In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Motion 35XTi, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and MartinLogan. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and MartinLogan 35XTi first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and MartinLogan 35XTi 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and MartinLogan 35XTi 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is a 3-way design whereas the Motion 35XTi 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 BS U5 Slim |
MartinLogan 35XTi |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Motion 35XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz whereas Motion 35XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim can go slightly deeper then the Motion 35XTi's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 BS U5 Slim and Motion 35XTi have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Motion 35XTi's is at 92 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 35XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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. 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 BS U5 Slim can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 110 watts less than the Motion 35XTi.
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
Motion 35XTi features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Motion 35XTi have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 BS U5 Slim's and MartinLogan 35XTi'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 MartinLogan 35XTi has external dimensions of 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.5 x 11.8inch) .
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is 12mm narrower and 3mm shorter than MartinLogan 35XTi but it is also 28mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and MartinLogan 35XTi in scale.
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 MartinLogan 35XTi is approximately 576.0cm2 / 89.3inch2. The Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim requires 2% more surface area than the Motion 35XTi which gives it a small disadvantage 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:
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 BS U5 Slim weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs and the MartinLogan 35XTi weighs 8.40kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the Motion 35XTi 12% heavier than the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Motion 35XTi'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 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 MartinLogan 35XTi?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 35XTi:
Bookshelf loudspeaker Grille 4 Rubber feet 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed) Users Manual Warranty/Registration Information
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Height |
340mm
vs
343mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
735USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Base Surface Area |
576cm2 (192x300mm)
vs
590cm2 (180x328mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
MartinLogan Motion 35XTi |
Brand |
ELAC |
MartinLogan |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
40-140 watts |
20-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
85 dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
46-25k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.25 x 2.4" |
Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
Folded Motion XT |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
340.0mm (13.4") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
8.40kg (18.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-31" |
24-26" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |