In this review, we will be comparing UBR62 and LINTON Heritage, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and Wharfedale LINTON first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 | Wharfedale LINTON |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aluminum | 8" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-35k Hz | 40-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 140 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.70kg / 23.5lbs | 18.40kg / 40.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/8" x 8-1/4" x 13-1/16"
359.0 x 210.0 x 332.0mm | 22.2" x 11.8" x 14.2"
565.0 x 300.0 x 360.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and Wharfedale LINTON 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:
| Listening Environment* |
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 |
Wharfedale LINTON |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both UBR62 and LINTON Heritage are 3-way speakers.
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62Wharfedale LINTON
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 |
Wharfedale LINTON |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
UBR62 features a 1" soft dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the LINTON Heritage features a 1" woven textile Soft-dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 630Hz and 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
UBR62 has a frequency range of 41-35k Hz whereas LINTON Heritage has a frequency range of 40-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the LINTON Heritage can go slightly deeper then the UBR62's min frequency of 41Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
UBR62 and LINTON Heritage have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. UBR62 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the LINTON Heritage's is at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Wharfedale LINTON a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
LINTON Heritage can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas UBR62 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the LINTON Heritage.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both UBR62 and LINTON Heritage features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Wharfedale LINTON's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Ref UBR62's and Wharfedale LINTON's external dimensions. ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 210.0 x 332.0mm (14-1/8 x 8-1/4 x 13-1/16inch) whereas Wharfedale LINTON has external dimensions of 565.0 x 300.0 x 360.0mm (22.2 x 11.8 x 12.9inch).
Wharfedale LINTON is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 90mm wider, 206mm taller and 28mm deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and Wharfedale LINTON in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 and Wharfedale LINTON 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 Ref UBR62 is approximately 697.2cm2 / 108.1inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale LINTON is approximately 1080.0cm2 / 167.4inch2. The UBR62 requires 35% less surface area than the LINTON Heritage 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 Ref UBR62 weighs 10.70kg / 23.5lbs and the Wharfedale LINTON weighs 18.40kg / 40.5lbs. This makes the LINTON Heritage 72% heavier than the UBR62.
Here is a comparison of how UBR62 and LINTON Heritage'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 Ref UBR62?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of UBR62:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of Wharfedale LINTON?
Here are the items that come with the LINTON Heritage:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white gloves
- User's Manual
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
359mm
vs
565mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
697cm2
vs
1080cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1200USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
41 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 |
Wharfedale LINTON Heritage |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 140 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-35k Hz |
40-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
630Hz and 2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
565.0mm (22.2") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
360.0mm (14.2") |
| Weight |
10.70kg (23.5lbs) |
18.40kg (40.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black with Walnut Sides, Satin White with Oak Sides |
Walnut, Red Mahogany, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
18-22" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (41Hz vs 40Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale LINTON is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale LINTON takes more power (200W vs 140W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 is easier to place; Wharfedale LINTON is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62: bi-amping; Wharfedale LINTON: bi-amping. Wharfedale LINTON sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 is cheaper - $1,200 against $1,500, about 20% less. |
A ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 B Wharfedale LINTON
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale LINTON measures better, ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 costs about about 25% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale LINTON has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UBR62 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale LINTON is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.