In this review, we will be comparing S15 and ES15, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk S15 and Polk ES15 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk S15 | Polk ES15 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene | 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-40k Hz | 44-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.90kg / 13lbs | 5.91kg / 13lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.0" x 7.4" x 10.2"
304.8 x 190.0 x 260.4mm | 12-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 10-3/16"
307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk S15 and Polk ES15 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 S15 |
Polk ES15 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both S15 and ES15 are 2-way speakers.
Polk S15Polk ES15
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 S15 |
Polk ES15 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
S15 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the ES15 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
S15 has a frequency range of 50-40k Hz whereas ES15 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the ES15 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S15's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
S15 and ES15 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S15 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the ES15's is at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk S15 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES15, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
S15 and ES15 have the same power range of 20-100 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
S15 features 5-Way post type posts and ES15 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES15's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both S15 and ES15 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 ES15 Power Port 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 S15's and Polk ES15's external dimensions. Polk S15 has external dimensions of 304.8 x 190.0 x 260.4mm (12.0 x 7.4 x 10.2inch) whereas Polk ES15 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm (12-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 10-3/16inch).
Polk S15 is 3mm narrower and 2.2mm shorter than Polk ES15 but it is also 1.4mm deeper.
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 S15 is approximately 494.8cm2 / 76.7inch2 and base area of the Polk ES15 is approximately 499.9cm2 / 77.5inch2. The S15 requires 1% less surface area than the ES15 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 S15 weighs 5.90kg / 13lbs and the Polk ES15 weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs. This makes the ES15 0% heavier than the S15.
Here is a comparison of how S15 and ES15'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 S15?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S15:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of Polk ES15?
Here are the items that come with the ES15:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
304mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
494cm2
vs
499cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
259USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature S15 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES15 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-40k Hz |
44-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
304.8mm (12") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
260.4mm (10.3") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
5.90kg (13lbs) |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Meddite MDF |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, Brown Walnut |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-30" |
24-28" |
| 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 |
A generation apart: Polk ES15 is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Polk ES15 digs deeper - 44Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Polk S15 is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES15 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
Polk S15 is cheaper - $259 against $299, about 13% less. |
A Polk S15
B Polk ES15
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 50Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk S15 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Polk S15 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.