Short answer: the ELAC DB63. It ranks #33 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $499; the JBL HDI-1600 ranks #35 and costs $1980, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the ELAC DB63 side: 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. Set against that: A dip in the lower midrange (300-600Hz, about 1.5dB) reduces vocal warmth and can make voices sound slightly hollow.
The case for the JBL HDI-1600: CEA2034 spinorama is very flat in the critical mid-to-upper frequencies, with a slight bass boost that should have a good subjective effect and very smooth early-window directivity. The tradeoff: A dip appears above 10kHz on-axis.
Buy the ELAC DB63. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL HDI-1600 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC DB63 | JBL HDI-1600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.00 | $1980 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #33 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #35 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (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) | 14.6"H x 9.1"W x 11.4"D (370.0 x 230.0 x 288.9 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Aramid Fiber woofer, 1" soft dome tweeter | 1" tweeter + 6.5" woofer |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg each | 53.4 lbs / 24.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC DB63: $499.00 Amazon Crutchfield
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.
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 DB63 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| 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 |
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JBL HDI-1600: $1980 Discontinued Crutchfield
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama is very flat in the critical mid-to-upper frequencies, with a slight bass boost that should have a good subjective effect and very smooth early-window directivity. Predicted in-room response in a simulated average listening room closely tracks the reviewer’s own preferred target curve.
Cons: A dip appears above 10kHz on-axis. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows some messiness around the crossover along with a 700Hz resonance. Harmonic distortion rises to nearly 2% right at the 1.9kHz crossover point at 96dB SPL/1m. Discontinued.
Full JBL HDI-1600 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 14.6"H x 9.1"W x 11.4"D (370.0 x 230.0 x 288.9 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 6.5" woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 53.4 lbs / 24.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL HDI-1600 vs Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX
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- JBL HDI-1600 vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- JBL HDI-1600 vs ELAC VELA BS 403
- JBL HDI-1600 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- JBL HDI-1600 vs Revel M126Be
- JBL HDI-1600 vs ELAC DBR62
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