[Sound Battle] Polk Audio Elite ES20 vs ELAC Debut B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers w/Arcam SA10 Amplifier

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Other sound comparison videos
SRS [Sound Reference Series] - • Sound Reference Series
Amps - • Amplifier Sound Demo
Speakers - • Hi Fi Speakers Sound Demo
Bluetooth Speakers - • Bluetooth Speaker
Timecodes
0:00 - intro
1:11 - All the way up / Electronic / by Hadar Sopher
1:51 - Bedroom / Soul & RnB, Pop / by Raquel Castro, The Wildcardz
2:34 - Boost Your Power / Rock / by CustomMelody
3:32 - Chemtrails / Cinematic / by Semo
4:23 - Get Ready / Cinematic, Rock, Pop / by Midnight Noise
5:13 - Higher Love / Electronic, Pop / by Ben Fox
6:29 - Is Leroy On It / Jazz, Acoustic, Retro / by Southside Aces
7:27 - Pull Me Closer / Electronic, Pop, Hip Hop / by WEARETHEGOOD,
8:40 - Punkd / Cinematic, Electronic / by Out of Flux
9:41 - Seasons / Cinematic, Classical / by ANBR
10:51 - Star Night / Acoustic, Rock, Pop / Wonderland
11:41 - Time Traveling / Soul & RnB / Sarah Kang feat. Anthony Lazaro
13:15 - Crash and burn / Death Metal / Kissing Candice
14:40 - Magic Show / Death Metal / Kissing Candice
15:37 - Fields / Acoustic Guitar / Livio Bartolo

[@chrisj5984]

I just ordered a pair of the Polks and glad I did, I'm only using two fronts with a center channel and these seem to present a much wider sound stage than the ELACs . Thanks for the video and confirming what I suspected, I was having a difficult time finding any videos on the ES20 speakers.

[@eprojectEllie]

thank, I am glad to hear that.. Enjoy

[@muslimmuslimov4707]

@@eprojectEllie Is there a difference in sound between the polk audio s20e and se20 columns?

[@freddymoya8891]

I feel the sound in the polks more warm and deep for my ears with several genres of music. I'm looking for a good pair of bookshelf without breaking the bank and these polks are in my list now. Thanks for the comparison.

[@sonicpowerr4068]

i heard that they sound like towers.

[@mohans2k]

You are like an angel who heard my mind now.. WOW.. This is the Exact comparison I was looking for and I found your video buddy.. that too just 24 mins before you have uploaded the video.. GREAT video. Thanks and please upload more videos, liked your video buddy.. In my personal view ELAC sounds in well balanced manner and warm.. polk was little bit on brighter side.. please let me know whats your personal preference between these two and if you have to suggest any one means what will be your suggestion..?

[@BhavikPatelhr]

Full filled my desire too....I have asked for same combination and it's hear... 👍

[@shaffy27]

Thank you for this battle. Both were on my favorite list for surround speakers. I prefer the Polks and I ordedered a demo pair of Polk S20. Made a good deal, 229eur the pair! 🙂

[@kymnewman3518]

Great vid. Polk warm but very clear through mid high and low without being too sharp on the highs

[@yvesboutin5604]

The Polk sounded smooth even if a tad veiled in the mid. The Elac tweeter gave a lot of definition in the top but would maybe get a bit fatiguing on the long run. Polk bass goes lower but Elac is more punchy and precise. Honestly, I don't have a favorite on this one. Thanks for a good selection of music. I really enjoyed it!

[@leofleniken70]

Lol

[@primopierre]

Well i have been going back and forth which to buy between these two, thank goodness you have this comparison!! After listening carefully, i have finally decided that i’m keeping my Sony SSCS5, it can reproduce the sound each speaker is putting out. 🤣🤣

[@DefiantAML]

I just nabbed me some ES20's for $200! A steal at that price. Cant wait to try them out.

