Short answer: the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62. It ranks #41 of 100 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $1199; the Yamaha NS-800A ranks #43 and costs $4800, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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.
On the Yamaha NS-800A side: Exceptionally well-built cabinet with no internal resonance issues at all - confirmed clean in both burst decay and impedance measurements. Set against that: 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.
Buy the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Yamaha NS-800A and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 | Yamaha NS-800A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,199/pair | $4800 |
| Ranked | #41 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #43 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension | 41Hz manufacturer specified; Erin’s response-linearity graph shows limited high-output bass headroom | - |
| 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 |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | - | 28.7 lbs / 13.0 kg (28.7 lbs) each |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Output Power | - | 40W nominal, 120W max |
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- Revel M126Be vs JTR Noesis 210HT
- ELAC DBR62 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Yamaha NS-800A vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
The Two Speakers In Full
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 |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs ELAC DBR62
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Power Sound Audio MT-110-M
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs JBL HDI-1600
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 vs ELAC DB63
- See all 10 comparisons
Yamaha NS-800A: $4800 The Music Room
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.
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 $4,800 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 |
| 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) |
| Output Power | 40W nominal, 120W max |
| Sensitivity | 84.9dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner; 86.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 28.7 lbs / 13.0 kg (28.7 lbs) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- 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 Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Yamaha NS-800A vs JTR Noesis 210HT
- Yamaha NS-800A vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- Yamaha NS-800A vs JBL HDI-1600
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Infinity Reference R162
- See all 10 comparisons