In this review, we will be comparing Imagine XC and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from PSB and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Imagine XC and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Imagine XC | Polk ES30 |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" clay ceramic-filled polypropylene | 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-23k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-3/4" x 19-1/8" x 11-1/16"
172.0 x 486.0 x 281.0mm | 7-1/2" x 20-1/16" x 10-5/8"
191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the PSB Imagine XC and Polk ES30 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 XC |
Polk ES30 |
| 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.
Drivers
Both Imagine XC and ES30 are 2-way speakers.
PSB Imagine XCPolk ES30
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 XC |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
Imagine XC features a 1" titanium with neodymium magnet dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" clay ceramic-filled polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
Imagine XC has a frequency range of 50-23k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Imagine XC can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES30'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
Imagine XC and ES30 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Imagine XC sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the ES30's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine XC a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES30, 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.
Imagine XC can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas ES30 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Imagine XC.
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 XC features 5-Way post type posts and ES30 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Polk ES30 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 PSB Imagine XC's and Polk ES30's external dimensions. PSB Imagine XC has external dimensions of 172.0 x 486.0 x 281.0mm (6-3/4 x 19-1/8 x 11-1/16inch) whereas Polk ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm (7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch).
PSB Imagine XC is 24mm narrower and 19mm shorter than Polk ES30 but it is also 11mm deeper.
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 XC is approximately 1365.7cm2 / 211.7inch2 and base area of the Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The Imagine XC requires 1% less surface area than the ES30 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 XC weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the Polk ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Imagine XC 4% heavier than the ES30.
Here is a comparison of how Imagine XC and ES30'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 PSB Imagine XC?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Imagine XC:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Polk ES30?
Here are the items that come with the ES30:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
172mm
vs
191mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1365cm2
vs
1377cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
549USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Imagine XC |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-23k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
clay ceramic-filled polypropylene |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
172.0mm (6.8") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
486.0mm (19.1") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
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 - PSB Imagine XC costs roughly 1.8x what Polk ES30 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 | PSB Imagine XC digs deeper - 50Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 125W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES30 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk ES30 is cheaper - $299 against $549, about 46% less; arguably a different class. |
A PSB Imagine XC B Polk ES30
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?
PSB Imagine XC is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 84% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Polk ES30 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the PSB Imagine XC appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk ES30 much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $250 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.