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Wharfedale D300C vs Polk ES35 Comparison

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Wharfedale D300C

Passive Center Channel | 65-20k Hz

Wharfedale D300C
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Polk ES35

Passive Center Channel | 66-40k Hz

Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35
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Wharfedale D300C Wharfedale D300C
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Polk ES35 Polk ES35
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Wharfedale D300C
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Polk ES35
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Wharfedale D300C vs Polk ES35 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing D300C and ES35, 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 ES35 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale D300C Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 5" Black woven Kevlar Cone Woofer
  • 65-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-120watts
  • Weight:8.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 190.0" x 20.1" x 9.1"( 190 x 510 x 232mm )

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 Wharfedale D300C 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* Wharfedale D300C 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 Wharfedale D300C 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 D300C and ES35 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Wharfedale D300C Polk ES35
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 5-inch 6 x 3-inch

D300C features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Black woven Kevlar Cone Woofer . 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

D300C has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the D300C can go slightly deeper then 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

D300C
ES35
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Wharfedale D300C
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

D300C and ES35 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

D300C
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.

D300C can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D300C has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the ES35.

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. ES35 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale D300C Terminals
Wharfedale D300C's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

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

Cabinet Type and Port Position

D300C has a bottom firing port whereas ES35 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 ES35 with its rear-firing port.

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 Wharfedale D300C's and Polk ES35's external dimensions. Wharfedale D300C has external dimensions of 190 x 510 x 232mm ( 7.8) 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 83mm shorter and 78mm less deeper than Wharfedale D300C but it is also 111mm 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 Wharfedale D300C is approximately 1183.0cm2 / 183.4inch2 and base area of the Polk ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The D300C requires 24% 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 Wharfedale D300C weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs and the Polk ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the D300C 26% heavier than the ES35.

Here is a comparison of how D300C and ES35's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Wharfedale D300C
Polk ES35
Min
Average
Max

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 Wharfedale D300C over Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35
    Woofer Size 5 inches vs 3 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 65 Hz vs 66 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Price per pair* 179USD vs 399USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 over Wharfedale D300C

    Max Input Power 150 watts vs 120 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Number of Woofers 6 vs 2 More woofers
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 107mm vs 190mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 956cm2 vs 1183cm2 Takes less floor space
    Wharfedale D300C vs Polk ES35 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale D300C Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35
    Brand Wharfedale Polk Audio
    Speaker Type Center channel speaker Low-profile center channel speaker
    Power Range 25-120 watts 20-150 watts
    Sensitivity 89 dB 89 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.8 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 65-20k Hz 66-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 6
    Woofer Size 5" 3"
    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") 107.0mm (4.2")
    Width 510.0mm (20.1") 621.0mm (24.4")
    Depth 232.0mm (9.1") 154.0mm (6.1")
    Weight 8.00kg (17.6lbs) 6.36kg (14lbs)
    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

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