Short answer: the Boston Acoustics A25. It ranks #22 of 56 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $299.98; the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 ranks #24 and costs $329, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Boston Acoustics A25: CEA2034 spinorama is decent once you ignore a peak around 900Hz and a dip around 3kHz - directivity is good enough that the response can be EQed and won’t be too room-dependent. The tradeoff: A crazy port resonance and a tweeter with a steeper rolloff than the woofer both show up in the near-field driver measurements, creating the 900Hz peak and the crossover-region dip.
What the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 gets right: Good horizontal directivity: the off-axis curves track the on-axis response closely, so the broad tonal error responds predictably to EQ. The catch: Erin measured a broad +3dB step beginning around 1.5kHz; the resulting elevated upper range sounds tonally uneven even though it is not a narrow, sharp resonance.
Buy the Boston Acoustics A25. It ranks higher for sound quality than the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Boston Acoustics A25 | ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.98 Discontinued | $329.00 |
| Ranked | #22 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #24 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 90Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1" Kortec soft dome tweeter, 5.25" ceramic/glass-fiber polymer mid/woofer | 5.25" aramid-fiber woofer, 1" cloth-dome tweeter |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 10.7H x 7.25W x 8.9D in | 13.4"H x 7.1"W x 9.2"D (341 x 180 x 234 mm) |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs / 4.58 kg each | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | About 83dB after recommended EQ (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | 10-150W recommended | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- KEF Q150 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Sony SS-CS5 M2 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs JBL Stage A120
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
The Two Speakers In Full
Boston Acoustics A25: $299.98 Discontinued
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama is decent once you ignore a peak around 900Hz and a dip around 3kHz - directivity is good enough that the response can be EQed and won’t be too room-dependent. Cabinet fit and finish is well above its price class, and dynamics were strong with no distortion audible even at high volume on well-recorded material. Discontinued, but the reviewer suggests hunting for clearance pricing on remaining stock.
Cons: A crazy port resonance and a tweeter with a steeper rolloff than the woofer both show up in the near-field driver measurements, creating the 900Hz peak and the crossover-region dip. The rear port itself measured audibly distorted up close, though it wasn’t noticeable from normal listening distance in the reviewer’s room. Discontinued.
Full Boston Acoustics A25 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 90Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 10.7H x 7.25W x 8.9D in |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" Kortec soft dome tweeter, 5.25" ceramic/glass-fiber polymer mid/woofer |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Power Handling | 10-150W recommended |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs / 4.58 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs JBL Studio 530
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs KEF Q150
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs ELAC BS U5
- Boston Acoustics A25 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- See all 15 comparisons
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2: $329.00 Amazon
Pros: Good horizontal directivity: the off-axis curves track the on-axis response closely, so the broad tonal error responds predictably to EQ. Erin demonstrated that a single high-shelf filter centered near 1.6kHz, about -2dB with Q near 2, substantially improves linearity. Moderate roughly +/-50-60 degree horizontal coverage balances room interaction and image focus. The front port makes close-to-wall placement practical. Erin measured F3 near 60Hz and F10 near 40Hz, useful extension for a compact 5.25-inch two-way. Harmonic distortion is mostly below 1% at 86dB/1m, and low-frequency distortion is better than its size might suggest. Compact cabinet and inexpensive pair pricing make it a workable EQ-assisted desktop or small-room system.
Cons: Erin measured a broad +3dB step beginning around 1.5kHz; the resulting elevated upper range sounds tonally uneven even though it is not a narrow, sharp resonance. Native response spans roughly -2.6 to +4dB around the mean, so this is not a neutral speaker without correction. Sensitivity is only about 83dB after correcting the shelf, demanding materially more amplifier voltage than ELAC’s 86dB specification implies. Vertical response changes substantially outside roughly +/-10 degrees of tweeter height. Dynamic compression is the larger limitation: at the highest sweep level it loses roughly 1-1.5dB through the midrange, and even the 86dB trace shows unusual nonlinearity that may involve crossover heating. At about 96dB, multitone distortion rises audibly around 600Hz; an 80-120Hz subwoofer crossover helps but does not turn it into a high-output design. Erin recommends the larger B6.2 instead when EQ is unavailable.
Full ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 13.4"H x 7.1"W x 9.2"D (341 x 180 x 234 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25" aramid-fiber woofer, 1" cloth-dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | About 83dB after recommended EQ (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs JBL Studio 530
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs ELAC BS U5
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs KEF Q150
- See all 18 comparisons