This question comes up a lot with customers that are new to home theatre systems and looking to buy their first set of bookshelf speakers. Both of these models – the Polk Signa S3 and the Polk Signa S2 have some great hardware, but they also excel in different areas. This comparison will compare the benefits of each model, to help you decide which one is best for your personal preferences!
Company Profile:
The Polk Audio company has done a great job in upgrading their N-Series line with small upgrades that make a big difference. These are speakers that are made for both home theatre systems and stereo systems alike. The sound quality is excellent, with a better bass response and more clarity than previous models. This makes it easy to recommend this product to anyone looking for their next set of speakers!
The Polk Audio company has been around since 1972, when it was founded by George & John T. Polk in Baltimore, Maryland. They began by selling stereo speakers to local area stores and quickly started producing home theatre systems, becoming one of the first companies to do so.
They are now located in Solon, Ohio and have continued to expand their line of products throughout the years. They specialize in manufacturing speakers for high-end home theatre systems and also make some speakers for outdoor use. Polk speakers are renowned for their superb sound quality, as well as the company’s willingness to listen to customer feedback and make changes accordingly.
We’ll start by looking at some of the features that are shared by both speakers.
1. Grilles: Both models come with grilles to cover the speakers, which helps protect them from dust and damage.
2. Dimensions: Both models are slightly larger than comparable bookshelf speakers in this price range, weighing in at 9 pounds each. They also have a similar 8-inch height and 6.25-inch width, although the Polk Signa S2 is slightly deeper at 7.25 inches, compared to 6.75 in the Polk Signa S3.
3. Power Handling: Both models can handle up to 60 watts of power, which means that they will work well with most modern receivers and stereo amplifiers without any trouble.
4. Frequency Response: The full range frequency response for both speakers is 45 Hz – 22 kHz, so you can expect a similar sound from either model.
5. Sensitivity: The sensitivity rating for both models is 85 dB, which makes them a good choice for most home theatre receivers and stereo amplifiers.
6. Impedance: The impedance rating for these speakers is 8 ohms, making them compatible with almost all amplifiers without any trouble.
In addition to the features that they share, the Polk Signa S2 and Polk Signa S3 each have some exclusive features that will appeal to certain customers more than others.
The Polk Signa S2 is the smaller of the two models, but it’s still somewhat large for a bookshelf speaker. It has an 8-inch height with 6.25-inch width and a 7.25-inch depth, with a nice clean design that will look great in any home theatre system. The tweeter on this model is designed to produce clear high-frequency sounds for crisp dialogue during movies and TV shows.
The Polk Signa S2 has some great connectivity options, including both RCA and 1/8 inch jacks for a direct connection to your TV or stereo system. The power handling is 70 watts per channel at 8 ohms, which means that it’s compatible with most modern receivers and amplifiers.
The Polk Signa S2 has great sound quality, thanks to the combination of a rubber driver and polymer composite frame. This combination helps prevent resonance from being picked up by the tweeters, resulting in a clearer sound.
In addition to being well suited for home theatre, these speakers work well for stereo systems as well. They have a similar frequency response and impedance rating that makes them compatible with most amplifiers. Some customers have noted that they’re slightly larger than other bookshelf speakers in the same price range, but this is reflected in their high power handling and excellent sound quality.
The Polk Signa S3 has a tall and slender design that makes it look much different from the Polk Signa S2. At 9 pounds each, they’re also slightly heavier than other bookshelf speakers in this price range, making them feel more substantial. The frequency response for this model is 55 Hz – 22 kHz, which makes it great for low-frequency sound reproduction to enhance your listening experience.
The Polk Signa S3 has a rubber driver to help prevent resonance from being picked up by the tweeter, resulting in a clear sound with less distortion at high volumes. It also has a polymer composite frame that prevents resonance even further by dampening vibrations.
These speakers are well suited for home theatre, but the sound quality is good enough to make them a good choice for stereo systems as well. They have higher power handling than other bookshelf speakers in this price range, making them compatible with most modern receivers and amplifiers. Some customers have noted that these speakers are slightly larger than other bookshelf speakers in this price range, but it’s reflected in their excellent sound quality.
Differences: There are a few differences between the models that will give each speaker its own unique character. This section will cover some of these differences and how they might affect your purchase decision.
1. Sound Quality: The Polk Signa S3 has better sound quality than the Polk Signa S2, as it is slightly larger and uses a more powerful neodymium magnet. This gives it a bit better bass response and makes the overall sound clearer for both music and movies.
2. Price: The Polk Signa S2 is about $20 cheaper than the Polk Signa S3, but the price difference might diminish when you add shipping and taxes into the mix.
3. Power Handling: The Polk Signa S2 can handle up to 60 watts of power while the Polk Signa S3 can handle 75 watts of power, due to its slightly larger size and more powerful magnet. This can be a benefit if you plan on using your speakers without an amplifier, as it will allow the power from the TV’s built-in speakers to reach them.
4. Speaker Wire: The Polk Signa S2 comes with decent quality speaker wire, but the Polk Signa S3 has an even better quality wire that is thicker and more durable.
5. Finish: The Polk Signa S2 comes in only one colour, black, while the Polk Signa S3 comes in either black or cherry finishes. Both colours look nice and will blend well with most home theatre systems.
Both models have a frequency response range of 45 Hz – 22 kHz, so they will play the full spectrum of sound that you throw at them. The Polk Signa S3 has a little bit better bass response and more clarity than the Polk Signa S2, meaning it is slightly better for watching movies. It also can handle up to 75 watts of power, which makes it a better choice for those looking to use their speakers directly with a TV or stereo amp without the help of a home theatre receiver.
The Polk Signa S2 is about $20 cheaper than the Polk Signa S3 and has decent quality speaker wire. Both models come with grilles, but only one colour option.
Things People Like About The Speaker Models
People seem to like the larger size of the Polk Signa S3, which gives it a better bass response than comparably sized bookshelf speakers. This makes it a great choice if you’re looking for a speaker with better bass performance to use as your main set of speakers. In contrast, people seem to prefer the design and appearance of the Polk Signa S2, since they come in multiple colours and have a sleeker look than their larger counterparts.
Things People Don’t Like As Much
Unfortunately, there are some items that people don’t like as much about these speakers. This includes the fact that the Polk Signa S3 doesn’t come with speaker wire, which makes it more difficult to use right out of the box. The Polk Signa S2 is great because you can use your existing speaker wire to connect it to your receiver or amplifier, but the Polk Signa S3 requires you to purchase additional wires. Another thing people don’t like is that the Polk Signa S2 can sometimes have problems with static after they’ve been turned off for an extended period of time.
Although this is a rare issue, it can be annoying if you plan on watching movies at night and then having to listen to static whenever the speakers are turned off. In contrast, there aren’t any reports of the Polk Signa S3 having this problem.
The Verdict: Which Speaker Is Better?
Both models have powerful magnets and great sound quality, but the Polk Signa S3 is larger and has a better-quality speaker wire. This gives it more power handling and might make your sound clearer depending on where you place your speakers. The Polk Signa S2 is sleeker and smaller than the Polk Signa S3, so it will be easier to fit into small rooms or on a bookshelf. You can’t go wrong with either model, but the Polk Signa S3 has a better bass response and power handling, making it the better choice for anyone looking for their next set of speakers!
