In this review, we will be comparing Reva 1 and Uni-Fi UB5, 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 UB5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Reva 1 | ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-20k Hz | 46-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-60 watts | 40-140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs | 7.48kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-1/2" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"
318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm | 12.7" x 7.8" x 10.7"
324.0 x 200.0 x 273.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 1 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* |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
| 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.)
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 Reva 1 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.
Wharfedale Reva 1ELAC 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 |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
|
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 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
Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k 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 significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reva 1's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
Reva 1 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. Reva 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Uni-Fi UB5's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Reva 1 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.
Uni-Fi UB5 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS, whereas Reva 1 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the Uni-Fi UB5.
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
Reva 1 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Uni-Fi UB5 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 1's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reva 1 has a bottom firing port whereas Uni-Fi UB5 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 UB5 with its rear-firing port.
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 Wharfedale Reva 1's and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5'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 UB5 has external dimensions of 324.0 x 200.0 x 273.0mm (12.7 x 7.8 x 10.7inch).
Wharfedale Reva 1 is 26mm narrower and 6mm shorter than ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 but it is also 12mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 1 and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Wharfedale Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is approximately 546.0cm2 / 84.6inch2. The Reva 1 requires 9% less surface area than the Uni-Fi UB5 which gives it a small advantage 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 Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Wharfedale Reva 1 weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 weighs 7.48kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Uni-Fi UB5 33% heavier than the Reva 1.
Here is a comparison of how Reva 1 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 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 UB5?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi UB5:
- 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 |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
318mm
vs
324mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
546cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 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 |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
| 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" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
318.0mm (12.5") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
174.0mm (6.9") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
285.0mm (11.2") |
273.0mm (10.7") |
| Weight |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
7.48kg (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 |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Reva 1 costs roughly 1.6x what ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Wharfedale Reva 1 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 takes more power (140W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Reva 1: bi-amping. ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is cheaper - $499 against $799, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Reva 1 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?
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Reva 1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.