Move to quality entry-level separates or higher – during our testing, the Elacs positively sing with the likes of the Marantz PM6007 or Rega Brio amplifiers with a suitable source – and it becomes clear that these boxes are something special.įeed the speakers Madonna’s Ray Of Light and they have no trouble coping with the album’s dense instrumentation and complex rhythms. These speakers merely reflect the quality of the signal fed to them rather than try to sweeten it. Any shortcomings of the partnering electronics aren’t hidden, but thankfully, not exaggerated either. They’re just as likely to be fed by a budget micro-system as they are quality separates, and so need to be balanced to work well with both.Įlac's engineers have done a decent though not class-leading job here. The B5.2 aren’t quite as forgiving of partnering electronics as either the Q Acoustics 3020i or Dali’s Spektor 2 due to a presentation that leans more towards analysis than smoothness or warmth. Speakers at this level need to work with a wide range of partnering equipment. Thankfully, the Debuts aren’t particularly fussy about angling in towards the listening position, producing a wide, solid sound stage with little work. Ideally they should sit on rigid stands to get the best sound. They work best a little out into the room – we start at around 30cm and experiment – but will still deliver relatively balanced results if not optimally placed. These speakers prove unfussy about placement. They’re only available in one finish though – the decent, but slightly drab looking, black ash vinyl as used on our review sample. ![]() We’re impressed by the build of the B5.2 and admire their crisp lines and feeling of solidity. Connection to the amplifier is through a pair of solid single-wire terminals. This is claimed to display fewer resonances and add less distortion to the sound than that found on the previous model. These new drivers positively demand a better foundation to work from and Elac's engineers have obliged with a more rigid, braced MDF enclosure. The old one topped out at a mere 20kHz, so we’re expecting a lot more top-end sparkle and openness than before. ![]() It’s now a wide surround design with improved dispersion and a top-end response that extends to a claimed 35kHz. The tweeter may be hidden behind a distinctive grille, but it marks a major change from the previous version. On the new Debut this has moved to the front panel to make the speakers less sensitive to their proximity to the rear wall, which makes placement easier. ![]() As with most rivals, the bass is tuned by a reflex port.
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