Short answer: the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52, if you are buying new. The Tekton Troubadour ranks higher than it (#24 vs #68 of 88 bookshelf speakers, 3.8/5 vs 2.4/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 is still sold new at $599.
The case for the Tekton Troubadour: 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. The catch: 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.
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 tradeoff: Dipped 3db from 1.5-3kHz.
Buy the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 if you want one new; the Tekton Troubadour is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Tekton Troubadour | ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,000 per pair Discontinued | $599.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #24 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #68 of 88 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” x 13.5” x 9” (533 x 343 x 229 mm) | 13.6”H x 7.3”W x 10.8”D (346 x 185 x 275 mm) |
| Weight | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Country | 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) | 38.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.50 | 5.32 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.52 | 7.34 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 200Hz / 2000Hz |
| Power Handling | - | 140W max |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Tekton Troubadour: $1,000 per pair Discontinued eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 51Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 88dB.
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. Discontinued.
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 | USA |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 21” x 13.5” x 9” (533 x 343 x 229 mm) |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.52 |
| Weight | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52: $599.00 per pair Amazon eBay
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 |
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