In this review, we will be comparing ES10 and S10, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES10 and Polk S10 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk ES10 | Polk S10 |
|---|
| 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 | 4" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 78-40k Hz | 67-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.73kg / 6lbs | 2.73kg / 6lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 8.4" x 5.0" x 6.1"
214.0 x 127.0 x 155.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk ES10 and Polk S10 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 S10 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both ES10 and S10 are 2-way speakers.
Polk ES10Polk S10
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 S10 |
|
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 S10 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
ES10 has a frequency range of 78-40k Hz whereas S10 has a frequency range of 67-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 67Hz, the S10 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 S10 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES10 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the S10's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk S10 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 and S10 have the same power range of 20-100 watts.
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 S10 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES10's 5-Way post terminals
Polk S10's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES10 and S10 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 Polk S10'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 S10 has external dimensions of 214.0 x 127.0 x 155.0mm (8.4 x 5.0 x 6.1inch).
Polk ES10 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 12mm wider, 1mm taller and 3mm deeper than Polk S10.
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 S10 is approximately 196.9cm2 / 30.5inch2. The ES10 requires 12% more surface area than the S10 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 ES10 weighs 2.73kg / 6lbs and the Polk S10 weighs 2.73kg / 6lbs.
Here is a comparison of how ES10 and S10'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 S10?
Here are the items that come with the S10:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
67 Hz
vs
78 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
214mm
vs
215mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
196cm2
vs
219cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
249USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES10 |
Polk Audio Signature S10 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Satellite speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
78-40k Hz |
67-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
215.0mm (8.5") |
214.0mm (8.4") |
| Width |
139.0mm (5.5") |
127.0mm (5") |
| Depth |
158.0mm (6.2") |
155.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
2.73kg (6lbs) |
2.73kg (6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
Meddite MDF |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-32" |
28-31" |
| 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 |
A generation apart: Polk ES10 is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk S10 digs deeper - 67Hz against 78Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Polk S10 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| 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 | B | Polk S10 is cheaper - $199 against $249, about 20% less. |
A Polk ES10 B Polk S10
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 S10 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Polk ES10 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. 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. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Polk S10 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.