Short answer: the Polk Audio Reserve R700. Both are rated 4.3/5 for sound quality (#65 and #69 of 226 floorstanding speakers), and the Polk Audio Reserve R700 costs $2,398 against $2,598 for the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52: Flagship concentric 3-way floorstander with cast-chassis drivers, full perimeter bracing, dual-flared slot ports, and upgraded crossover components. Watch for: Rating estimated based on Uni-Fi Reference series sibling testing.
What the Polk Audio Reserve R700 does well: Three-way design with a 1” ring radiator tweeter, 6.5” mid-range, and dual 8” mid-bass drivers in a ported, down-firing cabinet. The catch: Compression in the high frequencies rises sharply between 96dB and 102dB output: a real limitation only at very high volumes (around 100dB at 3 meters), but a clear step down from pricier ($5,000+) towers.
Buy the Polk Audio Reserve R700. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $200 less than the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52.
Worth knowing: the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 4.1 to 4.5, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52 | Polk Audio Reserve R700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,598 per pair | $2,398 per pair |
| Ranked | #69 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated | #65 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Drivers | Concentric 1” soft dome tweeter & 4” cast-chassis aluminum midrange, 3 x 5.25” aluminum woofers | 2x 8” polypropylene cone woofers, 1x 6.5” turbine cone midrange, 1x 1” Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 35kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 87.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (manufacturer specified) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 39.2”H x 7.3”W x 13.3”D (995 x 185 x 338 mm) | 45”H x 12.6”W x 16.9”D (1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3 mm) |
| Weight | 51.6 lbs (23.4 kg) each | 102.1 lbs (46.3 kg) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, down-firing |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 6.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.83 |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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 UFR52: $2,598 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 (bookshelf, rated 4.1/5) and the ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UCR52 (center, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: Flagship concentric 3-way floorstander with cast-chassis drivers, full perimeter bracing, dual-flared slot ports, and upgraded crossover components. Combines pinpoint point-source imaging and coherent vertical directivity with deep bass reaching 40Hz.
Cons: Rating estimated based on Uni-Fi Reference series sibling testing. 86dB sensitivity requires substantial clean amplifier power for optimal dynamic reproduction in large rooms.
Full ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 39.2”H x 7.3”W x 13.3”D (995 x 185 x 338 mm) |
| Drivers | Concentric 1” soft dome tweeter & 4” cast-chassis aluminum midrange, 3 x 5.25” aluminum woofers |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 35kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 51.6 lbs (23.4 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Polk Audio Reserve R700: $2,398 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Polk Reserve R100 (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.4/5), the Polk R200 (larger bookshelf, rated 3.2/5), the Polk Reserve R500 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 4.2/5), the Polk Reserve R600 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 4.2/5), the Polk Audio Reserve R300 (smallest center, estimated 3.6/5), the Polk Audio Reserve R350 (center, rated 3.7/5) and the Polk Audio Reserve R400 (largest center, estimated 3.8/5).
Pros: Three-way design with a 1” ring radiator tweeter, 6.5” mid-range, and dual 8” mid-bass drivers in a ported, down-firing cabinet. On-axis frequency response holds within about ±2dB across most of its range, with genuinely deep bass extension (F3 40Hz) reaching into the mid-30s Hz in-room. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70°, giving a strong, enveloping stereo width and stage-extension effect on well-recorded tracks. Good low-level dynamics: solid bass thump at quiet listening volumes without over-accentuation. Strong distortion and compression control through the bass and midrange. Real nominal impedance closer to 4 ohms than the marketed 8 ohms, so with the right amplifier it can be driven hard: a $3,000 two-channel integrated brought out significantly more life than a budget $300 unit could. Excellent value at its roughly $1199/pair, ranking among the reviewer’s top picks under $2,500; outperforms the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-8000F II in bass extension and overall smoothness. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87.5dB.
Cons: Compression in the high frequencies rises sharply between 96dB and 102dB output: a real limitation only at very high volumes (around 100dB at 3 meters), but a clear step down from pricier ($5,000+) towers. Horizontal directivity mismatch around 4-5kHz, where the tweeter flares wider than the midrange, can sound a bit forward, especially noticeable when toed out further into the room; sidewall absorption or curtains help tame it. Harmonic distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 7kHz at 96dB output, possibly contributing to that same forward quality at high volume. Narrow vertical sweet spot (about ±15° from the tweeter axis), typical of non-coaxial tower designs: more of a consideration for multi-row home theater seating than single-row listening. The ring-radiator tweeter narrows noticeably above about 7-8kHz, and toeing the speaker out more than about 20° causes the top end to fall off quickly. Needs at least 2 feet of clearance from the rear wall to avoid boomy, exaggerated bass, since it lacks the bass-shelf tuning some rivals use to allow closer wall placement. Compared to the pricier KEF R5 Meta, has narrower horizontal (and much narrower vertical) directivity, so seating flexibility is more limited.
Full Polk Audio Reserve R700 review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 45”H x 12.6”W x 16.9”D (1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 8” polypropylene cone woofers, 1x 6.5” turbine cone midrange, 1x 1” Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.83 |
| Weight | 102.1 lbs (46.3 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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