In this review, we will be comparing L100 and Uni-Fi UB5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk L100 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk L100 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 Polk L100 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 L100 is a 2-way design whereas the Uni-Fi UB5 is a 3-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 |
Polk L100 |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
L100 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
L100 has a frequency range of 57-38k Hz whereas Uni-Fi UB5 has a frequency range of 46-25k 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 L100's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
L100 and Uni-Fi UB5 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. L100 sensitivity is rated at 85.5 dB and the Uni-Fi UB5's is at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk L100 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi UB5, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 L100 and the L100 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.
L100 can handle a max power of 160 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi UB5 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the L100.
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
L100 features Post type posts and Uni-Fi UB5 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk L100's Post terminals
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both L100 and Uni-Fi UB5 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.
Polk L100 Enhanced Power Port 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 Polk L100's and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's external dimensions. Polk L100 has external dimensions of 348.0 x 201.0 x 288.0mm ( 13-11/16 x 7-7/8 x 11-5/16inch) whereas ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 has external dimensions of 324.0 x 200.0 x 273.0mm ( 12.7 x 7.8 x 10.7inch) .
Polk L100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 1mm wider, 24mm taller and 15mm deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi UB5.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk L100 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk L100 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 Polk L100 is approximately 578.9cm2 / 89.7inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is approximately 546.0cm2 / 84.6inch2. The L100 requires 6% more surface area than the Uni-Fi UB5 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:
Size Comparison image of Polk L100 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 Polk L100 weighs 7.68kg / 16.9lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 weighs 7.48kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the L100 3% heavier than the Uni-Fi UB5.
Here is a comparison of how L100 and Uni-Fi UB5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk L100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L100:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Cleaning cloth Owners Manual Online Registration
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi UB5:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Operating Instructions
 Max Input Power |
160 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
324mm
vs
348mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
546cm2 (200x273mm)
vs
578cm2 (201x288mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio Legend L100 |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-160 watts |
40-140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85.5 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
57-38k Hz |
46-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Ring Radiator |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
348.0mm (13.7") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
201.0mm (7.9") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
288.0mm (11.3") |
273.0mm (10.7") |
| Weight |
7.68kg (16.9lbs) |
7.48kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |