In this review, we will be comparing AE300 and TSi100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Acoustic Energy and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE300 and Polk TSi100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the AE300 and Polk TSi100 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the AE300 and Polk TSi100 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both AE300 and TSi100 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
AE300 |
Polk TSi100 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.2-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
AE300 features a 1.1" aluminium dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5.2" ceramic aluminium sandwich Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
AE300 has a frequency range of 45Hz - 30kHz whereas TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the AE300 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi100's min frequency of 61Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE300 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the TSi100 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE300 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the TSi100's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk TSi100 a more sensitive speaker compared to AE300, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AE300 and TSi100 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
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 AE300's and Polk TSi100's external dimensions. AE300 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 175.0 x 260.0mm ( 11.4 x 6.9 x 10.2inch) whereas Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm ( 11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch) .
Polk TSi100 is 20.6mm shorter and 1mm less deeper than AE300 but it is also 2.8mm 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 AE300 is approximately 455.0cm2 / 70.5inch2 and base area of the Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2. The AE300 requires 1% less surface area than the TSi100 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 AE300 weighs 6.50kg / 14.3lbs and the Polk TSi100 weighs 4.53kg / 10lbs. This makes the AE300 43% heavier than the TSi100.
Here is a comparison of how AE300 and TSi100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that come with the TSi100:
2 Black bookshelf speakers Detachable cloth grille (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Wall-Mount template Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
61 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
455cm2 (175x260mm)
vs
460cm2 (177x259mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5.2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Height |
279mm
vs
300mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
1099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Acoustic Energy AE300 |
Polk Audio TSi100 |
Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
20-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
45Hz - 30kHz |
61-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.2" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
ceramic aluminium sandwich |
Organic Fiber |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
dome with waveguide |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
2500Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
300.0mm (11.8") |
279.4mm (11") |
Width |
175.0mm (6.9") |
177.8mm (7") |
Depth |
260.0mm (10.2") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
Weight |
6.50kg (14.3lbs) |
4.53kg (10lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
high density MDF |
Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Piano Gloss White, Piano Gloss Black, Real Walnut wood veneer |
Black, Cherry |
Mounting Bracket |
|
Keyhole |
Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
16-30" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |