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Polk S20 vs Polk L100 Comparison

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Polk S20

Passive Bookshelf | 39-40k Hz

Polk Audio Signature S20
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Polk L100

Passive Bookshelf | 57-38k Hz

Polk Audio Legend L100
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Polk S20 Polk S20
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Polk L100 Polk L100
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Polk S20
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Polk L100
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Polk S20 vs Polk L100 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing S20 and L100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Polk S20 and Polk L100 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Polk S20 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
  • 39-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-125watts
  • Weight:7.73kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 376.0" x 8.5" x 13.7"( 376.0 x 216.0 x 350.0mm )

Polk L100 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter
  • 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
  • 57-38k Hz Frequency Response
  • 85.5 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:30-160watts
  • Weight:7.68kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 348.0" x 7-7/8" x 11-5/16"( 348.0 x 201.0 x 288.0mm )

What size room are the Polk S20 and Polk L100 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 S20 Polk L100
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk S20 and Polk L100 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 S20 and L100 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Polk S20 Polk L100
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6.5-inch 1 x 5.25-inch

S20 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the L100 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz.

Frequency Response

S20 has a frequency range of 39-40k Hz whereas L100 has a frequency range of 57-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the S20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the L100's min frequency of 57Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

S20
L100
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Polk S20
Polk L100
Min
Average
Max

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

S20 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the L100 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L100 can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. S20 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the L100's is rated at 85.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk S20 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L100, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

S20
L100
Min
Average
Max

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.

S20 can handle a max power of 160 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S20 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS , 35 watts less than the L100.

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

S20 features Post type posts and L100 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Polk L100Post Terminals
Polk L100's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both S20 and L100 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 L100  Port
Polk L100 Enhanced Power Port 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 S20's and Polk L100's external dimensions. Polk S20 has external dimensions of 376.0 x 216.0 x 350.0mm ( 14.8 x 8.5 x 13.7inch) whereas Polk L100 has external dimensions of 348.0 x 201.0 x 288.0mm ( 13-11/16 x 7-7/8 x 11-5/16inch) .

Polk S20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 15mm wider, 28mm taller and 62mm deeper than Polk L100.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk S20 and Polk L100 in scale.

Polk S20 vs Polk L100 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Polk S20 and Polk L100 Size and External Dimensions

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 S20 is approximately 756.0cm2 / 117.2inch2 and base area of the Polk L100 is approximately 578.9cm2 / 89.7inch2. The S20 requires 31% more surface area than the L100 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Polk S20 vs Polk L100 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Polk S20 and Polk L100 on a Media Console
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 S20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs and the Polk L100 weighs 7.68kg / 16.9lbs. This makes the S20 1% heavier than the L100.

Here is a comparison of how S20 and L100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Polk S20
Polk L100
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Polk S20?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of S20:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles (attached)
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Product Registration
  • What's in the Box of Polk L100?

    Here are the items that come with the L100:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • Cleaning cloth
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Registration

  • Reasons to choose Polk Audio Signature S20 over Polk Audio Legend L100
    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 39 Hz vs 57 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 38k Hz Generates higher frequency

    Reasons to choose Polk Audio Legend L100 over Polk Audio Signature S20

    Max Input Power 160 watts vs 125 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Height 348mm vs 376mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 578cm2 vs 756cm2 Takes less floor space
    Polk S20 vs Polk L100 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Polk Audio Signature S20 Polk Audio Legend L100
    Brand Polk Audio Polk Audio
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 20-125 watts 30-160 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 85.5 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 4 ohms
    Impedance n/a 3 ohms
    Frequency Response 39-40k Hz 57-38k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6.5" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Mica-reinforced polypropylene Polypropylene
    Woofer Surround Material Butyl rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Soft-Dome Ring Radiator
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2500Hz 2900Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 376.0mm (14.8") 348.0mm (13.7")
    Width 216.0mm (8.5") 201.0mm (7.9")
    Depth 350.0mm (13.8") 288.0mm (11.3")
    Weight 7.73kg (17lbs) 7.68kg (16.9lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish Meddite MDF MDF/Wood veneer
    Available Colors Black, Walnut, Brown Walnut Brown Walnut, Black Ash
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 24-28" 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

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