Short answer: the ELAC DBR62. It ranks #42 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $678.97; the Definitive Technology Demand D11 ranks #44 and costs $999, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the ELAC DBR62 gets right: Two-way design with a 6.5” woofer and 1” dome tweeter in a shallow waveguide, with the tweeter positioned close to the woofer for near-point-source coherence - giving more vertical listening leeway than typical two-ways. The catch: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison.
What the Definitive Technology Demand D11 offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows a mostly flat, well-controlled response - close to class-leading if not for one narrow resonance. Watch for: A narrow but real ~600Hz jaggy shows up consistently in on-axis and off-axis measurements.
Buy the ELAC DBR62. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Definitive Technology Demand D11 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC DBR62 | Definitive Technology Demand D11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $678.97 | $999 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #42 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #44 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 8.2"W x 10.8"D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) | 13H x 7.25W x 12.5D in |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 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 | 18.1 lbs / 8.2 kg each | 17 lbs each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | passive radiator |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 48Hz - 24kHz (61Hz - 22kHz -3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 20-200W recommended |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- ELAC DB63 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs ELAC DBR62
The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC DBR62: $678.97 Amazon Crutchfield
Pros: Two-way design with a 6.5” woofer and 1” dome tweeter in a shallow waveguide, with the tweeter positioned close to the woofer for near-point-source coherence - giving more vertical listening leeway than typical two-ways. Notably forgiving of placement and aiming: sounds good from directly on-axis all the way to 30° of toe-out (parallel with the rear wall), making it more room-independent than many speakers this price. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70° until the tweeter starts beaming, right in the reviewer’s preferred sweet spot. A mild, wide-Q bass bump centered around 100Hz adds a bit of extra punch that the reviewer personally likes. On-axis linearity within about ±2.5dB, with a strong measured preference score of 5.3. Distortion stays below 3% at both 86dB and 96dB until around 50Hz. Vertical sweet spot of about ±10-20° works well for multi-row home theater seating. The reviewer calls it “the epitome of a good speaker” for its price, with no reservations recommending it.
Cons: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison. A mild hot spot around 4-5kHz can read as slight sibilance when pointed directly on-axis. Low-to-mid sensitivity (about 84.3dB) combined with a current draw that behaves like roughly 2.4 ohms between 100-200Hz means it’s best driven by a dedicated 4-ohm-capable amplifier rather than an AVR. A diffraction dip from the baffle edge is visible in measurements - typical of any standard rectangular-baffle speaker and not correctable without a much more expensive curved-baffle design. Multitone distortion testing suggests some potential midrange distortion could be audible on certain material, though the reviewer didn’t personally notice it. Minor resonances appear around 700Hz and 1-1.5kHz, possibly tied to the enclosure, port, or cone/surround edge termination, though their audible impact appears minimal. F3 of 53Hz means a subwoofer is still needed for real bass extension below about 40Hz.
Full ELAC DBR62 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 8.2"W x 10.8"D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Aramid Fiber woofer, 1" soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs / 8.2 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
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Top 3 Things You Need to Know About ELAC DBR62 Before You Buy
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Elac DBR62
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top Picks of 2023: Must-Haves Under $3000
- Audio Science Review Measurements
- Reddit Search for ELAC DBR62 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Definitive Technology Demand D11: $999 Discontinued Amazon
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.
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. Discontinued.
Full Definitive Technology Demand D11 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13H x 7.25W x 12.5D in |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| 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) |
| Weight | 17 lbs each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Yamaha NS-800A
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Infinity Reference R162
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs JBL HDI-1600
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Klipsch RP-600M II