Short answer: the Polk Signature Elite ES20. It ranks #119 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $398.98; the Dynaudio Special Forty ranks #148, rated 3.5/5, and costs $3,600, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the Dynaudio Special Forty: Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet. The tradeoff: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ.
The case for the Polk Signature Elite ES20: Large, efficient bookshelf speakers with unusually deep bass for the price and wide horizontal coverage. The catch: Predicted in-room smoothness of 0.238 and directivity-index consistency of 3.81 are average rather than class-leading.
Buy the Polk Signature Elite ES20. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Special Forty and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet.
Large, efficient bookshelf speakers with unusually deep bass for the price and wide horizontal coverage.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Dynaudio Special Forty | Polk Signature Elite ES20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3600 per pair | $398.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #148 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #119 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55.7Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) | 14.8H x 8.5W x 13.8D in |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4/8-ohm compatible |
| Sensitivity | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 86dB |
| Drivers | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter | 1” Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5” polypropylene woofer |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.73 | 4.49 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.74 | 6.44 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, Power Port bass-reflex |
| Country | - | United States (design) |
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