L600 vs R700.. any direct comparisons or A/B done?
lilwolf555
Posts: 14
in Speakers
Trying to find differences between the 2 (L600 and R700).
There are the obvious finish choices, and the fact the L600 has smaller woofers, different ports.. but, there have been no (to my searching) extensive measurements done of the L600 while there are of the R700s and they measure extremely well. The R700s even have sealed midrange as well.
I am trying to decide whether to go with R700s for surrounds or get L600s. But, at the same time, if there will be no difference in sound I'd rather save the money.
Note: I DO have a pair of R700s. I used them before getting the big boi L800s. To me, the R700s sounded better than the L200s, but that also isn't a good comparison (bookshelf vs tower, 2way vs 3way)
Current setup is as follows;
L800s FL/FR
L400 C
L200s SR/SL
This is for a future upgrade when I eventually move into a larger room/home. Eventual goal is when I have a large room to have all R700s or L600s for bed surround layer of a 7.1 (or higher if I'm lucky!) setup. So, this is simply research for a purchase possibly year+ down the road.
I am leaning towards R700s in future due to cost and larger woofers but who knows, maybe I'm missing something? Figure this would be a good place to ask.
There are the obvious finish choices, and the fact the L600 has smaller woofers, different ports.. but, there have been no (to my searching) extensive measurements done of the L600 while there are of the R700s and they measure extremely well. The R700s even have sealed midrange as well.
I am trying to decide whether to go with R700s for surrounds or get L600s. But, at the same time, if there will be no difference in sound I'd rather save the money.
Note: I DO have a pair of R700s. I used them before getting the big boi L800s. To me, the R700s sounded better than the L200s, but that also isn't a good comparison (bookshelf vs tower, 2way vs 3way)
Current setup is as follows;
L800s FL/FR
L400 C
L200s SR/SL
This is for a future upgrade when I eventually move into a larger room/home. Eventual goal is when I have a large room to have all R700s or L600s for bed surround layer of a 7.1 (or higher if I'm lucky!) setup. So, this is simply research for a purchase possibly year+ down the road.
I am leaning towards R700s in future due to cost and larger woofers but who knows, maybe I'm missing something? Figure this would be a good place to ask.
Comments
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go with the L600... just wait for them to go on sale or perhaps grab a pair from the used market. I would go that route if only for the cosmetic reasons of keeping them all matched from an appearance standpoint.
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’d keep the L200’s for surrounds and upgrade somewhere else. What power are you running? That’s usually a good place to upgrade with a setup like yours. If you do not have superior power you will not achieve the most the Legend series can offer. What cabling? What source(s)?
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The L600 is the better speaker. More robust cabinet, much better cosmetics, lower bass output (34Hz vs 38Hz), and a perfect match for the L200s if those are used as side surrounds. The L200s would need to be on stands that allow the speakers to match the tweeter height on the L600s.
Another option is to use two pairs of L200s and put a wireless subwoofer at the back of the room for bass reinforcement.Post edited by Emlyn on -
I’d keep the L200’s for surrounds and upgrade somewhere else. What power are you running? That’s usually a good place to upgrade with a setup like yours. If you do not have superior power you will not achieve the most the Legend series can offer. What cabling? What source(s)?
Mostly a PC with currently a 3080TI to a LG C9. Xbox for 4k blu rays.
Currently, an outlaw 5000 powering all. StormaudioMk1.5 processing.
Forgot to mention, I do have a sub, its a PSA TV2410 (2 12in woofers)
Am eyeing a Buckeye Hypex NC252MP Amplifier but still undecided. He claims it will play nice with the L800s but still nervous.
This isn't so much an 'upgrade' as it is planning for a larger room when I move out. I'd just rather have the info and know beforehand. That way I can watch sales over the next year or so as well.
I'd like to have towers for surrounds for 3 reasons.
1. They sound amazing. Especially all channel music/gaming.
2. Bass is spread a lot better, not localized as much
3. Depending how Dirac SRC works, bigger the better results it seems but that is an unknown as the tech isnt even out yet. Hopefully it will be by the time I move!
Bookshelves cost is better obviously, but buying stands adds to it etc.The L600 is the better speaker. More robust cabinet, much better cosmetics, lower bass output (34Hz vs 38Hz), and a perfect match for the L200s if those are used as side surrounds. The L200s would need to be on stands that allow the speakers to match the tweeter height on the L600s.
Another option is to use two pairs of L200s and put a wireless subwoofer at the back of the room for bass reinforcement.
Better and worth the cost is the golden question though.. While there may be improvements to internals (crossover and bracing), does that make it notably better than the R700s in actual use?
Audioholics measurements show it as extremely good and it does sound good. I do not want to order a L600 to just test them side by side though.
Do you by chance have links/pictures to the internals of the L600s? The R700s internal cabinet design/sealed midrange pic I can find.. but not the crossover of either, and internal pics of the L600 I cant find either.
Also curious on the smaller woofer size on the L compared to R tower. I'm not too technical to get reasons why, if it even matters much for home-use casePost edited by lilwolf555 on -
Are you into multi-channel music? If not, I see no reason for floorstanders as surrounds. You have a capable sub. What do you think you'll gain?
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I should have read more carefully. Still say floorstanders for surrounds is a waste.
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I should have read more carefully. Still say floorstanders for surrounds is a waste.
More I look and research more I'm starting to agree.
