In this review, we will be comparing Imagine XB and ES20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from PSB and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Imagine XB and Polk ES20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Imagine XB | Polk ES20 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Clay/Ceramic/Poly | 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-23k Hz | 41-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.60kg / 12.3lbs | 7.73kg / 17lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12" x 6.75" x 10.75"
302 x 170 x 271mm | 14-3/4" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"
375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the PSB Imagine XB 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* |
PSB Imagine XB |
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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Drivers
Both Imagine XB and ES20 are 2-way speakers.
PSB Imagine XBPolk 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 |
PSB Imagine XB |
Polk ES20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Imagine XB features a 1" Titanium Dome with Ferrofluid Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz. 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
Imagine XB has a frequency range of 55-23k 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 Imagine XB'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 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
Imagine XB and ES20 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Imagine XB sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the ES20's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine XB 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.
Imagine XB can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas ES20 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Imagine XB.
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
Imagine XB features 5-Way post type posts and ES20 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Imagine XB 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.
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 PSB Imagine XB's and Polk ES20's external dimensions. PSB Imagine XB has external dimensions of 302 x 170 x 271mm (12inch x 6.75inch x 10.75inch) 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 48mm wider, 73mm taller and 80mm deeper than PSB Imagine XB.
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 PSB Imagine XB is approximately 460.0cm2 / 71.3inch2 and base area of the Polk ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2. The Imagine XB requires 40% 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 PSB Imagine XB weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs and the Polk ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the ES20 38% heavier than the Imagine XB.
Here is a comparison of how Imagine XB 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 PSB Imagine XB?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Imagine XB:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty 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 |
150 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
302mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
460cm2
vs
765cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
649USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Imagine XB |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
55-23k Hz |
41-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
302.0mm (11.9") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
170.0mm (6.7") |
218.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
271.0mm (10.7") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
5.60kg (12.3lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - PSB Imagine XB costs roughly 1.6x what Polk ES20 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 |
B |
Polk ES20 digs deeper - 41Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (150W vs 125W). |
| Size |
depends |
PSB Imagine XB 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 $649, about 39% less; arguably a different class. |
A PSB Imagine XB
B Polk ES20
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?
Polk ES20 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. 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, PSB Imagine XB 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.