In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 and ES35, 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 ES35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 and Polk ES35 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 Ref UCR52 and Polk ES35 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 Reference UCR52 is a 3-way design whereas the ES35 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 Ref UCR52 |
Polk ES35 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
6 x 3-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 ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 has a frequency range of 47-35k Hz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k 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 ES35's min frequency of 66Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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 Reference UCR52 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES35 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 ES35's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk ES35 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. 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 Reference UCR52 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 10 watts less than the ES35.
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 Reference UCR52 features 5-Way post type posts and ES35 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 ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 has a front firing port whereas ES35 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 ES35 with its rear-firing port.
Polk ES35 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 Ref UCR52's and Polk ES35'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 ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm ( 4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch) .
Polk ES35 is 81mm shorter and 178mm less deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 but it is also 90mm wider.
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 ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 requires 84% more surface area than the ES35 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 ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 108% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 and ES35'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 loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of Polk ES35?
Here are the items that come with the ES35:
LCR loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetWall-mount templateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Max Input Power |
150 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
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
188mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
956cm2 (621x154mm)
vs
1762cm2 (531x332mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 140 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-35k Hz |
66-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
3" |
| 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" |
N/A" |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
188.0mm (7.4") |
107.0mm (4.2") |
| Width |
531.0mm (20.9") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
154.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
| 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 |