In this review, we will be comparing Q Acoustics 5010 and ES20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 5010 and Polk ES20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Q Acoustics 5010 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer
- 56-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 86.3 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:15-90watts
- Weight:5.59kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 266.0" x 6-5/16" x 10-7/16"( 266.0 x 161.0 x 266.0mm )
Polk ES20 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 41-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-125watts
- Weight:7.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 375.0" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"( 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm )
What size room are the Q Acoustics 5010 and Polk ES20 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* |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
Polk ES20 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics 5010 and Polk ES20 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Q Acoustics 5010 and ES20 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
Polk ES20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Q Acoustics 5010 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the ES20 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Q Acoustics 5010 has a frequency range of 56-30k Hz whereas ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q Acoustics 5010's min frequency of 56Hz.
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
Q Acoustics 5010 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES20 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Q Acoustics 5010 sensitivity is rated at 86.3 dB and the ES20's is rated at 86 dB.
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.
Q Acoustics 5010 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q Acoustics 5010 has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS , 35 watts less than the ES20.
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
Q Acoustics 5010 features 5-Way post type posts and ES20 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 5010's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q Acoustics 5010 and ES20 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
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 Q Acoustics 5010's and Polk ES20's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 5010 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 161.0 x 266.0mm ( 10-7/16inch x 6-5/16inch x 10-7/16inch ) whereas Polk ES20 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm ( 14-3/4 x 8-9/16 x 13-13/16inch) .
Polk ES20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 57mm wider, 109mm taller and 85mm deeper than Q Acoustics 5010.
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 Q Acoustics 5010 is approximately 428.3cm2 / 66.4inch2 and base area of the Polk ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2. The Q Acoustics 5010 requires 44% less surface area than the ES20 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Q Acoustics 5010 weighs 5.59kg / 12.3lbs and the Polk ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the ES20 38% heavier than the Q Acoustics 5010.
Here is a comparison of how Q Acoustics 5010 and ES20's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 5010?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q Acoustics 5010:
2x 5010 loudspeaker 1x Owners manual 2x Foam bung
What's in the Box of Polk ES20?
Here are the items that come with the ES20:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grille (attached)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Height |
266mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
428cm2
vs
765cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-90 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.3 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.3 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
56-30k Hz |
41-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuous Curved Cone |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500 Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
266.0mm (10.5") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
161.0mm (6.3") |
218.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
5.59kg (12.3lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Relfex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
| 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 |