In this review, we will be comparing Sandwich 150 and R100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Leak and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Leak Sandwich 150 and Polk R100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Leak Sandwich 150 and Polk R100 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Leak Sandwich 150 and Polk R100 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Sandwich 150 and R100 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Leak Sandwich 150 |
Polk R100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.2-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Sandwich 150 features a 1.2" Coated Textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. On the other hand, the R100 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Sandwich 150 has a frequency range of 44Hz-26kHz whereas R100 has a frequency range of 58-39k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Sandwich 150 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R100's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Sandwich 150 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R100 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 Sandwich 150 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sandwich 150 sensitivity is rated at 86.5 dB and the R100's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Leak Sandwich 150 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R100, 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. 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.
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
Sandwich 150 features Binding post type posts and R100 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Leak Sandwich 150's Binding post terminals
Polk R100's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sandwich 150 and R100 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 R100 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 Leak Sandwich 150's and Polk R100's external dimensions. Leak Sandwich 150 has external dimensions of 415 x 250 x 290 mm ( 16.3 x 9.9 x 11.4 inch) whereas Polk R100 has external dimensions of 326.0 x 167.0 x 259.0mm ( 12-13/16 x 6-9/16 x 10-3/16inch) .
Leak Sandwich 150 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 83mm wider, 89mm taller and 31mm deeper than Polk R100.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leak Sandwich 150 and Polk R100 in scale.
Comparison image of Leak Sandwich 150 and Polk R100 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 Leak Sandwich 150 is approximately 725.0cm2 / 112.4inch2 and base area of the Polk R100 is approximately 432.5cm2 / 67.0inch2. The Sandwich 150 requires 68% more surface area than the R100 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Leak Sandwich 150 and Polk R100 on a Media Console
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 Leak Sandwich 150 weighs 12.30kg / 27.1lbs and the Polk R100 weighs 5.55kg / 12.2lbs. This makes the Sandwich 150 122% heavier than the R100.
Here is a comparison of how Sandwich 150 and R100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk R100?
Here are the items that come with the R100:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 GrillesOwners ManualOnline Registration
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
326mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
432cm2 (167x259mm)
vs
725cm2 (250x290mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Leak Sandwich 150 |
Polk Audio Reserve R100 |
| Brand |
Leak |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.5 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44Hz-26kHz |
58-39k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.2" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
326.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
250.0mm (9.8") |
167.0mm (6.6") |
| Depth |
290.0mm (11.4") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
12.30kg (27.1lbs) |
5.55kg (12.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real-wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
walnut |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |