In this review, we will be comparing AE107 MII and ES35, 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 ES35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE107 Mark II | Polk ES35 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome with waveguide | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.2" paper cone | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55Hz - 26kHz | 66-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 175 watts | 20-150 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 6-1/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE107 Mark II and Polk ES35 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 ES35 |
| 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.
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Drivers
Both AE107 MII and ES35 are 2-way speakers.
AE107 Mark IIPolk ES35
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 ES35 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
6 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 ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
AE107 MII has a frequency range of 55Hz - 26kHz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the AE107 MII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES35's min frequency of 66Hz.
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 ES35 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 ES35's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the AE107 Mark II a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES35, 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.
AE107 MII can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas ES35 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the AE107 MII.
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 ES35 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.
Polk ES35 Port
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 ES35'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 ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch).
Polk ES35 is 68mm shorter and 96mm 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 ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The AE107 MII requires 1% less surface area than the ES35 which gives it a small advantage 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 ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the ES35 38% heavier than the AE107 MII.
Here is a comparison of how AE107 MII and ES35'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 ES35?
Here are the items that come with the ES35:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
175 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 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
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
950cm2
vs
956cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
6
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 |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE107 Mark II |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 175 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55Hz - 26kHz |
66-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
5.2" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| 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") |
154.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
4.60kg (10.1lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Satin Black |
Black, Walnut, White |
| 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 |
A |
AE107 Mark II digs deeper - 55Hz against 66Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Polk ES35 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (175W vs 150W). |
| Size |
depends |
Polk ES35 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 ES35 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($399 vs $399 a pair). |
A AE107 Mark II
B Polk ES35
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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 66Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. 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 ES35 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.