New Home Page

Mjr7531

Have you guys seen the new front page for Polk? Looks great, however, scrolling down to see it was kinda annoying...
Otherwise good stuff!

PolkThug

Looks like they're advertising a Bose radio.

organ

What's wrong with Bose? I love Bose and Monster;).

I like the page. It's cool to see Matt on the Polk site. He's been there since the beginning. Remember the pic of him sitting on subwoofers from back in the days?

Maurice

Toxis

Next, are they going to get into the portable MP3 players that look/act like the iPod. Lord knows someone's going to take a piece of THAT market as well.

Tour2ma

Why not... Sonic Frontiers did...

Early B.

Is Polk still a speaker company? :rolleyes:

BTW -- Matt looks like a muppet on that pic.

nadams

Who needs to scroll? At 1280x1024 it fits perfectly

Skynut

BTW -- Matt looks like a muppet on that pic.

I agree, Matt Muppet.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I don't want to get started down the discussion path of Polk branching out into too many fields and losing focus on speakers...that's a worthless discussion because none of us knows what's gonna happen five years from now...maybe they can branch out and still maintain their quelity in speakers.

Having said that, I took the first line of the description for the I Sonic thingy:

Polk Audio's I-Sonic™ entertainment system with exclusive I-Sonic and Power Port technologies produces sound quality so big and lifelike that it is capable of being your primary home entertainment system.

and replaced a couple words:

Bose Wave Radio entertainment system with exclusive Wave Sound technologies produces sound quality so big and lifelike that it is capable of being your primary home entertainment system.

WAAAAAAAA!!!:D
I'm sure that'll piss some people off, but I don't really mean anything by it...just that when I first read that description I felt like I was reading a Bose ad...not that this is necessarily a bad thing - look at how much crap Bose has sold over the years. If Polk can get in on that action while offering a better product, then more power to you...

Pauly

I own SDA's so i dont care :rolleyes:

Pauly

Pauly

I agree gotta sell what the masses are wanting / buying. I'm sure Polk will "Kick it up a notch" and blow away the competition. I mean after all , just us few loosers around here cant keep Polk afloat? Eh?

Pauly

hoosier21

One mention of Bose, and a crack at Matt, and Paul lays out a 2 page responce

Skynut

When I said "Matt Muppet" I meant that in a good way.:D

AsSiMiLaTeD

Like I said...I didn't really mean anything by changing a few words on the ad...just found it mildly amusing.

I know it's marketing...I just typically tend to laugh at everything that is marketing...just because I can...

I wasn't trying to compare Polk and Bose on a quality level...we all know there's no comparison there. Polk and Bose both still make the satellite speaker systems and probably market them the same way...but Polk makes a superior product there as well. In fact, I think the last statement in my first post indicates that I'm making no comparison, and that I expect this product to be better than what's already out there...

Jstas

Wow, you people really jump to extremes!

Listen to Paul, he's a pretty important guy at Polk Audio and knows what's going on. Be glad that he is willing to hang out and shoot the breeze and let you in on some things that are coming down the line.

As far as product from Polk Audio goes, we don't get to dictate that. The only way you can vote is to either buy it or don't buy it. You can make suggestions that Polk Audio defintly listens to and takes seriously but at the end of the day, the future of the company is what is important and they need to look at the big picture, not just the Club Polk corner of it.

Personally, I'd like to see someone with a marketing and distribution infrastructure like Polk Audio take on the Bose-like companies of the market. There are a few out there that have similar products to the Bose stuff but nothing that really steps ahead of it. If anyone takes enough pride in thier product to build something that will go for the jugular and compete directly with the Bose stuff, it's Polk Audio. As long as I can remember, they have been doing it better for less and giving you a hell of alot of product in the process. Some products have missed but way more have been hit way out of the park.

The biggest fear that I have is that the brand gets watered down. Like Paul said speakers are the bread and butter and it would be marketplace suicide to go from a speaker line that has gotten gushing reviews to mass-market junk. If Polk Audio built thier name on speakers then they need to maintain that reputation and improve upon it. Do that and the name alone will sell damn near any other product they put on the shelf.

Polk Audio is not going the way of Bose or other big names that have been rendered impotent by massive Asian conglomerates. Companies that are heading in that direction don't release products like SR6500 automotive component system or HTIB systems that rival the main speaker lines of other companies. This is not the behavior of a company aiming for the lowest common denominator and maximizing profits. It is very good to see Polk Audio releasing products like the new I-Sonic and the XRt12 because it provides a segway for people who might not consider buying the more expensive products to experience what Polk Audio really brings to the table. It will not only open the doors to new customer but provides added value to existing customers who might be looking for such a product but not finding something they would want to plunk thier money down on.

The thing about this other products is that they provide revenue for development of ideas like IP addressable self powered LCi speakers. That is an extremely useful technology that saves money in installation costs and provides a true, high-end solution with pretty much groundbreaking technology that is, for the most part, unavailable aside from a few professional sound level companies. I'm excited to see the future of Polk Audio and it is good to see that people who still take pride in what they do and who they are are still running the company with a level of integrity that is rare in today's world.

As the world gets bigger and more and more people come into available funding, things like audio become a commodity hobby and it will be companies like Polk Audio that have the foresight to see the bigger picture, the resources to develop the solutions to the demands of the population in that bigger picture and the integrity to follow through on bring those ideas to market and sticking to a low-cost, high-value plan. They are positioning themselves to be lean and mean to use some corporate buzzwords and that makes them dynamic. They can respond to market trends quicker and they can offer a high quality product with mass-market pricing. In the growing world market, this is where high-end audio is heading and companies that cannot adapat quick enough will be left behind. There will always be the boutique companies with noses stuck high in the air. There will also be the high end installers catering to people with more money than brains. However, without companies like Polk Audio that offer a high quality product in several levels of teh market place, those high shops and companies will flounder. They will not have the customer base that a company like Polk Audio brings into the market by enticing with that product that is just a tad better than the competition at a price the competition can't match for that level of quality. Polk Audio is basically going for the entry level of the market with products that are head and shoulders above the entry level competition. Hell, they are even compared with what most people would consider high-end gear and they are being chosen over the high end gear. They gotta be doing something right if that's happening. The high end gear is great stuff in any respect and if you product can beat that we'll it's pretty special.

Bravo, Polk Audio, keep up the great work and if you ever forget who you are or where you came from, just stop by the Club Polk forums. We'll faithfully remind you of what made you so great and give you the lashings you deserve if you step out of line. You've been honest with us, we owe it to you to be honest with you.

AsSiMiLaTeD

With the exception of maybe a post or two, I don't see anyone jumping to extremes. I think that making a generalized statement like 'you people are jumping to extremes' is jumping to extremes...:D

steveinaz

Paul

Polk owners are like Harley riders, they're loyal. They get a little nervous when you break ranks and try something different. The fear that Polk's "focus" will change makes it a hot topic with audiophiles.

jcaut

I, for one, greatly appreciate the fact that "Polk"Paul cares enough about what we think to take the time to browse the forum and offer his input. That's one of the great things about Polk Audio and about this forum. After all, we're just enthusiasts. "The market" extends beyond us, substantially.

I personally could care less about the "table radio", but I see no harm in it as long as it doesn't detract from Polk's focus on speakers. And I think the new home page is fine. I've seen the Polk home page, maybe 4-5 times in the last couple of years.

Jason

faster100

Originally posted by hoosier21
One mention of Bose, and a crack at Matt, and Paul lays out a 2 page responce

and then john responds with a 10 page response to that
we do have some writers on board for sure.... LOL

Mjr7531

Polk "Paul" commented upon one of my threads I do feel honored

Originally posted by "Polk" Paul DiComo
Would you rather have your Mom listen to a Bose in her kitchen or a Polk?

I'm recalling some world history, forgot the timeframe or people involved, something about the Jewish mothers killing their children so they wouldn't be converted to Christianity... I don't know where I was going with that one, but yeah, it's that big of a difference, I wouldn't want my Mom to "convert" to Bose...

Anyways... I think this is a great new direction honestly, because I have more friends who like the small clock radio thing, and this would be a great way to feed that appitite.

I know I didn't make any sense.

PolkThug

The rumors are true, I found this old file photo circa '79.

steveinaz

LOL!!!!

AsSiMiLaTeD

WAAAAAA!!!!

That's good stuff.:D

And by the way, Paul is right, I'll be picking up one of those little hootices when they hit the market...will be an excellent replacement for the alarm clock in the bedroom...and maybe another one for the garage as they get cheaper down the road...

I'm expecting alot from this little unit, and I know Polk will not dissapoint...

opus

Originally posted by "Polk" Paul DiComo


[Matt really likes Muppets. Ernie is his favorite.]




Uh........... I didn't know that Ernie was a muppet

Jstas

Originally posted by opus


Uh........... I didn't know that Ernie was a muppet

Any puppet from Sesame Street, The Muppet Show (and various movies), Fraggle Rock and several feature length movies like Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and others are a product of Jim Henson productions. Jim Henson Productions runs the Muppet Factory which is where the puppets and such for every production that Jim Henson Productions are involved in are made. That means that they are all Muppets by default.

Yes, Ernie is a Muppet just as Bert, Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Snuffalupagus, Oscar and all the rest are also muppets.

mantis

I find the direction that polk is going in to be a good one. We sell the Xm radio alot and alot of people love it. We also sell tons of polk speakers and most people love em.

Actually It was a pleasure to do an older customer of ours. He was so happy to see Polk back with us. He bought a full Rti 7.1 surround system running it with a Pioneer Elite vsx59txi. Sweet man.

I don't see polk ever getting away from what made them.

Dan

masanz1

the picture is great:D

Toxis

It's going to retail probably 500-550 in stores I'm guessing. Not much more than a Bose CD Wavething and probably will sound better. I like that it plays DVD's (which I was unaware of) and that it has XM and HD Radio. Also cool. Will I own one? No. I already have a good clock radio (Cambridge Soundworks) for the bedroom that I got for a WHOLE lot less than this. I have no need for all the extra stuff, but it is a better value than the Bose. At least Polk didn't pull a Boston and just duplicate the bose and take $20 off. WEAK!

Tour2ma

This new web-site sounds great... anybody got the link to it?

Well plotted and paced diversification is a great thing, Paul, as long as the core business is well attended. Sounds like that's what Polk is doing.

And did you notice, not a single "Bring back the SDA" plea in the thread...

dorokusai

Tour - I will presume that you are on medication.

http://www.polkaudio.com/index.php

In regards to the new Polk nugget....sorry, it's overpriced, period.

We are normal users here, nothing crazy but a piece here and a piece there, most of us simply love audio....and it's always bought on the arm or running.

I'm flexible enough to buy that piece of gear, and have a home for it, but no thanks....I feel you have alienated me personally, and I'm hardcore when it comes to audio insanity.

Paul - How does a rock bottom, XM product equate to something like the I-Sonic? I think Polk really created a top notch product in the XRt12, and I own this product. The sound quality is much higher than most XM users are used to experiencing.

I am 100% into XM, 3+ years, yet Polk segments me as a user with this new piece. Why would I buy an I-Sonic?

I want to hear it, I want to own it....but what's my motivation?

Tour2ma