In this review, we will be comparing ES15 and ES20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES15 and Polk ES20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk ES15 | Polk ES20 |
|---|
| 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 | 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene | 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-40k Hz | 41-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.91kg / 13lbs | 7.73kg / 17lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 10-3/16"
307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm | 14-3/4" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"
375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm |
|---|
ES15 and ES20 are members of Polk Audio's Signature Elite series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Polk ES15 and Polk ES20 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 |
Polk ES20 |
| 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.
Drivers
Both ES15 and ES20 are 2-way speakers.
Polk ES15Polk ES20
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 ES15 |
Polk ES20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 ES20 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
ES15 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz whereas ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 can go slightly deeper then the ES15's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
ES15 and ES20 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES15 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the ES20's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk ES20 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
ES20 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas ES15 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the ES20.
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
ES15 features 5-Way post type posts and ES20 has a 5-Way 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 ES20 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
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 ES15's and Polk ES20'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 Polk ES20 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm (14-3/4 x 8-9/16 x 13-13/16inch).
Polk ES20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 68mm taller and 92mm deeper than Polk ES15.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES15 and Polk ES20 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES15 and Polk ES20 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 Polk ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2. The ES15 requires 35% less surface area than the ES20 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 ES15 and Polk ES20 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 Polk ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the ES20 31% heavier than the ES15.
Here is a comparison of how ES15 and ES20'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 loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of Polk ES20?
Here are the items that come with the ES20:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
307mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
499cm2
vs
765cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES15 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-40k Hz |
41-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| 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 |
307.0mm (12.1") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
218.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
259.0mm (10.2") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
22-26" |
| 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 |
Siblings in Polk Audio's Signature Elite series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk ES20 digs deeper - 41Hz against 44Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Polk ES20 takes more power (125W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES15 is easier to place; Polk ES20 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Polk ES15 is cheaper - $299 against $399, about 25% less. |
A Polk ES15 B Polk ES20
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?
The usual trade-off: Polk ES20 measures better, Polk ES15 costs about about 33% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Polk ES15 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Polk ES20 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Polk ES20 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk ES15 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.