Polk L200 Speaker Demo Reviews
Comments
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More to come later on when i have a more time with them but just wanted to say off the bat, impressive sounding so far.
I echo Erniejade's first impressions.
Home theater trials and comparison of the L200 against three other Polk bookshelf speakers (2 channel music only) have been completed.
Setting up the L200 in my 2 channel system. The red light on each speaker is a laser level which assisted with toe in alignment. Feeding the L200s a higher quality signal resulted in much higher quality sound.
The tonal balance and bass performance are excellent.
More later.
Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
DarqueKnight wrote: »
I echo Erniejade's first impressions.Home theater trials and comparison of the L200 against three other Polk bookshelf speakers (2 channel music only) have been completed.Setting up the L200 in my 2 channel system. The red light on each speaker is a laser level which assisted with toe in alignment. Feeding the L200s a higher quality signal resulted in much higher quality sound.
The tonal balance and bass performance are excellent.
More later.
Dang! What a tease
I'm just kidding of course. We're looking forward to your review. 
2ch rig: Speakers: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands Preamplifier: Parasound P5 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)
Standby: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods -
both those speakers you mention (703's and Rainmakers) have a boosted top end.
I'd really like it if you could elaborate on this because without some kind of active external signal processing like a gain varistor on the speaker inputs (would have to be powered too) or some kind of complex capacitance circuit, there's no way for a speaker to have a "boosted top end" without some kind of amplification circuit that changes the cutoff frequency to push it past the components +6 dB capabilities.
Even then, if you did do that, there is a physical limit to the components. You may be able to boost the signal past the +6 dB cutoff but just because you can boost the signal doesn't mean your drivers can actually reproduce it or your ears can actually hear it. A +/- 3 dB cutoff is typically the most boost you can get out of a signal processor before you get signal clipping and a +/- 6 dB cutoff is where the physical limits of the components are reached.
The only time I have ever been able to push a response curve past a +6 dB limit is with subwoofers in SPL competitions where you are building the enclosure and taking advantage of the enclosure loading caused by the massive amounts of pressurization a sub will provide. Even then, you're barely hitting a +9 dB cutoff and it's not even the driver that's doing it. It's the enclosure resonances and it's hitting it at a very tight frequency stretch, right around driver resonance, that is maybe 10 Hz wide with a super powerful peak right in the center of that range. But even then, you're driving that driver at or just past it's physical distortion point and using the pressure in the sub box to brace the driver against it trying to tear itself apart. Your sub is a one note wonder, though and good for only one thing...competing with the Space Shuttle launches on SPL levels for a "burp" which is, at most, 3 seconds long before you send your amps into thermal failure.
Speakers are passive devices. They don't boost anything. You can use crossovers to move your -3 dB cutoffs around so that you have a decent amount of driver response curve overlap to make a less than desirable -3 dB cutoff point a non-issue. The thing is, though, without some sort of external amplification either on the actual power end or through some kind of processing on the signal path end (bass button, tone controls, gain knobs, equalizers, etc) you're not going to boost a -3 dB cutoff frequency at all let alone anything above the 0 dB base.
So, unless you're misusing terminology here to describe something else, you're full of baloney.
Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
I imagine we are using boosted as a way to represent more prominent. IE I used it to describe the way a 703 has a bloated/more prominent midrange than a lot of more accurate speakers.2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
I don’t think the LSiMs are bright at all; in fact the lower mid-bass bump (reflected in stereophile measurements) makes them a bit warm sounding. However, we all know that Polk does make bright speakers. From John atkinsons measurements of the RTiA1:
“While the woofer is quite flat within its passband, the tweeter shelves up by 5dB in its top octave.”
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/polk-rtiii-a1-loudspeaker-measurements#QtxA7cG1hQLGCsZZ.99
How would you explain that @Jstas?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 -
I don’t think the LSiMs are bright at all; in fact the lower mid-bass bump (reflected in stereophile measurements) makes them a bit warm sounding. However, we all know that Polk does make bright speakers. From John atkinsons measurements of the RTiA1:
“While the woofer is quite flat within its passband, the tweeter shelves up by 5dB in its top octave.”
