In this review, we will be comparing RTi A3 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 RTi A3 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk RTi A3 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 RTi A3 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 RTi A3 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 RTi A3 |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
RTi A3 features a 1" silk polymer composite Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. 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
RTi A3 has a frequency range of 50-26k 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 slightly deeper then the RTi A3's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
RTi A3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Uni-Fi UB5 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 UB5 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RTi A3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Uni-Fi UB5's is rated at 85 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk RTi A3 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.
RTi A3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi UB5 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the RTi A3.
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
RTi A3 features Pair of Dual 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Uni-Fi UB5 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RTi A3 has a back and front firing port whereas Uni-Fi UB5 has a rear firing ports.
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 RTi A3's and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's external dimensions. Polk RTi A3 has external dimensions of 374.7 x 214.4 x 355.6mm ( 14.7 x 8.4 x 14.0inch) 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 RTi A3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 14.4mm wider, 50.7mm taller and 82.6mm deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi UB5.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk RTi A3 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 Polk RTi A3 is approximately 762.4cm2 / 118.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is approximately 546.0cm2 / 84.6inch2. The RTi A3 requires 40% 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:
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 RTi A3 weighs 7.26kg / 16lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 weighs 7.48kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi UB5 3% heavier than the RTi A3.
Here is a comparison of how RTi A3 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 RTi A3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RTi A3:
2 Cherry bookshelf speakers 2 Self-tapping screws 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Template Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure
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 |
150 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
89 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 |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Height |
324mm
vs
374mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
546cm2 (200x273mm)
vs
762cm2 (214x355mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Polk Audio RTi A3 |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-150 watts |
40-140 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50-26k Hz |
46-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Polymer composite |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
Firing Direction |
back and front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
374.7mm (14.8") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
Width |
214.4mm (8.4") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
Depth |
355.6mm (14") |
273.0mm (10.7") |
Weight |
7.26kg (16lbs) |
7.48kg (16.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Real wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black, Cherry |
Black |
Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-31" |
24-31" |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |