Short answer: the Polk Audio XT60. It ranks #36 of 59 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $229; the Polk T50 ranks #48 and costs $249, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Polk Audio XT60 offers: Passive-radiator-loaded design (6.5” woofer plus two 6.5” passive radiators) gives deeper bass than the driver size alone would suggest - 43.9Hz at -3dB / 38.1Hz at -10dB, genuinely competitive extension for a budget tower. Set against that: Bass alignment Q is the highest, least-controlled figure in this entire batch, consistent with owner reports of a slightly loose, boomy low end at higher volumes.
The case for the Polk T50: Pretty deep bass for the price. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is reasonably controlled outside a narrow spike around 250Hz. Watch for: 5dB peak at 1khz, 4dB bright top end from 11khz on up. Just okay vertical off axis.
Buy the Polk Audio XT60. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Polk T50 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Polk T50. It ranks near the bottom of the 59 floorstanding speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Audio XT60 | Polk T50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229 | $249.00 |
| Ranked | #36 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #48 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 4/8-ohm compatible | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (1W/1m) | 86.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5" bilaminate polypropylene woofer, 2x 6.5" passive radiators | 2x 6.5" bi-laminate paper cone woofers, 1x 1" Terylene dome tweeter + 2x 8" passive bass radiators |
| Weight | 20 lbs / 9.07 kg (20 lb) each | 75.4 lbs / 34.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator-loaded | passive radiator |
| Dimensions | 19.05 x 92.5 x 23.09cm (7.5 x 36.4 x 9.09 in) each | 40.4"H x 9.3"W x 12.5"D (1026.2 x 235.0 x 317.5 mm) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Klipsch RP-6000F II vs Infinity Reference 253
- Klipsch RP-6000F II vs Sony SS-CS3
- Klipsch RP-6000F II vs JBL Stage 2 280F
- Polk T50 vs Bose 901 Series V
- Polk T50 vs Infinity Reference 253
The Two Speakers In Full
Polk Audio XT60: $229 Amazon Bhphotovideo Crutchfield
Pros: Passive-radiator-loaded design (6.5” woofer plus two 6.5” passive radiators) gives deeper bass than the driver size alone would suggest - 43.9Hz at -3dB / 38.1Hz at -10dB, genuinely competitive extension for a budget tower. Hi-Res Audio certified, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X compatible, and works with either 4- or 8-ohm amplifier outputs.
Cons: Bass alignment Q (lfq 0.96) is the highest, least-controlled figure in this entire batch, consistent with owner reports of a slightly loose, boomy low end at higher volumes. On-axis deviation (nbd_on_axis 0.512) is also the roughest measured figure in the batch. The vinyl-wrapped (not wood veneer) cabinet reads as budget up close per owner reviews, and at least one owner reported blowing a driver under sustained heavy bass - some caution is warranted with bass-heavy source material at volume.
Full Polk Audio XT60 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 19.05 x 92.5 x 23.09cm (7.5 x 36.4 x 9.09 in) each |
| Drivers | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5" bilaminate polypropylene woofer, 2x 6.5" passive radiators |
| Impedance | 4/8-ohm compatible |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (1W/1m) |
| Weight | 20 lbs / 9.07 kg (20 lb) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator-loaded |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Klipsch Heresy IV
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Klipsch Forte IV
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Definitive Technology BP-9020
- Polk Audio XT60 vs KEF Q11 Meta
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Klipsch RP-5000F II
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Polk Reserve R500
- Polk Audio XT60 vs ELAC DF63
- Polk Audio XT60 vs PSB Imagine T65
- See all 15 comparisons
Polk T50: $249.00 Amazon
Pros: Pretty deep bass for the price. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is reasonably controlled outside a narrow spike around 250Hz. The reviewer notes performance is “not too bad for a budget speaker” once the two main tonal issues are addressed with EQ.
Cons: 5dB peak at 1khz, 4dB bright top end from 11khz on up. Just okay vertical off axis. Impedance and phase show several resonances between 200Hz-1kHz, with a minimum impedance of 4.2 ohms. Distortion rises substantially at 96dB SPL/1m across the midrange, with repeated peaks between 100Hz-2kHz.
Full Polk T50 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 9.3"W x 12.5"D (1026.2 x 235.0 x 317.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" bi-laminate paper cone woofers, 1x 1" Terylene dome tweeter + 2x 8" passive bass radiators |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 86.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 75.4 lbs / 34.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons