Polks vs. Legacy

musky1963

I am just considering jumping ship to these http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-legacy-audio-focus-se-2013-12-30-speakers-37067-franklin-tn

I have 2.3tl's right now and I am pleased, but I have a problem hanging on to the same gear too long . I never got a chance to see/hear these. Anyone have any experience with the bigger Legacy line? I do like a dynamic and larger soundstage, so I thought about these. It is a very long drive, so an audition is not happening.

tonyb

DSkip wrote: »

Apples and oranges. Legacy makes fine speakers.

Agreed, though at 5 dimes, those are a bargain. I have the Focus 20/20's and I think another member or 2 have the original Focus. Can't speak for them But I'm pretty happy with mine. It's a lot of speaker for the money that's for sure.

Mystery

Do they have bricks in them to weigh 190 lbs each?? :eek:
They are not even that wide nor deep.

Anywho, they look great.
Way out of my pocket but if you can afford, why not?

musky1963

I cant really afford, but I could manage if I have to. Of course I would have to sell my Polks

Mystery

24x24?
That link has 55 x 14 x 15.375 - without feet.

14 x 15 is very slim.
Most of my bookshelf speakers are wider than that.

musky1963

Oops, I looked at the crate size instead of the actual size. Pretty small woofers, but they claim down to 18hz. Wonder if they have to be way out from the walls? I am trying to avoid that since my room isn't huge at 14 x 22, but is really open at both side/ends. Shipping wouldn't be cheap, but neither is a trip to TN in a Silverado.

restanim

I have SRS-1.2TL and the original FOCUS. Midrange on up to highs, the FOCUS wins hands down. Clarity, detail, and smoothness are so sweet. In the lower end they are very similar. The 1.2TL's may have a slight edge on the sub sonic freqs with the eight 6.5" drivers. They move quicker than the three 12" woofers of the FOCUS. Let's not forget the large price difference and the SDA effect. Things to consider.

Hope this helps,
Mike

restanim

Oops, I just read that the new FOCUS only has two 12" woofers. The original FOCUS has three 12" woofers, two front firing and one rear firing.

Sorry,
Mike

Technojim

A lot of the money is built into the cabinetry. Hand made, first rate materials, fine carpentry, dense materials with tons of bracing. That's one reason why they weigh so much too.

F1nut

I have 2.3tl's right now and I am pleased, but I have a problem hanging on to the same gear too long

If you haven't done the full mods, including the Dreadnaught, you have yet to hear those speakers.

musky1963

I agree that I need to do the mods to get the most from the Polks, but is investing close to $1K into them going to top the Legacy Whisper of Focus SE?

pitdogg2

musky1963 wrote: »

I agree that I need to do the mods to get the most from the Polks, but is investing close to $1K into them going to top the Legacy Whisper of Focus SE?

Whisper no they are much different. Much bigger drivers 4-15" and a either rear 12" or another 15" I can't remember and they are 10G's +. If it were me I'd invest in the mods for sure money well spent.

musky1963

The Whispers have been selling for 5K or less. The HD or XD version is a lot more. I listened to them a few days ago for a few hours. Amazing to my ears. He did have very nice Classe' monos feeding them though. The smaller Focus SE are seen for 4K or so.

tonyb

musky1963 wrote: »

I agree that I need to do the mods to get the most from the Polks, but is investing close to $1K into them going to top the Legacy Whisper of Focus SE?

No....The Legacy sound isn't that far from the Polk sound imho. More detail, more air, huge bass slam on the Focus line. Sharper notes especially in the mids. I've come from Polk SRT's to Focus 20/20's and thought them way better. The newer Legacy lines are suppose to be an improvement further and every review I've read confirms that. keep in mind these are big speakers, they need room to breath and good upstream electronics will reward you in spades. The newer Focus has 2 12 inch drivers in each while mine have the 3 12's. But the response is suppose to be close if not the same in the lower regions between the 2. These are the type of speakers you buy when you don't want a subwoofer involved in your 2 channel listening....full range behemoths.

I'm a big fan of the SDA sound, owned them....loved 'em. Everything you love about SDA'S are just brought to another level with the Legacy line. Worth the coin ? I would say so, but I buy used or demo. Paid 4k for mine as demos' delivered to my door. Just saw some Whispers for 5k on the 'gon the other day. New....not too many of us have 10k-20k to spend on speakers these days and in that price range the competition gets stiff.

SDA's present a fantastic value in dollar spent for SQ you get....so does used Legacy's. You can mod the SDA's and be happy for a long time...but you can also mod some Legacys too if you wanted. I know Trey will be doing my crossovers when the time comes if those newer Legacys haven't fallen off a truck in front of my house. Everything is relative in this hobby, Polk or Legacy certainly are not the end all be all....they simply both offer that bang for your buck but on different playing fields, if that makes any sense to you.

musky1963

Tony, clear your pm box..........it is full.

tonyb

http://www.stereomojo.com/Legacy%20Aeris%20Speaker%20Review/LegacyAerisSpeakerreview.htm

Had to bring this up again. Stereomojo review of the Aeris.....think he had to change his shorts a few times too. Man, I want these baaad.

Indyaudio2

Great comparisons and most timely. I have the TLs (bone stock, no mods) and am seriously considering the Legacy Classic, perhaps the original Legacy 1 version if anyone has any intel, thanks.