In this review, we will be comparing R-30C and ES35, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-30C and Polk ES35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-30C | Polk ES35 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 3.5" spun-copper TCP | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 78-21k Hz | 66-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.08kg / 11.2lbs | 6.36kg / 14lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4-15/16" x 26-1/16" x 6-13/16"
126.0 x 662.0 x 174.0mm | 4-3/16" x 24-7/16" x 6-1/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch R-30C and Polk ES35 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* |
Klipsch R-30C |
Polk ES35 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.
Drivers
Both R-30C and ES35 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-30CPolk ES35
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch R-30C |
Polk ES35 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 3.5-inch
|
6 x 3-inch
|
R-30C features a 1" LTS (Linear Travel Suspension) titanium diaphragm Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 4 x 3.5" spun-copper TCP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1650 Hz. On the other hand, the ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
R-30C has a frequency range of 78-21k Hz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the ES35 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-30C's min frequency of 78Hz.
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
R-30C and ES35 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R-30C sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the ES35's is at 89 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-30C a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES35, 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.
ES35 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas R-30C has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the ES35.
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
R-30C features 5-Way post type posts and ES35 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-30C's Binding post terminals
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R-30C and ES35 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.
Polk ES35 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 Klipsch R-30C's and Polk ES35's external dimensions. Klipsch R-30C has external dimensions of 126.0 x 662.0 x 174.0mm (4-15/16inch x 26-1/16inch x 6-13/16inch) whereas Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch).
Klipsch R-30C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 41mm wider, 19mm taller and 20mm deeper than Polk ES35.
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 Klipsch R-30C is approximately 1151.9cm2 / 178.5inch2 and base area of the Polk ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The R-30C requires 20% more surface area than the ES35 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 Klipsch R-30C weighs 5.08kg / 11.2lbs and the Polk ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the ES35 25% heavier than the R-30C.
Here is a comparison of how R-30C and ES35'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 Klipsch R-30C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-30C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Polk ES35?
Here are the items that come with the ES35:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
3.5 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Number of Woofers |
6
vs
4
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
66 Hz
vs
78 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
126mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
956cm2
vs
1151cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-30C |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
78-21k Hz |
66-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
3.5" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
spun-copper TCP |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1650 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
126.0mm (5") |
107.0mm (4.2") |
| Width |
662.0mm (26.1") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
| Depth |
174.0mm (6.9") |
154.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
5.08kg (11.2lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Ported |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Textured Wood Grain Vinyl |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Mocha |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk ES35 digs deeper - 66Hz against 78Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch R-30C is more sensitive (96dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Polk ES35 takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES35 is easier to place; Klipsch R-30C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES35 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk ES35 is cheaper - $399 against $499, about 20% less. |
A Klipsch R-30C B Polk ES35
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?
Polk ES35 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 78Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch R-30C the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Polk ES35 for a mid-size room and a large 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.