover to 80hz at -6db. is this the correct subwoofer crossover? I'm using the Wiim amp with it.

 

[SmokedBurger]

I managed to eq to the following, subwoofer was designed up to 36 which is met by the fr. should i force it to go to 20? this was measured with umik1,

 

[tw 2022]

I just matched my dbr62 with an edifier t5 subwoofer and holy sh- this subwoofer has ALOT of power so i had to turn down the physical volume on the subwoofer to the lowest setting and set the crossover to 80hz at -6db. is this the correct subwoofer crossover? I'm using the Wiim amp with it.

it sounds like *maybe* the amp is overdriving the sub .. try turning down the wiim amp farther and raising the sub volume a bit... i hope this helps

 

[SmokedBurger]

it sounds like *maybe* the amp is overdriving the sub .. try turning down the wiim amp farther and raising the sub volume a bit... i hope this helps

yup! you were right, had to lower the gain on both the unit and the wiim amp, the sub is currently on its lowest volume.

 

[KU713]

Although I still didn't have the opportunity to hear this speaker, but only using Kevlar and what I read about skin materials, I'm afraid that this speaker can't be that good.

 

[KU713]

And the comments about having to use this and this powerful amplifier remind me of how someone wrote about one speaker, that they are absolutely great, but he would replace the tweeter, mid-bass rwproduktor and crossover, but that otherwise it is an excellent speaker.

 

[KU713]

Sorry for being so skeptical lately. But really, people, listen to what you like and not what the measurements and rumors are. There is nothing else but a listening test at home. Youtube reviews are of course paid, no one did anything for free. There are so many excellent speaker and amplifier brands out there, but I invest very little in advertising. That's why only a few brands are discussed here on the forum and everyone thinks it's the best. No, I just invest a lot in advertising. Maybe I don't need advertising for good products and their good reputation is spread by word of mouth, and I replace brands with average products with large investments in advertising and paid reviews, just so that they are known everywhere, but that does not mean that they have excellent products.