In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and R-820F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and Klipsch R-820F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and Klipsch R-820F 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 Klipsch R-820F 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 FS U5 Slim is a 3-way design whereas the R-820F 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 FS U5 Slim |
Klipsch R-820F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 8-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 R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer .
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the R-820F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 R-820F 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 R-820F's is rated at 97 dB. This 12 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F 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 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 10 watts less than the R-820F.
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 FS U5 Slim features Post type posts and R-820F has a Post type posts. None of these speakers 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 Klipsch R-820F'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 Klipsch R-820F has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm ( 43-1/8 x 10-7/8 x 16-3/4inch) .
Klipsch R-820F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 18mm wider, 83mm taller and 98mm deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and Klipsch R-820F in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and Klipsch R-820F 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 Klipsch R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim requires 28% less surface area than the R-820F which gives it a small advantage 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 Klipsch R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the R-820F inf% heavier than the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and R-820F'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 Klipsch R-820F?
Here are the items that come with the R-820F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (installed)2 Feet4 ScrewsQuick Setup GuideImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty InformationLoudspeaker Feet note
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1013mm
vs
1096mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
849cm2 (259x328mm)
vs
1180cm2 (277x426mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
97 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 |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1720USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
Klipsch Reference R-820F |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-140 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
35-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1013.0mm (39.9") |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
| Width |
259.0mm (10.2") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
0.00kg (0lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| 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 |