In this review, we will be comparing TSi200 and TSi100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TSi200 and Polk TSi100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk TSi200 | Polk TSi100 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber | 5.25" Organic Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-24k Hz | 61-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.71kg / 17lbs | 4.53kg / 10lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.4" x 8.0" x 11.7"
392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm | 11.0" x 7.0" x 10.1"
279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm |
|---|
TSi200 and TSi100 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 TSi200 and Polk TSi100 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 TSi200 |
Polk TSi100 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 TSi200 and TSi100 are 2-way speakers.
Polk TSi200Polk TSi100
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 TSi200 |
Polk TSi100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
TSi200 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
TSi200 has a frequency range of 50-24k Hz whereas TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the TSi200 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi100's min frequency of 61Hz.
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
TSi200 and TSi100 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.
TSi200 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas TSi100 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the TSi200.
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
TSi200 features Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts and TSi100 has a Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both TSi200 and TSi100 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.
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 TSi200's and Polk TSi100's external dimensions. Polk TSi200 has external dimensions of 392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm (15.4 x 8.0 x 11.7inch) whereas Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm (11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch).
Polk TSi200 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25.4mm wider, 112.7mm taller and 39.5mm deeper than Polk TSi100.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk TSi200 and Polk TSi100 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk TSi200 and Polk TSi100 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 TSi200 is approximately 606.6cm2 / 94.0inch2 and base area of the Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2. The TSi200 requires 32% more surface area than the TSi100 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 TSi200 and Polk TSi100 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 TSi200 weighs 7.71kg / 17lbs and the Polk TSi100 weighs 4.53kg / 10lbs. This makes the TSi200 70% heavier than the TSi100.
Here is a comparison of how TSi200 and TSi100'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 TSi200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of TSi200:
- 2 Black bookshelf speakers
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
What's in the Box of Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
61 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
279mm
vs
392mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
460cm2
vs
606cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
279USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio TSi200 |
Polk Audio TSi100 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-24k Hz |
61-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Organic Fiber |
Organic Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
392.1mm (15.4") |
279.4mm (11") |
| Width |
203.2mm (8") |
177.8mm (7") |
| Depth |
298.5mm (11.8") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
7.71kg (17lbs) |
4.53kg (10lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood-grain vinyl |
Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Cherry |
Black, Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
16-26" |
16-30" |
| 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 |
Siblings in Polk Audio's TSi series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Polk TSi200 digs deeper - 50Hz against 61Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Polk TSi200 takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk TSi100 is easier to place; Polk TSi200 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Polk TSi100 is cheaper - $149 against $279, about 47% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk TSi200 B Polk TSi100
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?
The usual trade-off: Polk TSi200 measures better, Polk TSi100 costs about about 87% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 61Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk TSi100 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Polk TSi200 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Polk TSi100 for near-field listening and a small room.
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.