In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter Reference and L400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from GoldenEar and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar SC Ref and Polk L400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar SC Ref | Polk L400 |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" | 2 x 6.5" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-35k Hz | 55-38k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 87.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-350 watts | 25-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.09kg / 31lbs | 18.55kg / 40.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-7/8" x 35" x 11-1/16"
150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm | 9-5/8" x 26-1/16" x 13-1/2"
245.0 x 662.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar SC Ref and Polk L400 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* |
GoldenEar SC Ref |
Polk L400 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Average |
(* 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.
Drivers
Both SuperCenter Reference and L400 are 3-way speakers.
GoldenEar SC RefPolk L400
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
GoldenEar SC Ref |
Polk L400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
SuperCenter Reference features a " Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Woofer. On the other hand, the L400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Woofer.
Frequency Response
SuperCenter Reference has a frequency range of 33-35k Hz whereas L400 has a frequency range of 55-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the SuperCenter Reference can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the L400's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
SuperCenter Reference is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the L400 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L400 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SuperCenter Reference sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the L400's is rated at 87.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the GoldenEar SC Ref a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L400, 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.
SuperCenter Reference can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS, whereas L400 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the SuperCenter Reference.
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
SuperCenter Reference features Binding post type posts and L400 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk L400's Binding post terminals
Polk L400 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 GoldenEar SC Ref's and Polk L400's external dimensions. GoldenEar SC Ref has external dimensions of 150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm (5-7/8 x 35 x 11-1/16inch) whereas Polk L400 has external dimensions of 245.0 x 662.0 x 343.0mm (9-5/8 x 26-1/16 x 13-1/2inch).
GoldenEar SC Ref is 95mm shorter and 62mm less deeper than Polk L400 but it is also 227mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
GoldenEar SC Ref needs about 10% more floor or shelf area. Polk L400 is 62mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Polk L400 is 95mm taller.
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 GoldenEar SC Ref is approximately 2498.1cm2 / 387.2inch2 and base area of the Polk L400 is approximately 2270.7cm2 / 352.0inch2. The SuperCenter Reference requires 10% more surface area than the L400 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 GoldenEar SC Ref weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs and the Polk L400 weighs 18.55kg / 40.8lbs. This makes the L400 32% heavier than the SuperCenter Reference.
Here is a comparison of how SuperCenter Reference and L400'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 GoldenEar SC Ref?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SuperCenter Reference:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 4 Leveling feet
- 4 Threaded-inserts
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Polk L400?
Here are the items that come with the L400:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-wires
- Cleaning cloth
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-3/4-inch x 8-inch + one 7-inchx 10-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
150mm
vs
245mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
2270cm2
vs
2498cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1799USD
vs
1899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
GoldenEar SuperCenter Reference |
Polk Audio Legend L400 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-350 watts |
25-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
87.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-35k Hz |
55-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
150.0mm (5.9") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Width |
889.0mm (35") |
662.0mm (26.1") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
14.09kg (31lbs) |
18.55kg (40.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, Walnut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Polk L400 is the newer design, against a 2015 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | GoldenEar SC Ref digs deeper - 33Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | GoldenEar SC Ref is more sensitive (91dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | GoldenEar SC Ref is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (350W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | GoldenEar SC Ref is easier to place; Polk L400 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,899 vs $1,799 a pair). |
A GoldenEar SC Ref B Polk L400
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?
GoldenEar SC Ref has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar SC Ref the better fit for a very large room, and Polk L400 for a mid-size room.
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.