In this review, we will be comparing R400 and Uni-Fi Reference UCR52, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk R400 and ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk R400 and ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 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 R400 and ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that R400 is a 2-way design whereas the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 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 R400 |
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz whereas Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 has a frequency range of 47-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 can go slightly deeper then the R400's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
R400 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R400 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52's is rated at 85 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk R400 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
R400 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the R400.
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
R400 features Binding post type posts and Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
R400 has a rear firing port whereas Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 has a front firing ports. ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk R400 with its rear-firing port.
Polk R400 dual 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 R400's and ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52's external dimensions. Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm ( 7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch) whereas ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 has external dimensions of 188.0 x 531.0 x 332.0mm ( 7-3/8 x 20-7/8 x 13-1/16inch) .
Polk R400 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 87mm wider, 11mm taller and 40mm deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52.
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 R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 is approximately 1762.9cm2 / 273.2inch2. The R400 requires 30% more surface area than the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 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 Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52 weighs 13.20kg / 29lbs. This makes the R400 13% heavier than the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52.
Here is a comparison of how R400 and Uni-Fi Reference UCR52's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk R400?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R400:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UCR52?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi Reference UCR52:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)Operating Instructions
 Max Input Power |
200 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
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
| Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
188mm
vs
199mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1762cm2 (531x332mm)
vs
2299cm2 (618x372mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
up to 140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-39K Hz |
47-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
soft dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
199.0mm (7.8") |
188.0mm (7.4") |
| Width |
618.0mm (24.3") |
531.0mm (20.9") |
| Depth |
372.0mm (14.6") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut |
Satin Black with Walnut Sides, Satin White with Oak Sides |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |