Short answer: the Wharfedale Super Denton. It ranks #28 of 160 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $1,499. The ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 ranks #130, rated 2.4/5, at $599, $900 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52: Wide, smooth horizontal directivity: beamwidth holds to about ±60 degrees up to 8kHz before narrowing. The catch: Dipped 3db from 1.5-3kHz.
The Wharfedale Super Denton is the more accurate pick. A 3-way design with a 1” soft dome tweeter, a 2” soft dome midrange offset to the side of a centered 6.5” woven Kevlar woofer: a more compact alternative to Wharfedale’s own Linton 85 with a similar overall character. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.90 against 5.32 for the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52. The catch: A mid-range scoop from about 200-800Hz and a separate upper-midrange scoop were both audible in direct ABX comparison against a reference-neutral speaker, giving aggressive-sounding material a more subdued character.
Buy the Wharfedale Super Denton. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $900 saving on the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 | Wharfedale Super Denton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.00 per pair | $1499 per pair |
| Ranked | #130 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #28 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Crossover Frequency | 200Hz / 2000Hz | 940Hz, 4.6kHz |
| Dimensions | 13.6”H x 7.3”W x 10.8”D (346 x 185 x 275 mm) | 14.2”H x 9.7”W x 10.8”D (360 x 246 x 275 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 85dB manufacturer specified) | 86.6dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.25” aluminum woofer, 4” aluminum midrange, 1” soft dome tweeter | 1” soft dome tweeter, 2” soft dome midrange, 6.5” woven Kevlar woofer |
| Power Handling | 140W max | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) | 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg) each |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.32 (spinorama.org) | 5.9 (Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 (spinorama.org) | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 52Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified); -6dB to 40Hz |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52: $599.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UF52 (floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5) and the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UC52 (center, rated 3.9/5).
Pros: Wide, smooth horizontal directivity: beamwidth holds to about ±60 degrees up to 8kHz before narrowing. Vertical directivity is substantially better than average, giving more listening-height leeway than most two-way bookshelf speakers. Measured bass extension of 55.7Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.3dB.
Cons: Dipped 3db from 1.5-3kHz. On-axis response shelves down above 1.5kHz along with multiple resonances, leading the reviewer to predict it will “likely sound dull.” Nasty resonance at 600Hz: audible as an actual buzzing artifact on some recordings (the reviewer demonstrated it with an Eva Cassidy track), and it shows up as a sharp distortion spike exceeding 4% at 585Hz when driven to 96dB SPL/1m. Not recommended.
Full ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 200Hz / 2000Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.6”H x 7.3”W x 10.8”D (346 x 185 x 275 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” aluminum woofer, 4” aluminum midrange, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Power Handling | 140W max |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 85dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.32 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 vs KEF Q100
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- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 vs Q Acoustics 5020
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Wharfedale Super Denton: $1499 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3.2/5), the Wharfedale Linton 85 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.3/5) and the Wharfedale Super Linton (larger bookshelf, rated 4.4/5).
Pros: A 3-way design with a 1” soft dome tweeter, a 2” soft dome midrange offset to the side of a centered 6.5” woven Kevlar woofer: a more compact alternative to Wharfedale’s own Linton 85 with a similar overall character. Measured sensitivity around 86.6-87dB with on-axis linearity within about ±3dB. No cabinet or box resonances turned up in impedance testing, and there are no spike feet to install. Harmonic distortion looks good at both 86dB and 96dB, with about 20dB of usable dynamic range up to 96dB before compression starts to affect the midrange more noticeably near 102dB. Because bass rolls off starting around 60Hz, placing it closer to a wall (about 1-2 feet) than usual boosts low-end punch without the midbass bloat a deeper-extending speaker would get from the same placement. In the reviewer’s own comparison, its estimated in-room response actually measured more linear than the pricier Linton 85’s, despite being a bit less linear on-axis. Measured bass extension of 61Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.6dB.
Cons: A mid-range scoop from about 200-800Hz and a separate upper-midrange scoop were both audible in direct ABX comparison against a reference-neutral speaker, giving aggressive-sounding material a more subdued character. A resonance around 660-700Hz shows up in measurement, though the reviewer couldn’t reliably hear it with real music in his own blind-ish A/B testing. The offset tweeter-and-midrange layout makes horizontal off-axis response noticeably asymmetric (response drops as much as 8dB more to one side than the other at wider angles) so the reviewer recommends aiming the speakers directly at the listener (not toed out, which loses upper treble) and suggests sidewall absorption to control uneven reflections. Must be listened to with the grille on: measurements are noticeably worse with it off (wider 2-4kHz dip, extra treble bump). Horizontal soundstage width felt a bit narrower than the reviewer personally prefers, likely related to the same offset driver layout. Multitone distortion gets high in the midrange at 96dB/1m, a concern mainly in larger rooms where you’d need to play louder.
Full Wharfedale Super Denton review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 940Hz, 4.6kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.2”H x 9.7”W x 10.8”D (360 x 246 x 275 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” soft dome tweeter, 2” soft dome midrange, 6.5” woven Kevlar woofer |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified); -6dB to 40Hz |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.6dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.9 (Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Wharfedale Super Denton vs Klipsch RP-500M II
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