In this review, we will be comparing ES35 and Q250c, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES35 and KEF Q250c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk ES35 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" High-res dome Tweeter
- 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer
- 66-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-150watts
- Weight:6.36kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 107.0" x 24-7/16" x 6-1/16"( 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm )
KEF Q250c Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" aluminum Woofer
- 68-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-100watts
- Weight:7.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 181.0" x 20-11/16" x 8-1/2"( 181.0 x 526.0 x 216.0mm )
What size room are the Polk ES35 and KEF Q250c 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 |
KEF Q250c |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 ES35 and KEF Q250c 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 ES35 and Q250c are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES35 |
KEF Q250c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
6 x 3-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 Q250c features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz whereas Q250c has a frequency range of 68-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the ES35 can go slightly deeper then the Q250c's min frequency of 68Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
ES35 and Q250c have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES35 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Q250c's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk ES35 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q250c, 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. 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.
ES35 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q250c has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the ES35.
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
ES35 features Binding post type posts and Q250c has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Polk ES35 Port
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 ES35's and KEF Q250c'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 KEF Q250c has external dimensions of 181.0 x 526.0 x 216.0mm ( 7-1/8 x 20-11/16 x 8-1/2inch) .
Polk ES35 is 74mm shorter and 62mm less deeper than KEF Q250c but it is also 95mm 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 KEF Q250c is approximately 1136.2cm2 / 176.1inch2. The ES35 requires 16% less surface area than the Q250c which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.