In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and RP-600M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and Klipsch RP-600M 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 )
Klipsch RP-600M Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer
- 45-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 96 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:7.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 399.0" x 7.9" x 11.8"( 399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and Klipsch RP-600M 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 |
Klipsch RP-600M |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Klipsch RP-600M compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 is a 3-way design whereas the RP-600M is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 |
Klipsch RP-600M |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 RP-600M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500Hz.
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 has a frequency range of 46-35k Hz whereas RP-600M has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the RP-600M can go slightly deeper then the Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 RP-600M which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the RP-600M's is rated at 96 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-600M a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-600M has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52.
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
RP-600M features Dual binding posts/bi-wire/bi-amp posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52's 5-way post terminals
Klipsch RP-600M's Dual binding posts/bi-wire/bi-amp terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 has a front firing port whereas RP-600M 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 Klipsch RP-600M with its rear-firing port.
Klipsch RP-600M Tractrix horn-shaped 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 Klipsch RP-600M'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 Klipsch RP-600M has external dimensions of 399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm ( 15.7 x 7.9 x 11.8inch) .
Klipsch RP-600M is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 16mm wider, 52mm taller and 4mm deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and Klipsch RP-600M in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 and Klipsch RP-600M 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 Klipsch RP-600M is approximately 608.0cm2 / 94.2inch2. The Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 requires 9% less surface area than the RP-600M 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 Klipsch RP-600M on a Media Console