Short answer: the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2, because its tonal error is correctable. Its broad +3dB step from around 1.5kHz responds predictably to EQ thanks to good horizontal directivity. The KEF Q100’s 5.25-inch Uni-Q coaxial driver aligns tweeter and woofer for consistent imaging and its 86dB sensitivity is reasonably easy to drive, but its spinorama shows broad lifts from 700Hz-1.5kHz and from 5kHz up, plus a cancellation notch around 1.4kHz.
Buy the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2. It is rated higher for sound quality; the KEF Q100 is no longer sold new.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 | KEF Q100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $269.00 per pair | $550 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #49 of 92 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #72 of 92 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 7.1”W x 9.2”D (341 x 180 x 234 mm) | 11.8”H x 7.1”W x 10.7”D (300 x 180 x 272 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | About 83dB after recommended EQ (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 5.25” aramid-fiber woofer, 1” cloth-dome tweeter | 5.25” Uni-Q aluminum coaxial driver, 1” aluminum dome tweeter |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.02 | 4.96 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 | 7.24 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 49Hz - 40kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 compares with other leading options:
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs Audio First Fidelia
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs Philharmonic Ceramic Mini
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- KEF LS50 Meta vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
- XMechanik Mechano23 DIY vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2: $269.00 per pair Amazon eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83dB.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.02 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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KEF Q100: $550 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the KEF Q1 Meta, ranked higher, rated 3.6/5.
Pros: 5.25” Uni-Q coaxial driver keeps the tweeter and woofer point-source aligned for consistent imaging. 86dB sensitivity is reasonably easy to drive. Measured bass extension of 85Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows broad, audible deviations from flat rather than narrow peaks: a lift from 700Hz-1.5kHz and again from 5kHz up, plus a cancellation notch around 1.4kHz from port/cabinet interaction. Bass sensitivity drops to about 80dB and impedance falls below 4 ohms in the bass, demanding a capable amplifier. The reviewer heard boomy, buzzing bass that improved somewhat with the port plugged, and could not recommend it, calling the famous reputation more about looks than sound. Discontinued.
Full KEF Q100 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 11.8”H x 7.1”W x 10.7”D (300 x 180 x 272 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” Uni-Q aluminum coaxial driver, 1” aluminum dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 40kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.96 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.24 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons