Cambridge Audio SX-60 vs Elac Debut B5.2: which to buy?

For most listeners I would take the Elac Debut B5.2, which edges ahead on sound quality and bass response and pulls clearly ahead on midrange clarity, design and value for money. The Cambridge Audio SX-60 stays in the conversation mainly for its clearly better treble detail and its longer 5 year warranty.

Buy the Cambridge Audio SX-60 if the top end matters most to you and you want the least fussy setup. It takes treble detail by a clear margin, and I find those highs crisp without turning shrill or fatiguing on long sessions. At 89 dB and 8 ohms with a 20 to 100 W amp range it is the easier of the two to drive, so a modest integrated or receiver is enough. The 6.5 inch mid-woofer and the 41 Hz low end give it real weight, though I did hear a little port chuff on heavy bass at high volume, which foam plugs cure. Mids are present but never pushed forward, so vocal-led material can sound slightly set back. The 5 year warranty is the longest cover here.

Buy the Elac Debut B5.2 if you want the more complete performer and you are willing to trim the treble a touch. It takes sound quality and bass response by narrow margins, and midrange clarity, design and value for money by clear ones, which is why it is my pick overall. Vocals come through natural and instruments are easy to place, and the soundstage projects wider than the cabinets when the speakers face straight forward. The low end is tight and punchy for a 5.25 inch woofer, with 46 Hz port tuning and a published 106 dB max SPL. It is the less sensitive load at 86 dB into 6 ohms with a 30 to 120 W range, so give it a little more amplifier. The matte black finish is plain, and the highs lean bright until you pull them back at the receiver.