In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio TSi100 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the TSi400 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TSi100 and Polk TSi400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk TSi100 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer
- 61-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:4.53kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 279.4" x 7.0" x 10.1"( 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm )
Polk TSi400 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 3 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer
- 44-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-200watts
- Weight:14.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 985.0" x 8-3/16" x 14-1/2"( 985.0 x 208.0 x 369.0mm )
TSi100 and TSi400 are members of Polk Audio's TSi series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Polk TSi100 and Polk TSi400 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 TSi100 |
Polk TSi400 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk TSi100 and Polk TSi400 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both TSi100 and TSi400 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk TSi100 |
Polk TSi400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
3 x 5.25-inch
|
TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the TSi400 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz whereas TSi400 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the TSi400 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi100's min frequency of 61Hz.
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
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
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
TSi100 and TSi400 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. TSi100 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the TSi400's is at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk TSi400 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk TSi100, 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. 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.
TSi100 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas TSi100 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the TSi400.
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
TSi400 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. TSi100 has a Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
TSi100 has a rear firing port whereas TSi400 has a bottom firing ports. Polk TSi400's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk TSi100 with its rear-firing 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 TSi100's and Polk TSi400's external dimensions. Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm ( 11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch) whereas Polk TSi400 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 208.0 x 369.0mm ( 38-3/4 x 8-3/16 x 14-1/2inch) .
Polk TSi400 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30.2mm wider, 705.6mm taller and 110mm deeper than Polk TSi100.
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 TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2 and base area of the Polk TSi400 is approximately 767.5cm2 / 119.0inch2. The TSi100 requires 40% less surface area than the TSi400 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of TSi100:
2 Black bookshelf speakers Detachable cloth grille (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Wall-Mount template Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure
What's in the Box of Polk TSi400?
Here are the items that come with the TSi400:
Tower speakerDetachable cloth grille (installed)Owners ManualWall-Mount templateOnline registration sheetPolk Audio product brochure
Mounting Bracket 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
Sensitivity 
Number of Woofers 
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring