In this review, we will be comparing Prime Satellite and ES20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from SVS and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Prime Satellite and Polk ES20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | SVS Prime Satellite | Polk ES20 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Polypropylene | 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 69-25k Hz | 41-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.00kg / 6.6lbs | 7.73kg / 17lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-13/16" x 4-15/16" x 6-3/8"
224.0 x 126.0 x 162.0mm | 14-3/4" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"
375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the SVS Prime Satellite 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* |
SVS Prime Satellite |
Polk ES20 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Prime Satellite and ES20 are 2-way speakers.
SVS Prime SatellitePolk ES20
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
SVS Prime Satellite |
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
|
Prime Satellite features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polypropylene Woofer. 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
Prime Satellite has a frequency range of 69-25k 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 Prime Satellite's min frequency of 69Hz.
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
Prime Satellite and ES20 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Prime Satellite sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the ES20's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk ES20 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Satellite, 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.
Prime Satellite can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas ES20 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Prime Satellite.
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
Prime Satellite features 5-Way post type posts and ES20 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Prime Satellite's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Prime Satellite 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
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 SVS Prime Satellite's and Polk ES20's external dimensions. SVS Prime Satellite has external dimensions of 224.0 x 126.0 x 162.0mm (28-32inch x 4-15/16inch x 6-3/8inch) 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 92mm wider, 151mm taller and 189mm deeper than SVS Prime Satellite.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Prime Satellite and Polk ES20 in scale.
Comparison image of SVS Prime Satellite and Polk ES20 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 SVS Prime Satellite is approximately 204.1cm2 / 31.6inch2 and base area of the Polk ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2. The Prime Satellite requires 73% less surface area than the ES20 which gives it a small advantage 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 SVS Prime Satellite and Polk ES20 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 SVS Prime Satellite weighs 3.00kg / 6.6lbs and the Polk ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the ES20 158% heavier than the Prime Satellite.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Satellite 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 SVS Prime Satellite?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Satellite:
- 2 Satellite loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber bumpers
- Owners Manual
- SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Polk ES20?
Here are the items that come with the ES20:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Height |
224mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
204cm2
vs
765cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
69 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
SVS Prime Satellite |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
69-25k Hz |
41-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
224.0mm (8.8") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
126.0mm (5") |
218.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
162.0mm (6.4") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
3.00kg (6.6lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-32" |
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 |
A generation apart: Polk ES20 is the newer design, against a 2015 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Polk ES20 digs deeper - 41Hz against 69Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (150W vs 125W). |
| Size |
depends |
SVS Prime Satellite is easier to place; Polk ES20 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES20 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
SVS Prime Satellite is cheaper - $349 against $399, about 13% less. |
A SVS Prime Satellite
B Polk ES20
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 ES20 measures better, SVS Prime Satellite costs about 13% 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 69Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper SVS Prime Satellite much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate SVS Prime Satellite the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Polk ES20 for 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.