In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio TSi200 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the TSi300 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TSi200 and Polk TSi300 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk TSi200 | Polk TSi300 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber | 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-24k Hz | 47-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.71kg / 17lbs | 11.82kg / 26lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.4" x 8.0" x 11.7"
392.1 x 203.2 x 298.5mm | 36-1/4" x 8-3/16" x 11-3/4"
921.0 x 208.0 x 299.0mm |
|---|
TSi200 and TSi300 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 TSi300 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 TSi300 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| 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 TSi200 and TSi300 are 2-way speakers.
Polk TSi200Polk TSi300
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 TSi300 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 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 TSi300 features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
TSi200 has a frequency range of 50-24k Hz whereas TSi300 has a frequency range of 47-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the TSi300 can go slightly deeper then the TSi200's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 TSi300 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. TSi200 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the TSi300's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk TSi300 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk TSi200, 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.
TSi200 and TSi300 have the same power range of 20-150 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
TSi300 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. TSi200 has a Pair of 5-way binding posts - Gold-plated which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
TSi200 has a rear firing port whereas TSi300 has a bottom firing ports. Polk TSi300's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk TSi200 with its rear-firing 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 TSi200's and Polk TSi300'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 TSi300 has external dimensions of 921.0 x 208.0 x 299.0mm (36-1/4 x 8-3/16 x 11-3/4inch).
Polk TSi300 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 4.8mm wider, 528.9mm taller and 0.5mm deeper than Polk TSi200.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk TSi200 and Polk TSi300 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk TSi200 and Polk TSi300 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 TSi300 is approximately 621.9cm2 / 96.4inch2. The TSi200 requires 2% less surface area than the TSi300 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 TSi300?
Here are the items that come with the TSi300:
- Tower speaker
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- Owners Manual
- Wall-Mount template
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure