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Polk XT60 vs Polk S55 Comparison

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Polk XT60

Passive Floor-standing | 38-40k Hz

Polk Audio Monitor XT60
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Polk S55

Passive Floor-standing | 32-40k Hz

Polk Audio Signature S55
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Polk  XT60 Polk XT60
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Polk S55 Polk S55
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Polk XT60
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Polk S55
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Polk XT60 vs Polk S55 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing XT60 and S55, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Polk Audio

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Polk XT60 and Polk S55 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Polk XT60 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer
  • 38-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-200watts
  • Weight:9.09kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 929.0" x 9-1/16" x 9-15/16"( 929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm )

Polk S55 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
  • 32-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-200watts
  • Weight:20.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1056.0" x 11-3/4" x 12-3/8"( 1056.0 x 299.0 x 315.0mm )

What size room are the Polk XT60 and Polk S55 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 XT60 Polk S55
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Good Good
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 XT60 and Polk S55 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 XT60 and S55 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Polk XT60 Polk S55
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6.5-inch 2 x 6.5-inch

XT60 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer . On the other hand, the S55 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.

Frequency Response

XT60 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas S55 has a frequency range of 32-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the S55 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

XT60
S55
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Polk XT60
Polk S55
Min
Average
Max

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 S55 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XT60 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the S55's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk S55 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT60, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

XT60
S55
Min
Average
Max

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.

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

S55 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 S55 Terminals
Polk S55's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Polk S55  Port
Polk S55 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 S55'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 S55 has external dimensions of 1056.0 x 299.0 x 315.0mm ( 41-9/16 x 11-3/4 x 12-3/8inch) .

Polk S55 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 68mm wider, 127mm taller and 62mm 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 S55 is approximately 941.9cm2 / 146.0inch2. The XT60 requires 38% less surface area than the S55 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 S55 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the S55 120% heavier than the XT60.

Here is a comparison of how XT60 and S55's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Polk XT60
Polk S55
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Polk XT60?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT60:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille (attached)
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Product Registration
  • What's in the Box of Polk S55?

    Here are the items that come with the S55:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille (attached)
  • 4 Feet (pre-installed)
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Product Registration

  • Reasons to choose Polk Audio Monitor XT60 over Polk Audio Signature S55
    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 1056mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 584cm2 vs 941cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 498USD vs 658USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Polk Audio Signature S55 over Polk Audio Monitor XT60

    Sensitivity 90 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    Low Frequency Response 32 Hz vs 38 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Polk XT60 vs Polk S55 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Polk Audio Monitor XT60 Polk Audio Signature S55
    Brand Polk Audio Polk Audio
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 25-200 watts 20-200 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 90 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 38-40k Hz 32-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 6.5"
    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") 1056.0mm (41.6")
    Width 231.0mm (9.1") 299.0mm (11.8")
    Depth 253.0mm (10") 315.0mm (12.4")
    Weight 9.09kg (20lbs) 20.00kg (44lbs)
    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

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