In this review, we will be comparing TSi100 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TSi100 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk TSi100 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS 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 Polk TSi100 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that TSi100 is a 2-way design whereas the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 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 TSi100 |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
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
|
TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz whereas Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi100's min frequency of 61Hz.
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
TSi100 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Uni-Fi BS 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 BS U5 Slim can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. TSi100 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's is rated at 85 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk TSi100 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim, 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.
TSi100 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas TSi100 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 40 watts less than the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim.
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
TSi100 features Post type posts and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both TSi100 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 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 Polk TSi100's and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's external dimensions. Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm ( 11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch) whereas ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has external dimensions of 340.0 x 180.0 x 328.0mm ( 13-3/8 x 7-1/16 x 12-7/8inch) .
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 2.2mm wider, 60.6mm taller and 69mm deeper than Polk TSi100.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk TSi100 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS 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 Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is approximately 590.4cm2 / 91.5inch2. The TSi100 requires 22% less surface area than the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim which gives it a small advantage 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 TSi100 weighs 4.53kg / 10lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 66% heavier than the TSi100.
Here is a comparison of how TSi100 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim'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 TSi100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of TSi100:
2 Black bookshelf speakers Detachable cloth grille (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Wall-Mount template Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Operating Instructions
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 |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
Height |
279mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
460cm2 (177x259mm)
vs
590cm2 (180x328mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
735USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
140 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
61 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
General |
Polk Audio TSi100 |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-100 watts |
40-140 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
61-24k Hz |
46-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Organic Fiber |
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 |
2500Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
279.4mm (11") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
Width |
177.8mm (7") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
Depth |
259.0mm (10.2") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
Weight |
4.53kg (10lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black, Cherry |
Black |
Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
16-30" |
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 |