Polk L200 Speaker Demo Reviews

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Comments

  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,211
    Awesome thread so far. Where are we at with who is getting them next?
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    Well the walnut ones are headed from Texas to Cali next week. I guess the Arizona boys @codycatalist and @steveinaz didn’t want a demo?!? Makes sense with Cody, new marriage new baby he’s a little preoccupied. But what else does Steve have to do 😂???
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:
    Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra

    Bedroom 2.1
    Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    rooftop59 wrote: »
    Well the walnut ones are headed from Texas to Cali next week. I guess the Arizona boys @codycatalist and @steveinaz didn’t want a demo?!? Makes sense with Cody, new marriage new baby he’s a little preoccupied. But what else does Steve have to do 😂???

    Psh I have no music room anymore. I'd rather not demo them in my garage! :p
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    I've spent more than enough money lately on audio, I don't need new temptations.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,123
    Nice write-up, @halo. Thanks!
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,037
    Yes, very well done. I look forward to these reviews and yours is eloquent and thoughtful. On a side note I also really like those Amperex PQ 6922 white label tubes. 😉.
  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,482
    Nice review! I totally agree with your point on integrated amps. I found the L200's very power friendly with mine as well...
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
  • Inspector 24
    Inspector 24 Posts: 1,308
    rooftop59 wrote: »
    Well the walnut ones are headed from Texas to Cali next week. I guess the Arizona boys @codycatalist and @steveinaz didn’t want a demo?!? Makes sense with Cody, new marriage new baby he’s a little preoccupied. But what else does Steve have to do 😂???


    So you have demo’d them and sent them to Coolsax? So I should have them in a a week or two? Is that still correct?

    Rooftop59
    Coolsax
    Inspector24

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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited January 2020
    dromunds wrote: »
    Yes, very well done. I look forward to these reviews and yours is eloquent and thoughtful. On a side note I also really like those Amperex PQ 6922 white label tubes. 😉.

    Thank you Don, I appreciate your kind words. That is high praise coming from the man who set the bar so high in the beginning of this endeavor.
    smglbrth wrote: »
    Nice review! I totally agree with your point on integrated amps. I found the L200's very power friendly with mine as well...

    Thank you! I feel it is imperative to point out that the NAD C 316BEE integrated amp that I used is rated for use with speakers rated at 4 ohms (and that it is thought to pack more power than its conservative rating would belie). You know, for the sake of those on the internet that come across these reviews looking for advice/answers. ;)

    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    Very good write up Victor! My first day with the L200's is proving to be right in line with your assessments.

    I would be interested in your comparisons between the L200's and your new LSMi 703's after you've had some time with them.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,043
    Man, Victor just left an apple on the teachers desk with that review. Nice write up pal, real nice.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    tonyb wrote: »
    Man, Victor just left an apple on the teachers desk with that review. Nice write up pal, real nice.

    lol. I did say that I didn't like the aesthetics. Thanks Tony :smile:
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    Very good write up Victor! My first day with the L200's is proving to be right in line with your assessments.
    Great minds think alike!
    I would be interested in your comparisons between the L200's and your new LSMi 703's after you've had some time with them.
    Yes, of course :)
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,826
    Actually b/c of the holidays the order in Texas got switched around.. I've already had them and I gave them to Rooftop a bit ago. I haven't gotten my review up yet as its been busy around here.. i'll try to this week.
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
  • indyhawg
    indyhawg Posts: 1,648
    Nice write up Victor.
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    indyhawg wrote: »
    Nice write up Victor.

    Thanks Jeff!
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,511
    edited February 2020
    The L200's have landed at my home as of 5:15pm. They arrived in good shape and are hooked up and playing now. They are being fed by my Carver Statement Monoblocks, Pass Labs X0.2, Krell Evolution 505 SACD player. Cables are Audioquest Meteor 12ft Double BiWire, Audiquest WEL RCA from amps to preamp and Audioquest MacKenzie from the Krell to the preamp.

    Initial impressions are that they image quite well, and present a tightly focused center image. They seem to disappear with a pretty deep and holographic soundstage... They also seem to LOVE some power being fed their way.

    More to come over the next few days...
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,648
    edited February 2020
    So they sound fantastic on insanely good equipment... You suck.

    Edit: That's just what I was thinking out loud John. Looking forward to your review...
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)


    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,511
    edited February 2020
    audioluvr wrote: »
    So they sound fantastic on insanely good equipment... You suck.

    Edit: That's just what I was thinking out loud John. Looking forward to your review...

    Not so fast my young Padawan. This gear is also good at exposing serious flaws. :* The first of which is these Polk logos on the face of the grills are hideous to look at on a speaker of this caliber. They should have used the signature of Matt Polk from the old SRS badges IMHO...
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,511
    First night is in the bag. I will be doing some tweaking of placement tomorrow, but so far they are sounding ok.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    rooftop59 wrote: »
    Dynaudio Contour 1.3 mkii vs Polk L200

    Great review & thank you for listing some tracks I can listen to on my speakers (as well as what you were looking for specifically with each track!).
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    @rooftop59 Solid review thank you!
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,332
    I just kinda got lost and played several LP's, and the 200's were delivering all that good Analog Tone, Exceptionally Well.

    Don't ya' just love it when that happens?

    BTW, nice write up for not being a pen to paper kinda guy. B)

    Tom

    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    treitz3 wrote: »
    I just kinda got lost and played several LP's, and the 200's were delivering all that good Analog Tone, Exceptionally Well.

    Don't ya' just love it when that happens?

    BTW, nice write up for not being a pen to paper kinda guy. B)

    Tom

    I do, and Thank You

  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,037
    Excellent review. You made me realize I should have played some Knopfler with Ruth Moody when I had them. They sure look good in your set-up too!
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,043
    Nice review...you seemed to really enjoy your time with them. Btw....super nice system you have there. Congrats man.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's