SpeakerDecision
  • SPEAKERS by TYPE
    • Passive Bookshelf Speakers
    • Passive Floor-standing Speakers
    • Passive Center Channel Speakers
    • Passive In-wall Speakers
    • All Passive Speakers
    • Powered Subwoofers
    • Powered Stereo Speakers
  • AMPLIFIERS
  • SMART FIND

Wharfedale Denton 85 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Comparison

x
Speaker to replace
Change

Wharfedale Denton 85

Passive Bookshelf | 45-20k Hz

Wharfedale Denton 85
CHECK PRICE
Change
    
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim

Passive Bookshelf | 46-25k Hz

ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
CHECK PRICE
Wharfedale Denton 85 Wharfedale Denton 85
See at AMAZON
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Sl...
See at AMAZON
Wharfedale Denton 85
See at AMAZON
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Sl...
See at AMAZON
Wharfedale Denton 85 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Denton 85 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 Denton 85 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale Denton 85 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
  • 45-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:20-120watts
  • Weight:9.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 342.0" x 9-7/16" x 11-15/16"( 342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm )

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 Wharfedale Denton 85 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* Wharfedale Denton 85 ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale Denton 85 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.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Denton 85 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 Denton 85 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

Denton 85 features a 1" woven textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. 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

Denton 85 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz whereas Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Denton 85 can go slightly deeper then the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's min frequency of 46Hz.

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

Denton 85
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale Denton 85
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
Min
Average
Max

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

Denton 85 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Denton 85 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's is at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Denton 85 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Denton 85 and the Denton 85 can provide this impedance level.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Denton 85
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
Min
Average
Max

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.

Denton 85 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Denton 85 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 20 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

Denton 85 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale Denton 85 Terminals
Wharfedale Denton 85's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 SlimPost Terminals
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Denton 85 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 Wharfedale Denton 85's and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's external dimensions. Wharfedale Denton 85 has external dimensions of 342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm ( 13-7/16 x 9-7/16 x 11-15/16inch) 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 60mm narrower and 2mm shorter than Wharfedale Denton 85 but it is also 24mm deeper.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Denton 85 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim in scale.

Wharfedale Denton 85 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale Denton 85 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 Wharfedale Denton 85 is approximately 729.6cm2 / 113.1inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is approximately 590.4cm2 / 91.5inch2. The Denton 85 requires 24% 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:

Wharfedale Denton 85 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Denton 85 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 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 Wharfedale Denton 85 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Denton 85 20% heavier than the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim.

Here is a comparison of how Denton 85 and Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale Denton 85
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale Denton 85?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Denton 85:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Pair of white cloth gloves
  • User Manual
  • 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

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale Denton 85 over ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 85 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 45 Hz vs 46 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

    Reasons to choose ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim over Wharfedale Denton 85

    Max Input Power 140 watts vs 120 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    High Frequency Response 25k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 340mm vs 342mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 590cm2 vs 729cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 735USD vs 999USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Wharfedale Denton 85 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale Denton 85 ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
    Brand Wharfedale ELAC
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 20-120 watts 40-140 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 85 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 4 ohms
    Impedance 3.8 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 45-20k Hz 46-25k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6.5" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Woven Kevlar Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Soft-Dome soft dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No 4"
    Crossover Frequency 3100Hz n/a
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 342.0mm (13.5") 340.0mm (13.4")
    Width 240.0mm (9.4") 180.0mm (7.1")
    Depth 304.0mm (12") 328.0mm (12.9")
    Weight 9.00kg (19.8lbs) 7.50kg (16.5lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood Veneer MDF/Vinyl
    Available Colors Walnut, Mahogany, Black Black
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 24-28" 24-31"
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 3 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 3 Years

    Most Popular Speakers
    Klipsch Reference R-51M
    Klipsch R-51M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    3-way | 89 dB | 4 ohms
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    2-way | 87 dB | 6 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
    B&W 606 S2
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    KEF Q150
    KEF Q150
    2-way | 86 dB | 8 ohms
    Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M
    Klipsch RP-500M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    2-way | 87 dB | 8 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606
    B&W 606
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    Copyright © 2025 by SpeakerDecision
    About Privacy Contact US Camera Decision

    Report a Correction