In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from ELAC and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 | Polk ES30 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" aluminum | 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-35k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 140 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.20kg / 29lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-3/8" x 20-7/8" x 13-1/16"
188.0 x 531.0 x 332.0mm | 7-1/2" x 20-1/16" x 10-5/8"
191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 and Polk ES30 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 UCR52 |
Polk ES30 |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 is a 3-way design whereas the ES30 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.
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52Polk ES30
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 UCR52 |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 features a 1" soft dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 has a frequency range of 47-35k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES30's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES30 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the ES30's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk ES30 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS, whereas ES30 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 15 watts less than the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52.
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
Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 features 5-Way post type posts and ES30 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52's Binding post terminals
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 has a front firing port whereas ES30 has a rear firing ports. ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk ES30 with its rear-firing port.
Polk ES30 Port
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 UCR52's and Polk ES30's external dimensions. ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 has external dimensions of 188.0 x 531.0 x 332.0mm (7-3/8 x 20-7/8 x 13-1/16inch) whereas Polk ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm (7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch).
Polk ES30 is 21mm narrower and 62mm less deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 but it is also 3mm taller.
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 UCR52 is approximately 1762.9cm2 / 273.2inch2 and base area of the Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 requires 28% more surface area than the ES30 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 Ref UCR52 weighs 13.20kg / 29lbs and the Polk ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 53% heavier than the ES30.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 and ES30's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Uni-Fi Reference UCR52:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of Polk ES30?
Here are the items that come with the ES30:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
140 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
188mm
vs
191mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1377cm2
vs
1762cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 140 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-35k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
188.0mm (7.4") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
531.0mm (20.9") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black with Walnut Sides, Satin White with Oak Sides |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 costs roughly 2.3x what Polk ES30 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 digs deeper - 47Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Polk ES30 is more sensitive (89dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk ES30 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (140W vs 125W). |
| Size | depends | Polk ES30 is easier to place; ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES30 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk ES30 is cheaper - $299 against $700, about 57% less; arguably a different class. |
A ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 B Polk ES30
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?
Polk ES30 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk ES30 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Polk ES30 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.