In this review, we will be comparing MilleniaOne 1.0 and TSi100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Paradigm and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 and Polk TSi100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 | Polk TSi100 |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" S-PAL Aluminum | 5.25" Organic Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 120-20k Hz | 61-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-100 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.45kg / 5.4lbs | 4.53kg / 10lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-3/4" x 4-9/16" x 5-3/4"
197.0 x 116.0 x 147.0mm | 11.0" x 7.0" x 10.1"
279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 and Polk TSi100 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* |
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 |
Polk TSi100 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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 MilleniaOne 1.0 and TSi100 are 2-way speakers.
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0Polk TSi100
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 |
Polk TSi100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
MilleniaOne 1.0 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" S-PAL Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
MilleniaOne 1.0 has a frequency range of 120-20k Hz whereas TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 61Hz, the TSi100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the MilleniaOne 1.0's min frequency of 120Hz.
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
MilleniaOne 1.0 and TSi100 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though MilleniaOne 1.0 is rated 15-100 watts and TSi100 20-100 watts.
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
MilleniaOne 1.0 features Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts and TSi100 has a Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0's Spring post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both MilleniaOne 1.0 and TSi100 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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0's and Polk TSi100's external dimensions. Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 116.0 x 147.0mm (7-3/4 x 4-9/16 x 5-3/4inch) whereas Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm (11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch).
Polk TSi100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 61.8mm wider, 82.4mm taller and 112mm deeper than Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Polk TSi100 needs about 170% more floor or shelf area. Polk TSi100 is 112mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Polk TSi100 is 82mm taller.
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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 is approximately 170.5cm2 / 26.4inch2 and base area of the Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2. The MilleniaOne 1.0 requires 63% less surface area than the TSi100 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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 weighs 2.45kg / 5.4lbs and the Polk TSi100 weighs 4.53kg / 10lbs. This makes the TSi100 85% heavier than the MilleniaOne 1.0.
Here is a comparison of how MilleniaOne 1.0 and TSi100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of MilleniaOne 1.0:
- Satellite loudspeaker
- Grille
- Tabletop stand
- Wall-bracket
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
What's in the Box of Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that come with the TSi100:
- 2 Black bookshelf speakers
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Wall-Mount template
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
 Height |
197mm
vs
279mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
170cm2
vs
460cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
61 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 |
Polk Audio TSi100 |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-100 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
120-20k Hz |
61-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
S-PAL Aluminum |
Organic Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
197.0mm (7.8") |
279.4mm (11") |
| Width |
116.0mm (4.6") |
177.8mm (7") |
| Depth |
147.0mm (5.8") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
2.45kg (5.4lbs) |
4.53kg (10lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Die-cast aluminum |
Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Gloss White |
Black, Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
30-32" |
16-30" |
| 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 - Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 costs roughly 4.7x what Polk TSi100 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 TSi100 digs deeper - 61Hz against 120Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 is easier to place; Polk TSi100 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk TSi100 sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk TSi100 is cheaper - $149 against $700, about 79% less; arguably a different class. |
A Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 B Polk TSi100
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 TSi100 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 120Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Polk TSi100 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 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.