I received my pair of Elacs at around the same time you released this video. So in the past year or so, I can say that the accuracy of your analysis is really spot on. While I can't articulate my impressions of these speakers as well as you, I trust my ears to form my judgement and that judgement is very, very positive.
I agree totally with your review as I do have a pair. The better the electronics the more you will love them. I am using the Musical Fidelity M5si with 150 wpc and I find it pure joy.
I have grown to really appreciate your reviews, particularly the delivery style. Your laid back and sincere presentation complements the subject matter nicely. Please keep the reviews coming.
Just want to say after a year of watching your videos and contemplating. I am finally listening to this video from the evo 4.2s. Was worried about them being too boring but they turned out fine. Thank you for all your videos and replies to comments on them. They really helped
Really appreciate these reviews, particularly being able to compare the same track in multiple videos, even if some have been done at different distances and a few older ones in different rooms. I've got to say though, once I've made my mind up on which speakers I'm getting, I never want to hear this track again for the rest of my life hahaha.
The other 2 speakers that measure as or more neutral than the UBR62 at the same or lower price point are the Wharfdale Diamond 12.2 and the Polk Reserve R200. Do give these a go if you get the chance!
@@juanmillaruelo7647 the diamonds measure real smooth and linear bar the intentional BBC Dip. I cant seem to put any links here without youtube removing it but there are a few measurements out there showing the same thing.
listening A/B vs Quad S2 i'd say these ones are warmer- less microdetailed and a bit more laid back. Can't comment on soundstage. I'd say voices are thicker also on the ELacs. Some might prefer- myself i'm sticking with my QS2 :).
Thanks for another successful review. I watched all your videos, as I'm in the market for bookshelves, including this, featured Elac's. How would you compare them to over-glorified (in a good way) CSS Craiton Td1-x? They are on my radar too. Don't worry about the bass, as I use dual subwoofers. If you had to choose one of the two....? Just overall sound quality. Please & thank you. Happy listening
Sounds really lively with nice detail in the higher frequency without being tiring. This is a little surprising for as Elac Jones designed speakers are renowned for being relaxed sounding. How does this compare to debut reference?
Thanks for the detailed review. Heard these at the Magnolia store in Best Buy, and they sounded really balanced and smooth. Not a fan of the gray grilles, though...
Compared the Elac Unifi 2.0 to the Unifi Reference and Carina. Speakers rear is about 5feet away from back wall. And about 6 feet apart. Some toeing in. With the REL T7X reinforcing the bass region. I have the Unifi 2.0 first. It’s neutral n smooth. I like the Unifi highs. Airy, precise n articulate. Vocal is pin point. Bass is deep n tuneful. Separation n depth is really good. Then the Carina. This is much beefier then the 2.0. Throws a much wider soundstage n image. Tonally the carina is warmer n richer. Vocal is full bodied has that life-like tone. Bass is solid and weighty. The carina is way better than the 2.0 in terms of tonal quality. Making the 2.0 sound leaner n pale and restraint. However when the 2.0 is paired with the T7X. This combo is great. I have great expectation for the Unifi Reference as the 2.0 is already very good. The Unifi reference as expected. Produce a wider soundstage, bigger image. Weighty vocals. It’s less laid back then the 2.0. However I felt the Reference just did not produce depth well enough. Highs notes n details don’t extends as I hope. It lacks air of the 2.0. The champion among these 3 Elac. To me is the Carina, 2.0, Reference. If u pair the 2.0 with a good Sub like the T7X. It’s awesome. The carina with the T7X simply win in-terms of tonality n scale n separation. The Unifi Reference with the T7X. Is below the Carina/T7X as it just unable to render the depth n tonal quality. I am truly surprised by the smaller Carina Bass. Amplifier used are Perreaux R200i, Simaudio Moon 340i. Cables QED Revelation Signature, QED Supremus and Nordorst Heimdal.
Hi Tharbamar, thank you for another great review. Could you please write how these Elac's build the soundstage? Does the soundstage start on the speaker line and build backwards or forwards?
I actually ordered these as an open box item but cancelled before they arrived because I just bought a JC5 amp and thought "Oh this amp is way overkill for these. I need to think towers only." I may be wrong, but I do have 14 feet ceiling (9- to 14 ft sloped). 18 x 35 ft floor
11:00 is of especial interest to me - based on this (and some other) reviews, I'm going to run these as desktop speakers (admittedly, on a rather oversized desk), paired with a little Cambridge Audio AXA35. I'm hoping the clarity and some punchiness will come through at lower levels as well. I really don't need it to be good at high volume, or provide earth-shattering levels of bass. The Diamonds were getting very boomy down there even at moderate listening levels, so I thought what the heck, after all the rave reviews I might as well give it a shot and see if I can tell the difference. My copy is on the way and should arrive in a couple of days. If you don't mind, I would like to amend my comment later on with my findings.
@@valkyrieorion7200so far, really impressive - of course, for near field you have to do a fair amount of toe-in, but that's to be expected. furthermore, I think with more compressed recordings / mp3s it's useful to pull back the bass about -3dB for best tonal balance. but overall, I would say it's a really pleasant sounding unit.
Thats a very nice speakers for the price point. Are you considering a comparation with B&W 706 S2? Would be very pleasant if you bring a review from KEF R3 also. Excellent review. Keep with your great work. Many thanks.
How do these compare to the Wharfedale 10.1 speakers? Currently running the 10.1s with the Marrantz Pm 7000N along with the WiiM Streamer. Very satisfied with this combo with Nice Soundstage and Balance as well. I get more of a Neutral sound which i like. However, I wonder if these Elac speakers would make more of an Improvement? Great Review by the way.👍
@@Tharbamar that would be great :) what I can tell from yor video, I think quads are more subtle more refined, these ubr62 sound more live with midrange are more forward and like there were much much bigger than they are.
