In this review, we will be comparing T15 and SX-60, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Cambridge Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio T15 and Cambridge SX-60 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk Audio T15 | Cambridge SX-60 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Cambridge Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1968 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Mineral-filled polymer composite | 6.5" Treated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-24k Hz | 41-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 5.00kg / 11lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-5/8" x 6-1/2" x 7-1/4"
270.0 x 165.0 x 184.0mm | 13-7/16" x 7-15/16" x 10-7/8"
342.0 x 202.0 x 277.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk Audio T15 and Cambridge SX-60 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 Audio T15 |
Cambridge SX-60 |
| 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.
Drivers
Both T15 and SX-60 are 2-way speakers.
Polk Audio T15Cambridge SX-60
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 Audio T15 |
Cambridge SX-60 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
T15 features a 0.75" Silk/polymer composite Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mineral-filled polymer composite Woofer. On the other hand, the SX-60 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Treated paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
T15 has a frequency range of 45-24k Hz whereas SX-60 has a frequency range of 41-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the SX-60 can go slightly deeper then the T15's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
T15 and SX-60 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
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.
T15 and SX-60 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
T15 features Post type posts and SX-60 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cambridge SX-60's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both T15 and SX-60 have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Audio T15's and Cambridge SX-60's external dimensions. Polk Audio T15 has external dimensions of 270.0 x 165.0 x 184.0mm (10-5/8 x 6-1/2 x 7-1/4inch) whereas Cambridge SX-60 has external dimensions of 342.0 x 202.0 x 277.0mm (13-7/16 x 7-15/16 x 10-7/8inch).
Cambridge SX-60 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 72mm taller and 93mm deeper than Polk Audio T15.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Cambridge SX-60 needs about 84% more floor or shelf area. Cambridge SX-60 is 93mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Cambridge SX-60 is 72mm taller.
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 Audio T15 is approximately 303.6cm2 / 47.1inch2 and base area of the Cambridge SX-60 is approximately 559.5cm2 / 86.7inch2. The T15 requires 46% less surface area than the SX-60 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Cambridge SX-60?
Here are the items that come with the SX-60:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- 2 Foam port inserts
- Installation Guide