Polk Signature Series Official Discussion

halo71

I'd like to see Polk make a new SDA!

[Deleted User]

So was Frank using a center channel speaker or ...
I know my 1969 Pioneer SX-9000 has a center channel out.
google is my friend!
http://blogs.kcrw.com/rhythmplanet/frank-sinatras-classic-hi-fi-system/

[Deleted User]

For those interested here's a link to information about the Presto company: http://museumofmagneticsoundrecording.org/ManufacturersPresto.html

mhardy6647

rednedtugent wrote: »

^^^^ how about an optional planter?

Now THERE's a novel idea!
Who said American innovation was dead?

txcoastal1

@D2Lo any pics of the back of the bookies...just curious of porting etc

F1nut

Power port at the top rear, which is good because if it was at the bottom rear one of the delicate flowers here would have found it offensive.

txcoastal1

Thanks guys

D2Lo

Slim center has 2 Power Ports out the back and the traditional center has a single Power Port in the center of the back.

D2Lo

I dug up this sketch going through an old sketchbook. The sketch is from 13 months ago. I did this after a rather long whiteboard session with Polk lead designer, Jeremy Savage and our engineering team in which we figured out how to accomplish all of the design and engineering goals at the target price point. Afterward I doodled this in a meeting with the president and CEO to explain to them our direction.

[Deleted User]

Cool.

skrol

Nice doodles....

I am curious how forgiving these speakers are regarding placement. The LSi15 is a little different configuration with the side firing woofer but it also has the down firing Power Port. It is very sensitive to placement and the bass can easily get boomy if there is not enough space from the walls. How sensitive are these speakers to placement?

D2Lo

Good question, much more forgiving in my opinion than RTiA. The down firing port evacuates air 360 degrees out from the speaker and the port being in the center of the speaker has a nice large base plate to transition to. I'll ask Stu what he thinks though.

rpf65

The indentation and robbed design may be taking the place of the bumpers on the back of the previous design.

D2Lo

The Power Port plate is a lot bigger on these than the RTiA's so it just didn't need the bumpers to be stable on the wall. Also note on the slim center the keyhole mount is actually an X so you can use the speakers as an L/C/R which was a request we got while testing.

codycatalist

DSkip wrote: »

Higher end than LSiM line does not make sense for Polk. That is not their game. The new regime has this right - they know what Polk was and how to get it back to where it was.

I grow tired of the constant slams against Polk for not doing what each individual wants, and this isn't calling you out Johnny. I just want people to look at what these guys are doing and evaluate it on a business level. Polk is producing products that we can stand behind. These new products may or may not make it into our home, but they are definitely speakers we can push to those who come to us for advice. In all honesty, I can't say I've felt that way about anything Polk has produced in the last 8 years.... LSiM included. I am genuinely excited about this line.

These guys hit it on the head with the new T50. They hit it on the head with the new Signature series. There is still more in development and I expect them to hit that on the head as well. Vision is not an issue anymore. These guys 'get it'.

As far as the slim center, I chose it over the larger one. It is a stunning speaker and, to me, has better proportions anyways than a traditional big box center. I expect to grab a few more and use them as surrounds since they are so functional and aesthetically pleasing. Dipole and Bipole surrounds are a dying breed as new algorithms come out for surround sound. The fact that there are none for this series is not a flaw to me. In fact, I don't think they would fit with the series given the overall tone and cabinet design of the series.

Couldn't have said it better myself Skip.

I may be into the Vintage Polks BUT if I were to get a new set of speakers it would be a budget line. I now have more offerings to choose from with my favorite speaker manufacturer.

WLDock

DSkip wrote: »

Higher end than LSiM line does not make sense for Polk. That is not their game. The new regime has this right - they know what Polk was and how to get it back to where it was.

Oh man do I agree. A prime example would be two Polk rooms at a show like AXPONA. One with LSiM (or a line above LSiM) and one with Signature (If they actually do bring the goods in terms of sound ). I would bet the Sig would bring more foot traffic if the right buzz got going! In the $5000-$8000 range there is a lot of stuff to choose from. I'm talking out the side of my mouth but I'm sure surveys would show that market does not consider Polk a true Hi-End player and that crowd is more likely to buy some other "audiophile" associated brand. That market is about as picky as they come.... most are not rich!

OTOH, the ELAC room at AXPONA was full...so much so that many said they would come back when they can get a good seat. Surprising... given the MEGA BUCK rooms at a large show like that. There's a market for affordable yet good sounding speakers!

Polk should really push these to major media outlets, the big box stores, as well as specialty shows and such. It would be good to see a major breakthrough in 2016-2017 for the old recognizable brand.

I'm looking forward to hearing the line.

halo

WLDock wrote: »

DSkip wrote: »

Higher end than LSiM line does not make sense for Polk. That is not their game. The new regime has this right - they know what Polk was and how to get it back to where it was.

Oh man do I agree. A prime example would be two Polk rooms at a show like AXPONA. One with LSiM (or a line above LSiM) and one with Signature (If they actually do bring the goods in terms of sound ). I would bet the Sig would bring more foot traffic if the right buzz got going! In the $5000-$8000 range there is a lot of stuff to choose from. I'm talking out the side of my mouth but I'm sure surveys would show that market does not consider Polk a true Hi-End player and that crowd is more likely to buy some other "audiophile" associated brand. That market is about as picky as they come.... most are not rich!

OTOH, the ELAC room at AXPONA was full...so much so that many said they would come back when they can get a good seat. Surprising... given the MEGA BUCK rooms at a large show like that. There is a market for affordable yet good sounding speakers!

Polk should really push these to major media outlets, the big box stores, as well as specialty shows and such. It would be good to see a major breakthrough in 2016-2017 for the old recognizable brand.

I'm looking forward to hearing the line.

I agree and I hope that the Polk folks don't resort to whatever trickery AJ had going on that day. The UB5 were amazing at AXPONA and NOT in my living room. Sorry but the acoustics aren't that bad up there; the Energy speakers and the NHT speakers sound pretty darn good but the UniFi line was pure $h!te.

I am looking forward to the SS bookshelf speakers!

rpf65

Just throwing this out there for the design team. I've shown pictures of these speakers to people who I think would be the target audience.

Ages ranged from mid 20's to early 40's, both male and female. They all liked the looks, and if they sound good, you guys may have a winner.

Keep in mind this was a totally unscientific, amature survey, conducted by person who was just trying to milk the time clock.

D2Lo

Thanks rpf65! We have been getting a lot of positive response from the line from social media as well as retailers. CEDIA went really well for us.

Thought you all might like to see what we are listening to this week. :-)

halo

D2Lo wrote: »

Thanks rpf65! We have been getting a lot of positive response from the line from social media as well as retailers. CEDIA went really well for us.

Thought you all might like to see what we are listening to this week. :-)

How does the bass response compare between these three models?

F1nut

Michael, that is one of the least desirable SDA's. Not worth listening to, IMO.

D2Lo

One of my guys picked them up cheap and thought it would be fun to bring them in for a listen.

mhardy6647

D2Lo wrote: »

Thanks rpf65! We have been getting a lot of positive response from the line from social media as well as retailers. CEDIA went really well for us.

Thought you all might like to see what we are listening to this week. :-)

Do I need to send youse guyses some vintage silver-faced, Japanese born-'n'-bred ee-lek-tronics to (ahem) push them loudspeakers?



1970s watts, bay-bee!


ahem

DSC_0242 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

ZLTFUL

Doc Hardy has a bit of a problem...

mhardy6647

Your point?

PS I could have way more self-destructive addictions, y'know?

codycatalist

D2Lo wrote: »

One of my guys picked them up cheap and thought it would be fun to bring them in for a listen.

Random question Michael. When I was watching the T50 breakdown live on FB there was different Polk speakers in the background. It looked like there was a pair of PA speakers, just curious if those were the original speakers Matthew made for his friends? If so would you be able to post a pic either in this thread or a new one?

mrbigbluelight

Dear Mr. Hardy,
I hate you.
Respectfully,
MB-"I'll just be over here in the corner crying"-BL

codycatalist

mhardy6647 wrote: »

D2Lo wrote: »

Thanks rpf65! We have been getting a lot of positive response from the line from social media as well as retailers. CEDIA went really well for us.

Thought you all might like to see what we are listening to this week. :-)

Do I need to send youse guyses some vintage silver-faced, Japanese born-'n'-bred ee-lek-tronics to (ahem) push them loudspeakers?



1970s watts, bay-bee!


ahem

DSC_0242 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

Sooooo much Silver faced gear (Drool)

EndersShadow

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Your point?

PS I could have way more self-destructive addictions, y'know?

We all know you just pull out all the innards and hide your coke & meth inside those things. Its ok

mhardy6647

Speakers are much better places in which to stash stuff.

That's why acoustic suspension (sealed box) speakers were so popular in the seventies, man.

... or... you know... so I've heard.