In this review, we will be comparing Monitor XT30 and R300, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Polk Audio Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT30 and Polk R300 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk XT30 and Polk R300 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk XT30 and Polk R300 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 Monitor XT30 and R300 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk XT30 |
Polk R300 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Monitor XT30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate paper cone Woofer . On the other hand, the R300 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Monitor XT30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz whereas R300 has a frequency range of 65-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Monitor XT30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R300's min frequency of 65Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
Monitor XT30 and R300 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Monitor XT30 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the R300's is at 86.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk XT30 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R300, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Monitor XT30 and R300 has the same power range of 30-200 watts.
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
Monitor XT30 features Binding post type posts and R300 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk XT30's 5-Way post terminals
Polk R300's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Monitor XT30 and R300 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.
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 XT30's and Polk R300's external dimensions. Polk XT30 has external dimensions of 166.0 x 485.0 x 208.0mm ( 6-1/2 x 19-1/16 x 8-3/16inch) whereas Polk R300 has external dimensions of 174.0 x 485.0 x 228.0mm ( 6-13/16 x 19-1/16 x 8-15/16inch) .
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 XT30 is approximately 1008.8cm2 / 156.4inch2 and base area of the Polk R300 is approximately 1105.8cm2 / 171.4inch2. The Monitor XT30 requires 9% less surface area than the R300 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 XT30 weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs and the Polk R300 weighs 7.64kg / 16.8lbs. This makes the R300 29% heavier than the Monitor XT30.
Here is a comparison of how Monitor XT30 and R300'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 XT30?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Monitor XT30:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Product RegistrationWall-Mount Template
What's in the Box of Polk R300?
Here are the items that come with the R300:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
38k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
166mm
vs
174mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1008cm2 (485x208mm)
vs
1105cm2 (485x228mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
449USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Monitor XT30 |
Polk Audio Reserve R300 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
86.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-40k Hz |
65-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
bi-laminate paper cone |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
High-res dome |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
166.0mm (6.5") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
| Width |
485.0mm (19.1") |
485.0mm (19.1") |
| Depth |
208.0mm (8.2") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Weight |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
7.64kg (16.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |