Short answer: the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63. It ranks #42 of 134 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.2/5) at $499 and is still sold new; the Definitive Technology Demand D11 ranks #59 (rated 4.0/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
Buy the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Definitive Technology Demand D11 is no longer sold new.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 | Definitive Technology Demand D11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.00 per pair | $999 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #42 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #59 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 46.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13.3”H x 7.7”W x 11.7”D (337.8 x 195.6 x 297.2 mm) | 13H x 7.25W x 12.5D in |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 6.5” BDSS polypropylene woofer, 1” aluminum dome tweeter (offset), 6x10” oval passive radiator |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) each | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | passive radiator |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 48Hz - 24kHz (61Hz - 22kHz -3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 20-200W recommended |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.12 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.48 (spinorama.org) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63: $499.00 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: 1” aluminum dome tweeter with a distinctive partial-lens waveguide design paired with a 6.5” third-generation aramid fiber cone woofer, in a robustly built cabinet for the price. Shallow bass rolloff (F3 76Hz, F10 40Hz) allows placement close to a wall without excessive boominess, useful for smaller living rooms. Solid measured performance for the price: on-axis linearity within about 2.5dB, impedance dipping only to about 4.4 ohms (easily AVR-driven), and roughly 20-26dB of usable dynamic range. A clear improvement over its sibling ELAC DB62, which has a sibilance issue tied to the crossover that can’t be fixed with EQ. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±60°, giving a spacious soundstage. Distortion looks good at a moderate 86dB and still reasonable at 96dB. Takes well to EQ correction: the reviewer provides a specific filter set (a low-shelf boost at 650Hz plus peaking cuts/boosts at 550Hz, 660Hz, and 3kHz) that meaningfully smooths out its known deviations. Measured bass extension of 76Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.2dB.
Cons: A dip in the lower midrange (300-600Hz, about 1.5dB) reduces vocal warmth and can make voices sound slightly hollow. A high-Q resonance around 650-750Hz shows up clearly in measurements, though the reviewer couldn’t reliably hear it in his own A/B testing. A dip around 2-3kHz (roughly 1-2dB) slightly reduces speech intelligibility and attack in the upper midrange. Directivity droops above about 2kHz as the midwoofer narrows toward its beaming frequency while the tweeter’s pattern behaves differently: an inherent trade-off of physically separated drivers that can’t be fully corrected without introducing other issues. Multitone distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold in the 200Hz-1kHz range, and adding a subwoofer at an 80Hz crossover only modestly reduces it. Toeing the speaker away from the listener loses noticeable top-end air and cymbal energy, giving a softer upper register. Practical loudness ceiling is around 90dB at typical listening distance before midrange distortion and bass attack begin to degrade. Still needs a subwoofer for extension below about 40Hz.
Full ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.3”H x 7.7”W x 11.7”D (337.8 x 195.6 x 297.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Definitive Technology Demand D11: $999 per pair Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a mostly flat, well-controlled response: close to class-leading if not for one narrow resonance. Distortion is well controlled and the deep cabinet lets it play loud without bottoming out except on the deepest bass content. Cabinet construction and finish are a clear step above budget speakers. Measured bass extension of 60.1Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: A narrow but real ~600Hz jaggy shows up consistently in on-axis and off-axis measurements. Horizontal directivity is uneven because of the offset tweeter position, giving the left and right channels slightly different off-axis energy. There’s a low-frequency rattle/noise at very deep bass levels the reviewer called “horrendous.” Discontinued; the Demand series has moved on to newer models.
Full Definitive Technology Demand D11 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13H x 7.25W x 12.5D in |
| Drivers | 6.5” BDSS polypropylene woofer, 1” aluminum dome tweeter (offset), 6x10” oval passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 24kHz (61Hz - 22kHz -3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Power Handling | 20-200W recommended |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.12 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.48 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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