In this review, we will be comparing XT20 and BRX, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT20 and GoldenEar BRX first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk XT20 | GoldenEar BRX |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | Folded Ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Bi-laminate paper | 6" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-40k Hz | 40-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.45kg / 12lbs | 5.45kg / 12lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 11-1/16"
332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm | 12-1/8" x 8-1/8" x 12-5/16"
308.0 x 207.0 x 313.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk XT20 and GoldenEar BRX 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 XT20 |
GoldenEar BRX |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 XT20 and BRX are 2-way speakers.
Polk XT20GoldenEar BRX
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 XT20 |
GoldenEar BRX |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
XT20 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer. On the other hand, the BRX features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
XT20 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas BRX has a frequency range of 40-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT20 can go slightly deeper then the BRX's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
XT20 and BRX have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XT20 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the BRX's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the GoldenEar BRX a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT20, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
BRX can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas XT20 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the BRX.
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
XT20 features 5-way post type posts and BRX has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar BRX's 5-way post terminals
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 XT20's and GoldenEar BRX's external dimensions. Polk XT20 has external dimensions of 332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm (13-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 11-1/16inch) whereas GoldenEar BRX has external dimensions of 308.0 x 207.0 x 313.0mm (12-1/8 x 8-1/8 x 12-5/16inch).
Polk XT20 is 14mm narrower and 32mm less deeper than GoldenEar BRX but it is also 24mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT20 and GoldenEar BRX in scale.
Comparison image of Polk XT20 and GoldenEar BRX 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 XT20 is approximately 542.3cm2 / 84.1inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar BRX is approximately 647.9cm2 / 100.4inch2. The XT20 requires 16% less surface area than the BRX which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 XT20 and GoldenEar BRX on a Media Console
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 XT20 weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs and the GoldenEar BRX weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs.
Here is a comparison of how XT20 and BRX's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk XT20?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT20:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of GoldenEar BRX?
Here are the items that come with the BRX:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
Owner's Manual
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
542cm2
vs
647cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
1598USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Passive Radiator |
two rectangular side-mounted
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
308mm
vs
332mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Polk Audio Monitor XT20 |
GoldenEar BRX |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-40k Hz |
40-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Bi-laminate paper |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Folded Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
332.0mm (13.1") |
308.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
313.0mm (12.3") |
| Weight |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-26" |
| 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 - GoldenEar BRX costs roughly 5.3x what Polk XT20 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (38Hz vs 40Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | GoldenEar BRX is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | GoldenEar BRX takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Price | A | Polk XT20 is cheaper - $299 against $1,598, about 81% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk XT20 B GoldenEar BRX
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?
The usual trade-off: GoldenEar BRX measures better, Polk XT20 costs about about 5.3x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Polk XT20 the better fit for a small room, and GoldenEar BRX for a large room and a very large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, GoldenEar BRX is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.