Short answer: the ELAC BS U5. It ranks #29 of 56 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $856; the Dynaudio X14 ranks #32 and costs $1500, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the ELAC BS U5: This slim three-way coaxial design (an Andrew Jones creation) shows a fairly even on-axis response up to 3kHz, with off-axis behavior notably smoother than the on-axis curve. The tradeoff: Distortion is very high right at both crossover points - around 270Hz (mid-range) and 2700Hz (tweeter) - at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m, exceeding 3% at the mid-range crossover.
What the Dynaudio X14 gets right: 1” silk-dome tweeter and 5.7” magnesium-silicate-polymer woofer in a compact two-way stand-mount, rated at 85dB sensitivity. The catch: CEA2034 spinorama shows an uneven on-axis response from the lack of a waveguide to control tweeter beam width, plus a port resonance that boosts the lower midrange and imperfect crossover matching between the drivers.
Buy the ELAC BS U5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio X14 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC BS U5 | Dynaudio X14 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $856 Discontinued | $1500 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #29 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #32 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 5.25" woofer | 1" silk dome tweeter, 5.7" magnesium-silicate-polymer woofer |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs / 6 kg | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 82dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.4 ohms minimum) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Dimensions | 13.4"H x 7"W x 11.5"D (339.1 x 178.0 x 293.1 mm) | 11.2"H x 6.7"W x 10"D (285 x 170 x 255 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 23kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs JBL L52 Classic
- Dynaudio Emit M10 vs Dynaudio X14
- Dynaudio X14 vs JBL L52 Classic
The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC BS U5: $856 Discontinued
Pros: This slim three-way coaxial design (an Andrew Jones creation) shows a fairly even on-axis response up to 3kHz, with off-axis behavior notably smoother than the on-axis curve. Predicted in-room response looks like it should give good tonality. Vertical directivity is better than average, a benefit of the coaxial layout.
Cons: Distortion is very high right at both crossover points - around 270Hz (mid-range) and 2700Hz (tweeter) - at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m, exceeding 3% at the mid-range crossover. Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a possible resonance around 500Hz visible in the impedance/phase curve. Discontinued.
Full ELAC BS U5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13.4"H x 7"W x 11.5"D (339.1 x 178.0 x 293.1 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 5.25" woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.4 ohms minimum) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs / 6 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC BS U5 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- ELAC BS U5 vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- ELAC BS U5 vs Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2
- ELAC BS U5 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
- ELAC BS U5 vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- ELAC BS U5 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- ELAC BS U5 vs JBL L52 Classic
- ELAC BS U5 vs ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
- See all 19 comparisons
Dynaudio X14: $1500 Discontinued
Pros: 1” silk-dome tweeter and 5.7” magnesium-silicate-polymer woofer in a compact two-way stand-mount, rated at 85dB sensitivity.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows an uneven on-axis response from the lack of a waveguide to control tweeter beam width, plus a port resonance that boosts the lower midrange and imperfect crossover matching between the drivers. Too much energy in the lower and upper treble reads as bright, and directivity narrows at higher frequencies rather than staying controlled. The reviewer’s verdict: out of the box, the objective performance isn’t that great, though EQ can make it a satisfying speaker. Discontinued.
Full Dynaudio X14 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 11.2"H x 6.7"W x 10"D (285 x 170 x 255 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" silk dome tweeter, 5.7" magnesium-silicate-polymer woofer |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 23kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 82dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Dynaudio X14 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- Dynaudio X14 vs JBL L52 Classic
- Dynaudio X14 vs JBL Stage 2 250B
- Dynaudio X14 vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- Dynaudio X14 vs JBL Stage A120
- Dynaudio X14 vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- Dynaudio X14 vs KEF Q100
- Dynaudio X14 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
- See all 17 comparisons