Hi Tharbamar, thank you for reviewing these speakers. I have Evo 4.2's and they sound great but for my tastes, they have a distinct lack of mid-bass 'punch' and the bass apears to be a little slow sounding when listening to high tempo music. I'm aware a sub may be required for the lower bass regions but can you tell me if the UniFi Reference has good mid-bass punch and how they sound with uptempo, Hip Hop & Rock music? Keep up the great work.
Hi, yes I agree, as much as I love overall musicality of Evo 4.2 they are not the best option for high energy music. I’m not much of Hiphop person but I love how they sounded with Tupac, Ice Cube etc., also I went through my AC/DC collection and many hard rock music with UBR62 because I can’t stop listening to them, bass is punchy and fast with well controlled sound, UBR62 is like an agile European sports car, it can take every twist and turns without losing control with nice power to weight ratio, that’s how I would put them in car analogy. Thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you for the reply Tharbamar. They could be the perfect speaker for me. I have a Cambridge Audio CXA 81 amplifier. Is 80 Watts enough to drive them adequately?
@Gareth Brownlee: if you want fast, detailed bass (if a little light), you’ll want a sealed box speaker. ATCs have the fastest, most detailed bass I’ve heard in monitor speakers. I’ve had MA Platinum’s II, Quad Z2 and I’ve heard a few others and these are my findings. As always, let your ears be the judge.
Another interesting video. I really can't decide which speaker to get. I have been following all your videos for quite a while but I don't have a chance to test the speakers in my system before buying them. I was inclined to LINTON, then the LS50 META and these ELACs are also interesting. I would like a speaker with a beautiful scene, transparent and detailed, with articulated and not exuberant bass. The medium and medium-high frequencies must be thick, fleshy, and never light and veiled. An excellent presence and dynamics. I have great indecision but the budget would be around $ 1500. The room is not large, 3m x 4m, I listen from the short side at a distance of about 2.5m. Thanks if you can give me some advice.
Similar situation here. Since I am constrained to place the speaker near the wall and have no perfect studio geometry etc. in my living room, this makes the difference for me and the Elac UBR62 will probably be my choice.
Is there a better speaker for about 2-3 times the price that still is suitable for placement near the wall? And without losing the benefits like low volume sound quality, balanced accurate sound? In Germany I get a pair of these for below 900 EUR by the way, but willing to pay up to 2100 EUR. Speakers from KEF or Buchardt are out to my understanding as they must be placed at a distance from the wall, which I cannot do in my room. Of course, I don't HAVE to spend 2000 EUR if I get the best for me already for sub 900 EUR.
I would suggest you to try this JBL L82 or this active, JBL 4305p Speaker Review, Better Than LS50 Wireless II ? th-cam.com/video/-t5ASEofonQ/w-d-xo.html
I was thinking of buying the Kef R3's about 2 years ago. I heard them in a decently set up room in an audio store and I wasn't impressed. In my room, and with Anthem room correction, I like these UBR62's more. I really liked my Bryston Mini T's but they sounded too bright in my current room because they aren't as balanced. The next step up from the UBR62's for me that equal them in balanced sound and beat them in soundstage, clarity, etc, are Kef Reference 1's. And ironically the Kef Reference 1's are the only Kef speakers I've ever liked, including Blade and Muon.
Hi , great review, I did try b&w 606 s2 as trying to replace my old dm602s3 although 606 sound ok but u have better bass reponse with my Rotel a11 set up, but now have Ubr 62, and found not so bright and also my balanced and natural sounding, and the 606, build quality on the 62 far better than 606 , but as I have A-B on my amp I still listen to do 602, but I have sub when listening to the Elac switched in for the lower bass . Regards mark
Great review. Thanks. I just recommended these for my friend who has a Rogue Audio Sphinx v3. I’m curious to know if you use a step up transformer 100v-110v for your amp or go direct.
I used to have kef Q350 and now using UB52. Kef Q350 hi freq a bit dull compare to UB52 imo, but the imaging is better with KEF. Im thinking to upgrade my speaker. This new UB reference is on my radar. What do you think this UB reference compare to KEF R3 and LS meta?
R3 will be slightly more neutral with deeper bass and more clarity, Meta is comparable but power handling not as good, it’s slightly warmer than UBR62, thanks
The Kef R3 may be slightly more neutral and have deeper bass, but they actually have less clarity than the UBR62's. I wasn't very impressed when I heard them. In fact, the only Kef's I've liked are the Reference 1's, including Blade and Muon. And the LS50's are way overrated. The Reference 1's are excellent, but also not very efficient like the UBR62's.
I feel as though your ears are very similar to mine, but its getting a little hard to determine which speakers you like the best. So I was wondering if you are able to comment how you would rank these three speakers.....B&W 706 s2, Quad S2 and the ELAC Uni Fi Reference? Thank you for your great reviews.
If you want best bass quality in class 706 S2, Quad S2 is great for small space and very nice bass performance for the size of the speakers, UBR62 has great balanced sound and good power handling, I still have all of them, if I have to choose one, it would be UBR62 for overall great balance sound from 3 way design but not necessarily better than 706 S2 or Quad S2 in terms of sound quality, Thanks
Great review as usual🙂. Great concept to talk about speakers and then actually play the samples. Would love to see you review Triangle Comete ez speakers and stack them against these Elacs. All the best!
Very interesting review again, Tharmabar. After watching your quad S2 review, I bought to replace my elac b 6.2. It seems very detail, but thinner voice, mid freq is not promonent as elac, very dry.
Quad S2 thin sounding? That’s very first time I’ve heard, they’re never sounded thin in any of my system. Probably you will not like UBR62 either because they don’t sound like B6.2 at all, B6 series have a little bit of thickness and forward sounding midrange area for me personally.
Too many Elacs in my opinion, These are decent value, but why not spend a bit more and get a Carina 247 with the riboon tweeter ? or why not go even further and get the brilliant Vela 403 ?
Hi, naveen here from india.i love your review. Plz help me to choose between kef ls50 meta and this speakers.which one you like better between them and why.plz plz answer
Tough call, UBR62 is more neutral sound with better power handling, LS50 is slightly more on midrange focus and forward sound signature, you have to choose depending on which sound you like, thanks
Hi Tharbamar! Great review! I'm currently comparing this with BW 606 S2, which one would be suggesting? My current amps are Yamaha rn803 and Cayin mt35 tubes. Thanks
Hi Tharbamar, I get the ubr62 and I need somes suggestions for stereo amp, small living room 14x10 a listen mostly jazz and folk but somethings all of music except punk, I like details and neutrality and I know the ubr62 miss some bass, I want 2.1 stereo amp at 1000$ and 2500$, thanks you.
For the money UBR62 easy choice, R3 will deliver better bass extension but soundscape is comparable with more spacious in the highs but $1k more, as much as I like 1TDX, cabinet design is much better on UBR62 and coaxial driver is easily the one I would go with, thanks
@@Tharbamar Wow, thats a great recommendation for the Elac. So the neutral speaker under $1k over all including the B&W and Criton and Evo 4.2. Tough competition. Nice, thank you
@@Tharbamar hi, If I have dbr62 is it worth to change? Is it worth to pay more for a little? I know You will not give me an answer but I think You have to try these to clarify...😌
The evos have pluses, such as bass depth. And minuses, such as very beamy highs from the AMT. That locks you into one seating position. Someone needs to reingeneer the EVO and give it a different tweeter.
Yes I would go with UBR62 over S2 for better power handling and better accuracy in across the frequency range, although sometimes I might miss a little more airer highs from ribbon tweeters but UBR62 is solid choice for me, thanks
Auditioning these now. This video had me concerned there was something wrong in my system. The UBR62 highlighted the fact that this recording has some distortion wrapped around the peaks in Tharbamar's voice. It sounds a bit like tube hiss/static if you've heard that before. Always concerning to hear... especially when you don't have any tubes in your system! :)
@@Tharbamar i have had the quads for over a week now and im finding the treble a little bit silibant/ bright. I lived with the Meta's for over 6 months and didn't notice this. Are the elac's more relaxing and warm in the treble ?
@@hclandscapes with some components it can be, ELAC is not bright at all in my system, thanks BTW: If you love LS50 sound it's hard change, took a while for me at least.
@@Tharbamar im not finding the Quads so bright today, i think sometimes i over analyse the sound rather than just listening to the music, I might give the Dali opticon mk2 a demo as they are supposed to be nice smooth sounding with good amount of bass. Have you listened to the Dali speakers?
I dunno. The Bass sounded boomy and everything higher terribly edgy. It's the only time I can recall that I've had to turn the volume down so I can bear to listen. Like someone else said, I'm very happy with my Quad S2's which sound far more balanced and generally pleasing to my ears (BTW, thanks for introducing me to them, Tharbamar). Could just be the recording or the room, I suppose, but my first impressions are distinctly unfavourable. If they sound like this in real life, I'm sure they'd drive me round the bend.
What? I'm listening to the sound sample on focal bathys which act actually have a sharp midrange and can be fatiguing and they're apsolutely balanced. They're so good I wanna go to sleep listening. The warmth is just calming. Really smooth like butter.
Interesting! I have the Debut B6 and the B6.2. these resemble the latter more with a fuller less edgy top end and better mids. The bass? Not that different! To me the looser, warmer, deeper bass of the B6 is more fun. You don't really need a sub with those. As Jones tightens up that bass, yes it's more neutral, but less engaging and authoritative! I've never been a fan of audiophile bass! Live music has room effects that make it less tight and neutral! It is not that. Audiophile bass to me is bass produced in an anechoic chamber. artificial. If only Jones could retain the B6 bass and add these mids and highs, that would be wonderful!
And Quad s2 have an AMT "ribbon" tweeter that is extremely directional. You have to "lock" in place to listen. Moving is not an option. The UBR62 has one of the widest listening windows available. Its dispersion is fantastic.
Ive heard these speakers in an audio store. I was not impressed by it. Side by side with the evos, 606 s2, ill say its comes last. First would be the 606 s2 then the evos, then these. Yes its balanced but dry sounding to me, it does not do anything to tingle may audio mind. The evos at least gives you great midrange and outstanding detail retrieval and the 606 s2 gives you excitement. These are just bland to me. Thanks for the reviee
Owning them, I have to say a small amount of fine tuning and break-in is necessary. As he said, playing louder is different. You need just the right equipment an particular setting. These speakers are very true. This is an sound engineers dream though. Most people want to hear what the sound engineer hears, these would be for those people.
Could these perform well as desktop speakers, with them against the wall or very close to it? (me being like 50cm away from them) Would pair them with Cambridge Audio CXA81 integrated amp. In case you'd have a better recommendation for desktop speakers at that small distance, I'd love to hear your opinion. (price range up to 1k €)
It should work great for your need, I preferred three way design for the desktop, I don’t know if there any other I can suggest at this price range at this moment, thanks
Scales with your equipment. Cheap onkyo avr was good sounding. Then pop in a orchard gallium amp xlr balanced, wow it totally transformed the sound to another level. Used it Near field with computer, every posture gets you another way of listening to wide wide sounds. Lemons on open box ubr52 and new ubr62 beware, just my luck both concentric drivers distort wit 400hz to 600hz test tones.
As long as you don't run out of volume on the laptop, there shouldn't be an issue , or else put on some headphones :) or get some actual speakers seeing as we're interested in them!
You're clearly applying TOO MUCH smoothing to your in room frequency response curves. With that much smoothing, almost any speaker's response is going to look impressive unless there is obviously something really wrong with it. As for your sound demos, what happened to Evie Sands' While I Look at You? Seems you've stopped using it for some reason. Otherwise, nice review of some overpriced, Jones' designed, made in China small speakers.
I received my pair of Elacs at around the same time you released this video. So in the past year or so, I can say that the accuracy of your analysis is really spot on. While I can't articulate my impressions of these speakers as well as you, I trust my ears to form my judgement and that judgement is very, very positive.
Thanks for sharing!
I agree totally with your review as I do have a pair. The better the electronics the more you will love them. I am using the Musical Fidelity M5si with 150 wpc and I find it pure joy.
They are very good, I can’t find any major flaws in sound quality, thanks
I have grown to really appreciate your reviews, particularly the delivery style. Your laid back and sincere presentation complements the subject matter nicely. Please keep the reviews coming.
Just want to say after a year of watching your videos and contemplating. I am finally listening to this video from the evo 4.2s. Was worried about them being too boring but they turned out fine. Thank you for all your videos and replies to comments on them. They really helped
I really want a pair of those.
Thank you.
Same, I got the Evo 4.2s instead of these.
Yep me too ..
Keep on hearing such great reviews for this Elac! I am glad that you find it to be a Stella, Stella performa!
Really appreciate these reviews, particularly being able to compare the same track in multiple videos, even if some have been done at different distances and a few older ones in different rooms. I've got to say though, once I've made my mind up on which speakers I'm getting, I never want to hear this track again for the rest of my life hahaha.
What about me? I still have to hear this track over and over again for sound samples :)
@@Tharbamar hahaha.....I expected you would say that. 😁👍
As many times before, an excellent and comprehensive analysis .. This really helps a lot in the final decision of what to buy....Congrat. Mr.Tharbamar
Thank you.
The other 2 speakers that measure as or more neutral than the UBR62 at the same or lower price point are the Wharfdale Diamond 12.2 and the Polk Reserve R200. Do give these a go if you get the chance!
Sure I will try them when I can, thanks
Is the Diamond 12.2 as balanced as the UniFi UBR62? Any measurements I can look into? This is a genuine question.
@@juanmillaruelo7647 the diamonds measure real smooth and linear bar the intentional BBC Dip. I cant seem to put any links here without youtube removing it but there are a few measurements out there showing the same thing.
Great and detailed review. Cover almost everything and gets to the point. Thank you and keep going dude!
Thanks
listening A/B vs Quad S2 i'd say these ones are warmer- less microdetailed and a bit more laid back. Can't comment on soundstage. I'd say voices are thicker also on the ELacs. Some might prefer- myself i'm sticking with my QS2 :).
You are right, quad s2 is very dry vocal, thinner, than elac.
Thanks for another successful review. I watched all your videos, as I'm in the market for bookshelves, including this, featured Elac's.
How would you compare them to over-glorified (in a good way) CSS Craiton Td1-x? They are on my radar too.
Don't worry about the bass, as I use dual subwoofers. If you had to choose one of the two....? Just overall sound quality. Please & thank you. Happy listening
ELAC is better buy for the money in sound quality and price to performance, it can deliver you one of the most honest sound, thanks
Hi Tharbamar, thank you for your hard work.
Thanks for watching.
Terrific review! I would love to see how they stack against the beloved 7 series from B&W. It's too bad they don't come in white.
Sounds really lively with nice detail in the higher frequency without being tiring. This is a little surprising for as Elac Jones designed speakers are renowned for being relaxed sounding. How does this compare to debut reference?
How does it compare to Elac uni-fi UB52 (3 way speaker) ?
Thanks for the detailed review. Heard these at the Magnolia store in Best Buy, and they sounded really balanced and smooth. Not a fan of the gray grilles, though...
Keep up the good work, my friend..👍🏾
Thank you.
Waiting for your review of the towers!! Shootout with 6tNovus and R600 from Polk😁 can't wait!
Great review! Thanks Tharbamar!
Thanks for watching.
Amazing review buddy
Thanks buddy
Compared the Elac Unifi 2.0 to the Unifi Reference and Carina.
Speakers rear is about 5feet away from back wall. And about 6 feet apart. Some toeing in.
With the REL T7X reinforcing the bass region.
I have the Unifi 2.0 first.
It’s neutral n smooth. I like the Unifi highs. Airy, precise n articulate. Vocal is pin point. Bass is deep n tuneful. Separation n depth is really good.
Then the Carina.
This is much beefier then the 2.0.
Throws a much wider soundstage n image. Tonally the carina is warmer n richer. Vocal is full bodied has that life-like tone.
Bass is solid and weighty.
The carina is way better than the 2.0 in terms of tonal quality. Making the 2.0 sound leaner n pale and restraint.
However when the 2.0 is paired with the T7X. This combo is great.
I have great expectation for the Unifi Reference as the 2.0 is already very good.
The Unifi reference as expected. Produce a wider soundstage, bigger image. Weighty vocals.
It’s less laid back then the 2.0.
However I felt the Reference just did not produce depth well enough.