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/polk-rtiii-a1-loudspeaker-measurements#QtxA7cG1hQLGCsZZ.99
How would you explain that @Jstas?
Measuring frequency response is not the same as boosting frequency response in crossover curves.
https://soundcertified.com/what-does-crossover-do-what-is-crossover-frequency-how-crossovers-work/
What you see in that Stereophile article you posted is physical measurements with either sensors attached directly to the loudspeaker assembly or response graphs from microphones placed in proximity to the loudspeaker in an anechoic chamber. Any power measurements are not going to be a baseline standard. They are going to be measured at the output level of the amplifier being used. You can monitor that output level with measuring equipment but you are not going to be able to energize the crossover circuit with that amplifier and measure the electronic components at the same time without disassembling the speaker and putting the components on a bench.
The Stereophile article comes to it's conclusions via measuring it's amplifier output and graphing the SPL produced by the loudspeaker/individual drivers at each measured frequency point and graphing it against the amplifier power level at each point. They can also measure impedance and cabinet flex/resonance with sensors that will show cycles of movement of electricity or physical vibrations which travel in sine waves.
How would I explain it? You don't understand as much as you think you do. You're trying to goad a gun fight with your pocket knife. That's how I would explain it.
Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
How would I explain it? You don't understand as much as you think you do. You're trying to goad a gun fight with your pocket knife. That's how I would explain it.
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Please, let's stay on topic: L200 Speaker Demo Reviews.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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L200 Speaker Review
My L200 review was done with three systems:
1. Home theater system, where it was compared to three previous model Polk Audio bookshelf speakers: The SDA CRS+ (highly modified), the LSi9, and the LSiM 703.
2. Two channel system (no comparisons to other speakers).
3. Work office system (compared to the highly modified SDA CRS+s I listen to every day at work).
General Observations
I was impressed with the balanced sound, clarity, detail, and sound stage characteristics. The L200 sounds "bigger" than it's physical size, but it didn't generate a large sound stage in the three systems I reviewed it with. However, the images within the sound stage were well defined and stable. The cabinet construction, real wood veneer, driver and tweeter, and binding posts are very high quality. The aesthetics are somewhat "bland" for my tastes. I much prefer the curved lines and satin finishes of the previous LSiM line.
Program material was DSD music files of instrumental jazz, jazz vocal, and rock recordings.
My evaluation methodology is based on mapping and describing the locations and sound quality characteristics of sound images in the sound stage.
L200 Home Theater Trials
Figure 1. Tower speakers on each end: LSiM 707. Bookshelf speakers L-R: Legend L200, LSi9 (modified), LSiM 703, SDA CRS+ (modified).
Listening environment: 22' x 16' room with 12' ceiling. Speakers were placed on the long wall. I sat 12' from the speaker front plane. Only one pair of speakers was in the room at one time. The bookshelf speakers were set on 30" Metal Technology TMT-30 stands in the same locations as the 707s. The CRS+s were 9'- 3" apart center to center and 15-3/8" from the rear wall. The other three speakers were 8'- 6" apart center to center and 12.5" (LSi9), 12.75" (LSiM 703), and 14" (L200) from the rear wall. The SVS subwoofer was not used for two channel music evaluation.
Order of listening:
1. LSiM 707. (For reference purposes.)
2. SDA CRS+.
3. LSi9.
4. LSiM 703.
5. L200.
Going from the LSiM 707s to the CRS+s was an upgrade in every respect except for bass tactile sensation.
Figure. 2. These modified 1989 model SDA CRS+s outperformed the LSi9, LSiM 703, and L200 in every respect: clarity, detail, sound stage, image weight, etc. In my excitement, I forgot that the Dreadnought isolation transformer (black box on the floor) sounds better oriented vertically.
Bear in mind that the CRS+s are substantially larger than the other bookshelf speakers in this review. At 1.5 cubic feet, they are 50% larger than the L200s, 27% larger than the LSi9s, and 21% larger than the LSiM 703s. In addition, the CRS+s have over $1900 in cabinet and electronic component modifications, including custom crossover boards, Sonicap capacitors, Mills MRA-12 resistors, teak cabinet veneer, driver and tweeter retaining rings and brackets, the "TL" tweeter/crossover modification, low DCR SDA inductor, and the Dreadnought 1000VA isolation transformer.
Figure 3. A pair of Bosch model 3LL30 laser levels were used to assist with setting toe in angles.
Figure 4. The laser levels centered on top of each speaker projected horizontal and vertical cross lines. My head was in the same location as the tiger's. The speaker's toe in was adjusted until the two vertical lines were just outside of the tiger's head. This meant the speakers' center axis lines converged a few feet behind my head.
Figure 5. Setting up the LSi9 speakers and adjusting toe in with the laser levels.
The LSi9's have the following modifications: 1. Original crossover capacitors and resistors replaced with Solen and Sonicap film capacitors and Mills MRA-12 resistors. 2. Original wiring replaced with Cardas 15.5 gauge litz wire. Total modification cost was $535. They are some fine looking and fine sounding speakers, but they were a huge step back from the modified CRS+s.
Figure 6. The LSiM 703s were the most visually appealing of the group and came in 3rd place in overall sound quality.
In addition to curvy good looks, the 703s were a leap up in clarity, detail, and sound stage.
Figure 7. The L200 was the best sounding and best imaging of the conventional stereo bookshelf speakers. Overall, it came in a distant second place behind the modified CRS+s.
Serving as front speakers in a 5.1 home theater speaker arrangement, the L200s were a "decent" match for the LSiM 706c center channel and LSiM 702 surround speakers when watching movies and when listening to multichannel music.
Associated Equipment For Home Theater Trials
Yamaha CX-A5100 Preamp Processor
Oppo UDP-205 Blu-ray Player/DAC
LG OLED65E8PUA 65" OLED TV
Synology DS918+ NAS
Bryston BDP-1 Digital Player
Revelation Audio Labs Dual Conduit USB Cable1.25m
PS Audio PerfectWave P5 AC Regenerator For Source Components And TV
PS Audio PerfectWave P10 AC Regenerator For Prepro And Power Amps
PS Audio PerfectWave AC-5 Power Cords For AC Regenerators
Two 20 Amp Dedicated AC Circuits
PS Audio Soloist SE In-Wall Power Conditioner For AC Circuit #1
PS Audio Soloist SE In-Wall Power Conditioner For AC Circuit #2
PS Audio Statement SC Power Cords, 2m - 7 Total (PrePro, Front Amp, Center Amp, BDP-1, Surround Amp, Blu-ray, TV)
Adcom GFA-565 SE Power Amp (250 wpc) Surround Speakers
Adcom GFA-565 SE Power Amp (250 wpc) Front Speakers
Adcom GFA-565 SE Power Amp (250 wpc) Center Speakers
Polk Audio LSiM 706C Center Channel Speaker (Biwired)
Polk Audio LSiM 707 Front Speakers
Polk Audio LSiM 702 F/X Surround Speakers
SVS PB12 Ultra/2 Subwoofer
PS Audio xStream Plasma Power Cord For Subwoofer
Signal Cable Silver Resolution Reference XLR Interconnects for Power Amplifiers
DSR Silverline (9 Gauge) 36 Foot Pair For Surround Speakers
Salamander Quad 30 Audio/Video Cabinet
50 Feet/Side Monster UL/CL3 In-Wall 12 Gauge Speaker Cable For Surround Speakers
36 Foot Blue Jeans LC-1 CM Rated In-Wall Subwoofer Cable
AudioQuest Cinnamon HDMI 2.0 Cable 2m Prepro To TV
AudioQuest Cinnamon HDMI 2.0 Cable 2m Prepro To Blu-Ray
Straightwire Select HDMI Cable 1m Tivo To Prepro
Douglas Connection DCF-92 Speaker Cables, 10 Feet/Side Center Channel Speaker
Douglas Connection DCF-92 Speaker Cables10 Feet/Side Front SpeakersPost edited by DarqueKnight onProud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
L200 Two Channel Trials
Figure 8. Setting up the L200s in my two channel system. I gained a deeper respect for the L200s after putting better electronics behind them.
Listening environment: 22' x 17' room with 10' ceiling. Speakers were placed on the long wall. I sat 10' from the speaker front plane. The L200s were set on 30" Metal Technology TMT-30 stands. The inside rear corners of the L200s were 5" away from the front of the SDA SRS 1.2TL loudspeakers and spaced 7' - 7" center to center.
In my two channel system, the L200s produced more weighty and solid images with improved definition and speed. The sound stage was still shallow and confined to the area between the speakers.
Figure 9. The L200s responded favorably, with small increases in clarity and detail, as increasingly better quality jumpers were installed. Bottom to top: 1. Stock jumpers, 2. Jumpers made from DSR Silverline 9 gauge hybrid silver/copper speaker wire ($15). 3. Jumpers made from AudioQuest GO-4 speaker wire ($75). 4. AudioQuest Perfect Surface Copper+ jumpers ($200). 5. AudioQuest Perfect Surface Silver jumpers ($500).
The L200 jumpers appeared to be identical to the LSiM 703 jumpers.
Associated Equipment For Two Channel Trials
Bryston BDP-3 Digital Music Player
dCS Puccini U-Clock word clock
dCS Debussy DAC
Polk Audio SDA SRS 1.2TL loudspeakers (heavily modified)
Synology DS718+ NAS For Music File Server
Pass Labs XP-30 line level preamplifier
Pass Labs X600.5 monoblock power amplifiers
AudioQuest Sky XLR interconnects
AudioQuest Everest speaker cables
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy CryoSilver digital coaxial cable - RCA connectors
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy CryoSilver digital coaxial cable - BNC connectors
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy CryoSilver USB 2.0 dual leg cable
PS Audio PowerBase isolation platforms for DAC, BDP-3, and U-Clock
22 pound granite slabs to couple source components to isolation platforms
Black Diamond Racing Isolation Mini Pits and Mk IV Cones
TeraDak DC-150VA Linear Power Supply For Synology DS718+ NAS
Cisco SG110D-08 Ethernet Switch For NAS, BDP-3
TeraDak DC-30 Linear Power Supply For Cisco SG110D-08 Switch
PS Audio PerfectWave AC-12 power cords
PS Audio PerfectWave P-10 AC regenerator
Salamander Synergy Triple 30 audio credenza
Dell Venue Pro 11 7140 Docked Tablet Computer For System Control
Logitech Harmony One Remote
L200 Office System Trials
Figure 10. I enjoyed the L200s' brief stay in my office system.
Listening environment: 11' x 12' room with 9' ceiling. Speakers were placed in metal bookcases along the 11' wall. I sat 8' from the speaker front plane. The L200s were spaced 6' - 3" center to center.
Figure 11. The L200s produced a much smaller sound stage than that of the modified CRS+s, but they provided an overall enjoyable presentation. The L200s are the first conventional stereo speakers I have tried in those bookcases that didn't sound boomy.
Going from the modified CRS+s to the L200s, I gave up some low level detail, and the finely detailed bass rumble, growl, and tactile sensation I was used to. However, if I found myself in a situation where the CRS+s were too big and heavy, I would be happy with the L200s.
Associated Equipment For Office System Trials
Bryston BDA-3 digital to analog converter
Bryston BDP-2 digital player with IAD sound card upgrade
Rosewill Armer RX304-APU3-35B External HDD Enclosure with 5TB Seagate HDD
iFi Audio Mercury3.0 USB 3 Cable For HDD Enclosure
TeraDak DC-30 Linear Power Supply For Rosewill HDD Enclosure
Bryston BP-26 preamp with MPS-2 power supply
Bryston 4B3 power amp (300 wpc 8 ohms/500 wpc 4 ohms)
PS Audio xStream Transcendent XLR interconnects for DAC and preamp
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver CCIC USB cable
Revelation Audio Labs 6pin XLR Power Umbilical cable for MPS-2/BP-26
PS Audio Premier SC power cords for DAC, digital player, power amp and preamp
PS Audio P10 AC Regenerator
PS Audio AC-12 power cord for P10 AC Regenerator
Polk Audio SDA CRS+ (1989 version) loudspeakers (heavily modified)
1000VA Dreadnought Non Common Ground Interface for SDA CRS+ loudspeakers
Douglas Connection CDF92 speaker cables (9 AWG)
HiFi Tuning Classic Gold fuses for amp, preamp, AC regenerator
HiFi Tuning Silver Star fuse for DAC.
Dell Venue Pro 11 7140 tablet computer, with dock, for digital player and DAC control
Logitech Harmony One universal remote for preamp and DAC
Acknowledgement
Thanks to Polk Audio for facilitating this trial experience and to F1nut for his trial management services, and for the excellent additional packing to protect the speakers during numerous trips.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
Dang, I feel sorry for the dude that has to follow one of Ray's reviews.
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 -
question re: @DarqueKnight's review above:
When you say:
What is the comparator? Does this refer to the L200s in the first setup vs. the two-channel setup, or a comparison of the L200s to some other loudspeakers you previously auditioned in the two-channel setup?In my two channel system, the L200s produced more weighty and solid images with improved definition and speed.
Thanks.
PS and strictly FWIW:
I had the same impression.The sound stage was still shallow and confined to the area between the speakers.
(and not that I'm feeling defensive or anythingmhardy6647 wrote: »... I did note, with some surprise, that the image was ‘small’ – centered between the speakers but not extending beyond them. It was also ‘shallow’; considerably less depth than I am used to from my FrankenAltecs. Both of these observations might stem from the L200s’ placement, so I am loath to fault them too much for this... )
Perhaps this limited depth/spaciousness arises from the extremely conventional cabinet design?
Just musing, you know?
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mhardy6647 wrote: »question re: @DarqueKnight's review above:
When you say: What is the comparator? Does this refer to the L200s in the first setup vs. the two-channel setup, or a comparison of the L200s to some other loudspeakers you previously auditioned in the two-channel setup?
Thanks.
Compared to the way they sounded in the previous home theater setup.mhardy6647 wrote: »
Perhaps this limited depth/spaciousness arises from the extremely conventional cabinet design?
Just musing, you know?
I had thoughts along the same lines. I wondered if the small sound stage size was a result of the speakers being built more for sonic accuracy rather than imaging.
Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
They are coming to me next. I don't have nearly the same volume of things to experiment with in my home, but hopefully with some help from a few friends I can provide enough detail to add value for others here.Dang, I feel sorry for the dude that has to follow one of Ray's reviews. Analog: Hana ML > MoFi UltraDeck > Bob's Devices Sky 20-S > Sutherland 20/20 w/LPS
Digital: Cambridge CXC / Streaming > Cambridge CXN v2
MastersounD Dueventi > Rosso Fiorentino Certaldo or Hifiman EF600 > Hifiman Arya Stealth
Discogs -
displayname wrote: »They are coming to me next. I don't have nearly the same volume of things to experiment with in my home, but hopefully with some help from a few friends I can provide enough detail to add value for others here.
I think A/B comparisons with other, familiar loudspeakers (ideally of similar configuration) are invaluable (not that you were looking for any advice
).
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What are any of your thoughts on the new style binding posts? $3 parts? I’m not a fan, I thought the previous gen LSiM has better binding posts.
Has anyone opened up the box to look inside at the crossover? Prolly a cheap $3 parts?
How about the driver basket? Are they stamped steel? The LSiM where cast aluminum but prone to damage from the heavy motor structure.
Not to be negative here as I own Legend speakers but built to a price point is starting to nag at me for premium speakers built overseas.- Living Room Music-2.1 Polk Legend L800 | SVS SB1000Pro | McIntosh C70 | McIntosh MA5200 (Treble) | McIntosh MC452 (Bass) | Sublimeacoustic K231 Active xover | Denon DP-2500A | Denafrips Ares II | Marantz HD-CD1 | Belkin Soundform Connect | iPad Pro USB to DAC
- Home Theater-9.7.6/15.1 (Atmos/Auro-3D) Polk LSiM707, LSiM706c, LSiM702 F/X [x6], Height LSiM703 [x6], HSU ULS-15Mk2x4, VTF-15HMk2x2, VTF-TN1 | Trinnov Altitude 16+4 (2024) | Rotel RB-1590 (L/R) | Appollon NC500 11ch | Martin Logan MP500x2 | Topping DX7s, E50 | AppleTV 4K | Zidoo Z9X | JVC RS2100 | 150” Elite Screen Acoustic Pro UHD
- Game Room-5.1 Polk LSi25, LSiC, LSiF/X | Marantz SR7009 | AppleTV 4K | Sony UBP-X800 | Xbox One S | Sony PS2, PS3 | Nintendo Wii | Gaming PC | Sony 75" LCD
- Master Bedroom Music-2.0 Totem Hawk | Marantz PM-10 | Marantz SA-10 | SONY PS-HX500
- Office-2.1 B&W Formation Duo and Bass
- Daughter's Gaming Rig-2.0 Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX | Martin Logan Forte
- Orphans DSW microPRO3000x2 | Rotel RA-1570 | Marantz AV8805A
- Guest Room 2-2.0 Klipsch RP-600M | SMSL DO100 Pro 2 | Pass ACA v1.6 Monoblocks
- Guest Room 3-3.0 Martin Logan Motion 40, 50XT | Onkyo TX-SR705 | Apple TV | Samsung 55" TV
- Guest Room 4-2.0 QAcoustics 3030i | Sansui AU-6900 | Sansui FR-1080 | Fire TV
- Maintenance: Pro-Ject VC-S Record Cleaning Machine
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Buyers remorse setting in?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 -
I thought the binding posts were quality metal binding posts. That's also mentioned in non-forum reviews out there. I had no problems with the binding posts on the LSiM's but I thought the binding posts on the L200's were superior. For what its worth.
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I'd love to see the innards of the L200 myself... 'course, I believe I've mentioned that a time or two already
DSC_6908 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
Connection hardware seemed OK to me, but then again, I would consider these (i.e., specifically and explictly the L200s) to be expensive - irrespective of country of manufacture - for small two ways of fairly ordinary design and construction values based on what I have seen of them so far.
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What are any of your thoughts on the new style binding posts? $3 parts? I’m not a fan, I thought the previous gen LSiM has better binding posts.
Has anyone opened up the box to look inside at the crossover? Prolly a cheap $3 parts?
How about the driver basket? Are they stamped steel? The LSiM where cast aluminum but prone to damage from the heavy motor structure.
Not to be negative here as I own Legend speakers but built to a price point is starting to nag at me for premium speakers built overseas.
If you own a set, crack them open and see. I'm sure everyone here would like to see pictures as well. I would have cracked open the set I had for demo but that would have been uncool of me since they weren't mine to do that to.
I got no impression that any of the components were cheap in any respect. The binding posts, since that's what we're stuck on right now, were as good as it gets without getting into esoteric stuff like solid gold posts plated in antique sterling silver with painted markings made from a tincture of 30 year old Scotch and llama spit from a specific herd from an isolated valley in the Andes that Peru sends rodeo clowns with buckets to piss off the llamas so they will spit and they can catch it in the buckets.
The design was simple, as Doc stated, but there's beauty in the simplicity. The fact that the veneer is an actual wood veneer helps a bunch in that respect because the plain, flat surfaces let the beauty of the wood grain speak for itself. It also means that if the cost is a reflection of the resources that went in to it, cabinet construction and finish is likely the lowest cost factor of the whole thing. So the value is in the driver array and crossover network.
When I was more active in drag racing, the bracket racers had a saying up here in the Northeast, aka: the salt belt. "If it looks like ****, it runs like stink." meaning that all of the money is in the drivetrain and suspension. So just because it looks plain or even beat up doesn't mean it should be overlooked.
Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
What are any of your thoughts on the new style binding posts? $3 parts? I’m not a fan, I thought the previous gen LSiM has better binding posts.
I prefer the looks and enhanced safety feature (shorting protection) of the LSiM's plastic encapsulated binding posts.
The all metal Legend binding posts appear to be of very high quality, but I don't know who makes them. They kept a very tight grip on the large, heavy spades of my large heavy speaker cables.Has anyone opened up the box to look inside at the crossover?
I wanted to...and I always take a peek inside of my new toys. But, since this was a loaner item rather than my own property, I successfully resisted the urge to take them apart, on the remote chance that something could go wrong.Prolly a cheap $3 parts?
I doubt that. I did note that none of the Legend series marketing materials I have read mention crossover parts quality. A marketing brochure for the LSiM series stated:
"Orth Crossovers—Proprietary engineering, designed and patented by Polk Audio to maintain a lower order crossover design and in-crease power handling. Orth crossovers feature mylar and polypropyl-ene capacitors for sparkling highs and air core inductors for superior transparency. Notch filters and sophisticated Zobel circuits smooth the impedance curve of the system for more efficiency and better high frequency response."
Now, since the Legend series has overall better sound quality than the LSiM series, I doubt Polk took a step back in crossover parts quality.How about the driver basket? Are they stamped steel? The LSiM where cast aluminum but prone to damage from the heavy motor structure.
Take yours apart and see. Let us know what you find.Not to be negative here as I own Legend speakers but built to a price point is starting to nag at me for premium speakers built overseas.
Is there something specifically about the build quality of your L800s that you don't like? I was impressed with the build quality of the L200s.
With regard to overseas manufacturing, that is just a reality of today's marketplace. Another way to look at it is that you typically get higher quality at a lower cost than if the same item were built in the US.
Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
I thought there were some photos of the drivers in one of the early roll-out threads? Am I hallucinating this? Maybe that early YT video?
I would presume that the drivers in the actual production models are very similar to the 'prototypes' (if that is what they were) shown early on.
I would be less sanguine as to the identity of the prototype XO boards shown from the
L800 (which were kind of scary looking ) and the actual production boards -- at least in terms of the passive components used... but this is, obviously, completely speculative.
https://youtu.be/4Tnns8Os0Hg
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/187480/new-polk-audio-legend-speaker-series-shown-at-2019-hong-kong-high-end-audio-video-show/p13
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I am under the impression that the so-called "simple design" was a volitional nod to the classic or "legendary" design of bookshelf speakers. I wouldn't be surprised if we see more of it from other other mfg's. I thought the fit and finish was as good as my Dynaudio's.
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Just read through the last few pages of this thread. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts so far! Nice to see such a variety of comments, and impressions from such a wide range of gear and environments.
And, I'm reminded, my journey has just started! I've got a lot to learn! And experience! Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
The Legend binding posts are of higher quality than the LSiM. Polk has published photos of the L800 crossover and drivers for all to see. For example, look at the Music Direct catalog to see them.
I should add that one would be hard pressed to find a speaker not made overseas.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
L800 crossover.
Drivers.
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I don’t want to detract from the positive reviews being made here. If you think I’ve crossed the line please let me know.
I don’t have buyers remorse. I am pleased as an overall package but they are borderline into the low end of mid-line Focal, Sonus Faber, Scansonic etc. I did find a defect in mine I would rather not air in public. The defect is something which should have been found in QA and rather than deal with support I was able to fix it myself, hopefully not voiding the warranty. It had me think this was a high volume mass produced product they are selling in tens of the thousands.
I have all the respect for Polk and I do like to support the company. I’ve even recently purchased a bunch more speakers but I guess its me just watching too much Tech Talk Tuesdays by Danny Riche (GR Research) on youtube. Its published under New Record Day. I have to treat is as more entertainment so the OCD doesn’t kick in and make me wanna void the warranty, replace the crossovers, put in no rez, upgrade the crappy binding posts, internal wiring etc...
Maybe my complaint on the binding posts are unfounded when Totem speakers costing 1/3 these have better WBT binding posts while these have binding posts which look to cost $3. Likely purchased in the bulk and used across the entire line helps drive that cost down further.
