Polk Camden Square Bluetooth speaker

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pglbook
pglbook Posts: 2,174
in Wanted (WTB) Classifieds
I am looking for a Polk Camden Square Bluetooth speaker in excellent cosmetic and working condition.

I can get this new for $82 via online sites but I though I'd give it a shot here first, hoping to find a nice used model for $50 or under (otherwise, I think I'd go the new route). I'll also prefer to deal with a Polk Forum member.

Thanks.
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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
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    pglbook wrote: »
    I can get this new for $82 via online sites

    Where can you get this online - NEW! - for $82? That sounds like one heckuva deal on a speaker that Polk sells for $300!

    Do tell, please!

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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
    edited October 2015
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    Teekay: If you check Amazon (marketplace sellers) and ebay, there are actually quite a few Sellers selling it brand new for under $100 (and a few selling it for as low as $82). Costco even sells it new for $72 but I am not a member of Costco and do not know anybody near me who is a Costco member. Like you, I was amazed myself at the prices. I had posted on here about a month ago (see thread in Speakers section from end of September) asking for recommendations for a good Bluetooth speaker under $100 and DSkip from this forum mentioned the Polk Camden Square. I looked on Polk's website and saw it listed for $300 and I posted in the thread that it was way over my budget. But then DSkip responded that it can be found for under $100 and, sure enough, it is out there for $82-$100 brand new. I could not believe it myself. A used one in great condition even sold for $37 shipped a few days ago on ebay (I bid on it but got the bid in too late due to computer issue unfortunately). I will probably go the new route myself and just wanted to see if there was anybody on here looking to sell a used one for a bit less than the $82-$100 one can find it new.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
    edited October 2015
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    Teekay: I just checked Amazon, for example, and found 11 Sellers selling the Polk Camden Square brand new, with prices ranging from $72.95-$98, so, yes, there are a lot of Sellers out there selling it for less than 1/3 of what Polk itself sells it for.
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,066
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    Are they authorized dealers selling at that price? If so snag one of them that's a good price. I own a Urchin which sounds pretty good have heard the Camden, which sounds great for a Bluetooth speaker.
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,071
    edited October 2015
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    teekay0007 wrote: »
    pglbook wrote: »
    I can get this new for $82 via online sites

    Where can you get this online - NEW! - for $82? That sounds like one heckuva deal on a speaker that Polk sells for $300!

    Do tell, please!

    Polk sells refurbs on their eBay store for $79.99

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polk-Audio-Refurb-Heritage-Camden-Square-Portable-Bluetooth-Speaker-/391170587592?hash=item5b13957bc8:g:VrUAAOSwsLtVez3v
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
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    gudnoyez wrote: »
    Are they authorized dealers selling at that price? If so snag one of them that's a good price. I own a Urchin which sounds pretty good have heard the Camden, which sounds great for a Bluetooth speaker.


    Gudnoyez: I will have to check if they are authorized dealers. Do I assume correctly that that the advantage of getting one from an authorized dealer is the warranty? Any other benefit?
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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
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    Nightfall wrote: »
    teekay0007 wrote: »
    pglbook wrote: »
    I can get this new for $82 via online sites

    Where can you get this online - NEW! - for $82? That sounds like one heckuva deal on a speaker that Polk sells for $300!

    Do tell, please!

    Polk sells refurbs on their eBay store for $79.99

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polk-Audio-Refurb-Heritage-Camden-Square-Portable-Bluetooth-Speaker-/391170587592?hash=item5b13957bc8:g:VrUAAOSwsLtVez3v

