In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and TSi200, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Polk TSi200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Polk TSi200 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 Polk TSi200 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 TSi200 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 |
Polk TSi200 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 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 TSi200 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz whereas TSi200 has a frequency range of 50-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim can go slightly deeper then the TSi200'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 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the TSi200 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the TSi200's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk TSi200 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim, 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 BS U5 Slim can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 10 watts less than the TSi200.
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 BS U5 Slim features Pair of 5-way binding posts - Gold-plated type posts and TSi200 has a Pair of 5-way binding posts - Gold-plated type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and TSi200 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 Polk TSi200'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 Polk TSi200 has external dimensions of 392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm ( 15.4 x 8.0 x 11.7inch) .
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is 23.2mm narrower and 52.1mm shorter than Polk TSi200 but it is also 29.5mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and Polk TSi200 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 Polk TSi200 is approximately 606.6cm2 / 94.0inch2. The Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim requires 3% less surface area than the TSi200 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:
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 Polk TSi200 weighs 7.71kg / 17lbs. This makes the TSi200 3% heavier than the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim and TSi200'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 Polk TSi200?
Here are the items that come with the TSi200:
2 Black bookshelf speakers Detachable cloth grille (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
340mm
vs
392mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
590cm2 (180x328mm)
vs
606cm2 (203x298mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Price per pair* |
279USD
vs
735USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
Polk Audio TSi200 |
Brand |
ELAC |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
40-140 watts |
20-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
85 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
46-25k Hz |
50-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Organic Fiber |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
340.0mm (13.4") |
392.1mm (15.4") |
Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
203.2mm (8") |
Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
298.5mm (11.8") |
Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
7.71kg (17lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black, Cherry |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-31" |
16-26" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |