In this review, we will be comparing Sib Evo and ES20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Sib Evo and Polk ES20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Sib Evo | Polk ES20 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Polyflex | 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 70-25k Hz | 41-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 1.80kg / 4lbs | 7.73kg / 17lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9-7/8" x 6-3/8" x 6-7/16"
251.0 x 162.0 x 164.0mm | 14-3/4" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"
375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Sib Evo and Polk ES20 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* |
Focal Sib Evo |
Polk ES20 |
| 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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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Sib Evo and ES20 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Sib EvoPolk ES20
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Sib Evo |
Polk ES20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Sib Evo features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Polyflex Woofer. On the other hand, the ES20 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Sib Evo has a frequency range of 70-25k Hz whereas ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sib Evo's min frequency of 70Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Sib Evo is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES20 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sib Evo sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the ES20's is rated at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Sib Evo a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES20, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Sib Evo can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas ES20 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the Sib Evo.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Sib Evo features 5-Way post type posts and ES20 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Sib Evo's Push button terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sib Evo and ES20 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.
New
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 Focal Sib Evo's and Polk ES20's external dimensions. Focal Sib Evo has external dimensions of 251.0 x 162.0 x 164.0mm (28-36inch x 6-3/8inch x 6-7/16inch) whereas Polk ES20 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm (14-3/4 x 8-9/16 x 13-13/16inch).
Polk ES20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 56mm wider, 124mm taller and 187mm deeper than Focal Sib Evo.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Sib Evo and Polk ES20 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Sib Evo and Polk ES20 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 Focal Sib Evo is approximately 265.7cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the Polk ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2. The Sib Evo requires 65% less surface area than the ES20 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 Focal Sib Evo weighs 1.80kg / 4lbs and the Polk ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the ES20 329% heavier than the Sib Evo.
Here is a comparison of how Sib Evo and ES20's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Sib Evo?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sib Evo:
- 2 Satellite loudspeakers (base attached)
- 2 Wall-mount brackets
- 6 Screws
- 6 Wall-anchors
- User Manual
- Thank You card
What's in the Box of Polk ES20?
Here are the items that come with the ES20:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
251mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
265cm2
vs
765cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
70 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Sib Evo |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
70-25k Hz |
41-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polyflex |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
251.0mm (9.9") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
162.0mm (6.4") |
218.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
164.0mm (6.5") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
1.80kg (4lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-36" |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Polk ES20 is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk ES20 digs deeper - 41Hz against 70Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Sib Evo is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk ES20 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Focal Sib Evo takes more power (200W vs 125W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Focal Sib Evo is easier to place; Polk ES20 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES20 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk ES20 is cheaper - $399 against $499, about 20% less. |
A Focal Sib Evo B Polk ES20
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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 70Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Polk ES20 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Focal Sib Evo 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.