In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio Monitor XT15 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the XT70 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT15 and Polk XT70 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk XT15 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Bi-laminate paper Woofer
- 48-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:4.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 270.0" x 6-9/16" x 7-3/16"( 270.0 x 167.0 x 183.0mm )
Polk XT70 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer
- 35-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:15.91kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1031.0" x 10-13/16" x 13-3/8"( 1031.0 x 275.0 x 340.0mm )
XT15 and XT70 are members of Polk Audio's Monitor XT series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Polk XT15 and Polk XT70 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 XT15 |
Polk XT70 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| 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 XT15 and Polk XT70 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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Drivers
Both XT15 and XT70 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk XT15 |
Polk XT70 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
XT15 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Bi-laminate paper Woofer . On the other hand, the XT70 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
XT15 has a frequency range of 48-40k Hz whereas XT70 has a frequency range of 35-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the XT70 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the XT15's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
XT15 and XT70 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 86 dB.
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.
XT15 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas XT15 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the XT70.
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
XT15 features 5-Way post type posts and XT70 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 XT15's and Polk XT70's external dimensions. Polk XT15 has external dimensions of 270.0 x 167.0 x 183.0mm ( 10-5/8 x 6-9/16 x 7-3/16inch) whereas Polk XT70 has external dimensions of 1031.0 x 275.0 x 340.0mm ( 40-9/16 x 10-13/16 x 13-3/8inch) .
Polk XT70 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 108mm wider, 761mm taller and 157mm deeper than Polk XT15.
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 XT15 is approximately 305.6cm2 / 47.4inch2 and base area of the Polk XT70 is approximately 935.0cm2 / 144.9inch2. The XT15 requires 67% less surface area than the XT70 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Polk XT15?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT15:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles (attached)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of Polk XT70?
Here are the items that come with the XT70:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
Woofer Size 
Passive Radiator 
Dolby Atmos Drivers