In this review, we will be comparing ES10 and XT20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES10 and Polk XT20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk ES10 | Polk XT20 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Mica-reinforced polypropylene | 6.5" Bi-laminate paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 78-40k Hz | 38-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.73kg / 6lbs | 5.45kg / 12lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 13-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 11-1/16"
332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk ES10 and Polk XT20 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 |
Polk XT20 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both ES10 and XT20 are 2-way speakers.
Polk ES10Polk XT20
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 |
Polk XT20 |
|
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 XT20 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
ES10 has a frequency range of 78-40k Hz whereas XT20 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT20 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 XT20 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES10 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the XT20's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk XT20 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.
XT20 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas ES10 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the XT20.
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 5-Way post type posts and XT20 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES10's 5-Way post terminals
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 Polk XT20'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 Polk XT20 has external dimensions of 332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm (13-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 11-1/16inch).
Polk XT20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 54mm wider, 117mm taller and 123mm deeper than Polk ES10.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES10 and Polk XT20 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES10 and Polk XT20 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 Polk XT20 is approximately 542.3cm2 / 84.1inch2. The ES10 requires 60% less surface area than the XT20 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 Polk XT20 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 Polk XT20 weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs. This makes the XT20 100% heavier than the ES10.
Here is a comparison of how ES10 and XT20'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 Polk XT20?
Here are the items that come with the XT20:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
215mm
vs
332mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
219cm2
vs
542cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
249USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
78 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES10 |
Polk Audio Monitor XT20 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
78-40k Hz |
38-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Bi-laminate paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
215.0mm (8.5") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Width |
139.0mm (5.5") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
158.0mm (6.2") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
2.73kg (6lbs) |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-32" |
24-28" |
| 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 |
Both are Polk Audio, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk XT20 digs deeper - 38Hz against 78Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Polk XT20 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Polk XT20 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES10 is easier to place; Polk XT20 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 | A | Polk ES10 is cheaper - $249 against $299, about 17% less. |
A Polk ES10 B Polk XT20
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?
Polk XT20 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Polk ES10 is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 78Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk ES10 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Polk ES10 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Polk XT20 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.