Short answer: the ELAC UBR62, if you can drive it. The Yamaha NS-800A has an exceptionally well-built cabinet with no internal resonance issues in burst decay or impedance testing, but a wide ~2kHz-10kHz scoop gives it a laidback, soft, low-attack character that the reviewer found notably worse than his Audio First Fidelia reference. The UBR62 is the true three-way alternative, though Erin measured only 83dB/2.83V/1m and his 110W Parasound fell short.
Buy the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Yamaha NS-800A and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 | Yamaha NS-800A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,199 per pair | $4,999.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #54 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #58 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension | 41Hz manufacturer specified; Erin’s response-linearity graph shows limited high-output bass headroom | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 58.6Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84.9dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms minimum near 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal, 4.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter coaxial with 4” midrange; 6.5” woofer | 1.25” dome tweeter, 6.5” mid-woofer |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 13.1”D | 16.5”H x 9.1”W x 14.1”D (419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, dual front slot vents | Bass reflex |
| Weight | 23.5 lbs (10.68 kg) each | 28.7 lbs (13.0 kg) each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.44 (measured, spinorama.org) | 4.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.7 (measured, spinorama.org) | 6.43 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Power Handling | - | 40W nominal, 120W max |
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How ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 compares with other leading options:
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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 Reference UBR62: $1,199 per pair Amazon eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 58.6Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83dB.
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 |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 58.6Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.44 (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.7 (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 23.5 lbs (10.68 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, dual front slot vents |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Power Sound Audio MT-110-M
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs ELAC DBR62
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Technics SB-C700
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Yamaha NS-800A: $4,999.90 per pair The Music Room eBay
Pros: Exceptionally well-built cabinet with no internal resonance issues at all: confirmed clean in both burst decay and impedance measurements. Good, wide directivity (~75 degrees horizontal) that stays consistent enough to EQ successfully. Distortion is low, staying under 3% at 96dB, and dynamic range holds up well until right near its 102dB limit. A shallower, higher-frequency bass rolloff profile (F3 68Hz, F10 35Hz) means it can be placed closer to the wall (about a foot) without turning boomy, actually gaining bass presence rather than losing it. Measured bass extension of 68Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.9dB.
Cons: A wide, roughly 2kHz-10kHz scoop in the upper-midrange/lower-treble gives it a laidback, soft, low-attack character: notably worse than the reviewer’s Audio First Fidelia reference in an A/B comparison. On top of that, treble breaks up badly above 10kHz, swinging up as much as 8dB: a significant, named flaw. Sounds inconsistently voiced as a result (bright on some material like cymbals and shakers, dull/laidback on vocals and instrument attack) until corrected with real parametric EQ (the reviewer needed a +2dB boost around 4.5kHz at Q0.5 plus taming the treble spike to bring it to life) combined with near-wall placement and 30-degree toe-out. Without that combination, it’s a tough sale for a $5000 bookshelf speaker.
Full Yamaha NS-800A review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 9.1”W x 14.1”D (419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.25” dome tweeter, 6.5” mid-woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 40W nominal, 120W max |
| Sensitivity | 84.9dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.43 |
| Weight | 28.7 lbs (13.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- Yamaha NS-800A vs ELAC DBR62
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Technics SB-C700
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Yamaha NS-800A vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Infinity Reference R162
- Yamaha NS-800A vs JBL HDI-1600
- See all 22 comparisons