Sneak Peek

Emlyn

D2Lo wrote: »

Well, this hasn't been announced yet, but I'll let you guys in. There are a couple of different centers in the series. This particular center is what we call a "slim center". Designed to be placed in tighter spaces.... I'll give you more detail about it at CEDIA in another week.

Excellent idea on the lower height center. Very useful to fit in front of a flat screen TV sitting on its stand. Most current products are too big for that.

The ad seems to say that these are to be marketed mainly through Best Buy and Amazon, which is fine and presents a big market. But, doesn't really seem to fit in the with name "Signature" considering the term usually designates something top of the line. And, the photo make the cabinets look like they are clad in dull grey vinyl. If they are wood veneer, may make sense to point that out. The black baffle around the drivers looks great though. The line seems to be built and marketed towards home theater use rather than music. I'll check them out in person once they hit a local Best Buy store.

Motta

D2Lo wrote: »

Just curious, what did you guys think about the ad copy? Because we knew the S&V would hit a week before the announcement we didn't want to give away much in the form of specifics, but we did want to say something about what inspires us.

What do you think about bringing the power port technology more to the forefront of the design?

I really liked the power port moving from the rear to the middle of speakers. The ad does not show a subwoofer, and the other ad shows some other ideas about deep bass, so I am assuming that we can expect a deeper bass from this speakers. The drivers are not that large, but the air has long way from the drivers to the power port. I am curious to listen to it.

So, no grilles, right?

D2Lo

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Not to rain on the parade here, but it would seem to me that calling these speakers a "signature series" would indicate that Polk has lost touch with the heritage .

I don't think so. Historically the top of the line has been something more like "Signature Reference Theater" (IE the SRTs), so this name leaves some headroom for more product above it. Every product we make has our signature sound, while I think only one line can be the reference. It also aligns with the fact that this will be our best line in Best Buy (where more than half of all speakers are sold) and think about what brand these will be next to and what those "horn-blower's" call their line. Having A/B'd them in our labs as well as in our living room environments, I'm confident being next to them any day of the week.

D2Lo

mrbigbluelight wrote: »

Visually, I liked the "In Deep Bass We Trust" ad. I'm certainly no graphics design artist. But with the darker, more muted background layout contrasted by the slightly backlit (?) bottom of the speaker highlighting the power port, it seems to say:
"Okay, punk. Make my day. Put on Pantera's 'Respect' and crank it up. Is that all you've got, you lily-livered Bxxe fanboy ! NEXT !".

You nailed it. This is pretty close to some of our conversations. We didn't want to name name names but these things sound better than anyone else in our price class... true to Polk to have incredible sound at an affordable price.

D2Lo

F1nut wrote: »

Well Motta, there were two other members here that had the info before you, but chose to show some class and wait for Polk to make the official announcement.

We appreciate how you guys have our back, and I personally appreciate that I can chat with a few of you in private about things ahead of time and there is enough respect there to know no-one will spill the beans accidentally. In this case I think it is OK as the ads hit the news stands, so no harm done fellas.

gumbay13

"these things sound better than anyone else in our price class.." Interesting to say the least. Enough to pique my interest.

Motta

F1nut wrote: »

Well Motta, there were two other members here that had the info before you, but chose to show some class and wait for Polk to make the official announcement.

Thanks for your words. Similar pictures from the S&V ads are popping in many audio and home theaters forums around the world (AVS Forum included). I still think that Polkies would be better served if they can look into it here first (so that is the reason that I posted here), than anywhere else on the Internet. But this is just my opinion, and maybe I am totally out of class lately...

Well, that being said, let's stick with the topic... Tell me what you liked the most about this new Signature series...

[]'s

rpf65

Not really liking the looks of them. The rounded corners are a nice touch, but in the picture it looks to me as if the cabinet is either plastic or wrapped in vinyl. Just not something I would like in a living room.

Then again that opinion may change when I see the speaker on display.

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't hook an Emotiva up to those.

Paradoxex

I think they look great. I am happy to hear there's a second center - but I get the reason you give people options there.

The power port is what makes them look different - I think people picking on the rounded corners or the assumed quality of the materials are missing the point. This is meant to be a great speaker for the home theatre, and I think it will do great in that setting.

Price and the rest of the line will be interesting, as well as reviews. I think it looks a lot better than comparable Klipsch/Jamo/whatever speakers. I loved my first set of speakers, Jamo S606s, to boot. It surely looks better than the speakers just above me.

mdaudioguy

Wow, as was mentioned earlier, tough crowd! I think they have a lot of potential. Y'all seem to want LSiM style and quality for TSi (or whatever) pricing. I think these will go a long way toward getting their brand into more households.

cfrizz

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Wow, as was mentioned earlier, tough crowd! I think they have a lot of potential. Y'all seem to want LSiM style and quality for TSi (or whatever) pricing. I think these will go a long way toward getting their brand into more households.

And THAT is the bottom line.

While we all love the Polk brand, most of the regulars on here have out grown the target market that is Polk's bread and butter.

The sooner you all accept the fact that the old SDA's are not going to make a come back, and that the LSIMs are now the TOTL speaker for Polk, which still cost more than the majority of people are willing to pay the happier you will be.

Constantly whining and moaning and sometimes outright insulting the new products that Polk is putting out that are CURRENT with TODAYS market because you want them to continue living in the past is simply wrong.

I am still happy with my 26 year old RTA-8Ts, but I also love that Polk has been in business for so long and continues to put out excellent quality products that people can afford to buy. This has always been Polk's purpose.

I also love the fact that all of us who still have the vintage gear can call them up and get replacement parts to keep on rocking! How many other companies will do this.

This speaks to the respect and dedication that Polk has for us older generation that helped to put them on the map. The same respect should be given to Polk and their new offerings.

Now as for the new line of speakers, I love the power port being at the bottom, which means the speakers can probably fit close to the wall and still sound great. The top front does look like plastic which I'm not too keen on, I prefer an all wood look. But maybe the grill hides it. I would like to see them with the grills on.

Of course the bottom line will be how they sound, and if they can be used and sound good with both music and movies. We all know that the RTIa;s excel in one but not necessarily the other, it would be nice to get a speaker that does both really well. If you have speakers that do both really well, that makes it easier for people like me to just have one system for both.

Which means you can hook it up to your standard receiver and have it sound great, but also hook it up to separates as you start climbing the audio ladder, and be able to sound even better. To me that is the mark of a great speaker. I think that is why so many of us have kept and still use our vintage Polk gear.

I look forward to reading more info on this new line. Congrats on the new speakers and I hope you sell lots of them.

xsmi

Are these going to be in the standard Best Buy stores or the Magnolia's?

voltz

I personally like the looks of the Drivers, but it doesn't mean I will like the sound. It would be great to hear these at Skip's cause he knows how to get the most out a speaker and find the best gear to match them!

BlueFox

Kool. He is going to have them at Octoberfest.

voltz

Sorry Blue I had a typo, there was talk about maybe him getting a chance to have them there. not sure if its actually happening, I put will instead of would I edited back to would above.

BlueFox

No problem. Think positive.

rpf65

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Wow, as was mentioned earlier, tough crowd! I think they have a lot of potential. Y'all seem to want LSiM style and quality for TSi (or whatever) pricing. I think these will go a long way toward getting their brand into more households.

Not looking for a specific style or quality at all. Just don't find the picture particularly attractive. As I said before, my opinion may change when I actually see them.

Being a middle aged guy, I'm probably not the target demographic, so my opinion is irrelevant. Could be that they may appeal to a lot of people visually, but if I were shopping on line, I would probably buy the T-series over the signature series.

Not a big fan of black speakers, but the T-series look like a better build quality than the new signature series speakers. From the picture it just looks like these speakers should be in a inexpensive HTIB system.

I don't know if it's the shiny black against the dull gray, or if it is, at first glance, what appears to be screw heads in the cabinet. Could even be the Polk badge looking like it's painted on. Just seems to me the picture screams low quality.

All I'm saying is that if I were the average BB customer and these speakers looked exactly like the pictures, I probably wouldn't even give them a listen. Then again, I've been in million dollar homes, that looked like they've furnished from Walnart or Big Lots, so I have no idea what people want.

mdaudioguy

rpf65 wrote: »

Then again, I've been in million dollar homes, that looked like they've furnished from Walnart or Big Lots, so I have no idea what people want.

Yep, I was in million dollar house just this weekend, and although it was nicely furnished, I took note of the TV/speaker combo in the formal living room. High end 75" Samsung 4k TV, with a horrid looking pair of grey Sony towers.

mdaudioguy

xcapri79 wrote: »

Just like the RTiA series.

I think some of us were looking for the fit and finish of the RTiA series for these new speakers. After all these are called the "Signature" series, and the RTiA series look, fit and finish is signature Polk Audio.
Not sure why this couldn't be offered as an option?

Not everyone likes the wood look, so now they've added some variety. Signature is just a name.

Upstatemax

I just care about how they sound...

I'll be interested to see just how committed you guys are to Polk's heritage, it used to be customary for a demo set of new speakers to spend some QT with us established Polkies.

mhardy6647

D2Lo wrote: »

...We didn't want to name name names but these things sound better than anyone else in our price class... true to Polk to have incredible sound at an affordable price.

That truly is a Polk "family value", all the way back to the original "Monitor Series".



... and also note the tag line in the catalog ad below touting the "Model 10" value

GMmusicPolk10primosystem by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

(both catalog scans above from a Gordon Miller Music catalog, ca. 1977)

I do look forward to hearing a pair -- even if I have to go to BestBuy so to do


EDIT: PS ahem... "horn-blowers", eh? heh-heh-heh...

xsmi

Upstatemax wrote: »

I just care about how they sound...

I'll be interested to see just how committed you guys are to Polk's heritage, it used to be customary for a demo set of new speakers to spend some QT with us established Polkies.

I'm with Upstatesman. With me being in the center of the country, they should start with me and I could send them east or west.

[Deleted User]

I forgot to ask, are these Doubly Amos enabled?

rpf65

They don't look like they are.

txcoastal1

Atmos and DTSX is best projected from the ceiling

[Deleted User]

Thanks. That actually makes a lot of sense now that you mention it.
"Honey, what are these things sticking out of the floor in the bedroom?"

txcoastal1

rednedtugent wrote: »

Thanks. That actually makes a lot of sense now that you mention it.
"Honey, what are these things sticking out of the floor in the bedroom?"

Speakers

Toolfan66

Since it says American HiFi, where are they being built??

nooshinjohn

Toolfan66 wrote: »

Since it says American HiFi, where are they being built??

Vietnam