In this review, we will be comparing TSi200 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 TSi200 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk TSi200 | ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-24k Hz | 46-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 40-140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.71kg / 17lbs | 7.48kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.4" x 8.0" x 11.7"
392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm | 12.7" x 7.8" x 10.7"
324.0 x 200.0 x 273.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk TSi200 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Polk TSi200 |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that TSi200 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.
Polk TSi200ELAC Uni-Fi UB5
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk TSi200 |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
TSi200 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. 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
TSi200 has a frequency range of 50-24k 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 TSi200's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
TSi200 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. TSi200 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Uni-Fi UB5's is rated at 85 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk TSi200 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
TSi200 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Uni-Fi UB5 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the TSi200.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
TSi200 features Post type posts and Uni-Fi UB5 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both TSi200 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.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 TSi200's and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's external dimensions. Polk TSi200 has external dimensions of 392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm (15.4 x 8.0 x 11.7inch) 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 TSi200 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 3.2mm wider, 68.1mm taller and 25.5mm deeper than ELAC Uni-Fi UB5.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk TSi200 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk TSi200 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 TSi200 is approximately 606.6cm2 / 94.0inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is approximately 546.0cm2 / 84.6inch2. The TSi200 requires 11% more surface area than the Uni-Fi UB5 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 TSi200 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 TSi200 weighs 7.71kg / 17lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 weighs 7.48kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the TSi200 3% heavier than the Uni-Fi UB5.
Here is a comparison of how TSi200 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 TSi200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of TSi200:
- 2 Black bookshelf speakers
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual 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 |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Price per pair* |
279USD
vs
499USD
|
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 |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
324mm
vs
392mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
546cm2
vs
606cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio TSi200 |
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 |
50-24k Hz |
46-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
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 |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
392.1mm (15.4") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
203.2mm (8") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
298.5mm (11.8") |
273.0mm (10.7") |
| Weight |
7.71kg (17lbs) |
7.48kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Cherry |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
16-26" |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 costs roughly 1.8x what Polk TSi200 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 digs deeper - 46Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Polk TSi200 is more sensitive (89dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Polk TSi200 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 140W). |
| Size | depends | ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is easier to place; Polk TSi200 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Polk TSi200 is cheaper - $279 against $499, about 44% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk TSi200 B ELAC Uni-Fi UB5
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Polk TSi200 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Polk TSi200 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $220 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.