Short answer: the ELAC DBR62. It ranks #57 of 134 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $678.97 and is still sold new; the Infinity Reference R162 ranks #67 (rated 3.8/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
Buy the ELAC DBR62. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Infinity Reference R162 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC DBR62 | Infinity Reference R162 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $678.97 per pair | $500 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #57 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #67 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41.9Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67.4Hz (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) | 15.5”H x 7.9”W x 11.2”D (394 x 200 x 285 mm) |
| 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 | 1” CMMD tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” CMMD woofer |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each | 17.6 lbs (8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 | 5.07 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 | 7.26 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 49Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC DBR62: $678.97 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.3dB.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Top 3 Things You Need to Know About ELAC DBR62 Before You Buy More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- 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 More from Audio Science Review →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC DBR62 vs Yamaha NS-800A
- ELAC DBR62 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- ELAC DBR62 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- ELAC DBR62 vs Technics SB-C700
- ELAC DBR62 vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra Duo V2 Ribbon
- ELAC DBR62 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- ELAC DBR62 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- ELAC DBR62 vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- See all 67 comparisons
Infinity Reference R162: $500 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows good directivity with wide, consistent horizontal and vertical response, and blended early reflections that need little room treatment. 1” CMMD waveguide tweeter and 6.5” CMMD woofer, 85.5dB sensitivity. Measured bass extension of 67.4Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: Elevated output above 3kHz adds brightness, with a resonance around 700Hz and some distortion near the crossover point. EQ or a simple inline tweeter resistor can tame the treble; the reviewer still called it a very enjoyable system for the price. Discontinued.
Full Infinity Reference R162 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.9Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.5”H x 7.9”W x 11.2”D (394 x 200 x 285 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” CMMD tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” CMMD woofer |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.26 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs (8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Infinity Reference R162 vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Infinity Reference R162 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Infinity Reference R162 vs Klipsch RP-600M II
- Infinity Reference R162 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- Infinity Reference R162 vs Yamaha NS-800A
- Infinity Reference R162 vs Dynaudio Emit 20
- Infinity Reference R162 vs JBL Studio 630
- Infinity Reference R162 vs Behringer B2030P
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