Short answer: the Audio First Cadentia 3 on measured sound quality, the Polk Signature Elite ES20 on price. The Audio First Cadentia 3 ranks #7 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.7/5, at $7,199. The Polk Signature Elite ES20 ranks #120, rated 3.7/5, at $397, $6,802 cheaper.
The Audio First Cadentia 3 is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. Near-textbook measurements: excellent on-axis linearity, listening window, and directivity, with only minor deviations. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 7.55 against 4.49 for the Polk Signature Elite ES20. Its bass reaches about 43Hz before falling 3dB, against 55.7Hz for the Polk Signature Elite ES20. The catch: A mild scoop through the upper midrange/lower treble slightly softens the attack of snares, hand claps, and sibilants: fixable with a single-band EQ (2.5kHz, +1dB, Q~1).
What the Polk Signature Elite ES20 does well: A full-size, efficient 6.5-inch bookshelf pair with unusually deep bass for the price. The catch: Predicted in-room smoothness of 0.238 and directivity-index consistency of 3.81 are average rather than class-leading.
Buy the Audio First Cadentia 3 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Polk Signature Elite ES20 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Near-textbook measurements: excellent on-axis linearity, listening window, and directivity, with only minor deviations.
Audio First Designs $7199 eBay
A full-size, efficient 6.5-inch bookshelf pair with unusually deep bass for the price.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Audio First Cadentia 3 | Polk Signature Elite ES20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7199 per pair | $397.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #7 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #120 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55.7Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) | 14.8H x 8.5W x 13.8D in |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4/8-ohm compatible |
| Sensitivity | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB |
| Drivers | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer | 1” Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5” polypropylene woofer |
| Weight | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex | - |
| Country | United Kingdom (Cambridge) | United States (design) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.55 | 4.49 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.91 | 6.44 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, Power Port bass-reflex |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Audio First Cadentia 3 (measured by the manufacturer) and Polk Signature Elite ES20 (measured by Audio Science Review), via spinorama.org.
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