In this review, we will be comparing D310 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D310 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale D310 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 Wharfedale D310 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 D310 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 |
Wharfedale D310 |
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 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
D310 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer . 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
D310 has a frequency range of 65-20k 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 D310's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
D310 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. D310 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D310 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.
D310 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D310 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS , 80 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
D310 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
D310 has a bottom firing port whereas Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D310's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim with its rear-firing 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 Wharfedale D310's and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's external dimensions. Wharfedale D310 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm ( 10-7/16 x 6-1/8 x 8-13/16inch) 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 24mm wider, 74mm taller and 104mm deeper than Wharfedale D310.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D310 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 Wharfedale D310 is approximately 349.4cm2 / 54.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is approximately 590.4cm2 / 91.5inch2. The D310 requires 41% 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 Wharfedale D310 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 88% heavier than the D310.
Here is a comparison of how D310 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 Wharfedale D310?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of D310:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)User-feets ManualInstallation Guide
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 |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Height |
266mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
349cm2 (156x224mm)
vs
590cm2 (180x328mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
735USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
140 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
General |
Wharfedale D310 |
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Compact bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-60 watts |
40-140 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
65-20k Hz |
46-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Polyether |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
soft dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
266.0mm (10.5") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
Width |
156.0mm (6.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
Depth |
224.0mm (8.8") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
Weight |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
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 |