    That's where I got mine. Battery life is nothing short of incredible, sound is pretty good too as long as you don't blast it at the upper limits. It connects easier than any other BT speaker I own. Go Polk eBay and get the Polk warranty.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
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    What does "refurb" mean? Are they models that had issues and had to be fixed or are those still new in box. I'd like to give Polk the sale but do not know what Polk means by "refurb" model. Thanks.
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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
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    For my purposes, it came in a brand new looking box, with all the paperwork and accessories, I wouldn't have known it was anything other than new honestly. What it means specifically I can't say, but mine might was well be new.
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,132
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    Most refurbs are open box returns that can't be sold as new but still look as new
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,394
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    I got mine at Frys for $48. It's a nice, portable speaker that sounds much better than other Bluetooth speakers that sounds like a clock radio. Trust me, I have tested many.

    halen
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
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    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    Most refurbs are open box returns that can't be sold as new but still look as new

    Thanks for the info.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
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    halen wrote: »
    I got mine at Frys for $48. It's a nice, portable speaker that sounds much better than other Bluetooth speakers that sounds like a clock radio. Trust me, I have tested many.

    halen


    Wow, that is a great deal. I just checked the Fry's website and they have it for $55 but for in-store pick-up only, no shipping. The bad news is there are no Fry's stores in NYS and I live in Upstate NY. Damn.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
    edited November 2015
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    The search is over. I just ordered one, brand new, for $80 (with free shipping and no sales tax) from Amazon. That was a good deal. I cannot wait to get it and hear it. Thanks.
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,650
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    pglbook wrote: »
    The search is over. I just ordered one, brand new, for $80 (with free shipping and no sales tax) from Amazon. That was a good deal. I cannot wait to get it and hear it. Thanks.

    Looking forward to a review...

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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,394
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    Good for you man. The Camden is a fun, portable speaker that is also hassle free with the Bluetooth connection. I picked up the Polk Omni S2R as well but that venture was very short lived.

    Cheers.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
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    ken brydson wrote: »
    pglbook wrote: »
    The search is over. I just ordered one, brand new, for $80 (with free shipping and no sales tax) from Amazon. That was a good deal. I cannot wait to get it and hear it. Thanks.

    Looking forward to a review...

    Ken: I will post my thoughts about it when I get it in a week or so. Thanks.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
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    halen wrote: »
    Good for you man. The Camden is a fun, portable speaker that is also hassle free with the Bluetooth connection. I picked up the Polk Omni S2R as well but that venture was very short lived.

    Cheers.


    Thanks, halen.
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,173
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    I ordered one as well from Polk's Ebay store (refurbished, $83.00 total). Review forthcoming.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
    edited November 2015
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    I received the Polk Camden Square today and just plugged it in about 20 minutes ago. First impressions: the sound is very nice for a Bluetooth speaker, clear and detailed. However, I am very disappointed with the volume level. It is very low sounding even at the highest volume level. I had read this complaint in a number of reviews but, as I wanted it mainly for listening in a a small office, I did not think it would be such a factor. Of course, I did not expect the same sound level as a bookshelf or tower speaker but the sound is really quite low. I can imagine that this would be impossible to hear at a dinner party or in a place where people are conversing. That is really too bad. I will listen to it some more tonight and tomorrow but if it does not improve, I am afraid I will have to return it.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,394
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    What are you using to pair up with the Camden? It will not and should not give reference level sound. I actually have to turn mine down when I have people over.

    I use my iPad, iPhone and Samsung phone to pair up with the Camden. Try maxing the volume on the Camden and your paired device to see if it makes a difference.

    Cheers.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
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    Halen: I have the Camden Square paired with my iPhone 6S Plus and the sound is definitely very low. I have the volume maxed both on the iPhone and on the Camden Square.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,174
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    I discovered the issue. It had to do with the volume setting on my iPhone. The Camden Square is now much louder and rocking away. Excellent sound. I am enjoying it now. I am new to iPhone after my (antique) 5 year old Blackberry Tour died about a month ago so I am still trying to figure the iPhone out. The fault was mine not the Camden square. Thanks, halen and DSkip. The Camden Square is a very nice Bluetooth speaker. I am now listening to a Grateful Dead show from the app Relisten and it is coming through very nice and clean and thankfully, louder.
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,650
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    Glad you got it figured out. Rock on!
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