Polk Audio S20 EL

A bookshelf speaker that needs proper space

The Signature Elite ES20 pair serves stereo and cinema systems.

The Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 pair uses a 6.5" Dynamic Balance woofer and a 1" Terylene dome tweeter in each cabinet. It is the largest bookshelf model among ES10, ES15 and ES20, suited to listeners who want a stand-mounted main stereo pair or front speakers for a cinema system.

The cabinet is 35.1 cm deep and 37.6 cm high. Simply fitting it on a shelf is not enough: allow for the cable and the Power Port outlet. A sturdy stand offers more placement freedom than a television cabinet. These passive speakers have one set of gold-plated five-way binding posts.

Key features

• 6.5" Dynamic Balance woofer and 1" Terylene tweeter
• Passive connection with single gold-plated binding posts
• Recommended amplifier power: 20-125 W; sensitivity: 86 dB
• Stated overall response: 41 Hz-40 kHz
• W x H x D: 21.6 x 37.6 x 35.1 cm; weight: 7.7 kg

More cabinet and driver than the ES15

The larger woofer and enclosure separate the ES20 from the 5.25" ES15. The stated overall response runs from 41 Hz to 40 kHz; this is not a -3 dB response figure. Its Terylene tweeter carries Hi-Res Audio certification, while the Dynamic Balance driver uses mica-reinforced polypropylene.

It can be partnered with an ES30 or ES35 centre depending on the space beneath the television. A subwoofer remains useful for the very low frequency effects in films. When choosing between ES15 and ES20, available cabinet depth matters as much as woofer diameter.