In this review, we will be comparing 3030i and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3030i and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Q Acoustics 3030i Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" decoupled Tweeter
- 6.5" Coated paper Woofer
- 46-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-75watts
- Weight:6.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 325.0" x 7.8" x 12.9"( 325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm )
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" soft dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 4" Midrange
- 46-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:40-140watts
- Weight:7.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 340.0" x 7-1/16" x 12-7/8"( 340.0 x 180.0 x 328.0mm )
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3030i 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics 3030i 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 3030i 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 |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
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 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
3030i features a 1" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. 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
3030i has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz.
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
3030i is a 6 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. 3030i sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's is rated at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3030i 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.
3030i can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 3030i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS , 65 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
3030i features Post type posts and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3030i 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 Q Acoustics 3030i's and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3030i has external dimensions of 325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm ( 12.7 x 7.8 x 12.9inch) 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 20mm narrower and 1mm less deeper than Q Acoustics 3030i but it is also 15mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3030i and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3030i and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 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 Q Acoustics 3030i is approximately 658.0cm2 / 102.0inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is approximately 590.4cm2 / 91.5inch2. The 3030i requires 11% more surface area than the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 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 Q Acoustics 3030i and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim on a Media Console