Short answer: the Tekton Troubadour for better sound quality, the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 for the lower price. The Tekton Troubadour ranks #13 of 34 bookshelf speakers at $1000. The ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 ranks #28 at $599, $401 cheaper.
What the Tekton Troubadour offers: Offset in-phase array of 2x 5.25” mid-woofers and 3x 1” dome tweeters gives good on-axis linearity (within about ±2.5 dB) and a wide vertical listening window (about ±20°), so seating height isn’t fussy. Watch for: Forward, elevated upper-midrange presentation from increased off-axis energy in the 2-8 kHz range, centered around 4 kHz, that can read as hot or aggressive depending on the room and listener; a couple bands of EQ can tame it.
What the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 offers: Wide, smooth horizontal directivity - beamwidth holds to about ±60 degrees up to 8kHz before narrowing. Watch for: Dipped 3db from 1.5-3khz.
Buy the Tekton Troubadour if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52. It ranks near the bottom of the 34 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tekton Troubadour | ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,000 | $599.00 |
| Ranked | #13 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #28 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25" mid-woofers, 3x 1" dome tweeters (offset in-phase array) | 5.25" aluminum woofer, 4" aluminum midrange, 1" soft dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 21"H x 13.5"W x 9"D (533 x 343 x 229mm) | 13.6"H x 7.3"W x 10.8"D (346 x 185 x 275 mm) |
| Weight | 32 lbs (32 lbs / 14.5 kg) each | 7.7 lbs / 3.5 kg |
| Country of Origin | USA | - |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.3dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 85dB manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 200Hz / 2000Hz |
| Power Handling | - | 140W max |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Tekton Troubadour: $1,000
Pros: Offset in-phase array of 2x 5.25” mid-woofers and 3x 1” dome tweeters gives good on-axis linearity (within about ±2.5 dB) and a wide vertical listening window (about ±20°), so seating height isn’t fussy. Bass extension is solid for a stand-mount this size: F3 around 51 Hz, F10 around 39 Hz, with distortion staying below 3% THD down to about 40 Hz at 96 dB. Made in the USA. Asymmetrical tweeter/mid-woofer placement broadens horizontal dispersion versus a conventional symmetric layout.
Cons: Forward, elevated upper-midrange presentation from increased off-axis energy in the 2-8 kHz range, centered around 4 kHz, that can read as hot or aggressive depending on the room and listener; a couple bands of EQ can tame it. Multitone distortion climbs to about 10% around 1 kHz at higher output, attributed to the 4-inch mid-range drivers. Because the driver layout is offset rather than mirror-imaged, left/right placement and toe-in matter more than with a standard symmetric bookshelf design.
Full Tekton Troubadour review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Dimensions | 21"H x 13.5"W x 9"D (533 x 343 x 229mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25" mid-woofers, 3x 1" dome tweeters (offset in-phase array) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 32 lbs (32 lbs / 14.5 kg) each |
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ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52: $599.00 Amazon
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.
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 (-3dB) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Crossover Frequency | 200Hz / 2000Hz |
| 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) |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs / 3.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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