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Wharfedale Reva 1 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Comparison

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Wharfedale Reva 1

Passive Bookshelf | 52-20k Hz

Wharfedale Reva 1
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ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim

Passive Bookshelf | 46-25k Hz

ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
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Wharfedale Reva 1 Wharfedale Reva 1
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ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Sl...
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Wharfedale Reva 1
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ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Sl...
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Wharfedale Reva 1 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Reva 1 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 Reva 1 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale Reva 1 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer
  • 52-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-60watts
  • Weight:5.64kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 318.0" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"( 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm )

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 Reva 1 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 Reva 1 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 Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Reva 1 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 Reva 1 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 4.5-inch 1 x 5.25-inch

Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber 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

Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k 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 Reva 1's min frequency of 52Hz.

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

Reva 1
Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale Reva 1
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

Reva 1 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. Reva 1 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 Reva 1 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

Reva 1
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.

Reva 1 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Reva 1 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

Reva 1 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 Reva 1 Terminals
Wharfedale Reva 1'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

Reva 1 has a bottom firing port whereas Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 1'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 Reva 1's and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 1 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm ( 12-1/2 x 6-13/16 x 11-3/16inch) 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 6mm wider, 22mm taller and 43mm deeper than Wharfedale Reva 1.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 1 and ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim in scale.

Wharfedale Reva 1 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim is approximately 590.4cm2 / 91.5inch2. The Reva 1 requires 16% 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:

Wharfedale Reva 1 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Reva 1 weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim 33% heavier than the Reva 1.

Here is a comparison of how Reva 1 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 Reva 1
ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale Reva 1?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Reva 1:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
  • Pair of white gloves
  • User-feets 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 Reva 1 over ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
    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
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Height 318mm vs 340mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 495cm2 vs 590cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim over Wharfedale Reva 1

    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 4.5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 46 Hz vs 52 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 25k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Wharfedale Reva 1 vs ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale Reva 1 ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5 Slim
    Brand Wharfedale ELAC
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 20-60 watts 40-140 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 85 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 52-20k Hz 46-25k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 4.5" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Woven Glass Fiber Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Dome soft dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No 4"
    Firing Direction bottom rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 318.0mm (12.5") 340.0mm (13.4")
    Width 174.0mm (6.9") 180.0mm (7.1")
    Depth 285.0mm (11.2") 328.0mm (12.9")
    Weight 5.64kg (12.4lbs) 7.50kg (16.5lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish Wood composite laminate MDF/Vinyl
    Available Colors Walnut Black
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 28-30" 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

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