In this review, we will be comparing ES10 and SX-60, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Cambridge Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES10 and Cambridge SX-60 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk ES10 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 78-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 84 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:2.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 215.0" x 5-7/16" x 6-3/16"( 215.0 x 139.0 x 158.0mm )
Cambridge SX-60 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Treated paper Woofer
- 41-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 342.0" x 7-15/16" x 10-7/8"( 342.0 x 202.0 x 277.0mm )
What size room are the Polk ES10 and Cambridge SX-60 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 ES10 |
Cambridge SX-60 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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 ES10 and Cambridge SX-60 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 ES10 and SX-60 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES10 |
Cambridge SX-60 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
ES10 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the SX-60 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Treated paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
ES10 has a frequency range of 78-40k Hz whereas SX-60 has a frequency range of 41-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the SX-60 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES10's min frequency of 78Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
ES10 and SX-60 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES10 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the SX-60's is at 89 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Cambridge SX-60 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES10, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
ES10 and SX-60 has the same power range of 20-100 watts.
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
ES10 features Post type posts and SX-60 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES10's 5-Way post terminals
Cambridge SX-60's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
ES10 has a rear firing port whereas SX-60 has a front firing ports. Cambridge SX-60's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk ES10 with its rear-firing port.
Polk ES10 Power Port 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 ES10's and Cambridge SX-60's external dimensions. Polk ES10 has external dimensions of 215.0 x 139.0 x 158.0mm ( 8-7/16 x 5-7/16 x 6-3/16inch) whereas Cambridge SX-60 has external dimensions of 342.0 x 202.0 x 277.0mm ( 13-7/16 x 7-15/16 x 10-7/8inch) .
Cambridge SX-60 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 63mm wider, 127mm taller and 119mm deeper than Polk ES10.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES10 and Cambridge SX-60 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES10 and Cambridge SX-60 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 ES10 is approximately 219.6cm2 / 34.0inch2 and base area of the Cambridge SX-60 is approximately 559.5cm2 / 86.7inch2. The ES10 requires 61% less surface area than the SX-60 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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 ES10 and Cambridge SX-60 on a Media Console