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Q Acoustics 5090 vs Polk ES35 Comparison

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Q Acoustics 5090

Passive Center Channel | 57-30k Hz

Q Acoustics 5090
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Polk ES35

Passive Center Channel | 66-40k Hz

Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35
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Q Acoustics 5090 Q Acoustics 5090
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Polk ES35 Polk ES35
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Q Acoustics 5090
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Polk ES35
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Q Acoustics 5090 vs Polk ES35 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Q Acoustics 5090 and ES35, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Q Acoustics and Polk Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Q Acoustics 5090 and Polk ES35 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Q Acoustics 5090 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 4.5" Coated paper Woofer
  • 57-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90.5 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:25-150watts
  • Weight:8.50kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 166.0" x 16-15/16" x 9-5/8"( 166.0 x 431.0 x 245.0mm )

Polk ES35 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" High-res dome Tweeter
  • 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer
  • 66-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-150watts
  • Weight:6.36kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 107.0" x 24-7/16" x 6-1/16"( 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm )

What size room are the Q Acoustics 5090 and Polk ES35 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 5090 Polk ES35
Near-field Poor Poor
Small Room Average Average
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Average Average
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics 5090 and Polk ES35 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 5090 and ES35 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Q Acoustics 5090 Polk ES35
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 4.5-inch 6 x 3-inch

Q Acoustics 5090 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100 Hz. On the other hand, the ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .

Frequency Response

Q Acoustics 5090 has a frequency range of 57-30k Hz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the Q Acoustics 5090 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES35's min frequency of 66Hz.

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 Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Q Acoustics 5090
ES35
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Q Acoustics 5090
Polk ES35
Min
Average
Max

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 5090 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES35 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Q Acoustics 5090 sensitivity is rated at 90.5 dB and the ES35's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 5090 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES35, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

Q Acoustics 5090
ES35
Min
Average
Max

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.

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 5090 features 5-Way post type posts and ES35 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Q Acoustics 5090 Terminals
Q Acoustics 5090's Binding post terminals

Polk ES355-Way post Terminals
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Q Acoustics 5090 and ES35 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.

Polk ES35  Port
Polk ES35 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 Q Acoustics 5090's and Polk ES35's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 5090 has external dimensions of 166.0 x 431.0 x 245.0mm ( 6-1/2inch x 16-15/16inch x 9-5/8inch ) whereas Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm ( 4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch) .

Polk ES35 is 59mm shorter and 91mm less deeper than Q Acoustics 5090 but it is also 190mm wider.

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 5090 is approximately 1056.0cm2 / 163.7inch2 and base area of the Polk ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The Q Acoustics 5090 requires 10% more surface area than the ES35 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 5090 weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the Polk ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the Q Acoustics 5090 34% heavier than the ES35.

Here is a comparison of how Q Acoustics 5090 and ES35's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Q Acoustics 5090
Polk ES35
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 5090?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q Acoustics 5090:
  • 1x 5090 loudspeaker
  • 1x Owners manual
  • 2x Foam bung
  • What's in the Box of Polk ES35?

    Here are the items that come with the ES35:
  • LCR loudspeaker
  • Grille (attached)
  • 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Wall-mount template
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Product Registration

  • Reasons to choose Q Acoustics 5090 over Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35
    Sensitivity 91 dB vs 89 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 4.5 inches vs 3 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 57 Hz vs 66 Hz Generates deeper bass

    Reasons to choose Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 over Q Acoustics 5090

    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Number of Woofers 6 vs 2 More woofers
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 30k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 107mm vs 166mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 956cm2 vs 1056cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 399USD vs 599USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Q Acoustics 5090 vs Polk ES35 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Q Acoustics 5090 Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35
    Brand Q Acoustics Polk Audio
    Speaker Type Center channel speaker Low-profile center channel speaker
    Power Range 25-150 watts 20-150 watts
    Sensitivity 90.5 dB 89 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.2 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 57-30k Hz 66-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 6
    Woofer Size 4.5" 3"
    Woofer Composition Coated paper mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber n/a
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Soft-dome High-res dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No N/A"
    Crossover Frequency 2100 Hz n/a
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 166.0mm (6.5") 107.0mm (4.2")
    Width 431.0mm (17") 621.0mm (24.4")
    Depth 245.0mm (9.6") 154.0mm (6.1")
    Weight 8.50kg (18.7lbs) 6.36kg (14lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Relfex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF MDF, Wood-grain vinyl
    Available Colors Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood Black, Walnut, White
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No n/a
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 years 5 Years

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