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.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale D300C | Polk ES35 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" Black woven Kevlar Cone | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-20k Hz | 66-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs | 6.36kg / 14lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.8" x 20.1" x 9.1"
190 x 510 x 232mm | 4-3/16" 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.)
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 D300C and ES35 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale D300CPolk ES35
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| 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.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
D300C and ES35 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
ES35 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas D300C has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the ES35.
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
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's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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
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 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
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
 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) |
 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 |
| 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 |
No |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Polk ES35 costs roughly 2.2x what Wharfedale D300C does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (65Hz vs 66Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Polk ES35 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES35 is easier to place; Wharfedale D300C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale D300C: bi-amping. Polk ES35 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale D300C is cheaper - $179 against $399, about 55% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale D300C B Polk ES35
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Polk ES35 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 123% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale D300C looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Polk ES35 appeals to you. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale D300C has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk ES35 is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $220 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.