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 GR-Research X-LS Encore ranks #146, rated 3.5/5, and costs $1,300, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The GR-Research X-LS Encore is the more accurate choice. Two-way bookshelf speakers with a Peerless woofer, also sold as a kit so builders can save money by assembling them. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.05 against 4.49 for the Polk Signature Elite ES20. The tradeoff: A slight depression in the upper bass and some peaking in the lower bass shows up on-axis, along with directivity error in the crossover region.
The Polk Signature Elite ES20 is the deeper-bass pick. Large, efficient bookshelf speakers with unusually deep bass for the price and wide horizontal coverage. Its bass reaches about 55.7Hz before falling 3dB, against 64Hz for the GR-Research X-LS Encore. 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 GR-Research X-LS Encore and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Two-way bookshelf speakers with a Peerless woofer, also sold as a kit so builders can save money by assembling them.
Large, efficient bookshelf speakers with unusually deep bass for the price and wide horizontal coverage.
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Specifications Side By Side
| GR-Research X-LS Encore | Polk Signature Elite ES20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1300 per pair | $398.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #146 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #119 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 38.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 55.7Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 13.5”H x 8.5”W x 12.1”D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm) | 14.8H x 8.5W x 13.8D in |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4/8-ohm compatible |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review on the kit; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 86dB |
| Drivers | 6.5” Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1” Peerless India T26SG tweeter | 1” Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5” polypropylene woofer |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.05 (measured, spinorama.org) | 4.49 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.42 (measured, spinorama.org) | 6.44 |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, Power Port bass-reflex |
| Country | - | United States (design) |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
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