In this review, we will be comparing AE107 MII and Monitor XT35, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Acoustic Energy and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE107 Mark II and Polk XT35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE107 Mark II | Polk XT35 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome with waveguide | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.2" paper cone | 4 x 3" bi-laminate paper cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55Hz - 26kHz | 57-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 175 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.60kg / 10.1lbs | 6.36kg / 14lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.9" x 15" x 9.8"
175.0 x 380.0 x 250.0mm | 4-3/16" x 24-7/16" x 5-9/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 142.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE107 Mark II and Polk XT35 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
AE107 Mark II |
Polk XT35 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both AE107 MII and Monitor XT35 are 2-way speakers.
AE107 Mark IIPolk XT35
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
AE107 Mark II |
Polk XT35 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
4 x 3-inch
|
AE107 MII features a 1" fabric soft dome with waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.2" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the Monitor XT35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 4 x 3" bi-laminate paper cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
AE107 MII has a frequency range of 55Hz - 26kHz whereas Monitor XT35 has a frequency range of 57-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the AE107 MII can go slightly deeper then the Monitor XT35's min frequency of 57Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE107 MII is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Monitor XT35 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE107 MII sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Monitor XT35's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the AE107 Mark II a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT35, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Monitor XT35 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas AE107 MII has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Monitor XT35.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AE107 MII and Monitor XT35 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE107 Mark II's and Polk XT35's external dimensions. AE107 Mark II has external dimensions of 175.0 x 380.0 x 250.0mm (6.9 x 15 x 9.8inch) whereas Polk XT35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 142.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 5-9/16inch).
Polk XT35 is 68mm shorter and 108mm less deeper than AE107 Mark II but it is also 241mm wider.
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 AE107 Mark II is approximately 950.0cm2 / 147.3inch2 and base area of the Polk XT35 is approximately 881.8cm2 / 136.7inch2. The AE107 MII requires 8% more surface area than the Monitor XT35 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The AE107 Mark II weighs 4.60kg / 10.1lbs and the Polk XT35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the Monitor XT35 38% heavier than the AE107 MII.
Here is a comparison of how AE107 MII and Monitor XT35's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk XT35?
Here are the items that come with the Monitor XT35:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
- Wall-Mount Template
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.2 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
175 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
175mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
881cm2
vs
950cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE107 Mark II |
Polk Audio Monitor XT35 |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 175 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55Hz - 26kHz |
57-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
5.2" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
bi-laminate paper cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome with waveguide |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
175.0mm (6.9") |
107.0mm (4.2") |
| Width |
380.0mm (15") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
| Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
142.0mm (5.6") |
| Weight |
4.60kg (10.1lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Satin Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (55Hz vs 57Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
AE107 Mark II is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Polk XT35 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (175W vs 200W). |
| Size |
depends |
Polk XT35 is easier to place; AE107 Mark II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk XT35 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
Polk XT35 is cheaper - $299 against $399, about 25% less. |
A AE107 Mark II
B Polk XT35
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, AE107 Mark II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk XT35 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, AE107 Mark II is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.