Amazing stereo speakers do not need to be expensive, for instance, the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 is an affordably priced bookshelf speaker with plenty of sonic performance and value to pass on to its listeners. These stand-mounters are very well-received and have earned themselves a few accolades over the years. Now the question is which amp is best suited to match with these talented stereo bookshelf speakers.
When it comes to high-quality amps, there are many choices to choose from but to get matching and compatible amps to pair with the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 will take some effort. Firstly, we need to start learning more about the speaker’s sonic characteristics and like all budget loudspeakers, they each have their own strengths and limitations which we need to find out as well. Once we have gathered enough information, we will then list out the best amps to go for later on.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics and Strengths of Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2
The Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a low-profile speaker design that will fit nicely into most listening rooms without attracting much attention which is okay as you can fully focus on listening to your music. When you take off the speaker grille, you will immediately notice the 1″ (25mm) cloth dome tweeter with its own grille protecting the HF driver. Right below the tweeter, you will spot a 6.5″ (165mm) aramid fiber woofer and followed by front-firing bass port. With the bass port positioned at the front of the speaker cabinet, this does allow us to place the Debut 2.0 B6.2 closer to the rear walls which is neat especially if you are having space constraints.
For a bookshelf speaker at this price point, the frequency response is really impressive, it is 44Hz-35kHz, quite a deep bass extension for a stand-mounter. The speaker sensitivity is 87dB which is still not bad but the nominal impedance is 6 Ohms. It already starts to show some signs that the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers are not that easy to drive. The maximum power input is at 120 Watts and we should look for amplifiers that have power outputs of around 70 Watts per channel. We will not be looking at preamp and power amp combos as they will be a lot more expensive than the speakers themselves.
More Info at Amazon – ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers
The Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a nice balance in its overall sound reproduction and is transparent as well. These bookshelf speakers have impeccable accuracy and deliver a faithful music presentation, without any exaggeration or over-emphasis. The sound clarity is great too, the details can be heard clearly including subtle music nuances and we are pretty impressed with the level of insights that these bookshelf speakers have. We also can’t really hear any coloration in the sound reproduction, which makes the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 even more impressive.
The mid-bass reproduction is satisfactory and overall bass performance is good for a bookshelf speaker but to really nitpick, the deep bass delivery is less than satisfying and you will definitely notice this limitation. Still, we can solve this issue by integrating an active subwoofer that delivers the missing deep bass notes. With an addition of a sub, it might open up the speakers further. The Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 can be pretty engaging and lively which will depend on the music you are playing. We love how natural the B6.2 speakers sound but can be a bit thin sounding though.
The overall sound reproduction of the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers is neutral with a hint of brightness and can be lean sounding. When driving them at high volumes, they do not sound overly bright. The music presentation is clean and clear, not to mention, the precision is remarkable with highly defined stereo imaging. For a pair of bookshelf speakers at this price, we really can’t complain much. We have the details we need and it is time to list out the best amps that you can go for to pair up with the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers. The pricing of the amps will also be taken as one of the major factors.
Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2-Way (front-firing port)
- Drive Units: 1″ (25mm) cloth dome tweeter, 6.5″ (165mm) aramid fiber woofer
- Frequency Response: 44Hz–35kHz
- Maximum Power Input: 120 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms
- Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 87dB
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 195mm x 375mm x 268mm | 7.69″ x 14.76″ x 10.55″
- Weight: 7.4kg (16.3lbs)
Best Amps to match with Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2
The Yamaha A-S701 will be one of the best amps to match with the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 bookshelf speakers. The A-S701 has a rated power output of 120 Watts per channel into 6 Ohms and can make the B6.2 speakers sing all day. The sonic characteristics of this Yamaha integrated amp will match well with the bookshelf speakers too. The Yamaha A-S701 is a revealing amp with amazing accuracy, not to mention, it can really deliver an impactful deep bass when it needs to. You will need to connect an active sub to the subwoofer output of the amp, in order to enjoy the low-frequency performance capability of the A-S701. You might also want to audition them first as the overall sound reproduction can be a bit too bright for some listeners.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha A-S701 Integrated Stereo Amplifier
The PS Audio Spout 100 is an amazing integrated amp and comes with a plethora of features, furthermore, it is modestly priced. It can go up to 100 Watts per channel (RMS) into 4 Ohms which is more than enough to drive your Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 bookshelf speakers. Other than the power, the Spout 100 has a built-in DAC with USB input, a Phono preamp, Bluetooth connection for music streaming, and more. With just these features alone, it has already provided tons of value to its users. The stereo imaging of the PS Audio Spout 100 is remarkable and the music delivery has clarity as well.
More Details at Amazon – PS Audio Sprout100
If your budget is really tight then the SMSL AD18 will be an excellent choice to go for. It has enough power to drive your Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 and you can connect to an active sub for an improvement in the overall bass performance. The SMSL AD18 also comes with useful features such as Bluetooth, D/A Converter, and more. The sound quality is quite good and at this price point, we can’t really complain. The number of connections is not bad too. Overall it is very well received and highly rated by satisfied users. It is very compact in size and would be a great amp for a desktop stereo sound system.
More Details at Amazon – S.M.S.L AD18 Stereo Amplifier
The Denon PMA-600NE will be one of the best amps to go for and it is affordably priced with plenty of useful features. It has both a built-in D/A converter (up to 192kHz/24bit) and a Phono preamp where you can use the Analog Mode for a more detailed music presentation of your analog sources. The power output of the PMA-600NE is sufficient to drive the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 and the integrated amp’s neutral sonic character with a touch of warmth is a suitable match for the stand-mounters too. We would suggest connecting an active subwoofer using the dedicated sub output, as the Debut 2.0 B6.2 does lack deep bass reproduction.
More Details at Amazon – Denon PMA-600NE Stereo Integrated Amplifier
NAD D 3045 is another digital integrated amp option that you can go for. The compact size and upright positioning make the D 3045 amp a terrific choice for a desktop stereo system. The NAD D 3045 is able to drive your Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 and the IHF dynamic power feature can help to handle most music peaks, as it enables the amplifier to output up to 200 Watts into 2 Ohms (Short-Term). There is a sub output to connect to an active subwoofer, USB input (up to 192kHz/24bit) supporting MQA and DSD, MM phono, and more. The overall sonic character of the NAD D 3045 is neutral and the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers will match well with this hybrid digital DAC amp.
More Details at Amazon – NAD D3045 Integrated Amp
The bass performance of the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 is actually good for a bookshelf speaker at this price point but it really starts to lose its charm when the frequency falls below 60Hz. This is why adding an active subwoofer will not only help to improve the overall bass performance but also help produce the deep bass frequencies which the speakers can’t deliver. For high-performance entry-level subwoofers, we will suggest going for SVS SB-1000 Pro and Rythmik Audio L12 powered subs. These are sealed cabinet subwoofers that are exemplary for music playbacks and performance.
More Information at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Sub
To Sum It Up
It is recommended to integrate an active subwoofer into the mix so that you can enjoy a full-range musical performance. You might want to start with auditioning the amplifiers listed here first and see which amp sounds the best to you. Include the powered subwoofer you are going to get during the audition for a more accurate result. You can also use this list as a reference when finding other matching amps from different brands or series.
