In this review, we will be comparing XT60 and S50, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Polk Audio Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT60 and Polk S50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk XT60 and Polk S50 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 XT60 and Polk S50 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 XT60 and S50 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk XT60 |
Polk S50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
XT60 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer . On the other hand, the S50 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
XT60 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas S50 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the XT60's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
XT60 and S50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XT60 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the S50's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk S50 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT60, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
XT60 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S50 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the XT60.
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
S50 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. XT60 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk S50's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Polk S50 Port
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 XT60's and Polk S50's external dimensions. Polk XT60 has external dimensions of 929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm ( 36-9/16 x 9-1/16 x 9-15/16inch) whereas Polk S50 has external dimensions of 951.0 x 262.0 x 281.0mm ( 37-7/16 x 10-5/16 x 11-1/16inch) .
Polk S50 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 31mm wider, 22mm taller and 28mm deeper than Polk XT60.
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 XT60 is approximately 584.4cm2 / 90.6inch2 and base area of the Polk S50 is approximately 736.2cm2 / 114.1inch2. The XT60 requires 21% less surface area than the S50 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 XT60 weighs 9.09kg / 20lbs and the Polk S50 weighs 14.50kg / 31.9lbs. This makes the S50 60% heavier than the XT60.
Here is a comparison of how XT60 and S50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk XT60?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT60:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of Polk S50?
Here are the items that come with the S50:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-1/2-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
929mm
vs
951mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
584cm2 (231x253mm)
vs
736cm2 (262x281mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Polk Audio Monitor XT60 |
Polk Audio Signature S50 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-40k Hz |
33-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Bi-laminate paper |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
929.0mm (36.6") |
951.0mm (37.4") |
| Width |
231.0mm (9.1") |
262.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
253.0mm (10") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
9.09kg (20lbs) |
14.50kg (31.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
Meddite MDF |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |