In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and BW 603, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and B&W 603 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and B&W 603 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 FS U5 Slim and B&W 603 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
Both Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and BW 603 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
B&W 603 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 3 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the BW 603 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas BW 603 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the BW 603's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 FS U5 Slim is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the BW 603 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 FS U5 Slim can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the BW 603's is rated at 88.5 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the B&W 603 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 FS U5 Slim can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 60 watts less than the BW 603.
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
BW 603 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 FS U5 Slim's and B&W 603's external dimensions. 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) whereas B&W 603 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 190.0 x 340.0mm ( 38.7 x 7.4 x 13.3inch) .
B&W 603 is 69mm narrower and 28mm shorter than ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim but it is also 12mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and B&W 603 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and B&W 603 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 FS U5 Slim is approximately 849.5cm2 / 131.7inch2 and base area of the B&W 603 is approximately 646.0cm2 / 100.1inch2. The Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim requires 32% more surface area than the BW 603 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 FS U5 Slim weighs 0.00kg / 0lbs and the B&W 603 weighs 24.14kg / 53.1lbs. This makes the BW 603 inf% heavier than the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and BW 603's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Stabilizer-bars4 Spike-feet4 Protective discs4 Knobs6 Machine screws4 Hex-nutsHex-keyOperating Instructions
What's in the Box of B&W 603?
Here are the items that come with the BW 603:
Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille Plinith (base) 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed) 4 Rubber feet 4 Spike feet 4 Hex-nuts 4 Screws 4 Washers 4 Lock-washers Two-piece foam port plug Hex-key Manual Bowers & Wilkins brochure Warranty Information
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Max Input Power |
200 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 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
985mm
vs
1013mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
646cm2 (190x340mm)
vs
849cm2 (259x328mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-140 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1013.0mm (39.9") |
985.0mm (38.8") |
| Width |
259.0mm (10.2") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Weight |
0.00kg (0lbs) |
24.14kg (53.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, White, Oak |
| 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 |