In this review, we will be comparing ES35 and A135C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES35 and JBL Stage A135C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk ES35 | JBL Stage A135C |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" High-res dome | 1" dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology |
|---|
| Woofer | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance | 6 x 3" polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 66-40k Hz | 75-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.36kg / 14lbs | 7.46kg / 16.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4-3/16" x 24-7/16" x 6-1/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm | 4-1/8" x 29-3/8" x 7-5/16"
105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk ES35 and JBL Stage A135C 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 ES35 |
JBL Stage A135C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 ES35 and A135C are 2-way speakers.
Polk ES35JBL Stage A135C
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 ES35 |
JBL Stage A135C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
6 x 3-inch
|
6 x 3-inch
|
ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer. On the other hand, the A135C features a 1" aluminum dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology Tweeter and 6 x 3" polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz whereas A135C has a frequency range of 75-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the ES35 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A135C's min frequency of 75Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
ES35 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A135C which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ES35 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the A135C's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A135C a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES35, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
ES35 and A135C have the same power range of 20-150 watts.
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
ES35 features 5-way post type posts and A135C has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
ES35 has a rear firing port whereas A135C has a side firing ports.
Polk ES35 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 ES35's and JBL Stage A135C's external dimensions. Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch) whereas JBL Stage A135C has external dimensions of 105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm (4-1/8 x 29-3/8 x 7-5/16inch).
Polk ES35 is 126mm narrower and 32mm less deeper than JBL Stage A135C but it is also 2mm taller.
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 ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A135C is approximately 1389.4cm2 / 215.4inch2. The ES35 requires 31% less surface area than the A135C 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 ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs and the JBL Stage A135C weighs 7.46kg / 16.4lbs. This makes the A135C 17% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how ES35 and A135C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk ES35?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ES35:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A135C?
Here are the items that come with the A135C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Leveling feet
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
66 Hz
vs
75 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
956cm2
vs
1389cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
105mm
vs
107mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
JBL Stage A135C |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
66-40k Hz |
75-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
6 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
3" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
High-res dome |
dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
107.0mm (4.2") |
105.0mm (4.1") |
| Width |
621.0mm (24.4") |
747.0mm (29.4") |
| Depth |
154.0mm (6.1") |
186.0mm (7.3") |
| Weight |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
7.46kg (16.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Polk ES35 digs deeper - 66Hz against 75Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Polk ES35 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Polk ES35 is easier to place; JBL Stage A135C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | JBL Stage A135C is cheaper - $300 against $399, about 25% less. |
A Polk ES35 B JBL Stage A135C
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 ES35 measures better, JBL Stage A135C 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 75Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL Stage A135C much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, JBL Stage A135C has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk ES35 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.