Short answer: the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2. It ranks #18 of 34 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $329; the ELAC BS U5 ranks #21 and costs $856, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 offers: Good horizontal directivity: the off-axis curves track the on-axis response closely, so the broad tonal error responds predictably to EQ. Watch for: 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.
What the ELAC BS U5 offers: This slim three-way coaxial design (an Andrew Jones creation) shows a fairly even on-axis response up to 3kHz, with off-axis behavior notably smoother than the on-axis curve. Watch for: Distortion is very high right at both crossover points - around 270Hz (mid-range) and 2700Hz (tweeter) - at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m, exceeding 3% at the mid-range crossover.
Buy the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the ELAC BS U5 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 | ELAC BS U5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.00 | $856 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #18 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #21 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| 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) | 13.4"H x 7"W x 11.5"D (339.1 x 178.0 x 293.1 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 4 ohms nominal (3.4 ohms minimum) |
| Sensitivity | About 83dB after recommended EQ (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 85dB |
| Drivers | 5.25" aramid-fiber woofer, 1" cloth-dome tweeter | 1" tweeter + 5.25" woofer |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each | 13.2 lbs / 6 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Studio 530 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- KEF Q150 vs Totem Kin One
- JBL Studio 530 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- ELAC BS U5 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- ELAC BS U5 vs Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2
The Two Speakers In Full
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 BS U5: $856 Discontinued
Pros: This slim three-way coaxial design (an Andrew Jones creation) shows a fairly even on-axis response up to 3kHz, with off-axis behavior notably smoother than the on-axis curve. Predicted in-room response looks like it should give good tonality. Vertical directivity is better than average, a benefit of the coaxial layout.
Cons: Distortion is very high right at both crossover points - around 270Hz (mid-range) and 2700Hz (tweeter) - at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m, exceeding 3% at the mid-range crossover. Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a possible resonance around 500Hz visible in the impedance/phase curve. Discontinued.
Full ELAC BS U5 review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 13.4"H x 7"W x 11.5"D (339.1 x 178.0 x 293.1 mm) |
|---|---|
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 5.25" woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.4 ohms minimum) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs / 6 kg |
| 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