In this review, we will be comparing Uni-Fi UB5 and Motion LX16, 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 LX16 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and MartinLogan LX16 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 LX16 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 LX16 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 LX16 |
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 LX16 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 LX16 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 LX16'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 LX16 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 LX16's is rated at 92 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the MartinLogan LX16 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 LX16.
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 binding posts type posts and Motion LX16 has a Custom 5-way binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Uni-Fi UB5 and Motion LX16 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 LX16'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 LX16 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 165.0 x 242.0mm ( 11.0 x 6.4 x 9.5inch) .
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 35mm wider, 44mm taller and 31mm deeper than MartinLogan LX16.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 and MartinLogan LX16 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 LX16 is approximately 399.3cm2 / 61.9inch2. The Uni-Fi UB5 requires 37% more surface area than the Motion LX16 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 LX16 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi UB5 39% heavier than the Motion LX16.
Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi UB5 and Motion LX16'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 LX16?
Here are the items that come with the Motion LX16:
Bookshelf loudspeakerMagnetic grille4 Rubber bumpersUser's Manual (En/Fr)
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 |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
Height |
280mm
vs
324mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
399cm2 (165x242mm)
vs
546cm2 (200x273mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
MartinLogan Motion LX16 |
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") |
280.0mm (11") |
Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
Depth |
273.0mm (10.7") |
242.0mm (9.5") |
Weight |
7.48kg (16.5lbs) |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
Piano Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Black |
Cherry (dark) |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
3/18-16 threaded insert |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-31" |
28-31" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Yrs w/Registration |
Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Yrs w/Registration |