Anyone here have any experience with the small "Signature Elite" loudspeakers for music?

mhardy6647

ES15? ES20? even the little ES10?

Anyone here who owns a pair, or even has spent any appreciable time listening to music (via any medium) using a pair?

I like the size and the aesthetics (based on photos) and they're inexpensive enough.
Are they any good?

Thanks!

Clipdat

You should definitely buy a pair and let us know.

heiney9

I'm sure you know this Dr. Hardy, you get what you pay for in many instances. I suppose it depends on your use and expectations. Knowing Polk and within it's size and $$$ limits they probably sound pretty good.

All that being said, I've not heard a pair.

H9

mhardy6647

Yup.
Of course, the $50 off sale ended Sunday.
I need a small pair - ahem - of loudspeakers in the downstairs 'den'.
I may try rehabbing the XOs of the dump find CSW Seventeens that have been there since we moved into House 4.2, but I am not sanguine. That said, their size is perfect.

I'd probably buy a pair of R100s in cherry -- even if they were vinyl.
R200s are too big (yes, that's what she said -- rather literally ).

Of course, a pair of BBC spec LS-3/5A minimonitors would be just right, too... don't think that's in the budget.
Never found a pair of those at the dump.

I like good, cheap stuff.
Thanks, and still hoping for a report from the fanbase.
There was one comment on AK about the ES-20. It was positive, but not very effusive.

Emlyn

The Wharfedale Denton 80 were on sale for $499 on clearance last month but looks like they may be out of stock at that price now. They're as close to an LS-3/5A sound and appearance as one can get for that money new.

R100s or L100s would be my choice. The ES20s aren't that small really.

msg

Hey Doc,
I don't know about the ES, but I have had pleasing experience with the regular Signature S20s. I thought they were right decent for combo use, and did a little comparison on that Signature series thread with my friend Flakey Jimmy
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/174277/polk-signature-series-official-discussion/p17

I know you said 20s would be too big, but what's your planned use? Just 2.0? For tv, combo, or just a little stereo?

ken brydson

msg wrote: »

Hey Doc,
I don't know about the ES, but I have had pleasing experience with the regular Signature S20s. I thought they were right decent for combo use, and did a little comparison on that Signature series thread with my friend Flakey Jimmy
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/174277/polk-signature-series-official-discussion/p17

I know you said 20s would be too big, but what's your planned use? Just 2.0? For tv, combo, or just a little stereo?

I was going to post a similar experience. I had to downsize from my beloved LS90 based rig. Ended up with the S20's. Paired with a competent sub I don't feel like I gave up much. JMHO..

mhardy6647

I am thinking size-wise the S20 or ES20 would be poifect.
I will try fresh, decent quality capacitors in the CSW Seventeens before ditching them -- but according to the one account I could find on teh webz (on AK, so... you know... who knows?) they are purported to contain a 4 uF and a 41 uF capacitor in the XO. The latter's gonna have to be an NP electrolytic for fiscal, and probably also for volumetric reasons, I reckon.



This is the other pair of CSW Seventeens I used to have -- the current pair are "oak" Contact paper, I mean, vinyl veneer.

Thanks for sharing that link, @msg! I didn't find that searchin' around yesterday (I did look for the small Signature series as well as the current "Signature Elite" -- but obviously not very well!).

msg

you're welcome! I have to use google to search the site if I need to get serious:
in case you weren't aware, without quotes into the address bar of a google search bar:
"term1 term2 site:forum.polkaudio.com"

In this case, I searched for "flakey jimmy site:forum.polkaudio.com" and it brought me right in

mhardy6647

Thanks @MSG! Yup, I do know that, although I often do it as a 'last' resort, only because it takes -- you know -- two clicks. Two-click shopping.

It was extremely interesting to read through that thread -- Jimmy notwithstanding -- although it was kind of distressing that I had completely forgotten about it. I participated fairly extensively when it was nascent.

Seeing it again reminded me that I was very excited (for lack of a better word) to see Polk re-embrace what IMO was always its strength -- good sound in a high-value package. "American HiFi" made in China.

In all seriousness, little did we know then but "Polk" (whatever that brand name is nowadays) had even better in store for us long-time fanbois.

I should just buy a pair of R100s (or even L100s), shouldn't I?
Guess I should look at the dimensions of those...

mhardy6647

PS "Flakey Jimmy" sounds like the name of a character in a Bruce Stringbean opus, ca. Greetings from Asbury Park.


https://youtu.be/w3quyLpUuhk

CottageChz

Costco had the ES15 on sale for $40 off, final price is $200, through 1/6. Not sure if this is helpful to you as you mentioned the ES20, but thought I’d post anyway. And they have a great return policy.

mhardy6647

Actually, I am more interested in the ES15 due to size.
Nearest Costco, though... isn't near, so we're not members any more.
We have BJs (regional 'warehouse club' chain from MA), which is similar but doesn't have the breadth of product offerings that Costco has.