In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi UB5 and Motion 15i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and MartinLogan. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and MartinLogan 15i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and MartinLogan 15i 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 MartinLogan 15i 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 UB5 is a 3-way design whereas the Motion 15i 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 UB5 |
MartinLogan 15i |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
Midrange
|
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 Motion 15i features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Uni-Fi UB5 has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz whereas Motion 15i has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Uni-Fi UB5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion 15i's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Motion 15i which has a nominal impedance of 5 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 UB5 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Uni-Fi UB5 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Motion 15i's is rated at 92 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 15i a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi UB5, 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. 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 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi UB5 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 60 watts less than the Motion 15i.
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 Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts type posts and Motion 15i has a Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Uni-Fi UB5 and Motion 15i 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 MartinLogan 15i'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 MartinLogan 15i has external dimensions of 290.0 x 173.0 x 240.0mm ( 11.4 x 6.8 x 9.4inch) .
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 27mm wider, 34mm taller and 33mm deeper than MartinLogan 15i.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and MartinLogan 15i in scale.
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 MartinLogan 15i is approximately 415.2cm2 / 64.4inch2. The Uni-Fi UB5 requires 32% more surface area than the Motion 15i which gives it a small disadvantage 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:
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 MartinLogan 15i weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi UB5 39% heavier than the Motion 15i.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi UB5 and Motion 15i'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 MartinLogan 15i?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 15i:
Bookshelf loudspeaker Grille 4 Rubber feet Users Manual Warranty/Registration Information
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
5 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Height |
290mm
vs
324mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
415cm2 (173x240mm)
vs
546cm2 (200x273mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
MartinLogan Motion 15i |
Brand |
ELAC |
MartinLogan |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
40-140 watts |
20-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
85 dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
5 ohms |
Frequency Response |
46-25k Hz |
60-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0 x 1.4" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Folded Motion |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
2700Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
324.0mm (12.8") |
290.0mm (11.4") |
Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
173.0mm (6.8") |
Depth |
273.0mm (10.7") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
Weight |
7.48kg (16.5lbs) |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-31" |
26-28" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |