Short answer: the ELAC DB63. It ranks #33 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $499; the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 ranks #41 and costs $1199, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the ELAC DB63: 1” aluminum dome tweeter with a distinctive partial-lens waveguide design paired with a 6.5” third-generation aramid fiber cone woofer, in a robustly built cabinet for the price. The tradeoff: A dip in the lower midrange (300-600Hz, about 1.5dB) reduces vocal warmth and can make voices sound slightly hollow.
What the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 gets right: True three-way stand-mount using a 1-inch tweeter concentrically mounted in a 4-inch aluminum midrange plus a dedicated 6.5-inch aluminum woofer. The catch: Erin measured very low 83dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity; his 110W Parasound was insufficient for the high-level test and the more powerful HINT 6 was needed.
Buy the ELAC DB63. It ranks higher for sound quality than the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC DB63 | ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.00 | $1,199/pair |
| Ranked | #33 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #41 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Dimensions | 13.3"H x 7.7"W x 11.7"D (337.8 x 195.6 x 297.2 mm) | 14.1"H x 8.2"W x 13.1"D |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms minimum near 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Aramid Fiber woofer, 1" soft dome tweeter | 1" tweeter coaxial with 4" midrange; 6.5" woofer |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg each | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, dual front slot vents |
| Bass Extension | - | 41Hz manufacturer specified; Erin’s response-linearity graph shows limited high-output bass headroom |
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC DB63: $499.00 Amazon Crutchfield
Pros: 1” aluminum dome tweeter with a distinctive partial-lens waveguide design paired with a 6.5” third-generation aramid fiber cone woofer, in a robustly built cabinet for the price. Shallow bass rolloff (F3 76Hz, F10 40Hz) allows placement close to a wall without excessive boominess, useful for smaller living rooms. Solid measured performance for the price: on-axis linearity within about 2.5dB, impedance dipping only to about 4.4 ohms (easily AVR-driven), and roughly 20-26dB of usable dynamic range. A clear improvement over its sibling ELAC DB62, which has a sibilance issue tied to the crossover that can’t be fixed with EQ. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±60°, giving a spacious soundstage. Distortion looks good at a moderate 86dB and still reasonable at 96dB. Takes well to EQ correction - the reviewer provides a specific filter set (a low-shelf boost at 650Hz plus peaking cuts/boosts at 550Hz, 660Hz, and 3kHz) that meaningfully smooths out its known deviations.
Cons: A dip in the lower midrange (300-600Hz, about 1.5dB) reduces vocal warmth and can make voices sound slightly hollow. A high-Q resonance around 650-750Hz shows up clearly in measurements, though the reviewer couldn’t reliably hear it in his own A/B testing. A dip around 2-3kHz (roughly 1-2dB) slightly reduces speech intelligibility and attack in the upper midrange. Directivity droops above about 2kHz as the midwoofer narrows toward its beaming frequency while the tweeter’s pattern behaves differently - an inherent trade-off of physically separated drivers that can’t be fully corrected without introducing other issues. Multitone distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold in the 200Hz-1kHz range, and adding a subwoofer at an 80Hz crossover only modestly reduces it. Toeing the speaker away from the listener loses noticeable top-end air and cymbal energy, giving a softer upper register. Practical loudness ceiling is around 90dB at typical listening distance before midrange distortion and bass attack begin to degrade. Still needs a subwoofer for extension below about 40Hz.
Full ELAC DB63 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 13.3"H x 7.7"W x 11.7"D (337.8 x 195.6 x 297.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Aramid Fiber woofer, 1" soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.4 ohms minimum, measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62: $1,199/pair Amazon
Pros: True three-way stand-mount using a 1-inch tweeter concentrically mounted in a 4-inch aluminum midrange plus a dedicated 6.5-inch aluminum woofer. Erin found the directivity and overall tonality well controlled, with dual front slot vents minimizing placement sensitivity and cabinet bracing suppressing obvious coloration. The mostly 5-ohm-or-higher load is manageable for a genuinely 4-ohm-capable amplifier, and the coherent concentric upper range supports stable imaging across seats.
Cons: Erin measured very low 83dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity; his 110W Parasound was insufficient for the high-level test and the more powerful HINT 6 was needed. Impedance reaches 4 ohms near 50Hz (Erin), while woofer excursion and bass output were less capable than expected for the cabinet size. A broad 500-700Hz rise and associated lower/female-vocal coloration were audible, and the slightly subdued listening-window treble is necessary to avoid an overly bright in-room balance rather than evidence of ruler-flat axial tuning.
Full ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension | 41Hz manufacturer specified; Erin's response-linearity graph shows limited high-output bass headroom |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 8.2"W x 13.1"D |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter coaxial with 4" midrange; 6.5" woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms minimum near 50Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, dual front slot vents |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
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