In this review, we will be comparing NS-5000 and ES15, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Yamaha and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Yamaha NS-5000 and Polk ES15 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Yamaha NS-5000 | Polk ES15 |
|---|
| Brand | Yamaha
Japan · founded 1887 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25" Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 3.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Cone | 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 26-40k Hz | 44-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 200-600 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 35.02kg / 77lbs | 5.91kg / 13lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 27.125" x 15.5" x 15"
689.0 x 393.7 x 381.0mm | 12-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 10-3/16"
307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Yamaha NS-5000 and Polk ES15 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* |
Yamaha NS-5000 |
Polk ES15 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that NS-5000 is a 3-way design whereas the ES15 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Yamaha NS-5000Polk ES15
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Yamaha NS-5000 |
Polk ES15 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
NS-5000 features a 1.25" Dome Dome Tweeter, a 3.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 750 Hz / 4.5 kHz. On the other hand, the ES15 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
NS-5000 has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz whereas ES15 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the NS-5000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES15's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
NS-5000 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES15 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. NS-5000 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the ES15's is rated at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Yamaha NS-5000 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES15, 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.
NS-5000 can handle a max power of 600 watts RMS, whereas ES15 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 500 watts less than the NS-5000.
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
NS-5000 features 5-Way post type posts and ES15 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES15's 5-Way post terminals
Polk ES15 Power Port 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 Yamaha NS-5000's and Polk ES15's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-5000 has external dimensions of 689.0 x 393.7 x 381.0mm (27.125 x 15.5 x 15inch) whereas Polk ES15 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm (12-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 10-3/16inch).
Yamaha NS-5000 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 200.7mm wider, 382mm taller and 122mm deeper than Polk ES15.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Yamaha NS-5000 needs about 200% more floor or shelf area. Yamaha NS-5000 is 122mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Yamaha NS-5000 is 382mm taller.
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 Yamaha NS-5000 is approximately 1500.0cm2 / 232.5inch2 and base area of the Polk ES15 is approximately 499.9cm2 / 77.5inch2. The NS-5000 requires 200% more surface area than the ES15 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 Yamaha NS-5000 weighs 35.02kg / 77lbs and the Polk ES15 weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs. This makes the NS-5000 493% heavier than the ES15.
Here is a comparison of how NS-5000 and ES15's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk ES15?
Here are the items that come with the ES15:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
600 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
307mm
vs
689mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
499cm2
vs
1500cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
22000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Yamaha NS-5000 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES15 |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
200-600 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
26-40k Hz |
44-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
750 Hz / 4.5 kHz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
689.0mm (27.1") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
393.7mm (15.5") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
381.0mm (15") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
35.02kg (77lbs) |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Yamaha NS-5000 costs roughly 73.6x what Polk ES15 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 | A | Yamaha NS-5000 digs deeper - 26Hz against 44Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Yamaha NS-5000 is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk ES15 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Yamaha NS-5000 takes more power (600W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES15 is easier to place; Yamaha NS-5000 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES15 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk ES15 is cheaper - $299 against $22,000, about 99% less; arguably a different class. |
A Yamaha NS-5000 B Polk ES15
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?
The usual trade-off: Yamaha NS-5000 measures better, Polk ES15 costs about about 73.6x the price% 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 44Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk ES15 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Yamaha NS-5000 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Polk ES15 for near-field listening and 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.