In this review, we will be comparing ES35 and S 81 CEN, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES35 and Jamo S 81 CEN first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk ES35 | Jamo S 81 CEN |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" High-res dome | 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance | 2 x 4" polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 66-40k Hz | 71-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | up to 60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.36kg / 14lbs | 5.00kg / 11lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 7-5/16" x 17-1/8" x 8-11/16"
186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk ES35 and Jamo S 81 CEN 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 |
Jamo S 81 CEN |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both ES35 and S 81 CEN are 2-way speakers.
Polk ES35Jamo S 81 CEN
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 |
Jamo S 81 CEN |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
6 x 3-inch
|
2 x 4-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 S 81 CEN features a 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 4" polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz whereas S 81 CEN has a frequency range of 71-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the ES35 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 81 CEN's min frequency of 71Hz.
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 and S 81 CEN have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES35 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the S 81 CEN's is at 86 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk ES35 a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 81 CEN, 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 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas S 81 CEN has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 90 watts less than the ES35.
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 Binding post type posts and S 81 CEN has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Jamo S 81 CEN's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES35 and S 81 CEN 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 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 Jamo S 81 CEN'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 Jamo S 81 CEN has external dimensions of 186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm (7-5/16 x 17-1/8 x 8-11/16inch).
Polk ES35 is 79mm shorter and 67mm less deeper than Jamo S 81 CEN but it is also 186mm wider.
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 Jamo S 81 CEN is approximately 961.4cm2 / 149.0inch2. The ES35 requires 1% less surface area than the S 81 CEN 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 Jamo S 81 CEN weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the ES35 27% heavier than the S 81 CEN.
Here is a comparison of how ES35 and S 81 CEN'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 Jamo S 81 CEN?
Here are the items that come with the S 81 CEN:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
66 Hz
vs
71 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
186mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
956cm2
vs
961cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
174USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
Jamo S 81 CEN |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
up to 60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
66-40k Hz |
71-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
6 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
3" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
polyfiber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
High-res dome |
soft dome with an integrated waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
107.0mm (4.2") |
186.0mm (7.3") |
| Width |
621.0mm (24.4") |
435.0mm (17.1") |
| Depth |
154.0mm (6.1") |
221.0mm (8.7") |
| Weight |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Black, White, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Polk ES35 costs roughly 2.3x what Jamo S 81 CEN does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Polk ES35 digs deeper - 66Hz against 71Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Polk ES35 is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Polk ES35 takes more power (150W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES35 is easier to place; Jamo S 81 CEN is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES35 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Jamo S 81 CEN is cheaper - $174 against $399, about 56% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk ES35 B Jamo S 81 CEN
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, Jamo S 81 CEN costs about about 129% 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 71Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Jamo S 81 CEN much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Polk ES35 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Jamo S 81 CEN for near-field listening and a small room.
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.