In this review, we will be comparing ES15 and Monitor SE Atom, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES15 and Paradigm SE Atom first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk ES15 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 44-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:5.91kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 307.0" x 7-9/16" x 10-3/16"( 307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm )
Paradigm SE Atom Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer
- 61-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-100watts
- Weight:5.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 324.0" x 7-1/8" x 10-7/8"( 324.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm )
What size room are the Polk ES15 and Paradigm SE Atom 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 ES15 |
Paradigm SE Atom |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk ES15 and Paradigm SE Atom compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both ES15 and Monitor SE Atom are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES15 |
Paradigm SE Atom |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.5-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 Monitor SE Atom features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
ES15 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz whereas Monitor SE Atom has a frequency range of 61-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the ES15 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Monitor SE Atom's min frequency of 61Hz.
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
ES15 and Monitor SE Atom have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES15 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Monitor SE Atom's is at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Paradigm SE Atom a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES15, 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
ES15 features Post type posts and Monitor SE Atom has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES15's 5-Way post terminals
Paradigm SE Atom's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES15 and Monitor SE Atom 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 Paradigm SE Atom'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 Paradigm SE Atom has external dimensions of 324.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm ( 12-3/4 x 7-1/8 x 10-7/8inch) .
Polk ES15 is 17mm shorter and 18mm less deeper than Paradigm SE Atom but it is also 12mm wider.
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 Paradigm SE Atom is approximately 501.4cm2 / 77.7inch2. The ES15 requires 0% less surface area than the Monitor SE Atom which gives it a small advantage 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 ES15 weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs and the Paradigm SE Atom weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs. This makes the ES15 8% heavier than the Monitor SE Atom.
Here is a comparison of how ES15 and Monitor SE Atom'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 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 Paradigm SE Atom?
Here are the items that come with the Monitor SE Atom:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
2 Grilles
8 Rubber feet
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
61 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
307mm
vs
324mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
499cm2
vs
501cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES15 |
Paradigm Monitor SE Atom |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
15-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-40k Hz |
61-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Mineral-filled polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Hard-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") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
259.0mm (10.2") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Matte Black,Gloss White |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
26-28" |
| 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 |