In this review, we will be comparing D300C and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D300C and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale D300C and Polk ES30 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale D300C and Polk ES30 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both D300C and ES30 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale D300C |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
D300C features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Black woven Kevlar Cone Woofer . On the other hand, the ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .
Frequency Response
D300C has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the ES30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the D300C's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
D300C and ES30 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
D300C can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D300C has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 5 watts less than the ES30.
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
D300C features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. ES30 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale D300C's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
D300C has a bottom firing port whereas ES30 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D300C's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk ES30 with its rear-firing port.
Polk ES30 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 Wharfedale D300C's and Polk ES30's external dimensions. Wharfedale D300C has external dimensions of 190 x 510 x 232mm ( 7.8) whereas Polk ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm ( 7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch) .
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 Wharfedale D300C is approximately 1183.0cm2 / 183.4inch2 and base area of the Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The D300C requires 14% less surface area than the ES30 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 Wharfedale D300C weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs and the Polk ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the ES30 8% heavier than the D300C.
Here is a comparison of how D300C and ES30's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk ES30?
Here are the items that come with the ES30:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Height |
190mm
vs
191mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1183cm2 (510x232mm)
vs
1377cm2 (510x270mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
179USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Wharfedale D300C |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
65-20k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Black woven Kevlar Cone |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Polyether |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
N/A" |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
190.0mm (7.5") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
510.0mm (20.1") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
232.0mm (9.1") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |