In this review, we will be comparing Monitor XT35 and Story, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT35 and KLH Story first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk XT35 | KLH Story |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" High-res dome | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 3" bi-laminate paper cone | 2 x 5.25" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-40k Hz | 48-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.36kg / 14lbs | 7.27kg / 16lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4-3/16" x 24-7/16" x 5-9/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 142.0mm | 7-1/8" x 19-1/8" x 9-7/8"
181.0 x 486.0 x 251.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk XT35 and KLH Story 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 XT35 |
KLH Story |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Monitor XT35 and Story are 2-way speakers.
Polk XT35KLH Story
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 XT35 |
KLH Story |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 3-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Monitor XT35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 4 x 3" bi-laminate paper cone Woofer. On the other hand, the Story features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Monitor XT35 has a frequency range of 57-40k Hz whereas Story has a frequency range of 48-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Story can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Monitor XT35's min frequency of 57Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Monitor XT35 and Story have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Monitor XT35 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Story's is at 91 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the KLH Story a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT35, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Monitor XT35 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Story has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Monitor XT35.
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
Monitor XT35 features Binding post type posts and Story has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk XT35'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 XT35's and KLH Story's external dimensions. Polk XT35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 142.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 5-9/16inch) whereas KLH Story has external dimensions of 181.0 x 486.0 x 251.0mm (7-1/8 x 19-1/8 x 9-7/8inch).
Polk XT35 is 74mm shorter and 109mm less deeper than KLH Story but it is also 135mm wider.
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 XT35 is approximately 881.8cm2 / 136.7inch2 and base area of the KLH Story is approximately 1219.9cm2 / 189.1inch2. The Monitor XT35 requires 28% less surface area than the Story 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 XT35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs and the KLH Story weighs 7.27kg / 16lbs. This makes the Story 14% heavier than the Monitor XT35.
Here is a comparison of how Monitor XT35 and Story'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 XT35?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Monitor XT35:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
- Wall-Mount Template
What's in the Box of KLH Story?
Here are the items that come with the Story:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Foam ports
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Manual
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
181mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
881cm2
vs
1219cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
480USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Polk Audio Monitor XT35 |
KLH Story |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-40k Hz |
48-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
3" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
bi-laminate paper cone |
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
High-res dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
107.0mm (4.2") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Width |
621.0mm (24.4") |
486.0mm (19.1") |
| Depth |
142.0mm (5.6") |
251.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
7.27kg (16lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - KLH Story costs roughly 1.6x what Polk XT35 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 | B | KLH Story digs deeper - 48Hz against 57Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Story is more sensitive (91dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Polk XT35 takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk XT35 is easier to place; KLH Story is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Polk XT35 is cheaper - $299 against $480, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk XT35 B KLH Story
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?
KLH Story is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 61% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Polk XT35 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the KLH Story appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk XT35 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, KLH Story has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk XT35 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.