In this review, we will be comparing SONIK CINEMA and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from DALI and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI SONIK CINEMA and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
DALI SONIK CINEMA Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5-1/4" Wood fiber Woofer
- 46-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 89.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:9.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 172.0" x 22-1/2" x 8-7/16"( 172.0 x 572.0 x 215.0mm )
Polk ES30 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" High-res dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer
- 55-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-125watts
- Weight:8.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 191.0" x 20-1/16" x 10-5/8"( 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI SONIK CINEMA and Polk ES30 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 SONIK CINEMA and ES30 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
DALI SONIK CINEMA |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-1/4-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
SONIK CINEMA features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5-1/4" Wood fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .
Frequency Response
SONIK CINEMA has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the SONIK CINEMA can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES30's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
SONIK CINEMA is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES30 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SONIK CINEMA sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the ES30's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI SONIK CINEMA a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES30, 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. 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.
SONIK CINEMA can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SONIK CINEMA has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 25 watts less than the ES30.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
SONIK CINEMA features 5-Way post type posts and ES30 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
SONIK CINEMA has a front firing port whereas ES30 has a rear firing ports. DALI SONIK CINEMA's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk ES30 with its rear-firing port.
Polk ES30 Port
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 DALI SONIK CINEMA's and Polk ES30's external dimensions. DALI SONIK CINEMA has external dimensions of 172.0 x 572.0 x 215.0mm ( 6-3/4inch x 22-1/2inch x 8-7/16inch ) whereas Polk ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm ( 7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch) .
DALI SONIK CINEMA is 19mm shorter and 55mm less deeper than Polk ES30 but it is also 62mm 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 DALI SONIK CINEMA is approximately 1229.8cm2 / 190.6inch2 and base area of the Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The SONIK CINEMA requires 11% less surface area than the ES30 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.