In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter XL and L400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from GoldenEar and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar SuperCenter XL and Polk L400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar SuperCenter XL | Polk L400 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 6.5" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-35k Hz | 55-38k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 87.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-250 watts | 25-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.55kg / 21lbs | 18.55kg / 40.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-3/4" x 29" x 11-1/8"
147.0 x 737.0 x 283.0mm | 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 SuperCenter XL 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 SuperCenter XL |
Polk L400 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SuperCenter XL is a 2-way design whereas the L400 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL |
Polk L400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x -inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
SuperCenter XL features a " Tweeter and 2 x " 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 XL has a frequency range of 36-35k Hz whereas L400 has a frequency range of 55-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the SuperCenter XL 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 XL 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 XL sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the L400's is rated at 87.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the GoldenEar SuperCenter XL 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.
L400 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas SuperCenter XL has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the L400.
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 XL 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 SuperCenter XL's and Polk L400's external dimensions. GoldenEar SuperCenter XL has external dimensions of 147.0 x 737.0 x 283.0mm (5-3/4 x 29 x 11-1/8inch) 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 SuperCenter XL is 98mm shorter and 60mm less deeper than Polk L400 but it is also 75mm 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 GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is approximately 2085.7cm2 / 323.3inch2 and base area of the Polk L400 is approximately 2270.7cm2 / 352.0inch2. The SuperCenter XL requires 8% less surface area than the L400 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 GoldenEar SuperCenter XL weighs 9.55kg / 21lbs and the Polk L400 weighs 18.55kg / 40.8lbs. This makes the L400 94% heavier than the SuperCenter XL.
Here is a comparison of how SuperCenter XL 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 SuperCenter XL?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SuperCenter XL:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 3 Leveling feet
- 3 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
 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 |
 Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
147mm
vs
245mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2085cm2
vs
2270cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
1799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL |
Polk Audio Legend L400 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
25-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
87.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-35k Hz |
55-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
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 |
147.0mm (5.8") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Width |
737.0mm (29") |
662.0mm (26.1") |
| Depth |
283.0mm (11.1") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
9.55kg (21lbs) |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - Polk L400 costs roughly 1.6x what GoldenEar SuperCenter XL does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL digs deeper - 36Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is more sensitive (91dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL 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 (250W vs 300W). |
| Size |
depends |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is easier to place; Polk L400 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Price |
A |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is cheaper - $1,099 against $1,799, about 39% less; arguably a different class. |
A GoldenEar SuperCenter XL
B Polk L400
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?
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Polk L400 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. 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. In a large or open-plan room, Polk L400 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, GoldenEar SuperCenter XL 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.