In this review, we will be comparing ES20 and Sib-T, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES20 and Focal Sib-T first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk ES20 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 41-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-125watts
- Weight:7.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 375.0" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"( 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm )
Focal Sib-T Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- .75" Dome Tweeter
- 5.125" Polyflex Woofer
- 80-20kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Weight:2.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 64.0" x 5-5/8" x 6-11/16"( 64.0 x 143.0 x 170.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk ES20 and Focal Sib-T 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 ES20 and Sib-T are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES20 |
Focal Sib-T |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.125-inch
|
ES20 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Sib-T features a .75" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.125" Polyflex Woofer .
Frequency Response
ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz whereas Sib-T has a frequency range of 80-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sib-T's min frequency of 80Hz.
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
ES20 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Sib-T which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Sib-T can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ES20 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Sib-T's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Sib-T a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES20, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
ES20 features Spring posts type posts and Sib-T has a Spring posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Sib-T's Spring posts terminals
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 ES20's and Focal Sib-T's external dimensions. 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) whereas Focal Sib-T has external dimensions of 64.0 x 143.0 x 170.0mm ( 2-1/2 x 5-5/8 x 6-11/16inch) .
Polk ES20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 75mm wider, 311mm taller and 181mm deeper than Focal Sib-T.
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 ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2 and base area of the Focal Sib-T is approximately 243.1cm2 / 37.7inch2. The ES20 requires 215% more surface area than the Sib-T which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.