Polk Audio at 50 - Interview with Matthew Polk

heiney9
heiney9 Posts: 25,194
edited January 2023 in The Clubhouse
https://www.polkaudio.com/en-us/blog/brand/polk-at-50-conversation-with-matthew-polk?_kx=TnK6sU4DUYGS7M-m-WJLI5Xgc2Pd4mr2T70YgdL1_RM=.VpVCCs

I didn't see this posted here, if it was already I apologize. This was in my email this morning. The date of the article is December 20, 2022

It's a great read (a bit short). I've been a Polkie for a long time, I still learned some things from this interview, especially about the early days.

Enjoy

H9
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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Comments

  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,014
    Good interview!
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  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,502
    Thanks! I learned a wee bit more. I wish Matthew would write a whole book on the early days from his own perspective. Including the stuff that would violate NDAs of course lol.
    George / NJ

    Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
    Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
    Onkyo A-8017 integrated
    Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
    iFi nano iDSD DAC
    iPurifier3
    iDefender w/ iPower PS
    Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
    iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
    Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
    Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,525
    I enjoyed the part about "borrowing" the table saw while others were building little bird houses. B)
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  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,000
    The Amityville house was classic.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,525
    The old Gallagher Mansion is still standing and looks well cared for. Was renovated and the land used for an assisted living apartment community starting in the 1990s.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,445
    I wonder why there was no mention of SDA in the interview
    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
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,200
    Ha! Awesome! 😊

    Loved the reference to the 300,000 mile Volvo, criss-crossing the country to find dealers willing to listen to the product!

    In some ways, Polk could be described as the Volvo of audio brands. 🤔
    Alea jacta est!
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,014
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    I wonder why there was no mention of SDA in the interview

    Cuz the interviewer never heard of them
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,159
    I really enjoyed reading that interview.

    I wish he had mentioned the Model 9s though since I think I heard they were the first set designed and I still have mine.

    I kind of wish I still had one of the 2 pr.s of Monitor 7s I owned.

    I'll buy a pr. again if the price is right and they're in great condition.

    I'd like a pr. with the Peerless tweeters the most.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,645
    All of that info has been out in the open for a very long time.
    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

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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,194
    edited January 2023
    F1nut wrote: »
    All of that info has been out in the open for a very long time.

    It's nice to be reminded and I didn't know Matt had anything to do with the R200ae. Me thinks it was just keeping up the image Matt was still part of Polk for the general public. He retied and sold the company years ago and that company was just recently acquired by Masimo.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,387
    edited January 2023
    Aren't they a medical equipment company? Why? What happened to Sound United?
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,300
    edited January 2023
    skrol wrote: »
    Aren't they a medical equipment company? Why? What happened to Sound United?

    https://insights.roboglobal.com/masimo-the-hidden-gem-in-the-sound-united-acquisition#:~:text=The company justified the transaction,with its new biosensing watch.
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    skrol wrote: »
    Aren't they a medical equipment company? Why? What happened to Sound United?

    https://insights.roboglobal.com/masimo-the-hidden-gem-in-the-sound-united-acquisition#:~:text=The company justified the transaction,with its new biosensing watch.

    I only skimmed it, but wow that’s fascinating…but I’m not sure if this is good or terrible for Polk???
    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
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    Depends on how hard it is to build an SDA watch.
    :#
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    This is a great photo of Matthew Polk -- and one I've not seen before.

    kdgsasvey6jb.png
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,894
    Loved seeing him name-check Soundscape (Polk's first dealer)! :)

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