[@FromTheHood]

Just yesterday I found ES20's for 249$, open box, never used, 2 years of warranty. Let me know how you like em etc. I'd pair mine with AIYIMA A07 amp, my budget is around 350$ so those two fit. I wanna make a small somewhat HI-FI system for my PC, don't wanna deal with PC speakers anymore.

[@DougMen1]

I don't know what others here are listening with, because I'm hearing the opposite of what they are. The Polk sounds much fuller and warmer, and the Elac sounds really thin and harsh in comparison. The Polks are, however, quite V shaped, with the lows and highs pumped up compared to the mids, making them sound somewhat less open and more veiled than I would like. They're kind of like B&W, only less so

[@henryjoseph413]

Good video. Please play exactly the same portion of the songs for each speaker to compare the speakers' sound better. Anyway, ELAC here sounded more open and had better treble.

[@danmacdonald837]

to tiny

[@panblue43]

Hi!I had several loudspeakers in the last years and now I use the es20.I think they are underrated loudspeakers.Not hyped like the elac debuts or the kef q350s or the triangle bores.(And I am amazed that the wharfedale 11.2 after runned in and conquered fast-then lost in the mist as it were never been) I do not like the hi-fi magazines' tests'-sometimes they are sketchy and biased.The best tests are that reveals the details and include some measurements like the "Audio Science Review" forum. So back to the bookshelves: I loved my Heco Elementa 300s-they were high quality,good response and details,and power performance-but they had no "soul",too analytic and choosy to music genre and source quality.Then I changed to Wharfedale Diamond 11.2s-I loved them so much!Good rythm,good response,one of the best ls for music-on any genres.But after a time I experienced it has not that big power performance as the hecos and at movies the dialogues are dark,sinks heavily in the bass line so not clear,not enjoyable.Ok,try another one: I tested some kef q350s.Not for me instantly at the first time.I missed the power-the kick at low volumes,and I could not hear out the detailed well-known high freqs at some music where the wharfedales done a far better job. So I arrived to the polk se20.The best price to value in this range.Its strongest advantage is the equal utility for movies or music in a pure stereo system.The dialogs at films are well balanced,clear.Sound effects are great-highlight the heavy bass load what the could press out-more easily than the diamonds.At music the vocals are "lively",not choosy in genres. I love the rounded bass,powerful midrande and crisp highs and cymbals.I need slow roll-off ls at the high range bacause of the overdamped room.The polks make the job,good mix with the power of hecos and with soul,rythm and lively like the diamonds. Polks deserve to be mentioned among the other ls like klipsch,triangle,wharfedale,elac,dali,etc.

[@roybrolsbeak]

Thanks :)

[@vinylmonster4907]

I prefer the Polks as well - though i was initially skeptical I ended up buying a pair to compliment the S35 Center Channel to complete my front stage and wow I could not be more pleased!

[@Turtleback8024]

❤️Polk - Expect great sound.

[@Mc2Gamer360]

I have the signature s50, with the s30 center, and man I couldn’t be more pleased! Especially when I added the center channel. Made a big difference

[@catminister1075]

I have a pair of S20's that replaced my Pioneer Dolby Atmos, Andrew Jones with the S35 center channel as well and have been considering a pair of the ES20'S to complete the rear stage.

[@higobatman]

I prefer the Elac. But it's a matter of taste.

[@ncironhorse8367]

I like the scooped out sound of the Polks better. The Elacs just sound thin to me but have more presence

[@jonbarlock848]

I like the mids on the Elac B6.2 but they sound a little too soft for my liking at times. To my ears and it may be different in person but I give the slight edge to the Polk ES20.

[@BobDoherty]

Very different sounding speakers. The ELAC have much more midrange than the Polk but they both sound great. Comparisons really bring out the differences but I feel like I could get used to either one and be happy. May go with the Polk only because my amp is a 35 watt Cambridge Audio and I don't think that would pair well with the 6 Ohm Elac's.

[@BhavikPatelhr]

I like Bass and Heavy sound and polk deliver it....Elac seems to be sharp and harsh on long run.....

[@nicolasgalimberti899]

Tengo el S20 y suenan tremendos, casi que no necesitas un subwoofer. Los graves suenan barbaros

[@tashy191]

Hola amigo, una pregunta, de casualidad sabes que tan profundas son las ES20? es que en la pagina web de Polk dice que son 13.8 pulgadas pero no se si es con todo y el Power Port de la parte posterior

[@jvilarrubi]

Yo también los tengo y estoy encantado con ellos, por su precio es un regalo.

[@stephanematis]

Time Travelling : listened first with the DT990 Pro earphones on my end, then repeat here. The B6.2 sounds like a larger room (coffeeshop?) and the ES20 sounds like what I had in my earphones. Both very pleasant, but do I really want to hear the song the same exact way as the earphones or have a greater sense of room with closer/farther separation of the musicians? Not sure. Thank you for this video.

[@user-ss4zb7tq8f]

Хороший тест👍- Polk порадовали мои уши)) Звук не резкий!!

[@RockCity1111]

The polls hit harder in the bass department that's for sure!!

[@legione1capone]

I think the polks sound better as an all around speaker for multiple genres of music.

[@IMGhee]

The Polks wider soundstage, but coloring in the high frequencies. The ELACs flat response, but a little 2D. ELAC wins for me

[@thangadurairaghavelu5454]

Both are nice for played all music. E 20 is very bright and Elac sounds like orijinal orchestral feel.

[@songjin9420]

I am using an ES20 to watch this video, my amplifier is NAD C328 and I think I made the right choice

[@alvarsantini2653]

ES30 here

[@BhavikPatelhr]

Polk ES20, 15 and 30

[@RockCity1111]

Congrats 👏 I'm trying to do the same for my R 200s.

[@alvarsantini2653]

@@BhavikPatelhr I was in between the airmotiv c1+ and the ES30 and got the ES30.The motiva is 3 driver + 1 tweeter everyonse is talking about that one. Do you got the ES version or the S30? and what do you think about how it sounds.

[@BhavikPatelhr]

@@alvarsantini2653 I have ES version and it's sound great.....no complain..... vocals are Clear and crisp...I had Elac C5.2 which I returned and bought ES30 as Elac was not producing vocals as clear like polk in low or medium sound level

[@kevinbehnke7149]

Polk's are missing midrange... Elacs are more neutral.

[@SacmnDoktoruSacmnDoktoru]

Yeah elac seems more accurate like studio monitor but polk has a more more enjoyable delivery...

[@aldrinsevilleja]

POLK ES20, THE BEST!

[@Pahandopalas]

I would describe the sound like this: Polk Audio Elite ES20 sounds like the listener is on the balcony of the theater, when ELAC Debut B6.2 sounds like an orchestra is playing right in front of the listener.

[@andreaalberelli855]

I prefer Elac (with marantz 6005 series, it seems made for).❤

[@DougMen1]

In the previous video with this Polk speaker with the Arcam amp, the Polk sounds clearer, more open, more dynamic and less veiled and V shaped to me, so something is different between the two videos, perhaps some of the levels on the Mac, the Arcam, or the recording gear

[@zeppzepp1234]

That's a good sign to just let Polks out. If it can sound wrong somewhere, it's not an easy setup speaker....

[@Turtleback8024]

@@zeppzepp1234 What do you mean “somewhere”? The first setup that DM is referring to was done in the same room with the same Amp?🤷🏻‍♂️ Have you considered the connections or any other factors that may affect the sound of a speaker? Or you just too much in a hurry to discard the Polks regardless?🤓

[@sepg5084]

​@@Turtleback8024the channel rarely answers comments so i'd take these results with a grain of salt.

[@CypressVintage]

Wonderful comparison. Really productive.

[@mexatroll9000]

Im betting this is sarcasm

[@thecatgyp6850]

Now I'm thinking of getting a 2nd pair and replacing the Pioneer Andrew Jones upward firing Dolby Atmos speakers Ive been using as rear stage speakers...

[@sumdood2035]

How would you say the E20's compare to the Polk RTI A1's? The ES20's sound MUCH better than the ELAC here with rock/metal (crash and burn, magic show), and with EDM (Punkd). The ELAC's have a massive upper mid or lower treble bump, which makes them sound like a harsh mess. Acoustic Guitars sound strained as well. I was looking for a ~$300 pair of bookshelf's. The Polk's are sounding better the more I listen.

[@ec6843]

lmao Polks destroy the Elacs here. The sound of the Polks is smoother, tighter, and less noisy. The Elacs really sound tinny and too much midrange glare in comparison.

[@honumoorea873]

You are a joke right...? Polk suck here, too much bass and treble, no clarity, a big chunk of frequencies are totally recessed...!

[@ec6843]

@@honumoorea873 Someone's butt hurt LMAO

[@michel7971]

No

[@bleachedwhale]

​@@michel7971yes

[@AvinashSingh-xo4st]

Make the next video on Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 vs Mission LX-3 MKII Bookshelf Speakers

[@CastingCelebrity]

Elac more analog but wonderfully has bigger sound stage... Mids well extended too than Polk...

[@TonicofSonic]

I really wanted to like the elac better but I honestly think the polk sound like the more refined design.

[@user-rj5xd2gp7g]

I'm using B6.2 and it's so ugly

[@mohdrozakhiismail7273]

@@user-rj5xd2gp7g look or sound that ugly ? Why ?

[@HawkFest]

@@user-rj5xd2gp7g My CPU is ugly but super efficient. My dog is ugly but I luv him.

[@billb8262]

I feel like the Polks may be missing some mids while accentuating highs and lows....sort of like a "V" on an equalizer. The Elac's, while not as warm, let you hear more of what is going on without the mids sounding like they're in the next room while the rest of the band is in the room with you.

[@marvinmurakami8828]

I'd like something that sounds right in between the two.

[@montecarloflash-2340]

Polk♥️

[@ViktorBiohazard]

The ES20 would be a worthy upgrade for my Rti A1's?

[@thomasward00]

Prefer the Polks, great to see them making a comeback, Elac has just been overhyped the last few years.....

[@arkadiuszwitkowski256]

Czy Elac debut będą dobrze grały z Panasonic pmx92?

[@satyiphone]

Elacs are mid forward, adding a sub will make it sound better, I believe. What can be done to add mids to v-shaped Polk?

[@DougMen1]

Turn the bass and treble down if your amp has tone controls, or put an equalizer into the signal chain and do the same thing, or leave the bass and treble alone, and bring up the mids

[@zeppzepp1234]

@@DougMen1 Unfortunately maybe it'll just bring more problems. Just neglect lower range Polks, the tweeter's quality and the crossover integration is not right.

[@zeppzepp1234]

Subs won't help.....accept that sound or buy another one. These are the lowest range speakers, little can be improved.

[@satyiphone]

@eddie liu What are your thoughts on Elac B6.2 in this comparison?

[@zeppzepp1234]

@@satyiphone It's just a typical lower tier speaker, the improved version is the DBR62. For speakers with 6.5inch woofer at that price range, there are little to choose from. The forward mid is a known issue for some flat response speakers, and I won't criticize it too much. It still can be a good tool for listening to music better than the Polks. If something need to be apply for improving the tonality, maybe try a shelf-EQ, fiddling around to find the perfect transient frequency and that'll make it less harsh and more bass weighted without degrading the integration of its crossover. The problem to apply EQ is using too much ups and downs at the wrong frequencies, it should be prevented.

[@mietekkowalski935]

🤔🎧🎶🎶🎶🎶Elac👍👍👍👍🙂🇵🇱

[@achillesvlog4697]

I'm agree to other's comments Polk destroyed elac here.polk sound more robust and tighter.

[@abcd-fs2de]

Polk for me, much fuller sound.

[@dpdp006]

Great video - To my ears I found (TimeTravelling song 14:10 ) mid range clearity in Elac vs Polk sounded missing some freq but in Fields instrumental i find polk stood out though ymmv

[@MR-DURO]

Polk for me

[@taxi615]

The polk sound much better even if the audio is compressed.

[@michel7971]

No

[@bleachedwhale]

​@@michel7971yep

[@wworkluxury]

Polk sound natural and deeper bass. Elac sharp and harsh.

[@roninnovastar1321]

This one is difficult,, seems the two are equal in sound performance.

[@cbayardelle]

Soundstage on the elac is much deeper & wider, female vocal much better on the elac

[@williammiebach1798]

The Elac DB62 is the more balanced and musical speaker to me. It's opened and detailed enough in the treble and upper mids without sounding too hyped or accentuated, and without the leaness and sharpness that causes the Polks to become a bit fatiguing to me after a short while. It's midrange is slightly pitched forward, but reveals some details that are slightly buried on the Polks. The Elac's bass is maybe less punchy, but is smoother and more pure sounding. The DB62 may be less exciting and a trace pitched forward in the mids, but the Polks are a touch unaturaly lean there. To me the Elac is slightly more honest and pleasing. Neither one is magical.

[@DougMen1]

The Elac clearly needs more bass. It sounds to me as if the combination of woofer/box/port is tuned poorly, or in execution doesn't match the computer models and prototypes that Andrew used in designing them, like they may have inadvertantly changed the port length or diameter on the production models, or the cabinets aren't air tight snd are changing the overall bass tuning because of air leaks

[@zeppzepp1234]

​@@DougMen1 I'm curious where's the bass reflex port on Polks.......Did this setup closed to the front wall make all front ported speakers lacking bass compared? Measurements of Elac can be found somewhere, it looks typical and nothing wrong. I don't like Elacs either so I'm not defending for it. I just don't expect too much for lower range speakers even with a modern design.

[@DougMen1]

@@zeppzepp1234 Good point! On the Polks it's on the back, and on the Elac it's on the front baffle. Perhaps that's why the Elac sounds so thin to me, it isn't getting any help from the wall behind the speakers like the Polks are

[@DougMen1]

@@zeppzepp1234 I never thought about that until you mentioned it. Most of the speakers here are rear ported, and the other Elac that sounds too thin to me, the UB52, is also front ported. Now, I'm going to have to go back and see if all the other speakers that sound too thin to me here are also front ported

[@marvinmurakami8828]

@@zeppzepp1234 the port on the back of the Polk is hidden by the flat plate that on the other side has a sharp cone-like structure extending into the port to smooth airflow and spread out the sound.

[@ludasaci]

Polk!!!

[@vvsousa]

For music the polks without a doubt for home cinema I think the elacs are better

[@zeppzepp1234]

Polk is just like a 30 years old design, both sound and cosmetic. Elac is not perfect, too. But Elac shows what can be done in the real cheap design, good enough dynamic handling, smoother frequency response. I didn't hear delicate quality on Elac, but it's fine for the price.

[@premajwani1290]

Elac winner 🏆

[@tornadoduran165]

Elacs sounds truer to original songs if you make the comparison, Polks are too v-shaped

[@syavagor]

Слушайте с 3.0 мин. а в 3 мин 15 сек сделайте выбор. У меня Polk 60e.

[@davidcarr2216]

Riffing again. Not sayin' they're completely flat. On the warm , sweet side with good top end detail. A less warm amp might work for a more neutral signatue. Better than the Elacs.

[@marvinmurakami8828]

Midrange sounds too far forward and harsh on the Elacs. The Polks have a more rounded and balanced sound.

[@muhendisabi1697]

O bougth es20 and oberon 1 so es20 much more accurate enstrumants timber, much more vertical and horizontal dispersion, much more base and finaly listen music with es20 like live concert with Dali Just delivery from 2 dimension rear room. Dali not bad speaker polk incredible..

[@jaamucv]

I'm just in doubt about buying the Dali Oberon 1 or the Polk Elite Es20. Would you say that Polks are better at everything?

[@edwinsnoek2009]

Polk sounds very balanced.👍😊

[@Kaffeestrudel]

First thank you very much for you uploaded speaker tests in that high quality, I´m looking for new speakers and hear some sound samples. One of then that will be one of this two beauties, first I heard it on headphones to get it better. But then for me the Elac with the song "Boost your power" the e-guitar sounds much duller then the ES20, after checking it on my pc over my old Philips NEXT 5.1 they sound realy the same like the ES20 really good and clear. So does you or anyone how that sounds the orginal one with that guitar like more the ES20 or the Elac B6.2? So that I know my memorys of the songs are not quite correct how has to be sound.

[@ImTheDudeMan471]

FYI: The ELAC shoots puffs of air out the port. If you turn up the amp high enough, you get these travelling air puffs at deep bass notes. First time I felt an powerfull air puff, it confused the heck out of me.

[@Keith-ip8kx]

I’d like to throw in my 2 cents. I expert here but I listened to music enough to know that recordings are different between songs and studios. What sounds perfect in one song sounds different on another recording and different song in the same speakers. One song has a way lot of midrange and another a lot of base. I may like one song and not the other on my speaker system. I’m constantly changing bass treble and midrange setting on receiver to fit the song for the sound on what I like. Sooo …

[@scottlowell493]

I had the elacs. the tweeter is too rolled off.

[@kymnewman3518]

ES 20 bright without being sharp on the ear

[@syavagor]

13.35 - 13.55

[@juanadame99]

Polk tiene sonido en V con medios muy apagados, Elac es plano y más real.

[@kymnewman3518]

the 6.2s are a lot muddier with separation on this comparison

[@ce386]

Полк рулит

[@devidlintang9755]

Big different of prices

[@raygu1818]

Polk ES20 better soundstage all the way around

[@bmanh2355]

Elacs are heavy in 500-1k range

[@user_4g382sg]

У полков больше объёма и больше баса. У елаков точнее бас и выражена середина. Разные колонки под разные жанры. На елаках хорошо слушать метал.

[@kooijbas]

The Polk may be a bit V-shaped, but the ELAC have a very offputting frequency boost somewhere in the mids. In Time Travelling this is especially anoying with the claps.

[@patriciaweber9832]

polk slightly better in my ears.. and this cool design

[@kymnewman3518]

classical 6.2 sharp

[@joeljavier5032]

Kanina mahal ngaun hindi na

[@tweakradje]

What a big difference again at 15:00 Night and day. For me it's Polk ES20 for tonality. Dunno about imaging and soundstage in real live. Original Magic Show at this point to compare: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2m5pX6XnJueg9E

[@SacmnDoktoruSacmnDoktoru]

So at 11:50 song's symbol come sound like garbage bag from elac but polk same part soo musicaly delivered.

[@rodplanet5901]

Too much mids can also be fatiguing

[@diosubescu]

Polk ....

[@user-mg4th1vp2q]

ES20 IS BETTER FOR ME.

[@markovlasic1978]

Polk is better here.

[@WanderingSword]

Polk ES20 better

[@joshuawang5859]

B6.2 way more better

[@shediverse]

Polk have gone to the bother of making the enclosures look good, elac is just a black rectangle. Are you paying for looks because that cost money. I couldn't say I liked one more than the other.

[@radry100]

I own the Elac and they sound exactly as terrible in real life as in this video.

[@patrickkerns2022]

elac is much worse of the 2 almost to much mids

[@McgarickWAstate]

Wow the Elacs super suck..

[@jannowak8951]

Both sound horribile. At least thru my $10/pair plastic computer speakers. What a nonsense.

[@kymnewman3518]

heavy metal sounds shit on anything. And thats not even heavy. poor production just a flash of clashing noise

[@infovims]

The Polks are horrible. Listening to this on the industry standard Sony MDR-7506 headphones on a Mackbook Pro.

[@jcepri]

These sound comparisons are a waste of time. They tell you exactly nothing.

[@TheMymopar]

So true. You are listening on a device like your phone or TV speakers so it definitely is a waste of time.

[@burton7023]

Polks