Great review, Steve, thanks! I received a pair of these two weeks ago and have been loving them. Definitely throws a huge soundstage with excellent imaging. Clear, smooth, fatigue-free, spot-on tonality. Amazing coherence, no hint of this being a three-way, no indication of the metal cones at all - zero. I found that with healthy break-in, like 50-100 hours, they really come alive. Really impressed, just great speakers all around!
@@baktashzameer4193 It's just a matter of simply playing music through them in the sum of about 50-100 hours in whatever way you get there. I let my speakers play at moderate volumes for over a week straight, it just got me there quicker is all. If you listen for just a couple hours a day then it will take several days to break them in. Hope that helps.
Thanks so much for going into how you don't need the floor standing version for a smaller room. I live in a condo and I don't want to blow out my ears or piss off the neighbors. Thanks again.
I just bought a pair of these, and I've been blown away. (But what do I know? I've been listening to Bose Acoustimass speakers since 1991.) I have an entry level Yamaha R-N303, which does everything, just with less impressive specs. Still, these speakers got me digging out my vinyl and CDs again, just to hear uncompressed digital audio. I found an upgraded R-N602 (much less THD and frequency response goes down to 20 Hz), and I hope I hear the difference. If you're into neutral, accurate speakers, I think these are a great choice in their price range. If you like scooped speakers, you may be disappointed, especially when you first play them. They do "break in" (meaning, the flexible speaker parts loosen up) and after a few days they start to open up in the lower registers. These will not blow bass up your skirt if there wasn't much in the original recording. Then, you play a song with lots of bass, and you'll ask "Where did *that* come from?!!!" I couldn't find any to audition in my area, so I bought them on faith based on reviews by the Cheap Audio Man ("Cheap" and "Audio": Two of my favorite words!), and in one of his videos he explained neutral, V shaped, and U shaped response curves, each of which have their fans. Thanks to that info, I had a pretty good idea I'd like these. If you like neutral and accurate, these could be your speaks! If you're just watching TV and want to experience imaging, I recommend "Better Call Saul". If you're watching action movies, you're probably gonna need a sub. Call me a new Andrew Jones fan boy!
New subscriber here.. I bought these a couple years back when they were $600. I love love these speakers for "smaller" bookshelf speakers. I started out with a low end Cambridge integrated amp that was 100 watts a channel (bought them all new at the same time) and once they were broken in, they sounded fantastic. It seamed that I had to turn the amp up a little louder than I would have liked, but maybe I like my music a little louder than most? I'm at the age now (45) that I don't need my ears to ring, but I like to feel and hear the music though. With a sub, I really think these are a good bang for the buck, even though they are 100 dollars more now. I noticed that Elac usually has a nice year end sale and this past December, I jumped on the Uni-FI reference speakers for 300 bucks off the $1,200 current price in walnut finish. A noticeable upgrade for me with what I have for components. I'm currently running a Bluesound Node 2 going into (coax out) an Ever Solo Z8 DAC, and then analog (unbalanced) into an older Denon AVR 4806 in pure direct mode. I still feel that I could get more out of the reference speakers though, and am currently saving up for a dedicated stereo amp. Have you messed around with some of the higher watt Emotiva amps? They make a dedicated stereo amp that is supposedly 300 watts a channel for around $1,200 but I really want to have that higher quality sound while staying as neutral as possible. I'll keep checking out all your videos and hopefully I can find a high current dedicated amp that I can afford. I love your videos, and have always been an Andrew Jones fan myself. I would rather have a little too much power than I need, and then dial the volume back so I never have to worry about clipping.
As always, I love your approach to listening to audio gear. These reviews are less reviews and more a personal, heartfelt set of impressions and a sharing of the emotional impact of a given system. I think these just might be my next speakers. Also, I love that you let us in on the albums you used for the review and why you chose them and what you like about them. Many of these have become faves of mine. Thanks for brightening my musical perspective.
I purchased these speaker more or less six month ago. I really appreciate these speakers. For me one of the best price/quality range speakers I use them with set with Marantz PM8006 amplifier and I'm very satisfied. Great imaging and soundstage. Mids are very great. Voices at the top. They a need a period of break up, so you will appreciate UNI-FI 2.= UB52. They sound great with Jazz and Classical. I hear them in a equilater triangle position in a small room. They are posizioned on a specific Stand I have realize particular for these speakers. At the height of 70 cm from the floor the tweeter is positioned directly on my ears when I'm sitting The bass are also well reproduced, right not exceed I'm very satisfied of my set up I have found with these speakers in my room I suggest UNI FI 2.0 UB 52 for the price are a great sound
I end up wanting about half the speakers you review. This one however, I may actually get. Great review of another "industry disrupter" from Andrew Jones.
Nothing beats real world testing. I feel like speaker reviews are getting more polarized. Some people want a more mellow balanced sound, others want a shoutier, more dynamic sound.
I just got these speakers this morning and I am super-psyched about what I have heard so far. I had the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 (which I boxed up and returned three hours after receiving these) and they were good. But these are on a different level! At double the price of the B6.2's I feel like I got four times the value. I really did not have any serious complaints about the B6.2's but when I began to listen to the UB52's I knew I was going to keep them. These speakers are like $1000 speakers in $600 enclosures, and I have no regrets for spending the extra cash on them. I had 108 hours on the B6.2's, and I am sure they were thoroughly burned in. I have 10 hours on my UB52's and I cannot wait until I get a hundred hours on them. The three-way dynamic crossover versus the two-way on the B6.2's makes them so much better, in my opinion. It is like the difference between a Mercedes E-class (which I own) and a Mercedes C-class. They are both nice cars, the E-class is just better! The sound that these throw out (so far) is unbelievable for something that cost less than a $1000 bucks. I want to thank Andrew Jones for creating a speaker that is capable of giving so much but takes so little out of my wallet!
One year onward how to they fare at low volume level listening? I think that's a shortcoming of the Debut B6.2. At low volume level the music is "lifeless".
@@VonSteyr It is also a shortcoming of the UB52 model. That's why I bought the DALI OBERON 3's. They are alive at any level I listen to. I still have the UB52's on the rear channel and they compliment the Dali's very nicely when I choose to listen to the front and rear speakers simultaneously.
@@VonSteyr Absolutely not! They are perfectly balanced speakers. Actually, because the speakers are voiced with the grills on, if they do get a bit bright with the grills off, just put them back on. What they are is lively, inviting, and full sounding with a big soundstage and great imaging! I enjoyed the other speakers I have owned and/or still own but these are the best by a long way!
A late comment but I've read that they are actually measured at 83.3db. I have them and they are not very efficient speakers and they crave power to get full efficiency you'll need at least 80-100 watts per. These are 140 watt speakers.
Many thanks for your videos, they are very informative and useful, I would like to know what your choice would be between these ELAC speakers and some KEF Q350? thank you so much
UPS dropped off my UNI 2.0 speakers today after 2 day FREE shipping from Crutchfield.. The first recording I played which I would highly recommend to anyone interested in soundstage and imaging.. The absolute killer recording.. Alice in Chains Unplugged.. My listening room is 25' x 20' in which they sound amazing.. What I found even more amazing is the range these speakers have as sound followed me to surrounding rooms.. So far I'm super delighted and thanks for this TH-cam review which made my decision real easy.. Also this pair was a Scratch & Dent purchase from Crutchfield.. Opened the box outside in the daylight and they are flawless..!
Thank you Steve for the great review. I just placed an order on a pair to hook up to my Cambridge AXR100 integrated amp. Just want to add your the resource that If you agreed with others on this pair of speakers, I knew I was making the right decision. Keep up the great work. I'll update when I have them hooked up.
Hi, do you think it’s a good pairing with the Cambridge? From what I’ve read it looks like so, but It would be nice to hear from someone who have tried it. I have a very similar amp (AXR85) and I’m considering the UB52 as well. Thanks in advance ✌️
Pair the Unifi2.0 UB52 with the REL T7X. It’s a winner combo. The unifi2.0 is creamy smooth in the top. Super mids that is articulate n separates well from instruments. Great imaging. Bass is deeeeep. With the T7X. The bass end got reinforced giving the UniFi superior body n weight. Soundstage n scale got better. Great pairing. I prefer the UniFi 2.0 over the Debut Reference.
Nice review. I bought a pair of Elac Debut Reference Bookshelf speakers after watching your review and others. While laid back, they do work beautifully across all platforms of music, being very versatile for my tastes. However, I would be curious to hear the UB52's in how they compare, particularly in the more "forward" nature of their midrange as the dbr62's can certainly sound less engaging at times.
A great review Steve. Thumbs up! A few things... Glad to hear we don't need 200 watts to make them really sing. You do need to tell us how they sound compared to the original and how the sound compares to the Klipsch RP600Ms. I own a pair of the original UB5s, but in the slim version. I really hope ELAC makes a version of these with a nicer finish and with magnetic grills. Those grill peg holes are a step backward in my opinion. That said the 5.25" woofer with no dust cap is almost worth the upgrade cost alone.
always great to get the comparisons, thanks! 3030i was on my list, has moved down a bit. Also tempted by the Wharfdate Denton 80th, partly cause they look so good. Love the idea of both of those speakers (even though they sound so different - wish I could hear the beggars...)
Love your ability to carry a review into the stratosphere of verbosity. Have three speakers by Jones and my major problem is that you give his speakers one year and the prices drop like crazy- not fair to early buyers.
Count your blessings. Better than having nobody else wanted. High volume allows companies set up for it to lower price. Never happens with lousy speakers at populist pricing.
From all the reviews, it seams the UB52 is defiantly better than the UB5 (UB51 now) by just a bit but really mostly better for placement because of the front facing port making it able to actually go on a bookshelf or close to a wall. Just my impression. I have my UB5's on wall mounts about 3 1/2 inches from the wall but at an angle allowing the port to do its work uninhibited for the most part, the bass is defiantly a lot for a desktop setup.
I thought so too, and maybe they can be closer. But they need to be at an exact distance from the back wall! Even 5cm (2 inches) makes a big difference. You need to "tune" the distance to the wall where a double bass sound most detailed and natural. Too close to the wall and the bass gets muddy, too far out and cymbals die out to fast. I really like the speakers, but they are much more sensitive to placement than I thought they would be.
This impression is pretty much similar to what I had when I had the speakers for demo. Really good bass, good dynamic and smooth highs. The midrange is a bit recessed for my taste tho.
What a beautiful coincidence - I got In Rainbows just yesterday as a vinyl LP and I am listening to it right at this moment with my Elac UB-5. It's the older model but the white version with the magnetic grills - so at least they look better than yours... :-)) Thank you for your work. Cheers.
TH-cam has really gone to shit with the video quality. Watching this in 1080p and looking at the speaker I can just watch it dancing with compression artifacts. Its a crime to even say this is 1080p quality.
My personal choice would be the Klipsch. I like high sensitivity speakers, of course lower sensitivity speakers like the ELAC have a smoother balance that some people would prefer.
I bought a pair of the old version ub-5 and a yamaha a-s701 last night just plan on using them on my pc,, hoping to have a night in day difference to my current klipsch r41m
Can someone tell me for the most of time listening classical music, between Elac uni-fi 2.0 UB52 and Q Acoustics 3030i, which one is better one? Thanks
I just picked up the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 towers to replace my Q2030i, not what you are after but I can let you know in a few days what I've found out. I have the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 center and it decimated the Q3090ci
I’m still a fan - Debut 2.0 may be a touch less resolving, but looks leagues better both in terms of design and materials . Different horses for different courses - it was good enough to replace my Revel m126Be
The towers have a notable fuller bigger sound with more mid-bass. This was true for the last series. I have both UB5 and UF5. More surface area moving more air in a bigger enclosure. You can hear it.
I had the original ub5 books and towers as well and noticed that the towers did indeed have more mid and lower bass. Are you saying the same is true for the ub52's? If so, that might be the best direction to go this time as well.
@@wymotome Sorry, I meant to say that I had both the original UB5's and UF5's. (I edited my post) But I'm pretty sure the same thing will hold true for the newer series as well. :)
Thanks. I am confused though. Why would I get towers when I can get 1 or 2 subwoofers that can go much lower? With towers I still need to buy subwoofer(s) too. I have a big room: 36 ft x 12 ft x 8 ft high and would have three listening locations: sitting at 9 ft and elsewhere standing up. I plan to buy 2 or 4 similar/same speakers that could help fill the room if I can play them, all dispersed equally along the length (relaying each other sound as it were).
I was hopping And mentioned somewhere wanted Adante trickled down Version with out inside woofer concept .. this is it . But waiting for Elac UB5 Reference series.. sure Andrew must have planned for next year . Worth waiting for UB5 owners for reference version of these
Allways very pleasent to listen to your reviews Steve, its presenting a grand cru classe french bordeaux ...or a painting ...or a leica or hasselblad camera....thanks a lot , i enjoy utmost
BTW: I just realized you were the producer on the Chesky Ultimate Audiophile Demonstration Disc. Benjaman Brittan's.Festival Te Deum is still my ultimate holographic test track.
The Audiophiliac has used better amps on other speakers. For example on the Wharfedale EVO 4.3 speaker he used a 250 WPC Brooklyn Mytek amp to see how loud it would play. That is not a particularly expensive amp but it showed some limitations of the speakers. Others have reviewed the floorstander version of this Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 and have heard better results with higher powered amps. I think trying better equipment is useful in case the buyer may want to upgrade their electronics in the future and the speakers will respond and not be the weakest link.
Hi Steve, I have the ub52 2.0 and like them a lot but have a chance at the Carinas for a modest Schiit-centric setup. Have you reviewed the Carina bookshelf speakers? I have this mental hiccup about going from a 3-way back to a 2-way, especially when the crossover point for the JET tweeter is so high. (Isn't that low/mid working harder?) I just don't know if I'm paying mostly for the finish on the boxes or if there's more refinement I can't know before hearing them. Love your channel - thank you!
coming form Klipsch reference rp 160m (rp600m) the mid range is so much more realistic it's not as trebbly as Klipsch. Feels more balanced. I like them over my Klipsch. Bass is somewhat similar , the clarity is not abscess as rp600m are masters of clarity at high end these are able to keep up. Overall a more balance speakers
Well done, fun to watch someone who is clearly into a broad spectrum of music, speaker reviews and discovery of a new bands & music at the same time. Reminds me of working/hanging out at my 1st job in a record store in the 80s.. BSing about music and Stereos. .One small nit-pick, can you please sit on your hands, im getting dizzy..
Hey Steve! Would love your thoughts here. Comparing the Triangle BR03's and these speakers for use in my desktop/nearfield setup in my private office. Listen to a lot of rock/rap/metal. Will be paired with Vista Audio Spark 2 and Topping E30 DAC. Any advice on which way you would lean? Really value your opinion!
I'm really liking what reviewers are saying about the UB52. Right now, I have a pair of 90's Sansui tower speakers which are twice as big as 52's. I'm just wondering if going from a big tower speaker to a smaller "stand mount/bookshelf" speaker is a good idea.
If you like what you have now, no probably not a good idea to change. The smaller speaker will sound smaller. But likely to be clearer and image better than what you have now.
Great review Steve. Now I have another speaker to consider... at this rate I may not be able to make a decision at all! Help a recovering audiophile out... of all the most recent bookshelf speakers you’ve reviewed under $1500, which would be your “desert island” choice. Elac, Klipsch, Golden Ear, Emotiva or KEF? All your reviews of these have been positive and I appreciate your approach. Keep up the good work (?)!
Steve, really like your presentations of musicality and audiophilism. Your emphasisis of the pricing of these newly introduced Elacs, leaves me with some aganst. Just a few months before, i ordered the Debut 6.2 and whamo , they come out with these new puppies. So hence the dilemma, sell the other pair on ebay, and go for these OR , sell or otherwise reassign the Fluance Signature HiFi Bookshelf speakers which I have paired with the Elac Debuts in my basement studio setup ( a COVID consequence of working at home - and now retired [69 years old], ), purchase these new Elacs and pair them with the Debuts? Or...... get a pair of Triangle BRO3s... and pair with the Debuts?
A question please: for someone who mostly cares about mid range and prefers lush vocals (primarily female - think Nina Simone singing Wild is the Wind), would you recommend this speaker or the Bowers and Wilkins 607? They will be driven by the Marantz NR 1200. Thank you.
Looking for endgame bookshelf speakers. Looking for mids and highs. No need for low end because I have sub. You said that if you push these, the highs begin breaking.
Hi. Thanks for the great review! Thinking about buying these, but I am not planning to buy a new receiver. For the moment I have the EU version of Yamaha RX-V483. This is a 8 ohm receiver, so was thinking if I run into trouble running these? The measurements foe unifi seem to go into 4 ohms range. I am not an expert but was told I should not go for these with this Yamaha receiver. Any opinions?
I purchased a KEF 5.1.1 Q Series speaker system back in 2000. The fronts were a Q55.2 and got the matching sub and center. Honestly these speaker never got me excited and just seem to be bland. Feel like a quality soundbar would be just as good. So awhile back I went from a Yamaha receiver to a Denon and then went to even a better 4300X and still nothing. I get more out of my Sonos speakers. So here I am looking at upgrading to the latest Denon/Onkyo high end receiver. But I started to wonder if I should just replace all my speakers? But I am wondering if I try the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 am really just going to get the same results? Or have things really improved over the years even though Andrew Jones came from KEF and they seem to both use a uni-driver. Thinking I wouldn’t see a difference since the technology is pretty much the same, but would appreciate others thoughts.
Would yku recommend mixing these with a pair of Elac Debut 6.2 speakers that i bought earlier this year. I am using 2 sets of bookshelf speakers in my basement studio for music and for playing my drums . Appreciate your opinion. Thx
Have been watching you channel recently as I search for new speakers for my living room. This time I will probably go with a stand mount bookshelf. Without the ability to get out and actually listening I am finding this search difficult. Found the ELAC Uni-Fi UB52. Just to level set what else might you suggest as an alternative to these. Can spend more but not sure what is really out there. Was considering some B & W since I know they are out there. Have plenty of power in my older ADCOM GF555 amplifier (also have a GF454 I might use). Also, its not clear, are these just vinyl covered particle board. Are there any speakers with real wood cabinets? Thanks for your time.
Hi i have the Elac Debut 2.0 and love them. Can someone please tell me if there is a dramatic difference between them and the Unifi ? Enough that i should buy them
kevysworld. I'm in your Boat. Just bought the Debut 6.2 - terrific speaker with some Cons, but they all do. Just learned of these as they just came out. So Tempted to get these and add them to the Debuts for my setup for playing music in the basement sound studio ..... where I play music to play my drums to. I'm no Ginger Baker, Or Moon, or Bonhan for sure, but at 69 years old, having some fun .
Dear (potential) Elac-Owners and dear @Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac, has anyone had the experience to compare the Elac Uni-Fi CC U5 against a single BS U5 (the ones from the series with the satin finish)? What can I expect from the additional low end driver? Could the composition of the CC U5 drivers cause problems in a vertical position? If not, what would your gut feeling tell you about the differences in sound characteristics? I was considering moving my two BS U5s to another room, buy three CC U5 and set them up horizontally and vertically for a left-center-right configuration. Any objections as to why this could go wrong? Unfortunately, I do not have the required space for the FS, but I hope that the center could be somewhere in between the bookshelf and the floor standing spearkers soundwise. Eagerly awaiting your input. TY.
It may be to late but I'm listening to UB5 the first generation as we speak. Coupled with the Yamaha 801 integrated amp. Doobie Brothers greatest hits and I can tell you for the price there is little to fault. Everybody is different though plenty of friends and family enjoy the sound with me. A good pairing in my opinion. The Klipsch RP 8000's I switch back and forth too, I have no need to step up in gear. Good luck and enjoy.
ELAC sells on Amazon and prohibits independent dealers from selling on-line. It is also interesting that three respected YT reviewers came out with UB52 reviews on the same day. I have never seen two within a week before.
I liked the old version quite a lot....this new design is very similar to Monitor Audio's bookshelf style. Wondering if they pirated some ideas with this design and made it their own, the similarity is there. The midrange on the original Uni UB5 model was really open for a speaker of this size, so I really want to hear this !
I need help please!! Im buying the ELAC Unifi UB5.2 And need to decide between 1) Yamaha WXA 50 2) Cambridge audio axr100 I don't know how they would combine with the ELAC Unifi 2.0 🙏🏼🙏🏼
BTW: Any decent Hypex NC252 based amp would drive these wonderfully. I use a multi-channel NC252 amp in my home theather and the little UB52's kick butt.
Disappointed that you did not try the Boyuurange 300b with these speakers. I understand the published sensitivity is not copasetic, but it seems to have a benign impedance. You could have tried it in the near field. I'll have to take points off.
Hey Steve, You deliver great practical audiophile info. Purchased a pair of Elac Debut 6.2 about 2 months ago. They are connected to mu Denon DRA-800H Receiver, used to play music in a basemen t "studio" . I play music down here to enjoy while working and to produce music for me to play my renewed interest in drums. I have the Elacs paired with a pair of Fluances Signature Series Bookshelf speakers . Each has it's Pros and Cons (not for this forum) . Now I just saw these Elacs ....... Would they pair nicely with the Debuts' ? I contacted ELAC about this inquiry. They thought that I should play 2 pairs of the same speaker, athough depends on my preferences . What do you think? I could re-sell or give my Fluances to family members or find another use for them... Of course, there is always the $$$$$ consideration for these Audio "Toys".
Great review, Steve, thanks! I received a pair of these two weeks ago and have been loving them. Definitely throws a huge soundstage with excellent imaging. Clear, smooth, fatigue-free, spot-on tonality. Amazing coherence, no hint of this being a three-way, no indication of the metal cones at all - zero. I found that with healthy break-in, like 50-100 hours, they really come alive. Really impressed, just great speakers all around!
how do you break in speakers in this way - 50-100 hours over 2 weeks? thanks in advance.
@@baktashzameer4193 It's just a matter of simply playing music through them in the sum of about 50-100 hours in whatever way you get there. I let my speakers play at moderate volumes for over a week straight, it just got me there quicker is all. If you listen for just a couple hours a day then it will take several days to break them in. Hope that helps.
Thanks so much for going into how you don't need the floor standing version for a smaller room. I live in a condo and I don't want to blow out my ears or piss off the neighbors. Thanks again.
I just bought a pair of these, and I've been blown away. (But what do I know? I've been listening to Bose Acoustimass speakers since 1991.) I have an entry level Yamaha R-N303, which does everything, just with less impressive specs. Still, these speakers got me digging out my vinyl and CDs again, just to hear uncompressed digital audio. I found an upgraded R-N602 (much less THD and frequency response goes down to 20 Hz), and I hope I hear the difference. If you're into neutral, accurate speakers, I think these are a great choice in their price range. If you like scooped speakers, you may be disappointed, especially when you first play them. They do "break in" (meaning, the flexible speaker parts loosen up) and after a few days they start to open up in the lower registers. These will not blow bass up your skirt if there wasn't much in the original recording. Then, you play a song with lots of bass, and you'll ask "Where did *that* come from?!!!" I couldn't find any to audition in my area, so I bought them on faith based on reviews by the Cheap Audio Man ("Cheap" and "Audio": Two of my favorite words!), and in one of his videos he explained neutral, V shaped, and U shaped response curves, each of which have their fans. Thanks to that info, I had a pretty good idea I'd like these. If you like neutral and accurate, these could be your speaks! If you're just watching TV and want to experience imaging, I recommend "Better Call Saul". If you're watching action movies, you're probably gonna need a sub. Call me a new Andrew Jones fan boy!
New subscriber here.. I bought these a couple years back when they were $600. I love love these speakers for "smaller" bookshelf speakers. I started out with a low end Cambridge integrated amp that was 100 watts a channel (bought them all new at the same time) and once they were broken in, they sounded fantastic. It seamed that I had to turn the amp up a little louder than I would have liked, but maybe I like my music a little louder than most? I'm at the age now (45) that I don't need my ears to ring, but I like to feel and hear the music though. With a sub, I really think these are a good bang for the buck, even though they are 100 dollars more now. I noticed that Elac usually has a nice year end sale and this past December, I jumped on the Uni-FI reference speakers for 300 bucks off the $1,200 current price in walnut finish. A noticeable upgrade for me with what I have for components. I'm currently running a Bluesound Node 2 going into (coax out) an Ever Solo Z8 DAC, and then analog (unbalanced) into an older Denon AVR 4806 in pure direct mode. I still feel that I could get more out of the reference speakers though, and am currently saving up for a dedicated stereo amp. Have you messed around with some of the higher watt Emotiva amps? They make a dedicated stereo amp that is supposedly 300 watts a channel for around $1,200 but I really want to have that higher quality sound while staying as neutral as possible. I'll keep checking out all your videos and hopefully I can find a high current dedicated amp that I can afford. I love your videos, and have always been an Andrew Jones fan myself. I would rather have a little too much power than I need, and then dial the volume back so I never have to worry about clipping.
As always, I love your approach to listening to audio gear. These reviews are less reviews and more a personal, heartfelt set of impressions and a sharing of the emotional impact of a given system. I think these just might be my next speakers.
Also, I love that you let us in on the albums you used for the review and why you chose them and what you like about them. Many of these have become faves of mine. Thanks for brightening my musical perspective.
I purchased these speaker more or less six month ago. I really appreciate these speakers. For me one of the best price/quality range speakers
I use them with set with Marantz PM8006 amplifier and I'm very satisfied.
Great imaging and soundstage. Mids are very great. Voices at the top.
They a need a period of break up, so you will appreciate UNI-FI 2.= UB52.
They sound great with Jazz and Classical.
I hear them in a equilater triangle position in a small room. They are posizioned on a specific Stand I have realize particular for these speakers. At the height of 70 cm from the floor the tweeter is positioned directly on my ears when I'm sitting
The bass are also well reproduced, right not exceed
I'm very satisfied of my set up I have found with these speakers in my room
I suggest UNI FI 2.0 UB 52 for the price are a great sound
I end up wanting about half the speakers you review. This one however, I may actually get. Great review of another "industry disrupter" from Andrew Jones.
Nothing beats real world testing. I feel like speaker reviews are getting more polarized. Some people want a more mellow balanced sound, others want a shoutier, more dynamic sound.
I just got these speakers this morning and I am super-psyched about what I have heard so far. I had the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 (which I boxed up and returned three hours after receiving these) and they were good. But these are on a different level! At double the price of the B6.2's I feel like I got four times the value. I really did not have any serious complaints about the B6.2's but when I began to listen to the UB52's I knew I was going to keep them. These speakers are like $1000 speakers in $600 enclosures, and I have no regrets for spending the extra cash on them.
I had 108 hours on the B6.2's, and I am sure they were thoroughly burned in. I have 10 hours on my UB52's and I cannot wait until I get a hundred hours on them. The three-way dynamic crossover versus the two-way on the B6.2's makes them so much better, in my opinion. It is like the difference between a Mercedes E-class (which I own) and a Mercedes C-class. They are both nice cars, the E-class is just better! The sound that these throw out (so far) is unbelievable for something that cost less than a $1000 bucks. I want to thank Andrew Jones for creating a speaker that is capable of giving so much but takes so little out of my wallet!
One year onward how to they fare at low volume level listening? I think that's a shortcoming of the Debut B6.2. At low volume level the music is "lifeless".
@@VonSteyr It is also a shortcoming of the UB52 model. That's why I bought the DALI OBERON 3's. They are alive at any level I listen to. I still have the UB52's on the rear channel and they compliment the Dali's very nicely when I choose to listen to the front and rear speakers simultaneously.
@@MelanicWarrior Aren't the DALIs a tad bright? I've only heard the Spektor 2, but found it a bit too bright for me.
@@VonSteyr Absolutely not! They are perfectly balanced speakers. Actually, because the speakers are voiced with the grills on, if they do get a bit bright with the grills off, just put them back on. What they are is lively, inviting, and full sounding with a big soundstage and great imaging! I enjoyed the other speakers I have owned and/or still own but these are the best by a long way!
Great review, I like how you got into more details and comparisons! Thank a you!
Great review! Just bought a pair of Carinas otherwise I would have checked these out. The UB5s are now my bedroom speakers. Love ELACs!
A late comment but I've read that they are actually measured at 83.3db. I have them and they are not very efficient speakers and they crave power to get full efficiency you'll need at least 80-100 watts per. These are 140 watt speakers.
Many thanks for your videos, they are very informative and useful, I would like to know what your choice would be between these ELAC speakers and some KEF Q350? thank you so much
How does this Elac compare to something like the KEF Q150 or Q350?
2 years later still no answer😜✌️
Purchased the Fred Hersch album. Actually, I purchased all 4 albums offered after listening to Dancing in the Dark. Thank you!
The Maybeck Recital Hall album is amazing - I'm also a fan of his Sarabande album
UPS dropped off my UNI 2.0 speakers today after 2 day FREE shipping from Crutchfield.. The first recording I played which I would highly recommend to anyone interested in soundstage and imaging.. The absolute killer recording.. Alice in Chains Unplugged.. My listening room is 25' x 20' in which they sound amazing.. What I found even more amazing is the range these speakers have as sound followed me to surrounding rooms.. So far I'm super delighted and thanks for this TH-cam review which made my decision real easy.. Also this pair was a Scratch & Dent purchase from Crutchfield.. Opened the box outside in the daylight and they are flawless..!
Thank you Steve for the great review. I just placed an order on a pair to hook up to my Cambridge AXR100 integrated amp. Just want to add your the resource that If you agreed with others on this pair of speakers, I knew I was making the right decision. Keep up the great work. I'll update when I have them hooked up.
Hi, do you think it’s a good pairing with the Cambridge? From what I’ve read it looks like so, but It would be nice to hear from someone who have tried it. I have a very similar amp (AXR85) and I’m considering the UB52 as well. Thanks in advance ✌️
@@gbbaldin They are a good pairing with the Cambridge amp. I am blown away from the performance off these speakers. The amp pushes them perfectly.
@@TxDrumChannel Thanks for your reply! I’m glad to hear that.
@@gbbaldin I'm running mine on Cambridge cxa61 at only 60 watts and I haven't run out of headroom in my small listening room.
Pair the Unifi2.0 UB52 with the REL T7X.
It’s a winner combo.
The unifi2.0 is creamy smooth in the top. Super mids that is articulate n separates well from instruments. Great imaging.
Bass is deeeeep.
With the T7X. The bass end got reinforced giving the UniFi superior body n weight. Soundstage n scale got better.
Great pairing.
