In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi UB5 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by ELAC Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Uni-Fi UB5 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim are members of ELAC's Uni-Fi series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
ELAC Uni-Fi Series History
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 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 UB5 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 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
Both Uni-Fi UB5 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Uni-Fi UB5 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270Hz and 2700Hz. On the other hand, the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi UB5 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has exactly the same frequency range of 46-25k Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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 UB5 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 85 dB.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Uni-Fi UB5 and the Uni-Fi UB5 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 UB5 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has the same power range of 40-140 watts.
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 UB5 features Post type posts and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's Post terminals
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Uni-Fi UB5 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 UB5's and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's external dimensions. ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 has external dimensions of 324.0 x 200.0 x 273.0mm ( 12.7 x 7.8 x 10.7inch) whereas ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has external dimensions of 340.0 x 180.0 x 328.0mm ( 13-3/8 x 7-1/16 x 12-7/8inch) .
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is 16mm shorter and 55mm less deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim but it is also 20mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 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 UB5 is approximately 546.0cm2 / 84.6inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is approximately 590.4cm2 / 91.5inch2. The Uni-Fi UB5 requires 8% less surface area than the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim on a Media Console
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 UB5 weighs 7.48kg / 16.5lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 0% heavier than the Uni-Fi UB5.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi UB5 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim'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 UB5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Uni-Fi UB5:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Operating Instructions
 Height |
324mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
546cm2 (200x273mm)
vs
590cm2 (180x328mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-140 watts |
40-140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-25k Hz |
46-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
soft dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
324.0mm (12.8") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
273.0mm (10.7") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Weight |
7.48kg (16.5lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-31" |
24-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |