In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and R700, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and Polk R700 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and Polk R700 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 Polk R700 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and R700 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
Polk R700 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 6.5-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 R700 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas R700 has a frequency range of 38-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the R700 can go slightly deeper then 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 R700 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 R700's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk R700 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 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 160 watts less than the R700.
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
R700 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.
Polk R700's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Polk R700 Port
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 Polk R700'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 Polk R700 has external dimensions of 1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3mm ( 45 x 12.6 x 16.9inch) .
Polk R700 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 61.7mm wider, 130.8mm taller and 100.3mm 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 Polk R700 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and Polk R700 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 Polk R700 is approximately 1373.6cm2 / 212.9inch2. The Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim requires 38% less surface area than the R700 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 Polk R700 weighs 35.90kg / 79lbs. This makes the R700 inf% heavier than the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim and R700'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 Polk R700?
Here are the items that come with the R700:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
4 Spike feet (pre-installed)
Grille
Hex-key
Owner's Manual
Online Registration
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
1013mm
vs
1143mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
849cm2 (259x328mm)
vs
1373cm2 (320x428mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1720USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 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 |
38 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
Polk Audio Reserve R700 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-140 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
38-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
350Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1013.0mm (39.9") |
1143.8mm (45") |
| Width |
259.0mm (10.2") |
320.7mm (12.6") |
| Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
428.3mm (16.9") |
| Weight |
0.00kg (0lbs) |
35.90kg (79lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, Walnut, White |
| 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 |