In this review, we will be comparing ES20 and YU Passive 4-inch, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Kanto.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES20 and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch 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 )
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Kevlar Woofer
- 60-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Weight:2.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.0" x 5.5" x 7.5"( 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm )
What size room are the Polk ES20 and Kanto YU Passive 4-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:
| Listening Environment* |
Polk ES20 |
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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 ES20 and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch 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 ES20 and YU Passive 4-inch are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES20 |
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4-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 YU Passive 4-inch features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz whereas YU Passive 4-inch has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the YU Passive 4-inch's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 YU Passive 4-inch 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 YU Passive 4-inch can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
ES20 features post type posts and YU Passive 4-inch has a post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES20 and YU Passive 4-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.
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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch'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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm ( 8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) .
Polk ES20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 78mm wider, 155mm taller and 161mm deeper than Kanto YU Passive 4-inch.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES20 and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES20 and Kanto YU Passive 4-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 ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2 and base area of the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2. The ES20 requires 188% more surface area than the YU Passive 4-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 ES20 and Kanto YU Passive 4-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 ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs and the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs. This makes the ES20 209% heavier than the YU Passive 4-inch.
Here is a comparison of how ES20 and YU Passive 4-inch'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 ES20?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ES20:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grille (attached)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch?
Here are the items that come with the YU Passive 4-inch:
8 x Rubber Feet Manual
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
220mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
266cm2
vs
765cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
200USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-40k Hz |
60-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
4" |
| 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 |
375.0mm (14.8") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Width |
218.0mm (8.6") |
140.0mm (5.5") |
| Depth |
351.0mm (13.8") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Weight |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
2.50kg (5.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Black,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
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 |