Polk Turns 50 Today!

heiney9

Happy 50th Birthday!

My first introduction to Polk Audio was through a high school buddy in about 1982-83, sophomore year. We both used to read Stereo Review and send in the reader service cards. Each ad in the magazine had a number and you'd circle that number on the reader service card and send it to Stereo Review and in a 4-6 weeks you'd start receiving literature on your most coveted audio gear.

He had a pair of Polk 5A's or B's, don't remember. They always sounded great and I remember Polk Audio ad's always being memorable with Matt in his lab coat. I always wanted a pair of Polks, but they were pricey and I was a high school student who couldn't afford $500 for a pair of 5B's.

Fast forward a few years to about 1986, graduated from HS (1984), got a "real" job at a retail store in the audio department. My local high end store had a pair of lightly used 5B's for $250, I negotiated $200 and took them home. Absolutely loved them compared to the book shelf speakers I had.

I took them into work and placed them in the speaker room and people were amazed how good they sounded. When they wanted to buy a pair I referred them to the local high end store unbeknownst to my manager....lol. Eventually I helped sell about 4/5 pairs (for the other store) and I got a job offer through a friend at that local high end store.

After that, it was history, my love for SDA and more high end gear was born at that time 1988 or so. Worked there a few years and decided College was important, so eventually went off to college. The 11T's went with me to college and survived intact. I had those for a long time. Eventually sold those to a forum member and bought LSi 9's.

Working at the high end store I took advantage of employee discounts and sold the 5B's and bought a pair of brand new RTA-11T in black ash. Wanted SDA's but just couldn't swing it. I was still living at home and I remember wanting to hide the purchase from my parents so I left them in the back of my 1984 GTI for a few days until the time was right to sneak them in. They didn't realize them for at least a week....lol

Eventually I discovered this Forum (I think that was 15+ years ago) bought a pair of used modded SDA 1C's at a local mini-Polk meet. Acquired another pair of 5B's, modded them myself. Attended 2 Polkfests........

I now own 1C's, 5B's, RT25i's, and most recently R200's and will be buying L600's or L800's in the near future. I have also owned RTA11-T and LSi 9's.

It's been an enjoyable ride..............and it's not over.

H9

xschop

Still to this day, I prefer the sound of the vintage doped-paper cones. These are what set Polk apart, and on the right foot in the early days.
In the early 90's, as a young Airman at Kadena AFB, I would try to visit the BX each week to get a listening session of the large SDAs on display. I remember many guys that had their SDAs transported back to the States after their tour was over. Good times.
Many vintage sets later, still my favorite platform to listen to and work with.

Thanks Polk for all the years of musical enjoyment.

cfrizz

Happy 50th Birthday Polk Audio!

I bought my first set of Polks on Feb 6, 1990, they were a pair of RTA-8T speakers for my two channel system. Over the years I would add the Fxi 3s and a DSW 400.

I absolutely loved them and they performed flawlessly until Feb. 6, 2017 when I upgraded to the Signature S60s. It was love at first sight when I saw them here on the forum and I was determined to own a pair.

For Christmas 2021, I gifted my brother a pair of Signature S55s and he raved about how he was hearing things in the higher registers that he had never heard before.

Needless to say, I started wondering about what I might be missing so I now have a complete set of Polk speakers. The S60s, ES30 and S15s.

I value quality, and Polk has more than proven that they can produce quality products at every price point that will last for years. Which is why I didn’t hesitate to buy another set of Polk speakers.

Congratulations on your 50th year Polk Audio, and may you have another 50 more!

Cathy

nooshinjohn

cfrizz wrote: »

Happy 50th Birthday Polk Audio!

I bought my first set of Polks on Feb 6, 1990, they were a pair of RTA-8T speakers for my two channel system. Over the years I would add the Fxi 3s and a DSW 400.

I absolutely loved them and they performed flawlessly until Feb. 6, 2017 when I upgraded to the Signature S60s. It was love at first sight when I saw them here on the forum and I was determined to own a pair.

For Christmas 2021, I gifted my brother a pair of Signature S55s and he raved about how he was hearing things in the higher registers that he had never heard before.

Needless to say, I started wondering about what I might be missing so I now have a complete set of Polk speakers. The S60s, ES30 and S15s.

I value quality, and Polk has more than proven that they can produce quality products at every price point that will last for years. Which is why I didn’t hesitate to buy another set of Polk speakers.

Congratulations on your 50th year Polk Audio, and may you have another 50 more!

Cathy

Well look at what the cat dragged in! Welcome back Cathy!

michaeljhsda2

Happy birthday Polk! Bought my first pair brand new in 1986, SDA 2's. $1,600 a pair.

treitz3

Cathy.....I must say....

It's good to hear from you again. Long time....

Tom

pearsall001

Happy 50th Birthday Polk...🎉🎉🎉 Here's to another wonderful 50yrs of marvelous speaker design.
My only pair of Polk were their LSi 15...I certainly enjoyed them!

Nice to hear from you Cathy! Don't be a stranger 🎶🎶

[Deleted User]

cfrizz wrote: »

I value quality, and Polk has more than proven that they can produce quality products at every price point that will last for years. Which is why I didn’t hesitate to buy another set of Polk speakers.

Congratulations on your 50th year Polk Audio, and may you have another 50 more!

Cathy

Cathy, Thanks so much for sharing your story and for so succinctly summing up our mission. If we have our way it will be more than another 50

Much appreciated,

Carl

[Deleted User]

xschop wrote: »

Still to this day, I prefer the sound of the vintage doped-paper cones. These are what set Polk apart, and on the right foot in the early days.
In the early 90's, as a young Airman at Kadena AFB, I would try to visit the BX each week to get a listening session of the large SDAs on display. I remember many guys that had their SDAs transported back to the States after their tour was over. Good times.
Many vintage sets later, still my favorite platform to listen to and work with.

Thanks Polk for all the years of musical enjoyment.

Xschop, thank you for telling us this story, for supporting the brand over the years, and for your service to the country.

[Deleted User]

heiney9 wrote: »

Fast forward a few years to about 1986, graduated from HS (1984), got a "real" job at a retail store in the audio department. My local high end store had a pair of lightly used 5B's for $250, I negotiated $200 and took them home. Absolutely loved them compared to the book shelf speakers I had.

I took them into work and placed them in the speaker room and people were amazed how good they sounded. When they wanted to buy a pair I referred them to the local high end store unbeknownst to my manager....lol. Eventually I helped sell about 4/5 pairs (for the other store) and I got a job offer through a friend at that local high end store.

H9, this is greatness! Thank you for sharing this.

[Deleted User]

mhardy6647 wrote: »

@CarlJacobson_POLK AFAIK no one "here" on the Polk forum has ever determined whether this early verion of the Seven with a piezo tweeter ever actually existed!? If you get bored at work one day, feel free to do some sleuthing!

I may be interviewing a few special people from Polk's history soon, and I will see if I can get to the bottom of the mystery. Thanks!

nooshinjohn

CarlJacobson_POLK wrote: »

mhardy6647 wrote: »

@CarlJacobson_POLK AFAIK no one "here" on the Polk forum has ever determined whether this early verion of the Seven with a piezo tweeter ever actually existed!? If you get bored at work one day, feel free to do some sleuthing!

I may be interviewing a few special people from Polk's history soon, and I will see if I can get to the bottom of the mystery. Thanks!

Make sure you start with the man who's name was on the front door...

jbreezy5

I’ve had a good number of Polk audio speakers through the years, but when I first got into this hobby in the ‘90s didn’t have the bank for the higher quality lines offered at the time; but I remember regularly visiting Best Sound on N Lindbergh in StL, MO to listen to the RT series.

I also frequented American in N StL, MO to listen to LSi15s in the mid-2000s. These were sooo good, but I had purchased my long-time reference speakers before I discovered these.

I have otherwise had Monitor and R series which served nicely in HT use, especially to bring some mercy to less than refined AVRs. This to me is what I think of when it comes to Polk Audio; warm, effortless listening. When one wants to just hear and enjoy the music, Polk delivers.

I’ve been seriously contemplating R200s for a while. Maybe some Burled Walnut veneer (hint, hint) 50th Anniv. R200s could be my first high-end Polks? 😉

nooshinjohn

I think a nice touch would be som Polk Signature badges that can be easily installed on the Reserve and Legend lines. These could either be available for a nominal charge or free, depending on how the company chooses to do it…. Perhaps even include Matt and crew in the lab coats with the entire current Polk lineup.

mhardy6647

nooshinjohn wrote: »

... Perhaps even include Matt and crew in the lab coats with the entire current Polk lineup.

Laser-etched graphics.

lightman1

In a roundabout way, Polk Audio is how I met my wife. Traveling around and meeting Polk Folks along the way. One one these knuckleheads (looking at you @ZLTFUL) introduced me to a friend of his and here we are today. Much more here than just audio nerds. It's a community of friends and family.

mhardy6647

^^^ Aww, that is so sweet!
(and - believe it or not - I am not being facetious)

mhardy6647

Interesting (Matthew) Polk-related tidbit at hifihaven today:

https://hifihaven.org/index.php?threads/polks-50th-birthday.8940/#post-202471

pitdogg2

Good stuff! Thanks Doc!