In this review, we will be comparing ES20 and Premier 200B, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Paradigm. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES20 and Paradigm 200B first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk ES20 and Paradigm 200B 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 ES20 and Paradigm 200B 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both ES20 and Premier 200B are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Polk ES20 |
Paradigm 200B |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Premier 200B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz whereas Premier 200B has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 200B's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 and Premier 200B have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES20 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Premier 200B's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Paradigm 200B a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES20, 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.
ES20 can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS from the amp the whereas ES20 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS , 5 watts less than the Premier 200B.
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
ES20 features Posts type posts and Premier 200B has a Posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES20 and Premier 200B 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 Paradigm 200B'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 Paradigm 200B has external dimensions of 342.0 x 199.0 x 328.0mm ( 13-7/16 x 7-13/16 x 12-7/8inch) .
Polk ES20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 33mm taller and 23mm deeper than Paradigm 200B.
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 Paradigm 200B is approximately 652.7cm2 / 101.2inch2. The ES20 requires 17% more surface area than the Premier 200B which gives it a small disadvantage 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 ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs and the Paradigm 200B weighs 8.18kg / 18lbs. This makes the Premier 200B 6% heavier than the ES20.
Here is a comparison of how ES20 and Premier 200B'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 Paradigm 200B?
Here are the items that come with the Premier 200B:
Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
130 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Height |
342mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
652cm2 (199x328mm)
vs
765cm2 (218x351mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
Paradigm Premier 200B |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
Paradigm |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-125 watts |
15-130 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
41-40k Hz |
55-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Carbon-Infused 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 |
375.0mm (14.8") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
Width |
218.0mm (8.6") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
Depth |
351.0mm (13.8") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
Weight |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
8.18kg (18lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Gloss white,Espresso,Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
24-26" |
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 |