In this review, we will be comparing T15 and XT20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio T15 and Polk XT20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk Audio T15 | Polk XT20 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Mineral-filled polymer composite | 6.5" Bi-laminate paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-24k Hz | 38-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 5.45kg / 12lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 13-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 11-1/16"
332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk Audio T15 and Polk XT20 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 |
Polk XT20 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 T15 and XT20 are 2-way speakers.
Polk Audio T15Polk XT20
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 |
Polk XT20 |
|
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 XT20 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
T15 has a frequency range of 45-24k Hz whereas XT20 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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 XT20 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. T15 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the XT20's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk Audio T15 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT20, 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.
XT20 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas T15 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the XT20.
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 5-Way post type posts and XT20 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Polk XT20'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 Polk XT20 has external dimensions of 332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm (13-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 11-1/16inch).
Polk XT20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 28mm wider, 62mm taller and 97mm 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.
Polk XT20 needs about 79% more floor or shelf area. Polk XT20 is 97mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Polk XT20 is 62mm 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 Polk XT20 is approximately 542.3cm2 / 84.1inch2. The T15 requires 44% less surface area than the XT20 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Polk XT20?
Here are the items that come with the XT20:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration