Polk Signature Elite ES20 Review (Bookshelf Speaker)

[Mookalafalas]

How do you like them @Mookalafalas ?

To be honest, I'm not sure yet. They are in my office, and have to wait til I can go in when no one is around to really take them for a ride. Certainly they are nice, and have good sound. I'm not disappointed, especially at the price. However, I was hoping I could play them at low volumes and get a gente but "room filling" sound with them positioned about 20 feet away at the opposite end of my office, but that isn't happening, at least not yet. I have to experiment more with their placement. If I turn them up til I hear clearly, sound bleeds half way down the hall, and yet they are too big for PC speakers. I may end up putting in a complementary bunch of tiny satellite speaker to fill the space in a 5.0 array...
BTW, I could easily remove the broken-off banaplug slot "filler" plugs with a needle nose pliers.

 

[ninetylol]

Maybe try a pair of Google Nest Audio, they are tiny but have super wide dispersion and very neutral sound.

 

[Mookalafalas]

Actually, I have a set of Mirage Omnisat speakers, which are almost magical for the size of their sound vs. physical size. They are the satellite speakers I was talking about. As good as they are, reading the reviews in sites like this, you always want to try other things...

 

[Mookalafalas]

Whoa baby! I came in on the weekend to really see what these can do (they're in my office, so was playing very timidly), and I'm very impressed. String quartets, solo piano, pop music, vocalists... I had to change their placement and rearrange some stuff, but very sweet sound. I'm actually having trouble trying different genres cuz I don't want to turn the songs off...

 

[mrmojo]

How are these at quieter/low volumes for apartment listening? I have the polk r200, and I find that it's not suited for an apartment...you really need to play it louder to get the most out of it

 

[SlowJim]

They are perfect for that due to the slightly v-shaped sound signature. I have mine in my office and listen all day every day below 75db

 

[panblue43]

I agree..The ES20 is perfect for low level listening.At low levels You can also feel the bass,the vocals clear and detalied.The treble is good too,but not the same as when the volume is on "normal level",it is a fact.
My last loudspeaker what was similar at low level listening - the wharfedale diamond 10.2. Then I had Heco Elementa 300 what is a good ls but not on low levels.
Then changed to wharfedale 11.2s...I loved them because their tone and detailed highs..but at low levels it was muddy,the bass faded everything.
I bought the ES20 about 2 years ago? but not found any other LS what is better for my taste (good bass,dynamic,forwarded mids,crisp trebles,wide dispersion-sweet point)
If I would do a loudspeaker I would make the mix from the wharfedale 11.2 (kevlar midbass, box body shape,downfiring slot loaded port,room-filling sound) and from the polk se20 (bigger woofer size,better mids,better tweeter,power handling,better detalied low bass).

 

[panblue43]

They are perfect for that due to the slightly v-shaped sound signature. I have mine in my office and listen all day every day below 75db

Hello!I felt other things: with the se20 at low volumes the bass and the treble is clear and the mids outstanding,clear and detailed.
So I not hear the es20 "v shaped"..the mids are very forwarded,very shiny - especially the women vocals.
I was looking for new loudspeaker positioning between wharfedales and polk soundstage.(read upper)
Now I could buy a new pair of klipsch rp-160m so I can tell what is up.(read next)

 

[panblue43]

Update in loudspeaker seeking: I bought a pair of brand new klipsch rp-160m on low price.So I tested and compared to-with my polk se20.
First listening: out of box was not bad but the woofers needed to break in and the tweeters also turned smooth after a really short period.
I used the isotek full system enhancer on the first afternoon,about 3 hours.Then begin the tests with movies,concerts,YT,audio cds.
Oh man...this is a diamond 11.2 but pumped up with some testosterone and refinement
The bass is room filling and digs deep but not missing the upper bass..thanks to the 60-120 Hz lifting it is very pleasant to listen.
The ES20 goes deeper but the klipschs kicks more and I feel that the klipsch has flatter roll of under the br tuned freq,so not true but I like better.
The ES20 is good..softer..but missing the kick.
Midrange: The ES20 pushes the vocals in your face,on higher levels sometimes too much.The klipsch is calm but lively,I enjoy the midrange of it.
The female vocals not so strong as the ES20's but clear and detailed.At movies the dialogs very good on both loudspeakers.It is also important to me.
Trebles: the ES is fine and smooth,I like its treble but not as opened as the klipsch.The klipsch is lively,the cymbal is cymbal,at concerts You feel that
You are in the first lines.
I was afraid of the klipsch because of comments,reviews,etc..but so good!The ES20 is soft where the klipsch gives meat and feelings.
Strange but true.
The sensitivity of the klipsch is about 86-87 dB/1w/1meter - it is based on my subjective setup and compare to the es20.The ES20 is louder about 2 decibels at the same volume position.
BUT!If You give a little power to the klipsch - it has really great sound,it shakes the sofa under me without sub or tone controls.
Important: at low level listening the ES20 great but enhance the midrange,the klipsch is more enjoyable-better tone equal.
High levels: the ES20 groove mids,I recommend to low or mid volume levels.The klipsch stays "calm" but kicks You out from your trousers.
Build quality: both are entry levels so..so.. The polk is better a little bit: the vinyl on the klipsch back at the terminals are crumpled.The grille is also better-tighter on the polks.
Terminals: both good quality,tight for my banana connectors.
Verdict: I love my polks but I like the klipschs better tonal balance and opened trebles.The polks has wide dispersion but the klipsch has very very wide sounstage,I like if the sweet point is big or could enjoy/listen the music in every positions in the room.
Polk: modern,fine and soft Klipsch: old-fashioned,friendly,pleasing but if needed hits like a hammer.

Tested on pure stereo system (marantz pm7005 with cd5005 )in a 4,5x4,5 m room without sub,tone controls.
My permanent test materials: Pink Floyd - The Wall (movie and cd) , Mike Oldfield - TB II (movie and cd) ,Yanni-Live (2006 movie)
Roger Waters - Amused to death remastered, Masters of Classical music (US series) , Twin Peaks OST , Loreena Mckennith - Elemental ,
Mike Oldfield - Amarok , Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon, The Endless River , Juliee Cruise - The voice of love , George Michael - Older ,
Moby - 18 , Sarah Brightman - Dive , Schiller - Tagtraum , Leonard Cohen - Dear Heather , Ennio Morricone -Concert live , etc.

 

[Cableguy67]

Greetings, I have a room where I hear music and sleep ,so not much of a choice regarding placement,I have to had the Polks close to the wall since I don’t have much distance from where I listen and the speakers place, anyone tried to take off the plastic port difusor with good results?thanks.

 

[panblue43]

Greetings, I have a room where I hear music and sleep ,so not much of a choice regarding placement,I have to had the Polks close to the wall since I don’t have much distance from where I listen and the speakers place, anyone tried to take off the plastic port difusor with good results?thanks.

Hello!I do not recommend to remove the power port.If it is too big or not fit in place choode a smaller loudspeaker!
If You remove the port - the bass will be more bloated and sit on the overall soundstage..
I think the power port technology works fine on bookshelves,drawers,etc - because it makes the bass dispersion fine and not overloaded-bloated.

 

[Cableguy67]

Measured on my wiim Pro Plus and iPhone 15 pro

 

[staticV3]

Measured on my wiim Pro Plus and iPhone 15 pro

That's a PEQ response graph, not a speaker measurement.

 

[mhardy6647]

Hello!I do not recommend to remove the power port.If it is too big or not fit in place choode a smaller loudspeaker!
If You remove the port - the bass will be more bloated and sit on the overall soundstage..
I think the power port technology works fine on bookshelves,drawers,etc - because it makes the bass dispersion fine and not overloaded-bloated.

There is, or was, an ES10 and an ES15, if memory serves.

 

[jazd]

Would these give me a noticeable improvement over a pair of JBL Studio 530 in a home theatre setup? I just bought the ES10 for some rear surrounds, and I'm tempted to get the matching fronts since they are on sale right now. They will be paired with a Monolith M10 sub and Monolith THX-365C center, driven by a Denon X2800H.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Would these give me a noticeable improvement over a pair of JBL Studio 530 in a home theatre setup? I just bought the ES10 for some rear surrounds, and I'm tempted to get the matching fronts since they are on sale right now. They will be paired with a Monolith M10 sub and Monolith THX-365C center, driven by a Denon X2800H.

I suspect not. I would want return privileges on the ES20 before sampling them.

 

[jazd]

I suspect not. I would want return privileges on the ES20 before sampling them.

That's kind of what I was thinking. Probably not enough of a difference to warrant spending the money.

 

[frabor]

I have the es20 and 30 as center. The nicest thing they have is a very good bass for the size. They tested very nicely for the price. Cabinet are very solid and nicely built. They make a great ht setup with the possibility of getting matching surrounds. And the price, in special, is affordable.

But i think the JBL are probably nicer, specially if you have the JBL center.