I prefer the UniFi 2.0 over the Debut Reference.
Does the bass work on elac when you have sub? Because its 3way speakers? Tnx
Nearfield setup is great! It gives champagne results on a beer budget!
Thank you Steve, again and again, you make me wanna go and turn on my rig and listen to some good music I didn't know!
Nice review. I bought a pair of Elac Debut Reference Bookshelf speakers after watching your review and others. While laid back, they do work beautifully across all platforms of music, being very versatile for my tastes. However, I would be curious to hear the UB52's in how they compare, particularly in the more "forward" nature of their midrange as the dbr62's can certainly sound less engaging at times.
A great review Steve. Thumbs up! A few things... Glad to hear we don't need 200 watts to make them really sing. You do need to tell us how they sound compared to the original and how the sound compares to the Klipsch RP600Ms. I own a pair of the original UB5s, but in the slim version. I really hope ELAC makes a version of these with a nicer finish and with magnetic grills. Those grill peg holes are a step backward in my opinion. That said the 5.25" woofer with no dust cap is almost worth the upgrade cost alone.
Andrew Jones is listening. I will buy that speaker when it has a 6 1/2 driver. For now I am not giving up my debut 6.2.
That would likely increase dynamic output whilst making the sound cleaner. The measurements at audiosciencereview do not look terrific
@@Hirnlego999 Well they just gonna put you a 6 1/2 inch unify reference $1000 take out your ATM card now they are totally amazing magical
One thing I don't like about Elac speakers is the black vinyl finish. I wish they did versions with improved athetics
always great to get the comparisons, thanks! 3030i was on my list, has moved down a bit. Also tempted by the Wharfdate Denton 80th, partly cause they look so good. Love the idea of both of those speakers (even though they sound so different - wish I could hear the beggars...)
Are they a better budget option than Epos es14
Get these with a subwoofer (if you want deeper bass) for a perfect setup.
Love your ability to carry a review into the stratosphere of verbosity. Have three speakers by Jones and my major problem is that you give his speakers one year and the prices drop like crazy- not fair to early buyers.
Count your blessings. Better than having nobody else wanted. High volume allows companies set up for it to lower price. Never happens with lousy speakers at populist pricing.
Hi Steve, can I connect this speakers to my amp 8 ohm, 200 watts RMS? Thank you and waiting for your feedback.
Paris Subway Map, that shirt nails it!
should say metro, no?
warran123 Can’t deny Paris has changed but 10-15% is not what I would call that exactly.
From all the reviews, it seams the UB52 is defiantly better than the UB5 (UB51 now) by just a bit but really mostly better for placement because of the front facing port making it able to actually go on a bookshelf or close to a wall. Just my impression. I have my UB5's on wall mounts about 3 1/2 inches from the wall but at an angle allowing the port to do its work uninhibited for the most part, the bass is defiantly a lot for a desktop setup.
I thought so too, and maybe they can be closer. But they need to be at an exact distance from the back wall! Even 5cm (2 inches) makes a big difference. You need to "tune" the distance to the wall where a double bass sound most detailed and natural. Too close to the wall and the bass gets muddy, too far out and cymbals die out to fast. I really like the speakers, but they are much more sensitive to placement than I thought they would be.
Great review as usual! Thanks Steve!
I’ve just broken these in. Incredible. Listened to Hendrix electric ladyland... the holographic imaging is beyond belief. Wow.
Voodoo Chile, from that album, really showcases what these can do. Great sense of the space it was recorded in.
Still here. Great review. I do wish Andrew does a speaker in the Warfedale Elysian price range. That beats it!
This impression is pretty much similar to what I had when I had the speakers for demo. Really good bass, good dynamic and smooth highs. The midrange is a bit recessed for my taste tho.
What a beautiful coincidence - I got In Rainbows just yesterday as a vinyl LP and I am listening to it right at this moment with my Elac UB-5.
It's the older model but the white version with the magnetic grills - so at least they look better than yours... :-))
Thank you for your work. Cheers.
TH-cam has really gone to shit with the video quality. Watching this in 1080p and looking at the speaker I can just watch it dancing with compression artifacts.
Its a crime to even say this is 1080p quality.
These or the Q Acoustic 3030i?
Do you prefer the Klipsch RP-600m or the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 better?
My personal choice would be the Klipsch. I like high sensitivity speakers, of course lower sensitivity speakers like the ELAC have a smoother balance that some people would prefer.
I bought a pair of the old version ub-5 and a yamaha a-s701 last night just plan on using them on my pc,, hoping to have a night in day difference to my current klipsch r41m
And?
Steve, how do you rate these Elacs against the Triangle BRO3s ? The Triangles are $50 less in price too.
Steve, what is tge difference between the Elac Debut 6.2 and the Unifi 2.0 speakers ?
I just bought the Debut reference b6.2. Hope I won't regret it, should receive it this week.
And?
Can someone tell me for the most of time listening classical music, between Elac uni-fi 2.0 UB52 and Q Acoustics 3030i, which one is better one? Thanks
I just picked up the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 towers to replace my Q2030i, not what you are after but I can let you know in a few days what I've found out. I have the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 center and it decimated the Q3090ci
Bright speakers with a tube amp is my favorite set up
Compared to the B&W 607 S2 anniversary edition how do they sound ?
Better
Elac sound better?
It seems like the bloom went of the rose pretty fast for all the reviewers that raved about the Elac Debut 2.0 Reference speakers.
I’m still a fan - Debut 2.0 may be a touch less resolving, but looks leagues better both in terms of design and materials . Different horses for different courses - it was good enough to replace my Revel m126Be
Steve !!, review the B&W 607 s2 anniversary editions
The elac is better?
Not sure if I want the Klipsch RP600M versus the ELAC 2.0 UB52. Any comments?
The towers have a notable fuller bigger sound with more mid-bass. This was true for the last series. I have both UB5 and UF5. More surface area moving more air in a bigger enclosure. You can hear it.
I had the original ub5 books and towers as well and noticed that the towers did indeed have more mid and lower bass. Are you saying the same is true for the ub52's? If so, that might be the best direction to go this time as well.
@@wymotome Sorry, I meant to say that I had both the original UB5's and UF5's. (I edited my post) But I'm pretty sure the same thing will hold true for the newer series as well. :)
Thanks. I am confused though. Why would I get towers when I can get 1 or 2 subwoofers that can go much lower? With towers I still need to buy subwoofer(s) too. I have a big room: 36 ft x 12 ft x 8 ft high and would have three listening locations: sitting at 9 ft and elsewhere standing up. I plan to buy 2 or 4 similar/same speakers that could help fill the room if I can play them, all dispersed equally along the length (relaying each other sound as it were).
How do they compare to Elac Carina?
Good job Steve!
I was hopping And mentioned somewhere wanted Adante trickled down Version with out inside woofer concept .. this is it . But waiting for Elac UB5 Reference series.. sure Andrew must have planned for next year . Worth waiting for UB5 owners for reference version of these
Allways very pleasent to listen to your reviews Steve, its presenting a grand cru classe french bordeaux ...or a painting ...or a leica or hasselblad camera....thanks a lot , i enjoy utmost
thanks
Can I put them on a good set of wall brackets? Thank you
BTW: I just realized you were the producer on the Chesky Ultimate Audiophile Demonstration Disc. Benjaman Brittan's.Festival Te Deum is still my ultimate holographic test track.
The Audiophiliac has used better amps on other speakers. For example on the Wharfedale EVO 4.3 speaker he used a 250 WPC Brooklyn Mytek amp to see how loud it would play. That is not a particularly expensive amp but it showed some limitations of the speakers. Others have reviewed the floorstander version of this Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 and have heard better results with higher powered amps. I think trying better equipment is useful in case the buyer may want to upgrade their electronics in the future and the speakers will respond and not be the weakest link.
Hi Steve, I have the ub52 2.0 and like them a lot but have a chance at the Carinas for a modest Schiit-centric setup. Have you reviewed the Carina bookshelf speakers? I have this mental hiccup about going from a 3-way back to a 2-way, especially when the crossover point for the JET tweeter is so high. (Isn't that low/mid working harder?) I just don't know if I'm paying mostly for the finish on the boxes or if there's more refinement I can't know before hearing them. Love your channel - thank you!
coming form Klipsch reference rp 160m (rp600m) the mid range is so much more realistic it's not as trebbly as Klipsch. Feels more balanced. I like them over my Klipsch. Bass is somewhat similar , the clarity is not abscess as rp600m are masters of clarity at high end these are able to keep up. Overall a more balance speakers
Well done, fun to watch someone who is clearly into a broad spectrum of music, speaker reviews and discovery of a new bands & music at the same time. Reminds me of working/hanging out at my 1st job in a record store in the 80s.. BSing about music and Stereos. .One small nit-pick, can you please sit on your hands, im getting dizzy..
Great review. I love elac speakers. I need to upgrade the debut 2.0's with these and pair them up with my two JL Audio e110's.
How do the 2.0’s sound
But the real question is, the Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 or the Debut DBR62 Refrence???
The references a more laid-back, sweet sounding speaker. The UB 52 is a more dynamic, easier to drive, higher resolution design.
Which Schiit do you recommend for these or what other options do you recommend? I'm pairing with SVS 1000 powered sub
Hey Steve! Would love your thoughts here. Comparing the Triangle BR03's and these speakers for use in my desktop/nearfield setup in my private office. Listen to a lot of rock/rap/metal. Will be paired with Vista Audio Spark 2 and Topping E30 DAC. Any advice on which way you would lean? Really value your opinion!
The Elacs beat the Bro 3 by a wide margin,, imo.
I'm really liking what reviewers are saying about the UB52. Right now, I have a pair of 90's Sansui tower speakers which are twice as big as 52's. I'm just wondering if going from a big tower speaker to a smaller "stand mount/bookshelf" speaker is a good idea.
If you like what you have now, no probably not a good idea to change. The smaller speaker will sound smaller. But likely to be clearer and image better than what you have now.
Great review Steve. Now I have another speaker to consider... at this rate I may not be able to make a decision at all! Help a recovering audiophile out... of all the most recent bookshelf speakers you’ve reviewed under $1500, which would be your “desert island” choice. Elac, Klipsch, Golden Ear, Emotiva or KEF? All your reviews of these have been positive and I appreciate your approach. Keep up the good work (?)!
The LS50 and GoldenEar are my faves
Thanks!
Steve, really like your presentations of musicality and audiophilism. Your emphasisis of the pricing of these newly introduced Elacs, leaves me with some aganst. Just a few months before, i ordered the Debut 6.2 and whamo , they come out with these new puppies. So hence the dilemma, sell the other pair on ebay, and go for these OR , sell or otherwise reassign the Fluance Signature HiFi Bookshelf speakers which I have paired with the Elac Debuts in my basement studio setup ( a COVID consequence of working at home - and now retired [69 years old], ), purchase these new Elacs and pair them with the Debuts? Or...... get a pair of Triangle BRO3s... and pair with the Debuts?
Hello Steve, can ELAC Uni-Fi UB52 be a match for PMC DB1Gold? Thx.
A question please: for someone who mostly cares about mid range and prefers lush vocals (primarily female - think Nina Simone singing Wild is the Wind), would you recommend this speaker or the Bowers and Wilkins 607? They will be driven by the Marantz NR 1200. Thank you.
Dear Steve, thank you for this review. Which ist the better speaker, this Uni-Fi or the Carina?
Waiting for the white slim european version and these will be mine🤩
Looking for endgame bookshelf speakers. Looking for mids and highs. No need for low end because I have sub. You said that if you push these, the highs begin breaking.
Hi. Thanks for the great review! Thinking about buying these, but I am not planning to buy a new receiver. For the moment I have the EU version of Yamaha RX-V483. This is a 8 ohm receiver, so was thinking if I run into trouble running these? The measurements foe unifi seem to go into 4 ohms range. I am not an expert but was told I should not go for these with this Yamaha receiver. Any opinions?
I purchased a KEF 5.1.1 Q Series speaker system back in 2000. The fronts were a Q55.2 and got the matching sub and center. Honestly these speaker never got me excited and just seem to be bland. Feel like a quality soundbar would be just as good. So awhile back I went from a Yamaha receiver to a Denon and then went to even a better 4300X and still nothing. I get more out of my Sonos speakers. So here I am looking at upgrading to the latest Denon/Onkyo high end receiver. But I started to wonder if I should just replace all my speakers? But I am wondering if I try the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 am really just going to get the same results? Or have things really improved over the years even though Andrew Jones came from KEF and they seem to both use a uni-driver. Thinking I wouldn’t see a difference since the technology is pretty much the same, but would appreciate others thoughts.
Would yku recommend mixing these with a pair of Elac Debut 6.2 speakers that i bought earlier this year. I am using 2 sets of bookshelf speakers in my basement studio for music and for playing my drums . Appreciate your opinion. Thx
How will this pair up with a yamaha as-301 being only 60w per channel
When is AJ going to replace his Adante with an upgrade????
Have you heard the Evo 4.1? How would you compare it with this Elac UniFi 52?
Have been watching you channel recently as I search for new speakers for my living room. This time I will probably go with a stand mount bookshelf. Without the ability to get out and actually listening I am finding this search difficult. Found the ELAC Uni-Fi UB52. Just to level set what else might you suggest as an alternative to these. Can spend more but not sure what is really out there. Was considering some B & W since I know they are out there. Have plenty of power in my older ADCOM GF555 amplifier (also have a GF454 I might use). Also, its not clear, are these just vinyl covered particle board. Are there any speakers with real wood cabinets? Thanks for your time.
Any views vs Polk R 200, Steve?
One more question please, do you feel, that this speaker is better than the klipsch RP 4000?
Hi i have the Elac Debut 2.0 and love them. Can someone please tell me if there is a dramatic difference between them and the Unifi ? Enough that i should buy them
kevysworld. I'm in your Boat. Just bought the Debut 6.2 - terrific speaker with some Cons, but they all do. Just learned of these as they just came out. So Tempted to get these and add them to the Debuts for my setup for playing music in the basement sound studio ..... where I play music to play my drums to. I'm no Ginger Baker, Or Moon, or Bonhan for sure, but at 69 years old, having some fun .
Aldo Matulich whats the cons
Dear (potential) Elac-Owners and dear @Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac,
has anyone had the experience to compare the Elac Uni-Fi CC U5 against a single BS U5 (the ones from the series with the satin finish)? What can I expect from the additional low end driver? Could the composition of the CC U5 drivers cause problems in a vertical position?
If not, what would your gut feeling tell you about the differences in sound characteristics?
I was considering moving my two BS U5s to another room, buy three CC U5 and set them up horizontally and vertically for a left-center-right configuration. Any objections as to why this could go wrong?
Unfortunately, I do not have the required space for the FS, but I hope that the center could be somewhere in between the bookshelf and the floor standing spearkers soundwise.
Eagerly awaiting your input. TY.
How would these sound on a desktop? They're just slightly larger than the PSB Alpha B1s that I'm currently using.
Great review. How would you compare these to the similarly priced RP-600M? Love your videos, super informative.
I’d be interested in knowing that too
Ste e what is the difference between these and the previously reviewed Elac UB52 reference speakers you reviewed a few months ago ?
So Steve, how do you compare the Elac DBR Reference to this new speaker in midrange and highs?
As I said in the review this is a more dynamic me alive, exciting sounding speaker. The reference is more laid-back.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Also forgot to ask you if you prefer their sound over the RP600M?
Alfalfa I was wondering about the comparison to the RP600M as well. Hopefully, Steve will respond.
Space in ft. Between speakers for stereo. Min. -Max.? Thanks 🤘 For best sound, 12-14 foot rm.
Steve, in the price range of 500-1000 what would be a good bookshelf to pair with a Yamaha A-S801?
It may be to late but I'm listening to UB5 the first generation as we speak. Coupled with the Yamaha 801 integrated amp. Doobie Brothers greatest hits and I can tell you for the price there is little to fault. Everybody is different though plenty of friends and family enjoy the sound with me. A good pairing in my opinion. The Klipsch RP 8000's I switch back and forth too, I have no need to step up in gear. Good luck and enjoy.
ELAC sells on Amazon and prohibits independent dealers from selling on-line. It is also interesting that three respected YT reviewers came out with UB52 reviews on the same day. I have never seen two within a week before.
There may have been a publication embargo. Embargos are very common in the automotive news field.
Lots of people were waiting for reviews...
I liked the old version quite a lot....this new design is very similar to Monitor Audio's bookshelf style. Wondering if they pirated some ideas with this design and made it their own, the similarity is there. The midrange on the original Uni UB5 model was really open for a speaker of this size, so I really want to hear this !
Thanks for the answer, how about the Cyrus ONE?
Are milk crates ok for book shelf speaker. Sound effect factor or no? Everyone seems to have a different opinion. Ha thanks Steve! 🤘
I need help please!! Im buying the ELAC Unifi UB5.2
And need to decide between
1) Yamaha WXA 50
2) Cambridge audio axr100
I don't know how they would combine with the ELAC Unifi 2.0 🙏🏼🙏🏼
So what did u buy?
Im using this. I find some piano tunes is distort. Is it mine only?
BTW: Any decent Hypex NC252 based amp would drive these wonderfully. I use a multi-channel NC252 amp in my home theather and the little UB52's kick butt.
Disappointed that you did not try the Boyuurange 300b with these speakers. I understand the published sensitivity is not copasetic, but it seems to have a benign impedance. You could have tried it in the near field. I'll have to take points off.
Hey Steve, You deliver great practical audiophile info. Purchased a pair of Elac Debut 6.2 about 2 months ago. They are connected to mu Denon DRA-800H Receiver, used to play music in a basemen t "studio" . I play music down here to enjoy while working and to produce music for me to play my renewed interest in drums. I have the Elacs paired with a pair of Fluances Signature Series Bookshelf speakers . Each has it's Pros and Cons (not for this forum) . Now I just saw these Elacs ....... Would they pair nicely with the Debuts' ? I contacted ELAC about this inquiry. They thought that I should play 2 pairs of the same speaker, athough depends on my preferences . What do you think? I could re-sell or give my Fluances to family members or find another use for them... Of course, there is always the $$$$$ consideration for these Audio "Toys".
so the old version was a little lifeless. Is this much more comparable with the Klipsch speakers you have reviewed?
So should I go with the Debut Ref or UB52? They're the same price.
Just bought these 25 hours and can’t reproduce the sound of Sonny Rollins Sax. Definitely on the lean side.