In this review, we will be comparing XT20 and SS-CS5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Sony.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT20 and Sony SS-CS5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk XT20 | Sony SS-CS5 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Sony
Japan · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Super tweeter | — | 0.75" super tweeter |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Bi-laminate paper | 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-40k Hz | 53-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.45kg / 12lbs | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 13.1" x 7.0" x 8.6"
335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk XT20 and Sony SS-CS5 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 |
Sony SS-CS5 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that XT20 is a 2-way design whereas the SS-CS5 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Polk XT20Sony SS-CS5
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 |
Sony SS-CS5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Super Tweeter
|
- |
0.75-inch |
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
XT20 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer. On the other hand, the SS-CS5 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 0.75" Supertweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer.
Frequency Response
XT20 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas SS-CS5 has a frequency range of 53-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SS-CS5's min frequency of 53Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the SS-CS5 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
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.
XT20 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas SS-CS5 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the XT20.
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 Post type posts and SS-CS5 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sony SS-CS5's 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 Sony SS-CS5'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 Sony SS-CS5 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm (13.1 x 7.0 x 8.6inch).
Sony SS-CS5 is 15mm narrower and 61mm less deeper than Polk XT20 but it is also 3mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT20 and Sony SS-CS5 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk XT20 and Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 is approximately 391.6cm2 / 60.7inch2. The XT20 requires 38% more surface area than the SS-CS5 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the XT20 21% heavier than the SS-CS5.
Here is a comparison of how XT20 and SS-CS5'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
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
53 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
332mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
40k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
391cm2
vs
542cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
148USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Monitor XT20 |
Sony SS-CS5 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Sony |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-40k Hz |
53-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Bi-laminate paper |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
332.0mm (13.1") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Weight |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
These sit in different price classes - Polk XT20 costs roughly 2x what Sony SS-CS5 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 | A | Polk XT20 digs deeper - 38Hz against 53Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Polk XT20 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Polk XT20 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Sony SS-CS5 is easier to place; Polk XT20 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk XT20 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Sony SS-CS5 is cheaper - $148 against $299, about 51% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk XT20 B Sony SS-CS5
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: Polk XT20 measures better, Sony SS-CS5 costs about about 102% more% 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 53Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Sony SS-CS5 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Polk XT20 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Sony SS-CS5 for near-field listening and a small room.
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.