In this review, we will be comparing ES15 and YU Passive 5.25-inch, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Kanto. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES15 and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk ES15 and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch 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 ES15 and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch 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 ES15 and YU Passive 5.25-inch are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES15 |
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
ES15 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the YU Passive 5.25-inch features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
ES15 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz whereas YU Passive 5.25-inch has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the ES15 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the YU Passive 5.25-inch's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch
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
ES15 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the YU Passive 5.25-inch which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ES15 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the YU Passive 5.25-inch's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES15, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
ES15 features post type posts and YU Passive 5.25-inch has a post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES15's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES15 and YU Passive 5.25-inch 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 ES15 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 ES15's and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch's external dimensions. Polk ES15 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm ( 12-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 10-3/16inch) whereas Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch has external dimensions of 272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm ( 10.7 x 6.9 x 8.1inch) .
Polk ES15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 18mm wider, 35mm taller and 54mm deeper than Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES15 and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES15 and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch 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 ES15 is approximately 499.9cm2 / 77.5inch2 and base area of the Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch is approximately 358.8cm2 / 55.6inch2. The ES15 requires 39% more surface area than the YU Passive 5.25-inch which gives it a small disadvantage 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 ES15 and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch 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 ES15 weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs and the Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs. This makes the ES15 48% heavier than the YU Passive 5.25-inch.
Here is a comparison of how ES15 and YU Passive 5.25-inch's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch
What's in the Box of Polk ES15?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ES15:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grille (attached)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetWall-mount templateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch?
Here are the items that come with the YU Passive 5.25-inch:
8 x Rubber Feet Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
272mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
358cm2 (175x205mm)
vs
499cm2 (193x259mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
240USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES15 |
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-40k Hz |
50-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
n/a |
| 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 |
307.0mm (12.1") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
175.0mm (6.9") |
| Depth |
259.0mm (10.2") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Black,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |