Polk R100 or R200 for surround?

Darkscience
Darkscience Posts: 10
in Speakers
Hello everyone, made an account to ask this specific question. Owner of the R400 Center and R700 Mains. Are both good as surrounds? Is the R200 overkill for surround? I have ZERO HT experience, I have been a 2CH guy for all my life. I will eventually need ceiling speakers too but that is down the road. Any advice on anything I have touched on is welcome. Long time Polk fan.

(Upgrading from RT80)
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Comments

  • polkspeakersfan
    polkspeakersfan Posts: 13
    Hi Darkscience, I followed your question from audiosciencereview.com but I wonder why no one replied.

    I have the same question: would R200 be overkill for surround?
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,067
    AFAIK, Polk meant for them to be used just so.
    They seem to think of the whole line as being for either two-channel or multi-channel (HT) use, based on, at least, the early ad campaign/launch.
    Heck, look at their current "Reserve series" page (out of stock status notwithstanding):

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  • polkspeakersfan
    polkspeakersfan Posts: 13
    Yes, I checked out every package currently listed.

    For timbre matching, I think it makes sense to have the whole package from the same series.

    What I don't understand is, why does only the Platinum include R200, but the GOLD and SILVER systems include R100?

    My guess is the Platinum package is for "larger" rooms? Does it necessarily mean R200 will provide better sound quality as rear channels compared to R100?
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,067
    edited February 2023
    polkspeakersfan wrote: »
    ...
    What I don't understand is, why does only the Platinum include R200, but the GOLD and SILVER systems include R100?

    My guess is the Platinum package is for "larger" rooms? Does it necessarily mean R200 will provide better sound quality as rear channels compared to R100?

    my guess would be: $$$
    :)

    I don't know enough about multichannel, having zero interest in it myself, but I'd presume that the R200 would be a better choice a priori than the R100, albeit at a higher price.



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  • JayMX
    JayMX Posts: 447
    edited February 2023
    Early this year I downsized from my older 7 channel Mirage “omni” rig anchored by a pair of OM-5’s. Now, I’m running a much smaller configuration in my bed layer, R200’s as main L/R, R300 center, and R100’s for surrounds. Fed from a B&K Ref 200.5. 4 RC60i in the ceiling for Atmos height fed from a 4ch QSC class d pro amp. Marantz SR6011 for processing. HSU VTF-1 MK2 sub.

    The Reserve clarity is the best I’ve ever had in a HT. Not that I’ve ever had anything very fancy before, but I’ve been extremely happy with the Reserve bed layer. The ring radiator tweets are fantastic. Would love to get R600 or 700 for mains someday. But for now the 200’s are darn impressive especially with 200W of power behind them. Wonderful for movies, or on my vintage rig for 2ch listening. 🤘🏻🤘🏻
    Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
    Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (4x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,208
    For surrounds I think the Height Modules would work nicely as you can wall mount them. Also the R350 Center channel can be vertical so they also can make excellent surround speakers.
    Out of the 2, either would work, depending on your room and placement. you want the Tweeters high then your head so you can have clear line of sight to both speakers without blocking with your head or furniture.
    So the height should be between 50-72 inches to the tweeter from the floor on the sides of you. (0 degrees to 120 Degrees works best.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • polkspeakersfan
    polkspeakersfan Posts: 13
    JayMX wrote: »
    The Reserve clarity is the best I’ve ever had in a HT. Not that I’ve ever had anything very fancy before, but I’ve been extremely happy with the Reserve bed layer. 🤘🏻🤘🏻

    Yes, I agree when playing Atmos movies, it's amazing :smile:

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  • polkspeakersfan
    polkspeakersfan Posts: 13
    mantis wrote: »
    For surrounds I think the Height Modules would work nicely as you can wall mount them. Also the R350 Center channel can be vertical so they also can make excellent surround speakers.
    Unfotunately wall mount is not an option because my seats are against the backwall.

    The R350 as surround speakers are intriguing though. But I am wondering what kind of speaker mount would work to elevate the tweeters to 50-72" off the floor?

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