In this review, we will be comparing L200 and TSi200, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk L200 and Polk TSi200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk L200 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter
- 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 46-38k Hz Frequency Response
- 85.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:10.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 399.0" x 8-3/8" x 13-5/16"( 399.0 x 213.0 x 339.0mm )
Polk TSi200 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer
- 50-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-150watts
- Weight:7.71kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 392.1" x 8.0" x 11.7"( 392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm )
What size room are the Polk L200 and Polk TSi200 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 L200 |
Polk TSi200 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk L200 and Polk TSi200 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 L200 and TSi200 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk L200 |
Polk TSi200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
L200 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the TSi200 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
L200 has a frequency range of 46-38k Hz whereas TSi200 has a frequency range of 50-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the L200 can go slightly deeper then the TSi200's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
L200 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the TSi200 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 L200 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. L200 sensitivity is rated at 85.5 dB and the TSi200's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk TSi200 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L200, 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.
L200 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas TSi200 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the L200.
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
L200 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. TSi200 has a Pair of 5-way binding posts - Gold-plated which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk L200's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both L200 and TSi200 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 L200 Enhanced Power Port 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 Polk L200's and Polk TSi200's external dimensions. Polk L200 has external dimensions of 399.0 x 213.0 x 339.0mm ( 15-11/16 x 8-3/8 x 13-5/16inch) whereas Polk TSi200 has external dimensions of 392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm ( 15.4 x 8.0 x 11.7inch) .
Polk L200 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 9.8mm wider, 6.9mm taller and 40.5mm deeper than Polk TSi200.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk L200 and Polk TSi200 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk L200 and Polk TSi200 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 Polk L200 is approximately 722.1cm2 / 111.9inch2 and base area of the Polk TSi200 is approximately 606.6cm2 / 94.0inch2. The L200 requires 19% more surface area than the TSi200 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 Polk L200 and Polk TSi200 on a Media Console