Those pictures further reinforces my thoughts on the quality of the components used.
https://youtu.be/7yozUh8xBfk Post edited by mpitogo on- Living Room Music-2.1 Polk Legend L800 | SVS SB1000Pro | McIntosh C70 | McIntosh MA5200 (Treble) | McIntosh MC452 (Bass) | Sublimeacoustic K231 Active xover | Denon DP-2500A | Denafrips Ares II | Marantz HD-CD1 | Belkin Soundform Connect | iPad Pro USB to DAC
- Home Theater-9.7.6/15.1 (Atmos/Auro-3D) Polk LSiM707, LSiM706c, LSiM702 F/X [x6], Height LSiM703 [x6], HSU ULS-15Mk2x4, VTF-15HMk2x2, VTF-TN1 | Trinnov Altitude 16+4 (2024) | Rotel RB-1590 (L/R) | Appollon NC500 11ch | Martin Logan MP500x2 | Topping DX7s, E50 | AppleTV 4K | Zidoo Z9X | JVC RS2100 | 150” Elite Screen Acoustic Pro UHD
- Game Room-5.1 Polk LSi25, LSiC, LSiF/X | Marantz SR7009 | AppleTV 4K | Sony UBP-X800 | Xbox One S | Sony PS2, PS3 | Nintendo Wii | Gaming PC | Sony 75" LCD
- Master Bedroom Music-2.0 Totem Hawk | Marantz PM-10 | Marantz SA-10 | SONY PS-HX500
- Office-2.1 B&W Formation Duo and Bass
- Daughter's Gaming Rig-2.0 Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX | Martin Logan Forte
- Orphans DSW microPRO3000x2 | Rotel RA-1570 | Marantz AV8805A
- Guest Room 2-2.0 Klipsch RP-600M | SMSL DO100 Pro 2 | Pass ACA v1.6 Monoblocks
- Guest Room 3-3.0 Martin Logan Motion 40, 50XT | Onkyo TX-SR705 | Apple TV | Samsung 55" TV
- Guest Room 4-2.0 QAcoustics 3030i | Sansui AU-6900 | Sansui FR-1080 | Fire TV
- Maintenance: Pro-Ject VC-S Record Cleaning Machine
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- Living Room Music-2.1 Polk Legend L800 | SVS SB1000Pro | McIntosh C70 | McIntosh MA5200 (Treble) | McIntosh MC452 (Bass) | Sublimeacoustic K231 Active xover | Denon DP-2500A | Denafrips Ares II | Marantz HD-CD1 | Belkin Soundform Connect | iPad Pro USB to DAC
- Home Theater-9.7.6/15.1 (Atmos/Auro-3D) Polk LSiM707, LSiM706c, LSiM702 F/X [x6], Height LSiM703 [x6], HSU ULS-15Mk2x4, VTF-15HMk2x2, VTF-TN1 | Trinnov Altitude 16+4 (2024) | Rotel RB-1590 (L/R) | Appollon NC500 11ch | Martin Logan MP500x2 | Topping DX7s, E50 | AppleTV 4K | Zidoo Z9X | JVC RS2100 | 150” Elite Screen Acoustic Pro UHD
- Game Room-5.1 Polk LSi25, LSiC, LSiF/X | Marantz SR7009 | AppleTV 4K | Sony UBP-X800 | Xbox One S | Sony PS2, PS3 | Nintendo Wii | Gaming PC | Sony 75" LCD
- Master Bedroom Music-2.0 Totem Hawk | Marantz PM-10 | Marantz SA-10 | SONY PS-HX500
- Office-2.1 B&W Formation Duo and Bass
- Daughter's Gaming Rig-2.0 Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX | Martin Logan Forte
- Orphans DSW microPRO3000x2 | Rotel RA-1570 | Marantz AV8805A
- Guest Room 2-2.0 Klipsch RP-600M | SMSL DO100 Pro 2 | Pass ACA v1.6 Monoblocks
- Guest Room 3-3.0 Martin Logan Motion 40, 50XT | Onkyo TX-SR705 | Apple TV | Samsung 55" TV
- Guest Room 4-2.0 QAcoustics 3030i | Sansui AU-6900 | Sansui FR-1080 | Fire TV
- Maintenance: Pro-Ject VC-S Record Cleaning Machine
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You should probably pull those crossovers while you're in there. They are definitely going to be needing better caps, resistors and inductors.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 -
You've definitely crossed the line. You want to complain about your speakers do it in your own thread and how dare you post that video in this one.Post edited by F1nut onPolitical Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
