In this review, we will be comparing R200 and ES20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk R200 and Polk ES20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk R200 | Polk ES20 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone | 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-38k Hz | 41-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.69kg / 19.1lbs | 7.73kg / 17lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/8" x 7-9/16" x 13-15/16"
359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm | 14-3/4" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"
375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk R200 and Polk ES20 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 R200 |
Polk ES20 |
| 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 R200 and ES20 are 2-way speakers.
Polk R200Polk ES20
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 R200 |
Polk ES20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
R200 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the ES20 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
R200 has a frequency range of 51-38k Hz whereas ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R200's min frequency of 51Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
R200 and ES20 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
R200 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas ES20 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the R200.
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
R200 features 5-Way post type posts and ES20 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R200 and ES20 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.
Polk R200 Port
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 R200's and Polk ES20's external dimensions. Polk R200 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm (14-1/8 x 7-9/16 x 13-15/16inch) whereas Polk ES20 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm (14-3/4 x 8-9/16 x 13-13/16inch).
Polk R200 is 25mm narrower and 16mm shorter than Polk ES20 but it is also 4mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk R200 and Polk ES20 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk R200 and Polk ES20 Size and External Dimensions
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 R200 is approximately 685.2cm2 / 106.2inch2 and base area of the Polk ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2. The R200 requires 10% less surface area than the ES20 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Polk R200 and Polk ES20 on a Media Console
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 R200 weighs 8.69kg / 19.1lbs and the Polk ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the R200 12% heavier than the ES20.
Here is a comparison of how R200 and ES20's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk R200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R200:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
What's in the Box of Polk ES20?
Here are the items that come with the ES20:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Height |
359mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
685cm2
vs
765cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
38k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Reserve R200 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
51-38k Hz |
41-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
218.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
355.0mm (14") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
8.69kg (19.1lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Polk R200 costs roughly 1.9x what Polk ES20 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 | Polk ES20 digs deeper - 41Hz against 51Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Polk R200 takes more power (200W vs 125W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Polk ES20 is cheaper - $399 against $749, about 47% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk R200 B Polk ES20
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 51Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $350 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.