In this review, we will be comparing Imagine X2T and Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Imagine X2T and ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the PSB Imagine X2T and ELAC Uni-Fi FS 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 PSB Imagine X2T and ELAC Uni-Fi FS 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 Imagine X2T and Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
PSB Imagine X2T |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.2-inch
|
3 x 5.25-inch
|
Imagine X2T features a 1" titanium with neodymium magnets Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2200Hz. On the other hand, the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 3 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Imagine X2T has a frequency range of 30-23k Hz whereas Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Imagine X2T can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Imagine X2T is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 FS U5 Slim can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Imagine X2T sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim's is rated at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine X2T a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Imagine X2T can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the Imagine X2T.
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
Imagine X2T features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 PSB Imagine X2T's and ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim's external dimensions. PSB Imagine X2T has external dimensions of 1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm ( 40-1/8 x 9 x 16-3/4inch) whereas ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has external dimensions of 1013.0 x 259.0 x 328.0mm ( 39-7/8 x 10-3/16 x 12-7/8inch) .
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim is 7mm shorter and 98mm less deeper than PSB Imagine X2T but it is also 30mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Imagine X2T and ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim 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 PSB Imagine X2T is approximately 975.5cm2 / 151.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim is approximately 849.5cm2 / 131.7inch2. The Imagine X2T requires 15% more surface area than the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim 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 PSB Imagine X2T weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim weighs 0.00kg / 0lbs. This makes the Imagine X2T inf% heavier than the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim.
Here is a comparison of how Imagine X2T and Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of PSB Imagine X2T?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Imagine X2T:
Floor-standing speakerGrille4 Rubber feet4 Spiked FeetWrenchQuick Start GuideWarranty Card
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Stabilizer-bars4 Spike-feet4 Protective discs4 Knobs6 Machine screws4 Hex-nutsHex-keyOperating Instructions
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
6.2 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1720USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
1013mm
vs
1020mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
849cm2 (259x328mm)
vs
975cm2 (229x426mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
PSB Imagine X2T |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
Brand |
PSB |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
20-200 watts |
40-140 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
30-23k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
Woofer Size |
6.2" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
soft dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
4" |
Crossover Frequency |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
1013.0mm (39.9") |
Width |
229.0mm (9") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
Depth |
426.0mm (16.8") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
Weight |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
0.00kg (0lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |