In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by ELAC
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" soft dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 46-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:40-140watts
- Weight:8.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 347.0" x 7-5/16" x 11-11/16"( 347.0 x 186.0 x 297.0mm )
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" soft dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 4" Midrange
- 46-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:40-140watts
- Weight:7.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 340.0" x 7-1/16" x 12-7/8"( 340.0 x 180.0 x 328.0mm )
Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim are members of ELAC's Uni-Fi series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
ELAC Uni-Fi Series
History
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 200hZ and 2000HZ. On the other hand, the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 has a frequency range of 46-35k Hz whereas Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 85 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has the same power range of 40-140 watts.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 features Post type posts and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52's 5-way post terminals
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 has a front firing port whereas Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a rear firing ports. ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52's and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's external dimensions. ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 has external dimensions of 347.0 x 186.0 x 297.0mm ( 13-5/8 x 7-5/16 x 11-11/16inch) whereas ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has external dimensions of 340.0 x 180.0 x 328.0mm ( 13-3/8 x 7-1/16 x 12-7/8inch) .
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is 6mm narrower and 7mm shorter than ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 but it is also 31mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 is approximately 552.4cm2 / 85.6inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is approximately 590.4cm2 / 91.5inch2. The Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 requires 6% less surface area than the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 weighs 8.30kg / 18.3lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 11% heavier than the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 GrillesOperating Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Operating Instructions
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
552cm2
vs
590cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
700USD
vs
735USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
340mm
vs
347mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-140 watts |
40-140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-35k Hz |
46-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
soft dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
200hZ and 2000HZ |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
347.0mm (13.7") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
186.0mm (7.3") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
297.0mm (11.7") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Weight |
8.30kg (18.3lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |