Looking forward to L800 but have concerns, what are your thoughts?

Emlyn

Any drivers that are designed to a price/performance point can be improved upon. Even current designs. There have been a couple ways in which the Polk midwoofer and passive radiator performance could and have been improved. Namely dampening the stamped metal baskets and better anchoring the drivers to the cabinet structure either with ring supports or inserts for the screws/bolts. Those material changes were very easy to identify by ear. Both of those had very beneficial results for me.

There was no way I would have kept any Polks with the dead fish eye SL2000 tweeters, so that was another huge area of improvement to correct what came to be perceived as a defect over time.

K_M

Emlyn wrote: »

Any drivers that are designed to a price/performance point can be improved upon. Even current designs. There have been a couple ways in which the Polk midwoofer and passive radiator performance could and have been improved. Namely dampening the stamped metal baskets and better anchoring the drivers to the cabinet structure either with ring supports or inserts for the screws/bolts. Those material changes were very easy to identify by ear. Both of those had very beneficial results for me.

There was no way I would have kept any Polks with the dead fish eye SL2000 tweeters, so that was another huge area of improvement to correct what came to be perceived as a defect over time.

I could swear the SL2000 tweeters aged or sounded worse over time.

I wonder if Polk realized this and the reason for the replacement "newer" style tweeters.
Not just the 12.5 kHz peak but something just sounded off about them.

nooshinjohn

Emlyn wrote: »

Any drivers that are designed to a price/performance point can be improved upon. Even current designs. There have been a couple ways in which the Polk midwoofer and passive radiator performance could and have been improved. Namely dampening the stamped metal baskets and better anchoring the drivers to the cabinet structure either with ring supports or inserts for the screws/bolts. Those material changes were very easy to identify by ear. Both of those had very beneficial results for me.

There was no way I would have kept any Polks with the dead fish eye SL2000 tweeters, so that was another huge area of improvement to correct what came to be perceived as a defect over time.

For their time, doped paper cones were among the best regarded driver materials you could get. They were very carefully researched by Polk to do their job, and were selected despite there being several other driver types that were cheaper. They were also built in-house. Back then, this helped keep costs down.

Today, there are drivers that are several orders of magnitude better that the MW65xx, but I do t think any of them would work as well in the older Polk speakers. Also keep in mind that some of the more well regarded audiophile speakers made even today use doped appear cones.

DarqueKnight

Emlyn wrote: »

One is the size of the big ones overloading the room I have my two channel system in while also being picky on requiring placement close to the front wall.

Two things I have never heard better though are the SDA imaging and the way the midwoofers worked with the passive radiators so seamlessly. To me those two factors are what made them so fun to listen to.

I replaced the SDA SRSs (original) in my home theater with LSiM 707s. I did that strictly for aesthetic reasons. I prefer the look of smaller speakers in that room. The 707s produce a smaller front stage than the SRSs, but they produce a more cohesive front stage with the LSiM 706c center.

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Today, there are drivers that are several orders of magnitude better that the MW65xx, but I do t think any of them would work as well in the older Polk speakers. Also keep in mind that some of the more well regarded audiophile speakers made even today use doped appear cones.

Yes, there have been some substantial advancements in motor structure, basket damping, and materials since the original SDA midwoofers debuted. Some years ago I asked Polk's engineering department for recommendations for upgrade replacements for the original drivers. I was told that different drivers would require a different crossover to properly accommodate the electrical parameters of the new drivers. Cabinet modifications might also be required.

SIHAB

It's starting to sound like the L600 is the one to get...

pitdogg2

K_M wrote: »

Emlyn wrote: »

Any drivers that are designed to a price/performance point can be improved upon. Even current designs. There have been a couple ways in which the Polk midwoofer and passive radiator performance could and have been improved. Namely dampening the stamped metal baskets and better anchoring the drivers to the cabinet structure either with ring supports or inserts for the screws/bolts. Those material changes were very easy to identify by ear. Both of those had very beneficial results for me.

There was no way I would have kept any Polks with the dead fish eye SL2000 tweeters, so that was another huge area of improvement to correct what came to be perceived as a defect over time.

I could swear the SL2000 tweeters aged or sounded worse over time.

I wonder if Polk realized this and the reason for the replacement "newer" style tweeters.

Yes I do agree with the bold type.

I will also remind you in the tweeter shoot out Ray @DarqueKnight had compared he also found the SL1000 to be the better of the two. Both had polyamide domes yet i can agree the SL2000 was much harsher tweeter and I found the domes to not age as well as my much older SL1000 tweeters i have stashed. I can also attest to the SL1000 also having magnet glue problems. Several I have had let loose and locked up the voice coil. So you also have that problem.

F1nut

Comment from an attendee the NY Audio Show.

Polk Audio / Marantz room - another WOW! Polk were showcasing those new top of the line speakers with cross-talk cancelling technology array on top, driven by a full Marantz stack. Amazing power, detail, and clarity, with no audible distortion even at loud SPL. Color me impressed. Polk people advice pretty close placement: 6 to 8 feet apart, depending on the room, and no toe-in - they need to face the room straight, the array is angled to mimic toe-in, so any additional toe-in done by you will actually ruin the main effect of the speakers, i.e. cross-talk elimination.

mpitogo

@F1nut thanks for posting that. I was also impressed by them in less than ideal and cramped rooms with noisy neighbors.

I spoke to my dealer this evening, Thursday/Friday this week! I’m excited! Childhood dream comes true, SDA. They aren’t the SDA from stereo magazines with Matthew Polk standing next to them in a lab coat I used to read about when I was little but if the hype is true, these will be wait for it.... Legendary.

Will see how well they play with my amp, or not.

WLDock

SIHAB wrote: »

It's starting to sound like the L600 is the one to get...

Who's listened to it?

SIHAB

@WLDock

Not I. I meant for ease of setup and enjoyment.
Most people aren't as hard core as we are.

Emlyn

The L800s, in both finishes, have been available for shipping from Crutchfield for a few days now. They do say low stock. No sign of the L600s yet. All the other speakers in the line are available including the Atmos modules and center channel. That's one big center speaker!

mpitogo

From what I was told they shipped to dealers last Friday. My dealer has them in black but not walnut. Walnut is worth the short wait. Not sure bout online dealers. My dealer will deliver, unbox and setup.

ESavinon

Heard them at the NY Audio show.
The L800 are definetly among the best SDA speakers made!

dromunds

ESavinon wrote: »

Heard them at the NY Audio show.
The L800 are definetly among the best SDA speakers made!

Would you please expound ?

Emlyn

L600s in black now available for shipping from Crutchfield...

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_107L600BA/Polk-Audio-Legend-L600-Black-Ash.html

BlueFox

Are they $2000 for a pair, or $4000 per pair?

ptrooper

Down the bottom there it says " each"

pitdogg2

well the L800 is 6K so those should be 4K a pair

BlueFox

ptrooper wrote: »

Down the bottom there it says " each"

Yes, but L800 says $6K each, but that means a pair.

F1nut

I see they have included this recommendation, bravo!

high-current amplification from a quality power amp or integrated amplifier is recommended for best performance

ptrooper

They'll have to stick to their advertising....buy up now!
Its a bargain but i do beleive you'r dreaming!

BlueFox wrote: »

ptrooper wrote: »

Down the bottom there it says " each"

Yes, but L800 says $6K each, but that means a pair.

ptrooper

Dam,If only there were two i the pic! end of convo...

"Really Looking forward to the reviews from the owners of the L800's soon!
The local west coast hifi shop in the Malaga area here down under in Perth will have L600's for a few days,I'll be there.
Interdyne the suppler for Polk here are only supplying these for a demo to suppliers.

mpitogo

Polk Audio L800 Walnut in the house!

WOW! But seriously talk to me in 100 hours. These are just FOOTB. Compares well to LSiM 707's which were previously my favorite.

Will pictures soon.

verb

mpitogo wrote: »

Polk Audio L800 Walnut in the house!

WOW! But seriously talk to me in 100 hours. These are just FOOTB. Compares well to LSiM 707's which were previously my favorite.

Will pictures soon.

Congrats on being the first! Looking forward to pics and your impressions!

mpitogo

Pictures for now. On my phone it is correct. Just turm your head...😜

mhardy6647

mpitogo wrote: »

Pictures for now. On my phone it is correct. Just trim your head...😜
...

[emphasis added]

man-o-man, autocorrect is not your friend!





... meanwhile, back at the ranch.



il n'y a pas de quoi.

SIHAB

...

monepolk

Very nice. Looking forward to your impressions. Especially since some of your equipment looks VERY familiar

nooshinjohn

Congrats man. I look forward to your impressions as they settle in.

pglbook

Wow! Congrats!

You must feel like a kid at Christmas...or a kid in a candy store...or a Polkie with new Polk SDAs.

I cannot wait, once you come up for air, to hear your impressions of them.