Highs notes n details don’t extends as I hope. It lacks air of the 2.0.
The champion among these 3 Elac.
To me is the Carina, 2.0, Reference.
If u pair the 2.0 with a good Sub like the T7X. It’s awesome.
The carina with the T7X simply win in-terms of tonality n scale n separation.
The Unifi Reference with the T7X.
Is below the Carina/T7X as it just unable to render the depth n tonal quality.
I am truly surprised by the smaller Carina Bass.
Amplifier used are Perreaux R200i, Simaudio Moon 340i.
Cables QED Revelation Signature, QED Supremus and Nordorst Heimdal.
Very good review.👍👍.. by the way, what is the distance between those 2 speakers and your ideal listening position from speaker?.. cheers and thanks
Thank you, it was about 12ft away.
Please do a comparison vid between elac unifi reference and wharfedale evo 4.2. Interested in hearing your opinion.
How do they compare to Q350s!? Are they a clear step up in all aspects? Thanks for the review!
More revealing than Q350 with detail sound but bass response will be a little less than Q350 but it will be cleaner.
Hi Tharbamar, thank you for another great review. Could you please write how these Elac's build the soundstage? Does the soundstage start on the speaker line and build backwards or forwards?
Sound stage start from speaker line with real nice image, thanks
@@Tharbamar Ok, but is the sound stage is being built in front of the speakers or behind the speakers?
Great review. Any chance u have listened to Elac Vela 403 before and compared? I am really curious how they compare nearfield..
I actually ordered these as an open box item but cancelled before they arrived because I just bought a JC5 amp and thought "Oh this amp is way overkill for these. I need to think towers only." I may be wrong, but I do have 14 feet ceiling (9- to 14 ft sloped). 18 x 35 ft floor
Yes you need towers for sure.
Hi, I am a fan of your reviews, I would like to hear your opinion of Elac UBR62 vs Wharfedale 225. I am deciding between them 2.
UBR62 is more transparent in sound, 225 is more forgiving and easier on ears, thanks
I always wonder if you have ever tried to correct the 6khz room dip...
11:00 is of especial interest to me - based on this (and some other) reviews, I'm going to run these as desktop speakers (admittedly, on a rather oversized desk), paired with a little Cambridge Audio AXA35.
I'm hoping the clarity and some punchiness will come through at lower levels as well. I really don't need it to be good at high volume, or provide earth-shattering levels of bass. The Diamonds were getting very boomy down there even at moderate listening levels, so I thought what the heck, after all the rave reviews I might as well give it a shot and see if I can tell the difference.
My copy is on the way and should arrive in a couple of days. If you don't mind, I would like to amend my comment later on with my findings.
and how do you like them>?
@@valkyrieorion7200so far, really impressive - of course, for near field you have to do a fair amount of toe-in, but that's to be expected.
furthermore, I think with more compressed recordings / mp3s it's useful to pull back the bass about -3dB for best tonal balance.
but overall, I would say it's a really pleasant sounding unit.
@@mjak993 Great thank you for your insights appreciate it!
Thats a very nice speakers for the price point. Are you considering a comparation with B&W 706 S2? Would be very pleasant if you bring a review from KEF R3 also. Excellent review. Keep with your great work. Many thanks.
I will be comparing it to Evo 4.2 and some speakers, thanks
Would these be an upgrade over the Quad Z2?
Great question. I'd like to know if they can equal or better their vocal reproduction.
I have not tried Z2 but yes definitely upgrade from S2 for me, thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you! You should review the Z2, I had the S2 and the Z2 are quite a step up.
@@Tharbamar Thank you sir.
Great review as always. Do they equal or better Quad S2/ Z2 ?
Yes I would go with UBR62 over S2 but I have not tried z2 to give you right answer, thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you sir.
How does it compare to the it's little brother b52-2. 0. Is there a comparison video out there yet?
B52.2 is not comparable for sound quality and accuracy, thanks
How do these compare to the Wharfedale 10.1 speakers?
Currently running the 10.1s with the Marrantz Pm 7000N along with the WiiM Streamer. Very satisfied with this combo with Nice Soundstage and Balance as well. I get more of a Neutral sound which i like.
However, I wonder if these Elac speakers would make more of an Improvement?
Great Review by the way.👍
I've seen your review of quad s2 and I bought them, now I think about those ubr62, please compare them or tell which are better :)
I might do comparison with them, thanks
@@Tharbamar that would be great :) what I can tell from yor video, I think quads are more subtle more refined, these ubr62 sound more live with midrange are more forward and like there were much much bigger than they are.
@@Tharbamar Please do the comparison ]. I would love that. Thank you for your work.
@@sebastiang9641 I assumed the same. I would love to know if I am right in this.
Thanks for the vid-I learned a lot and enjoyed it.
Thanks for watching.
Hi Tharbamar, thank you for reviewing these speakers. I have Evo 4.2's and they sound great but for my tastes, they have a distinct lack of mid-bass 'punch' and the bass apears to be a little slow sounding when listening to high tempo music. I'm aware a sub may be required for the lower bass regions but can you tell me if the UniFi Reference has good mid-bass punch and how they sound with uptempo, Hip Hop & Rock music?
Keep up the great work.
Hi, yes I agree, as much as I love overall musicality of Evo 4.2 they are not the best option for high energy music.
I’m not much of Hiphop person but I love how they sounded with Tupac, Ice Cube etc., also I went through my AC/DC collection and many hard rock music with UBR62 because I can’t stop listening to them, bass is punchy and fast with well controlled sound, UBR62 is like an agile European sports car, it can take every twist and turns without losing control with nice power to weight ratio, that’s how I would put them in car analogy. Thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you for the reply Tharbamar. They could be the perfect speaker for me. I have a Cambridge Audio CXA 81 amplifier. Is 80 Watts enough to drive them adequately?
