In this review, we will be comparing ES10 and SS-CS5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Sony. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES10 and Sony SS-CS5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk ES10 and Sony SS-CS5 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk ES10 and Sony SS-CS5 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that ES10 is a 2-way design whereas the SS-CS5 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Polk ES10 |
Sony SS-CS5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Super Tweeter
|
- |
0.75-inch |
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 SS-CS5 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 0.75" Supertweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer .
Frequency Response
ES10 has a frequency range of 78-40k Hz whereas SS-CS5 has a frequency range of 53-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the SS-CS5 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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the SS-CS5 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ES10 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the SS-CS5's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Sony SS-CS5 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.
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 SS-CS5 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES10's 5-Way post terminals
Sony SS-CS5's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES10 and SS-CS5 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
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 Sony SS-CS5'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 Sony SS-CS5 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm ( 13.1 x 7.0 x 8.6inch) .
Sony SS-CS5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 39mm wider, 120mm taller and 62mm deeper than Polk ES10.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES10 and Sony SS-CS5 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES10 and Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 is approximately 391.6cm2 / 60.7inch2. The ES10 requires 44% less surface area than the SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the SS-CS5 65% heavier than the ES10.
Here is a comparison of how ES10 and SS-CS5'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 loudspeakers2 Grille (attached)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetWall-mount templateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
215mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
219cm2 (139x158mm)
vs
391cm2 (178x220mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
53 Hz
vs
78 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
40k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
148USD
vs
249USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES10 |
Sony SS-CS5 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Sony |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
78-40k Hz |
53-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
| 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 |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
215.0mm (8.5") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Width |
139.0mm (5.5") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
158.0mm (6.2") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Weight |
2.73kg (6lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-32" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |