In this review, we will be comparing HTS 10 and S8, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Polk Audio and Audioengine. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Polk HTS 10 and Audioengine S8 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Polk HTS 10 and Audioengine S8 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Polk HTS 10and Audioengine S8 have a single woofer setup however the Polk HTS 10's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Audioengine S8 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
HTS 10 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas S8 has a frequency range of 27-180 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the S8 can go slightly deeper then the HTS 10's min frequency of 30Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
Both Polk HTS 10 and Audioengine S8 have Bass Reflex type cabinets. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Polk HTS 10's and Audioengine S8's external dimensions. Polk HTS 10 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 385.0 x 459.0mm ( 16-5/8 x 15-1/8 x 18-1/16inch) whereas Audioengine S8 has external dimensions of 334.0 x 293.0 x 337.0mm ( 13-1/8 x 11-1/2 x 13-1/4inch) .
Polk HTS 10 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 92mm wider, 89mm taller and 122mm deeper than Audioengine S8.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk HTS 10 and Audioengine S8 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk HTS 10 and Audioengine S8 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Polk HTS 10 is approximately 1767.2cm2 / 273.9inch2 and base area of the Audioengine S8 is approximately 987.4cm2 / 153.0inch2. The HTS 10 requires 79% more surface area than the S8 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Polk HTS 10 weighs 17.16kg / 37.8lbs and the Audioengine S8 weighs 13.64kg / 30lbs. This makes the HTS 10 26% heavier than the S8.
Here is a comparison of how HTS 10 and S8's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk HTS 10?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HTS 10:
Powered subwooferGrille8-feet AC power cordOwners ManualOnline Product Registration sheet
What's in the Box of Audioengine S8?
Here are the items that come with the S8:
Powered subwoofer6-feet AC power cord6.5-feet Stereo RCA cable6.5-feet Stereo minijack audio cableCloth subwoofer bagCloth cable bagQuick Start GuideAudioengine brochure
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
180k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
334mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
987cm2
vs
1767cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
449USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio HTS 10 |
Audioengine S8 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
100 watts |
125 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
27-180 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
125-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
200-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Treated paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
423.0mm (16.7") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Width |
385.0mm (15.2") |
293.0mm (11.5") |
| Depth |
459.0mm (18.1") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
17.16kg (37.8lbs) |
13.64kg (30lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |