In this review, we will be comparing Blackstone TL1 and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TL1 and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk TL1 | Polk ES30 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.5" dome | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 2.5" Dynamic Balance | 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 125-20k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-125 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 1.84kg / 4lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 3-15/16" x 15" x 3-7/16"
101.0 x 381.0 x 88.0mm | 7-1/2" x 20-1/16" x 10-5/8"
191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk TL1 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* |
Polk TL1 |
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 Blackstone TL1 and ES30 are 2-way speakers.
Polk TL1Polk 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 |
Polk TL1 |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 2.5-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
Blackstone TL1 features a 0.5" silk dome Tweeter and 2 x 2.5" Dynamic Balance 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
Blackstone TL1 has a frequency range of 125-20k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the ES30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Blackstone TL1's min frequency of 125Hz.
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
Blackstone TL1 and ES30 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
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.
Both handle the same maximum of 125 watts RMS, though Blackstone TL1 is rated 10-125 watts and ES30 20-125 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
Blackstone TL1 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Blackstone TL1 and ES30 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 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 Polk TL1's and Polk ES30's external dimensions. Polk TL1 has external dimensions of 101.0 x 381.0 x 88.0mm (3-15/16 x 15 x 3-7/16inch) 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).
Polk ES30 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 129mm wider, 90mm taller and 182mm deeper than Polk TL1.
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 Polk TL1 is approximately 335.3cm2 / 52.0inch2 and base area of the Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The Blackstone TL1 requires 76% 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 Polk TL1 weighs 1.84kg / 4lbs and the Polk ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the ES30 370% heavier than the Blackstone TL1.
Here is a comparison of how Blackstone TL1 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 Polk TL1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Blackstone TL1:
- Gloss-black center-channel loudspeaker
- Detachable black cloth grille (attached)
- System Diagram/Warranty sheet
- Template
- Online Product Registration card
- Important Safety Instructions
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
 Height |
101mm
vs
191mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
335cm2
vs
1377cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
79USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
2.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
10-125 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
125-20k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
2.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Dynamic Balance |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Tweeter Size |
0.5" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
101.0mm (4") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
381.0mm (15") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
88.0mm (3.5") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
1.84kg (4lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Gloss 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 - Polk ES30 costs roughly 3.8x what Polk TL1 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 ES30 digs deeper - 55Hz against 125Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (125W vs 125W). |
| Size | depends | Polk TL1 is easier to place; Polk ES30 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Polk TL1 is cheaper - $79 against $299, about 74% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk TL1 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?
Polk ES30 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 3.8x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Polk TL1 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Polk ES30 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 125Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk TL1 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Polk ES30 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk TL1 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.