In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio Signature Elite ES90 is a Surround speaker whereas the ES50 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio Signature Elite ES90 and Polk ES50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES90 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Woofer
- 142-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Weight:kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): " x 7-1/2" x 12-1/8"
Polk ES50 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 38-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-200watts
- Weight:14.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 951.0" x 7-1/2" x 11-1/16"( 951.0 x 191.0 x 281.0mm )
Signature Elite ES90 and ES50 are members of Polk Audio's Signature Elite series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk Audio Signature Elite ES90 and Polk ES50 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 Signature Elite ES90 and ES50 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES90 |
Polk ES50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Signature Elite ES90 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woofer . On the other hand, the ES50 features a 1" Terylene High-Res Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Signature Elite ES90 has a frequency range of 142-26k Hz whereas ES50 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the ES50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Signature Elite ES90's min frequency of 142Hz.
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 Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround Speakers
High Frequency
Surround Speakers
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES90
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
Signature Elite ES90 and ES50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Signature Elite ES90 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the ES50's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk ES50 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk Audio Signature Elite ES90, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Surround Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
ES50 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Signature Elite ES90 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Audio Signature Elite ES90's and Polk ES50's external dimensions. Polk Audio Signature Elite ES90 has external dimensions of ( ) whereas Polk ES50 has external dimensions of 951.0 x 191.0 x 281.0mm ( 37-7/16 x 7-1/2 x 11-1/16inch) .
Polk ES50 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 191mm wider, 951mm taller and 281mm deeper than Polk Audio Signature Elite ES90.
What's in the Box of Polk ES50?
Here are the items that come with the ES50:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration