In this review, we will be comparing ES10 and R-41M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES10 and Klipsch R-41M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk ES10 | Klipsch R-41M |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Mica-reinforced polypropylene | 4" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 78-40k Hz | 68-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 50 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.73kg / 6lbs | 3.20kg / 7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-7/16" x 5-7/16" x 6-3/16"
215.0 x 139.0 x 158.0mm | 11.2" x 5.7" x 7.8"
287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk ES10 and Klipsch R-41M 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 |
Klipsch R-41M |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
No way |
(* 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both ES10 and R-41M are 2-way speakers.
Polk ES10Klipsch R-41M
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 ES10 |
Klipsch R-41M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4-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 R-41M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1730Hz.
Frequency Response
ES10 has a frequency range of 78-40k Hz whereas R-41M has a frequency range of 68-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 68Hz, the R-41M can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES10's min frequency of 78Hz.
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
ES10 and R-41M have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES10 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the R-41M's is at 90 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-41M 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
ES10 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas R-41M has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the ES10.
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
ES10 features Single Gold Plated Binding Posts type posts and R-41M has a Single Gold Plated Binding Posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES10's 5-Way post terminals
Klipsch R-41M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES10 and R-41M 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 ES10 Power Port 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 ES10's and Klipsch R-41M'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 Klipsch R-41M has external dimensions of 287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm (11.2 x 5.7 x 7.8inch).
Klipsch R-41M is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 7mm wider, 72mm taller and 42mm deeper than Polk ES10.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES10 and Klipsch R-41M in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES10 and Klipsch R-41M 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 Klipsch R-41M is approximately 292.0cm2 / 45.3inch2. The ES10 requires 25% less surface area than the R-41M 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 ES10 and Klipsch R-41M 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 ES10 weighs 2.73kg / 6lbs and the Klipsch R-41M weighs 3.20kg / 7lbs. This makes the R-41M 17% heavier than the ES10.
Here is a comparison of how ES10 and R-41M'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 ES10?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ES10:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-41M?
Here are the items that come with the R-41M:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
215mm
vs
287mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
219cm2
vs
292cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
68 Hz
vs
78 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
229USD
vs
249USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES10 |
Klipsch Reference R-41M |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
50 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
78-40k Hz |
68-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
1730Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
215.0mm (8.5") |
287.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
139.0mm (5.5") |
146.0mm (5.7") |
| Depth |
158.0mm (6.2") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Weight |
2.73kg (6lbs) |
3.20kg (7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-32" |
26-31" |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Klipsch R-41M digs deeper - 68Hz against 78Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-41M is more sensitive (90dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Polk ES10 takes more power (100W vs 50W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES10 is easier to place; Klipsch R-41M is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES10 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($249 vs $229 a pair). |
A Polk ES10 B Klipsch R-41M
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?
Klipsch R-41M has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 78Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch R-41M the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.