ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is a 3-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker designed by Andrew Jones for ELAC. It was released in December 2017. It features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter, 1 x 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz and a sensitivity of 85 dB. ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 has an MSRP of 499$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 Speaker Structure
ELAC's Uni-Fi Series of Loudspeakers
Uni-Fi UB5 is a member of ELAC's Uni-Fi series of Passive speakers. Uni-Fi is ELAC's concentric-driver range, offering three-way sound in compact cabinets at an affordable price. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 7 ELAC Uni-Fi models compared »
ELAC Uni-Fi Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 Speaker
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 has a Frequency response range of 46-25k Hz and Power Range of 40-140 watts. With a minimum frequency of 46 Hz, Uni-Fi UB5 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how Uni-Fi UB5's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5?
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's Aluminum Woofer
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's Soft-dome Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5?
Uni-Fi UB5 is a 3-way speaker and its crossover frequency between the woofer and the midrange is set to 270 Hz and the crossover frequency between the midrange and the tweeter is set to 2700 Hz.
Impedance and Sensitivity
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's nominal impedance level is
4 ohms and has a sensitivity of
85 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.
Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 85 dB, ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 plays in your room →
Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →
What amplifier does the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
47–140 W
per channel into 4 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $500, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
Uni-Fi UB5 features Post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 Back View
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 External Dimensions and Weight
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 12.7 x 7.8 x 10.7inch (324.0 x 200.0 x 273.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is approximately 546.0cm2 / 84.6inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 weighs 7.48kg / 16.5lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Uni-Fi UB5's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $500
Cabinet type and Materials
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Vinyl finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Port Position
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Available colors
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is available in Black.
Wall Mounting
Uni-Fi UB5 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 come with a Grille?
Uni-Fi UB5 comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 with Grille
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Uni-Fi UB5:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
Warranty
3 Years of parts warranty and 3 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.