Does Matthew Polk
...have a short list of his favorite Polk speakers? Would be curious to know and why.
Post edited by deronb1 on
Comments
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The SRT project was designed to his spec's. I don't know of any favorites he has other then them. I'm sure someone will chime in.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Thanks mantis. You don't hear much about the SRT line here (or anywhere else for that matter) I am not too familiar with them either, but looking up some info online, it seems they were pretty expensive.
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They where badass , one of the very best dollars for dollar theater systems that could be had at that time. I wouldn't mind owning it today.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
$10,000 new! I wonder what they are going for today?
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I wonder how the LSiM would do as HT vs. the SRT? Old vs. New!
Speakers
Carver Amazing Fronts
CS400i Center
RT800i's Rears
Sub Paradigm Servo 15
Electronics
Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
Parasound Halo A23
Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
Pioneer 79Avi DVD
Sony CX400 CD changer
Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR -
I think he had some dual LSi9's in his H/T rig, with a crazy crossover giving an SDA effect!
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I think SDA is still his favorite. After talking with him at the last Polkfest at HQ and hearing reports from some of us lucky people who got to have dinner with him at his home, SDA is still his first love. He has an arrangement of 4 LSi 9's for the front stage of his HT and he has this massive point to point crossover to make them SDA's.
He also talked a lot about the Surround Bar products and how it took like 7 years to develop the algorithms while technology caught up, etc. He was keen on the idea of perhaps merging the electronic and passive methods of SDA into a new speaker. Doubt that will ever happen though.
I think it's safe to say SDA is among his favorites.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Then why doesn't he have any of these speakers (SRT or SDA's) in either of his home rigs?
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George Grand wrote: »Then why doesn't he have any of these speakers (SRT or SDA's) in either of his home rigs?
George you were there, you know his LSi 9's are wired in SDA with that funky, large x-over he had. Plus, I'm going on the conversation I had with him about marrying the active and passive virtues of SDA into a new speaker. He was pretty animated when discussing SDA and it's history.
Otherwise anyone's guess is as good as mine.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
disneyjoe7 wrote: »I wonder how the LSiM would do as HT vs. the SRT? Old vs. New!
Having heard the LSiM and the SRT - the dynamics of the SRT to this day are unmatched by any other speaker I have heard...
Going with the name SIGNATURE REFERENCE THEATER - they earn that title very well.
LSiM is a completely different speaker.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I have heard both a SRT system, and the front speakers 707's and the 703's. When the other speakers are built for a HT I think the LSiM system would be great, and making a very nice 2 channel system.
Speakers
Carver Amazing Fronts
CS400i Center
RT800i's Rears
Sub Paradigm Servo 15
Electronics
Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
Parasound Halo A23
Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
Pioneer 79Avi DVD
Sony CX400 CD changer
Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR -
I like that he still enjoys tinkering... like this surroundbar on steroids-
Taken at PF '08. The crossovers were... interesting.
Sorry to deviate from the subject... but I think he's still finding his favorites
Ludicrous gibs! -
It's like when a person who loves to play golf moves onto a golf course, he looses interest...Although some play even more golf.:biggrin:
Mr. Polk has had so much SDA in his face at work, he just wanted something at home I would guess. But to mess with the crown jewels of the time and make them SDA's says volumes.
He's a thinker and visionary. Just putting SDA-CRS+'s ( size equality to the Ls9's ) in his room might have reminded him of his age, times gone by....the good ol days, so he thought, SDA-LS9's...:biggrin:
New, compact, and most of all....another CHALLENGE to work on.
:cool: Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
I like that he still enjoys tinkering... like this surroundbar on steroids-
Taken at PF '08. The crossovers were... interesting.
Sorry to deviate from the subject... but I think he's still finding his favorites
Who's head is that? :biggrin:
Those X-overs are amazing, I take it he doesn't have a cat.Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's -
Who's head is that? :biggrin:
Those X-overs are amazing, I take it he doesn't have a cat.
This photo is in the conference room at Polk HQ. Matt and Stu and perhaps one other person built these especially for Polkfest 2008. They sounded awesome considering they had just finished late the night before and didn't have time to even test them to get them tweaked.
It was a one off thing and was a MONSTER surround bar set-up.
The speakers in the background are a pair of SRT's kept at HQ. Those were never hooked up, that's where they nomally reside at Polk HQ. The subs you see on the floor on either side of the table were part of the MEGA SURROUND BAR set-up
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
A better question would be what he thinks of the Polk Audio fanatics and what he thinks of those that do upgrades and tweeks to the speakers he designed??
If he want's to revisit SDA's of yester year that he doesn't have anymore I am sure there is a line of guys that would be happy to accommodate him..Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎
SVS SB16 X2
Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
Cary DMS 800PV Network
OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
Jolida JD9 Fully Modified
VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM
MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s -
George Grand wrote: »Then why doesn't he have any of these speakers (SRT or SDA's) in either of his home rigs?
His wife might have had some sayso in that regard.
Perhaps even the inventor of SDA's is not immune to the dreaded WAF. I recall that Matthew's wife is an architect and that she designed their current home. In her case, with her professional aesthetic sensibilities, I could imagine the WAF against SDA's being astronomical, which would be astronomically ironic.
Even the smallest SDA's, the CRS+'s, are not what many would consider to be "cute" little speakers. I like the monolithic appearance and form factor of the largest SDA's, but they can prove challenging to integrate into many room decors.
It could also be that, over the years, he came to prefer the sound and appearance of smaller speakers.
*Wife Acceptance FactorProud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »A better question would be what he thinks of the Polk Audio fanatics and what he thinks of those that do upgrades and tweeks to the speakers he designed??
If he want's to revisit SDA's of yester year that he doesn't have anymore I am sure there is a line of guys that would be happy to accommodate him..
Even he tweaks the speakers he designed. There had to be a point in his design and materials list where he had to stop making the speakers better, to fit them in the price range and market he was serving.
Which is why I don't question the folks who choose to rebuild crossovers in the newer LSi line and the like...Ludicrous gibs! -
You guys are always a great source of info. Nice pics too. It is really cool that he is so accessable. Sounds like a pretty down to earth guy.
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His favorite Polk loudspeaker is the LSi9. The SRT is a given but not very practical, so as far as regular speakers go....CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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I would love to hear a pair of LSi9s properly powered. The only high end store around only carries B&W and Def Tech. Do they sound similar?
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Even he tweaks the speakers he designed. There had to be a point in his design and materials list where he had to stop making the speakers better, to fit them in the price range and market he was serving.
Which is why I don't question the folks who choose to rebuild crossovers in the newer LSi line and the like...
I know he likes to tweek but to start a company with what little he had and to make it what he (they) did and have a following of something you designed 20+ years ago has to have you sit back now and then and just be in awe of sorts, and to see what others have done to improve them and restore them. it has to be a great feeling is all I'm saying, how could it not??Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎
SVS SB16 X2
Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
Cary DMS 800PV Network
OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
Jolida JD9 Fully Modified
VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM
MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s -
I guess that is the pay back for having the passion for what you do instead of solely chasing the profit. Mr. Polk must be very proud to see his speakers fans keeping his vintage alive and kicking with such passion and love.TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »I know he likes to tweek but to start a company with what little he had and to make it what he (they) did and have a following of something you designed 20+ years ago has to have you sit back now and then and just be in awe of sorts, and to see what others have done to improve them and restore them. it has to be a great feeling is all I'm saying, how could it not??
BTW, when you have babies you usually love them equally, they are different and all have some different to offer but they all are your creation afterward and your pride is there for each and everyone of them, right?...have a short list of his favorite Polk speakers? Would be curious to know and why. DARE TO SOAR:
Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life -
Ok, I'm now waiting for Mr. Polk to show up and tell you of his favorite. He must have a list of some kind. I carry a grocery list and wouldn't care to guess his favorite speakers.
Does he use Polks at home?
Maybe his wife won't let him use the computer -
Refer to the below posts quotes......Does he use Polks at home?
Maybe his wife won't let him use the computerHis favorite Polk loudspeaker is the LSi9. The SRT is a given but not very practical, so as far as regular speakers go.......He has an arrangement of 4 LSi 9's for the front stage of his HT and he has this massive point to point crossover to make them SDA's...H9Conradicles wrote: »I think he had some dual LSi9's in his H/T rig, with a crazy crossover giving an SDA effect!DARE TO SOAR:
Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life -
He also uses or used LSi9's upstairs on the Marantz/Audio Research/Threshhold rig he uses for actual listening.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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Does he get the Polk discount? :biggrin:
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His favorite Polk loudspeaker is the LSi9. The SRT is a given but not very practical, so as far as regular speakers go....
There was enough room for 4, maybe 500 SRT rigs @ Casa Polk. That's without the garage. -
Great thread!
TFLF had a great point, I wonder too what Mr. Polk thinks of us. If he isn't in awe that we aren't just maintaining the vintage, that you guys are actually bringing people like me in to the fold and bringing vintage into the modern world and our little prized vintages are competing if not better than many other modern speakers, then I would like to tell him one day that I am in awe.
How exciting would it be for him to mix these speaker technologies with the modern ways of producing SDA experiences and produce a whole new line of revolutionary musical mediums. I'm glad to hear he still tinkers.Polk Audio SDA CRS+ crossover 4.1TL by Trey/VR3 (Rings and custom stand by Larry)-Polk Audio SDA SRS2 crossovers by Trey/VR3Parasound HCA1500aYamaha rxa-3070 with musicast-Celestion SL6S presence,- sl9 surround backNHTsuper1's surroundMagnepan SMGParasound 1500pre- Sofia "Baby" tube amp - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Marantz 2230/B&Kst140Technics 1200mk2 Gamertag: IslandBerserker I am but a infinitesimally small point meeting the line of infinity in the SDA universe -
Great thread!
TFLF had a great point, I wonder too what Mr. Polk thinks of us. If he isn't in awe that we aren't just maintaining the vintage, that you guys are actually bringing people like me in to the fold and bringing vintage into the modern world and our little prized vintages are competing if not better than many other modern speakers, then I would like to tell him one day that I am in awe.
How exciting would it be for him to mix these speaker technologies with the modern ways of producing SDA experiences and produce a whole new line of revolutionary musical mediums. I'm glad to hear he still tinkers.
Matthew thinks very highly of us tweakers and was amazed that so many people still follow his old designs. That was one of many reasons he (the company) hosted Polkfests at HQ. He truly appreciates our enthusiasm.
He (the company) has brought vintage SDA to the modern world with the Surround Bar............7 years to write, develop the algorithms in the DSP unit.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
