Cambridge Audio SX-50 vs Elac Debut B5.2: which to buy?

For most rooms and most budgets I would take the Elac Debut B5.2. It leads on sound quality, bass response and value for money by a clear margin, and those are the things I notice within the first track.

Buy the Cambridge Audio SX-50 if the midrange is what you actually listen for. It edges ahead on midrange clarity and on treble detail, both narrowly, and the character is easy to live with: organic vocals with no metallic edge, and a smooth, slightly dark top end that never turns harsh over a long session. It also takes design by a clear margin, and the walnut veneer cabinet is the reason. At 239 mm tall it tucks onto a desk or a crowded shelf, an 8 ohm load rated for 10 to 100 W suits a modest integrated amp, and the 5 year warranty runs two years longer. Just plan on a subwoofer, because the low end rolls off below 50 Hz and placement moves it around a lot.

The Elac Debut B5.2 is the one to buy if you want the most performance per pound and you can give it room to work. It wins sound quality, bass response and value for money, each by a clear margin, and the bass is the difference you hear immediately: tight, punchy and full enough that I stopped reaching for a subwoofer. It stands 341 mm tall, reaches down to 46 Hz, and wants 30 to 120 W into 6 ohms, so it belongs on stands rather than squeezed onto a cramped desktop. The top end leans bright, which a small cut on the receiver settles in a minute.