In this review, we will be comparing S20 and L200, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk S20 and Polk L200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk S20 | Polk L200 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene | 6.5" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-40k Hz | 46-38k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 85.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-125 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.73kg / 17lbs | 10.00kg / 22lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.8" x 8.5" x 13.7"
376.0 x 216.0 x 350.0mm | 15-11/16" x 8-3/8" x 13-5/16"
399.0 x 213.0 x 339.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk S20 and Polk L200 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 L200 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both S20 and L200 are 2-way speakers.
Polk S20Polk L200
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 S20 |
Polk L200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 L200 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
S20 has a frequency range of 39-40k Hz whereas L200 has a frequency range of 46-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the S20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the L200's min frequency of 46Hz.
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
S20 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the L200 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 L200 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. S20 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the L200's is rated at 85.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk S20 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L200, 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.
L200 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas S20 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the L200.
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
L200 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S20 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk L200's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both S20 and L200 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 L200 Enhanced 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 S20's and Polk L200'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 L200 has external dimensions of 399.0 x 213.0 x 339.0mm (15-11/16 x 8-3/8 x 13-5/16inch).
Polk L200 is 3mm narrower and 11mm less deeper than Polk S20 but it is also 23mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk S20 and Polk L200 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk S20 and Polk L200 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 L200 is approximately 722.1cm2 / 111.9inch2. The S20 requires 5% more surface area than the L200 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Polk S20 and Polk L200 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 L200 weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs. This makes the L200 29% heavier than the S20.
Here is a comparison of how S20 and L200'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 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 L200?
Here are the items that come with the L200:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Cleaning cloth
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
 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 |
 Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
38k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
376mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
722cm2
vs
756cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature S20 |
Polk Audio Legend L200 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-125 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
85.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
39-40k Hz |
46-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| 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 |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
376.0mm (14.8") |
399.0mm (15.7") |
| Width |
216.0mm (8.5") |
213.0mm (8.4") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
| 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" |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Polk L200 costs roughly 5x what Polk S20 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 S20 digs deeper - 39Hz against 46Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Polk S20 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Polk S20 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Polk L200 takes more power (200W vs 125W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Polk L200: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Polk S20 is cheaper - $299 against $1,499, about 80% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk S20 B Polk L200
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?
Polk S20 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Polk S20 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.