Not to mention.. I'd need to raise towers a lot to have most woofers clear furniture in back. Rather not deal with that.
Dual subs when I move would be best and more L200s for surrounds. (finding stands wide enough is the next issue when that time comes lol)
BUT. I am still curious on specific internal differences on the L600 and R700 if anyone does have pics for curiosity sake. -
R series uses cheaper crossovers
Cabinets are finished in vinyl and have less bracing
Different porting system
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I chose the L600s & L400 center for a number of reasons. I don't care for the Reserve's vinyl wrap with the slit showing in the back. The Legends are beautiful pieces of art with real wood veneer, sweet metalwork base, black grill covers (no thanks to the reserve grayish look), better crossovers & bracing and I wanted a matching 3 way center. (The R700 is 2 way).
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R700 is a 3-way.
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I might be dragging this up a little, it’s a couple of months old but seeing how no one actually answered the OPs question as for a directed comparison I’ll give it a shot as I have both. I originally bought the R700s for surrounds in my man cave. Yeah some people say it’s too much for surround but I’m running towers front, surround and rears. Starting with the aesthetics it’s a no contest, L600 hands down. Cabinet weight is nearly identical between the two. The R700 has slightly larger turbine cones and subs.
The L600 has a far better port on the bottom as the low end with smaller woofers is fuller. I saw a mention it the R700 being 3 way, it’s not. Definitely two way with the tweeter on one and the mid and subs on the other. The L600s have 3 way ortho crossovers so all 3 are separated.
Not going to regurgitate specs, they are on Polks website. Which to get is the other question on the table. If you don’t mind the plastic wrap and your ears aren’t all that sensitive to musicality then go with the R700s. If you want the better looking and better sounding of the two then go with the L600s.
When I bought the R700s I didn’t think it would matter with a pair of L800s up front, L400 center, L200 widths and vintage 1.2TLs bringing up the rear. Well it does whether it be an Atmos track or all channel stereo. It’s hard to explain as it’s just something you have to hear for yourself. Not saying the R700s are bad and they really aren’t priced that far behind the L600 especially right now with a sale going on and I call my favorite retailer and got 20% off. Lord knows they have gotten a lot of my money including the fresh Marantz AV10 that I replaced the AV8805A with but kept it too. Everything timbre matched just sounds awesome. The tweeter in the L600 and R700 are supposed to be the same but the crisp highs aren’t there in the R700.
Just looking at how they are mounted is a clue. The rest is purely a much higher end 3 way crossover in the L600 where the R700 is two way (no doubts about it, if you don’t want my word call Polk). I at first thought they were the same with a 1/2 inch smaller turbine cone and 1 inch smaller woofers in the L600s. The size thing got me. The bass port on thr L600s works magic on the low end hitting slightly lower and all 3 spaces are separated in the L600 where it’s not in the R700. So yes I tried both subjectively in the exact same spot in the floor and with the rest of the legends in this particular system the L600s are much better suited. If you are using high end Polks for a PC system I find that a bit strange but your business.
I kept the R700s as they are still decent speakers, they just don’t belong in a legends filled 9.4.4system.
They now reside in my garage with a pair of R200s with a Denon X3700H and an outlaw 5000 amp. When I’m wrenching on a car or my Harley they provide decent music for such a space but they don’t touch the cave set up as a multimedia room with the Marantz AV10 and 12kW in 5 channel amps, all 600WPC into 4 ohms and 4 subs.
In the end it’s about how critical your ears are as IMO the price tags aren’t all that far apart and how much it bothers your eyes when you have all the black veneered legends and add plastic wrap and a gray grill on the R700s.
No I don’t have any recorded data to show the difference. Just my ears. I’d say if I was on a tight budget I’d go for the signature series but that’s a lie. No disrespect intended to anyone who runs them but IMO they suck! In the same ball park as the first Gen T70s and 40s.
I couldn’t help myself and had to pull a woofer to look at the crossovers. No comparison to be made there. The 3 way ortho is a very nice crossover both in its audible capabilities but just to look at compared to the 2 ways loaded in the R700s.
If you are mixing and matching different levels and brands then forget everything I just posted as it’s meaningless, you just won’t get the sound you are looking for if you are as critical as I am.
Good luck! -
Excellent observations!
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JustinThyme wrote: »"I saw a mention it the R700 being 3 way, it’s not. Definitely two way with the tweeter on one and the mid and subs on the other. The L600s have 3 way ortho crossovers so all 3 are separated. "
"Just looking at how they are mounted is a clue. The rest is purely a much higher end 3 way crossover in the L600 where the R700 is two way (no doubts about it, if you don’t want my word call Polk)."
"I couldn’t help myself and had to pull a woofer to look at the crossovers. No comparison to be made there. The 3 way ortho is a very nice crossover both in its audible capabilities but just to look at compared to the 2 ways loaded in the R700s."
The R700 does indeed have 3-way filtering.
- The tweeter and midrange crossover at 2700 Hz
- The midrange and midbass crossover at 350Hz.
tweeter: 2700 Hz - 38kHz
midrange: 350 Hz - 2700 Hz
woofer: 38Hz - 350 Hz
Don't let that fact that Polk uses two boards confuse you, the topology is still 3-way. For example, they used two boards for the LSiM707 4-way crossover. The tweeter/mid/midbass board in the upper sealed compartment and the midbass/woofer board in the lower compartment.
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