In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by ELAC. ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim | ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome | 1" soft dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Aluminum | 3 x 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-25k Hz | 42-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-140 watts | 40-140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs | — |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-3/8" x 7-1/16" x 12-7/8"
340.0 x 180.0 x 328.0mm | 39-7/8" x 10-3/16" x 12-7/8"
1013.0 x 259.0 x 328.0mm |
|---|
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Uni-Fi FS 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 BS U5 Slim and ELAC Uni-Fi FS 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 BS U5 Slim |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim are 3-way speakers.
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 SlimELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS 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
|
3 x 5.25-inch
|
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim features a 1" soft dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim features a 1" soft dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 3 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz whereas Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim can go slightly deeper then the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's min frequency of 46Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 85 dB.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim have the same power range of 40-140 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim features Binding post type posts and Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's Post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 BS U5 Slim's and ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim's external dimensions. 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) whereas ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has external dimensions of 1013.0 x 259.0 x 328.0mm (39-7/8 x 10-3/16 x 12-7/8inch).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and ELAC Uni-Fi FS 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 BS U5 Slim is approximately 590.4cm2 / 91.5inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim is approximately 849.5cm2 / 131.7inch2. The Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim requires 31% less surface area than the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Stabilizer-bars
- 4 Spike-feet
- 4 Protective discs
- 4 Knobs
- 6 Machine screws
- 4 Hex-nuts
- Hex-key
- Operating Instructions