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.
Polk XT35 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" High-res dome Tweeter
- 4 x 3" bi-laminate paper cone Woofer
- 57-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:6.36kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 107.0" x 24-7/16" x 5-9/16"( 107.0 x 621.0 x 142.0mm )
KLH Story Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" woven Kevlar Woofer
- 48-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:7.27kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 181.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk XT35 and KLH Story compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Monitor XT35 and Story are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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 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. 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 XT35 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Story has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Monitor XT35.
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 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
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 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.