@@garethbrownlee5457 It will be enough to drive them in average space, thanks
@Gareth Brownlee: if you want fast, detailed bass (if a little light), you’ll want a sealed box speaker. ATCs have the fastest, most detailed bass I’ve heard in monitor speakers. I’ve had MA Platinum’s II, Quad Z2 and I’ve heard a few others and these are my findings. As always, let your ears be the judge.
@@garethbrownlee5457 4.2 go really well with D class amps . XTZ especially .
Great review👍 Would you recommend these over the Wharfedale Evo 4.2?
Yes if you like speaker with balanced and neutral sound.
Another interesting video.
I really can't decide which speaker to get. I have been following all your videos for quite a while but I don't have a chance to test the speakers in my system before buying them. I was inclined to LINTON, then the LS50 META and these ELACs are also interesting. I would like a speaker with a beautiful scene, transparent and detailed, with articulated and not exuberant bass. The medium and medium-high frequencies must be thick, fleshy, and never light and veiled. An excellent presence and dynamics. I have great indecision but the budget would be around $ 1500. The room is not large, 3m x 4m, I listen from the short side at a distance of about 2.5m.
Thanks if you can give me some advice.
For the price I would go for UBR62 or LS50 Meta + SUB, thanks
@@Tharbamar thank you very much, only let me know what SUB. Kc62 and i cut@140hz? Or another sub brand? Thx in advance. M.
@@MrRoccaleRel is best brand for music
Similar situation here. Since I am constrained to place the speaker near the wall and have no perfect studio geometry etc. in my living room, this makes the difference for me and the Elac UBR62 will probably be my choice.
Is there a better speaker for about 2-3 times the price that still is suitable for placement near the wall? And without losing the benefits like low volume sound quality, balanced accurate sound?
In Germany I get a pair of these for below 900 EUR by the way, but willing to pay up to 2100 EUR. Speakers from KEF or Buchardt are out to my understanding as they must be placed at a distance from the wall, which I cannot do in my room.
Of course, I don't HAVE to spend 2000 EUR if I get the best for me already for sub 900 EUR.
I would suggest you to try this JBL L82 or this active,
JBL 4305p Speaker Review, Better Than LS50 Wireless II ?
th-cam.com/video/-t5ASEofonQ/w-d-xo.html
What book shelf speaker beats this and how much more must we pay?
KEF R3.
I was thinking of buying the Kef R3's about 2 years ago. I heard them in a decently set up room in an audio store and I wasn't impressed.
In my room, and with Anthem room correction, I like these UBR62's more.
I really liked my Bryston Mini T's but they sounded too bright in my current room because they aren't as balanced.
The next step up from the UBR62's for me that equal them in balanced sound and beat them in soundstage, clarity, etc, are Kef Reference 1's.
And ironically the Kef Reference 1's are the only Kef speakers I've ever liked, including Blade and Muon.
Anybody know why Andrew Jones left ELAC?
Would love to see your opinion on the tower version
Will try them if they send them to me, thanks
Hi , great review, I did try b&w 606 s2 as trying to replace my old dm602s3 although 606 sound ok but u have better bass reponse with my Rotel a11 set up, but now have Ubr 62, and found not so bright and also my balanced and natural sounding, and the 606, build quality on the 62 far better than 606 , but as I have A-B on my amp I still listen to do 602, but I have sub when listening to the Elac switched in for the lower bass . Regards mark
UBR62 is one of the neutral sounding speakers, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your reply, I bought mine on open box item for £499. Regards mark
Great review. Thanks. I just recommended these for my friend who has a Rogue Audio Sphinx v3. I’m curious to know if you use a step up transformer 100v-110v for your amp or go direct.
I’m using 3kva step down transformer with them, thanks
I used to have kef Q350 and now using UB52. Kef Q350 hi freq a bit dull compare to UB52 imo, but the imaging is better with KEF. Im thinking to upgrade my speaker. This new UB reference is on my radar. What do you think this UB reference compare to KEF R3 and LS meta?
R3 will be slightly more neutral with deeper bass and more clarity, Meta is comparable but power handling not as good, it’s slightly warmer than UBR62, thanks
The Kef R3 may be slightly more neutral and have deeper bass, but they actually have less clarity than the UBR62's. I wasn't very impressed when I heard them. In fact, the only Kef's I've liked are the Reference 1's, including Blade and Muon. And the LS50's are way overrated. The Reference 1's are excellent, but also not very efficient like the UBR62's.
These Elac Unifi Reference or the new Dynaudio Emit M20 (2021)? (same price)
I would go with ELAC three way design.
that's all? is that the only argument, experience?
Thanks!
Are these good for low volume listening?
Hi, do you mind telling me which stands you have with them?
B&W STAV24 stands.
I feel as though your ears are very similar to mine, but its getting a little hard to determine which speakers you like the best. So I was wondering if you are able to comment how you would rank these three speakers.....B&W 706 s2, Quad S2 and the ELAC Uni Fi Reference? Thank you for your great reviews.
If you want best bass quality in class 706 S2, Quad S2 is great for small space and very nice bass performance for the size of the speakers, UBR62 has great balanced sound and good power handling, I still have all of them, if I have to choose one, it would be UBR62 for overall great balance sound from 3 way design but not necessarily better than 706 S2 or Quad S2 in terms of sound quality, Thanks
@@Tharbamar thank you, much appreciated 😊👍
Great review as usual🙂. Great concept to talk about speakers and then actually play the samples. Would love to see you review Triangle Comete ez speakers and stack them against these Elacs. All the best!
Very interesting review again, Tharmabar. After watching your quad S2 review, I bought to replace my elac b 6.2. It seems very detail, but thinner voice, mid freq is not promonent as elac, very dry.
Quad S2 thin sounding? That’s very first time I’ve heard, they’re never sounded thin in any of my system.
Probably you will not like UBR62 either because they don’t sound like B6.2 at all, B6 series have a little bit of thickness and forward sounding midrange area for me personally.
Hello Tharbamar, which Type of stand are they put on?
Hi, I’m using B&W 24” stands, thanks
Great review once again would you pick these or what it seems to look like your new standard B&W 606 S2 going off your last comparison/review 😁
UBR62 with 606 S2 like bass extension will be my preferred sound, thanks
I have the 606 , a very nice bookshelf speaker. Got it from someone who had just picked up the floor standing elac uni 2.
Too many Elacs in my opinion, These are decent value, but why not spend a bit more and get a Carina 247 with the riboon tweeter ? or why not go even further and get the brilliant Vela 403 ?
Are these speakers much better than the Klipsch RP-600M speakers ?
For me is yes but everything in audio is personal preference, so you have try them to see what suits your preference.
Objectively much better, but you may prefer the Klipsch, with its boomy bass, scooped out mids and shouty highs. Enjoy
how would those speakers do, if powered with an a/v receiver ??
Should be fine with any AV amps. Thanks
Thanks ,I just ordered them for $799😎 !!!
Hi, naveen here from india.i love your review. Plz help me to choose between kef ls50 meta and this speakers.which one you like better between them and why.plz plz answer
Tough call, UBR62 is more neutral sound with better power handling, LS50 is slightly more on midrange focus and forward sound signature, you have to choose depending on which sound you like, thanks
Are they a sizeable improvement oover b&w606 (s1 not
S2)?
Hi Tharbamar! Great review! I'm currently comparing this with BW 606 S2, which one would be suggesting? My current amps are Yamaha rn803 and Cayin mt35 tubes. Thanks
How do these compare to the dbr-62?
Hi Tharbamar, I get the ubr62 and I need somes suggestions for stereo amp, small living room 14x10 a listen mostly jazz and folk but somethings all of music except punk, I like details and neutrality and I know the ubr62 miss some bass, I want 2.1 stereo amp at 1000$ and 2500$, thanks you.
Yamaha AS series will be very good choice, thanks
I wonder what these Elacs are in comparison to B&W 706 S2? Ps. Great review, like always 👍
Thanks
I'd LOVE that comparison, hear them "toe to toe". The 706 s2 is one of the best B&W floorstanders available. Pricey, tho.
Yes interested to know how it compares to the 706s2
What's the difference between soundstage and soundscape?
Soundstage is the way it represent the music, soundscape is how wide is can deliver without going out of phase, that is what I meant.
Nice, how they they compare to CSS Criton, and KEF R3. Cheaper 3way vs R3?
For the money UBR62 easy choice, R3 will deliver better bass extension but soundscape is comparable with more spacious in the highs but $1k more, as much as I like 1TDX, cabinet design is much better on UBR62 and coaxial driver is easily the one I would go with, thanks
@@Tharbamar Wow, thats a great recommendation for the Elac. So the neutral speaker under $1k over all including the B&W and Criton and Evo 4.2. Tough competition. Nice, thank you
@@Tharbamar hi, If I have dbr62 is it worth to change? Is it worth to pay more for a little? I know You will not give me an answer but I think You have to try these to clarify...😌
Should I go for a pair of these or Kef R300?
R300.
@@Tharbamar Much obliged..🙏
I have the Wharfedale Evo 4.2, do you think these would be an upgrade? @Tharbamar
Yes in some parts but I will be trying them back to back and let you know in a few weeks, thanks
The evos have pluses, such as bass depth. And minuses, such as very beamy highs from the AMT. That locks you into one seating position. Someone needs to reingeneer the EVO and give it a different tweeter.
I agree, the only thing I am unhappy with in Evo is the tweeter dispersion. Its very narrow indeed.
@@Neracles Yes it is but less noticeable smaller spaces.
Hi
If u got to choose between the Quad S2 and the Elac Uni-Fi Reference.
Which pair would u pick.
And the reasons.
Thank u.
Yes I would go with UBR62 over S2 for better power handling and better accuracy in across the frequency range, although sometimes I might miss a little more airer highs from ribbon tweeters but UBR62 is solid choice for me, thanks
How do they compare to Focal Aria 906? Thnx in advance...
906 has balanced sound too but it feels a bit little lighter in midrange compared to UBR62, which is more enjoyable than 906 for me, thanks
Appreciated mate, wonder if this pair well with my incoming yamaha a8a (150wpc)
Yes It should sound great Yamaha gears, thanks
Love your review , Very good space and equipment also sounds very awesome , hope you can try NAD d3020 v2 amp someday .
Those speakers look really good,any chance to do review of any Dali speakers mk2 series ???? Greetings from Scotland😁😁🏴
Hello, No plan for Dali at this moment, thanks
Ok no worries,thank for reply,love your channel😁😁
Are they better than Evo 4.2?
Yes if you like clean neutral sound.
@@Tharbamar Thx
Auditioning these now. This video had me concerned there was something wrong in my system. The UBR62 highlighted the fact that this recording has some distortion wrapped around the peaks in Tharbamar's voice. It sounds a bit like tube hiss/static if you've heard that before. Always concerning to hear... especially when you don't have any tubes in your system! :)
Yes some of my videos have noise issues with microphone.
How is the bass on these compared with the quad s2's?
More powerful and can play louder.
@@Tharbamar i have had the quads for over a week now and im finding the treble a little bit silibant/ bright.
I lived with the Meta's for over 6 months and didn't notice this.
Are the elac's more relaxing and warm in the treble ?
@@hclandscapes with some components it can be, ELAC is not bright at all in my system, thanks
BTW: If you love LS50 sound it's hard change, took a while for me at least.
@@Tharbamar im not finding the Quads so bright today, i think sometimes i over analyse the sound rather than just listening to the music,
I might give the Dali opticon mk2 a demo as they are supposed to be nice smooth sounding with good amount of bass.
Have you listened to the Dali speakers?
@@hclandscapes Yes newer generations are nice compare previous models but they still can be a bit dry a times depending on the music.
I dunno. The Bass sounded boomy and everything higher terribly edgy. It's the only time I can recall that I've had to turn the volume down so I can bear to listen. Like someone else said, I'm very happy with my Quad S2's which sound far more balanced and generally pleasing to my ears (BTW, thanks for introducing me to them, Tharbamar).
Could just be the recording or the room, I suppose, but my first impressions are distinctly unfavourable. If they sound like this in real life, I'm sure they'd drive me round the bend.
Did you hear this on your smartphone, PC speakers or alike? Or did you year it on Elac UBR62?
What? I'm listening to the sound sample on focal bathys which act actually have a sharp midrange and can be fatiguing and they're apsolutely balanced. They're so good I wanna go to sleep listening. The warmth is just calming. Really smooth like butter.
@@MiccaPhoneexactly wth? Lol
What is that laptop Stand? I would like one to compliment my audio wrack!
Please check in video description, I have direct link in there, thanks
It only gets down to 65hz in your room. Much higher than the factory measurement 41 hz. What is going on?
It sounds like the bass is to much for the mids and highs, maybe just the headphone listening, but the Quads sounded so much better .
Interesting! I have the Debut B6 and the B6.2. these resemble the latter more with a fuller less edgy top end and better mids. The bass? Not that different! To me the looser, warmer, deeper bass of the B6 is more fun. You don't really need a sub with those. As Jones tightens up that bass, yes it's more neutral, but less engaging and authoritative! I've never been a fan of audiophile bass! Live music has room effects that make it less tight and neutral! It is not that. Audiophile bass to me is bass produced in an anechoic chamber. artificial. If only Jones could retain the B6 bass and add these mids and highs, that would be wonderful!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi, what is different between UBR62 and DBR62 ??! 😕
3 way and 2 way.
How do they compare to the Quad A 2's?
I assume they would have more punch base yet less refined?
Thanks for the great review.👍
For overall sound and performance I would go for UBR62 because S2 more suitable for smaller rooms, thanks
And Quad s2 have an AMT "ribbon" tweeter that is extremely directional. You have to "lock" in place to listen. Moving is not an option.
The UBR62 has one of the widest listening windows available. Its dispersion is fantastic.
@@Tharbamar Thank you
@@juanmillaruelo7647 Thank you
Great
Ive heard these speakers in an audio store. I was not impressed by it. Side by side with the evos, 606 s2, ill say its comes last. First would be the 606 s2 then the evos, then these. Yes its balanced but dry sounding to me, it does not do anything to tingle may audio mind. The evos at least gives you great midrange and outstanding detail retrieval and the 606 s2 gives you excitement. These are just bland to me.
Thanks for the reviee
Owning them, I have to say a small amount of fine tuning and break-in is necessary. As he said, playing louder is different. You need just the right equipment an particular setting. These speakers are very true. This is an sound engineers dream though. Most people want to hear what the sound engineer hears, these would be for those people.
Could these perform well as desktop speakers, with them against the wall or very close to it? (me being like 50cm away from them)
Would pair them with Cambridge Audio CXA81 integrated amp.
In case you'd have a better recommendation for desktop speakers at that small distance, I'd love to hear your opinion. (price range up to 1k €)
It should work great for your need, I preferred three way design for the desktop, I don’t know if there any other I can suggest at this price range at this moment, thanks
I use it np, you need stands, desk has to be really big to fit.
Its not real vaneer?
I can get B&W 706 S2 or Kef R3 at abouth the same price as Elac. Wich are better in your opinion ?
KEF R3 will be my choice.
Scales with your equipment. Cheap onkyo avr was good sounding. Then pop in a orchard gallium amp xlr balanced, wow it totally transformed the sound to another level. Used it Near field with computer, every posture gets you another way of listening to wide wide sounds. Lemons on open box ubr52 and new ubr62 beware, just my luck both concentric drivers distort wit 400hz to 600hz test tones.
Your speaking volume is quite low bro, i have to increase my laptop volume quite a lot.
It’s not low, actually I’m using standard loudness level as Hollywood movies. I don’t like super loud TH-cam level.
As long as you don't run out of volume on the laptop, there shouldn't be an issue , or else put on some headphones :) or get some actual speakers seeing as we're interested in them!
Power handling is a little overrated because they are very inefficient
You spend a lot of time to edit these review videos
About a day, which I enjoy doing. Thanks
You're clearly applying TOO MUCH smoothing to your in room frequency response curves.
With that much smoothing, almost any speaker's response is going to look impressive unless there is obviously something really wrong with it.
As for your sound demos, what happened to Evie Sands' While I Look at You?
Seems you've stopped using it for some reason.
Otherwise, nice review of some overpriced, Jones' designed, made in China small speakers.
In this measurement I use 1/6 smoothing, for the music I just want to use more complex music.
Thanks
👍🇵🇱🇵🇱👍😎😉🤓😁
How did these compare to the Sierra 2?