Who is Polk Audio?

BIZILL

higher class than sony, which to the AVERAGE consumer, is a big deal. once you own a set, you're feeling better about yourself and your status.

Ricardo

bknauss wrote:

A paycheck

Best so far

kab

Ron-P wrote:

Not true, Mc-Dee's does not make people fatter. People make themselves fatter.

Ron,

Whether this or any of my thoughts about McD are factually correct is not at all important. It is what I believe; therefore, it's true for me. I am just one consumer and I'm sure others have their "true" idea of who McDonalds is.

It is the preponderence of consumer ideas that determine who Polk Audio or any brand is. They can be (and probably are) different for each person. What we hope to see are a few important and unique attributes common to all consumer ideas/images of our brand. And that they align with what we believe about ourselves.

Al

tonyb

To me Polk represents a good bang for your buck speaker company with great customer service.Though it's getting a tad crowded in that category,I think the LSI line and the I-SONIC,have seperated them a bit.I personally wish they would consentrate there efforts instead of trying to be all things to everyone in audio.Yeah,I know....market share...yada yada yada....just waiting for that stand out speaker from them like the SRT OR 1.2 TL that sets the bar for the rest.

Fireman32

To me Polk is all abount an excellent product made by excellent people. I have never had to call customer service but I know if I ever have to it will be top notch. Then there is this forum where I have met some of the nicest most knowledgeable people there are. And then there is Polkfest! I own a pair of RTA12b's since 2005.

MillerLiteScott

Polk Audio to me is a hometown company that produced a quality product that had great looks and sounded great for the money.

I also remember the white lab coat adds in Stereo Review.

Best customer service available.

I have had two issues since my first Polk purchase in 1993. My first issue was a cracked voice coil in a 5.25 mid driver from a pair of component car speakers which I still own and are installed in an older car. When I had the voice coil problem which was probably my fault, I called CS and I was invited to Metro Avenue to bring the driver back and they replaced the driver with out question.

Second issue in the past few months a terminal pulled of a MMC650 speaker I removed from my boat for the off season and Ken answered my e-mail and sent me yet another driver no questions asked.

I own RTi10, CSi5, Monitor 5's, MMC6500 and MM5250? component car speakers mentioned above.

Scott

MacLeod

What I think about when I think Polk Audio

- Best speakers on the market dollar for dollar
- Best customer service period
- Best people period
- Best forum period
- But most of all, the knack for making its customers feel like theyre a part of the company and one big happy family!!!

Im one of the few guys running Polk Audio gear in car audio competitions however I get no funny looks when people find out my brand. Polk has a lot of respect out there from what Ive seen especially among the more knowledgable and experiences enthusiast and the general perception is high quality and great value. Now that Polk is venturing into the high end car speaker market, that respect is sure to grow.

Been a fan of Polk Audio since the early 90's but my bought my first product in 2003.

MMC690
MM6
SR6500
SR5250
MM2104

rskarvan

Polk Audio is (most importantly) the site that hosts the "Tasteful Babe Thread".

cmy330go

Apparently also a great place to work.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=946243457

wingnut4772

Polk Audio:

Great entry level foray into audio and 'audiophilia' ( an incurable disease)

Underrated

Undermarketed

All my friends have heard of Bose. Not one has heard of Polk Audio.


My first Polks were Rti 100s, Then a complete LSI set. Now I only have LC80is in my ceiling as rear surrounds.

heiney9

Quality, built and engineered to last a long time
Value
Performance
Affordable
Passion for music reproduction
Excellent R & D
Best Customer Service I've ever experienced
Grass Roots Values at a relatively large corp.
Club Polk

My first Polks were the Original Monitor 5b's circa 1985. My 2nd pair were my RTA-11T's circa 1987, currently have Lsi-9's and another pair of 5b's .

H9

Shizelbs

Polk Audio is:

The Balls

warlocks1

I have owned Polks since I bought RTA-11t's in 1989. I have owned most of their speakers over the years. It doesn't matter what product you have, it is always the best sounding speaker at the price.

I will never abandon Polk Audio due to the following reason and it is what seperates Polk from any other company in any market. Bottom Line:

Polk honestly and genuinely cares about people. Doesn't matter if they are customers are not. I will never forget the Polk Audio tour in Baltimore. What other company will invite you to their HQ and spend the day with you. Every person from the receptionist to Jim Herd and Matt Polk, as well as other VP's, were available to speak to and honestly listened to your opinion. The pride on their faces showing off the products and intense listening to opinions, both good and bad, was amazing.

It is the same every time I call customer service. Ken is a wealth of knowledge and always take the time to listen and explain. Thanks Ken!

There are probably products that can compete with Polk Audio on price and quality, but I will never consider buying them. You can't buy brand loyalty, you have to earn it and Polk has earned mine and I tell everyone I know about Polk Audio.

Don't forget the little guy and you will always have the loyalty you have earned and deserve.

Thanks Polk Audio!

Polkersince85

There are three products I own which I rely on and can trust. My Big Ben windup alarm clocks, Coleman camping products and my Polk speakers. They "git er done". I own the vintage line of speakers because I like the sound they produce. Polk Audio to me is the sound and dependability of the Monitor and SDA products. Whether a Monitor 4, a SDA, or anything in between; the music coming from them is simply put, just plain fun. I know I'm home when I see my Polks.

The speakers I own are:

SDA SRS 2
SDA SRS 2.3TL
Monitor 10B (2 pair)
Monitor 7B (2 pair)
Monitor 7 Peerless

treitz3

To me?


////// and//////, plus /////// (just kidding):D



Great customer service.
Awesome product for the price.
Incredible mid-bass and mids sound.
White lab coat.
Hell of a good price given the sound as compared to many other speaker manufacturers.
At performance levels......POUNDING OF CHEST without distortion.
Nice build......Quality.
Did I mention price yet?:p

Accuracy.;)

dorokusai

I think Jeff hits something on a solid note. Let me know what audio company has a representative that WANTS to come to some nerdfest gathering, like our annual Polkfest?

Don't forget your love for our resident Texan....he started alot of this machine but that's for another thread. We're borderline crazy but since TX PF II(2003-Texas-Russman) our forum has been supported by some hardcore Polk heavyweights....and a couple of them keep coming back for MORE!

Al Ballard
Paul DiComo
Hedy Klopfer
Stu Lumsden
Matt Polk
Ken Swauger

Every one of them has attended a Polkfest at one time or another. There's been 2 official Polk HQ tours and Jeff nailed it....we were like royalty/VIP that day. EVERYONE tour related was engaging and had a genuine interest to school us on their areas of expertise. Simply outstanding.

*Now back to your regularly scheduled programming*

I-SIG

Well, there's not a whole lot I can add to the discussion.

I'm quite surprised that no one mentioned the "heart-dotted-'i'"

As for my first Polk's, I succumbed to Crutchfield's advertising about 1995/96 and bought some MM (that's Mobile Monitor, not MOMO, to the young 'uns) for my pick-up and later some dx 4x6's for the rear. I talked my lil' sis into getting a dB 10" for her 200sx about a year or so later. Then some RT55's, a CS350ls, RT55i's, a pair of SDA-1c's, and finally some SDA-SRS's.

Wes

hearingimpared

World Class & World's Finest Customer Service;
Dollar for Dollar best products
Personable Owners


First Polk product 1984-1985 SDA/SRS

disneyjoe7

Every moment of owning Polk's is a pleasure. The workmanship in there products, the look, the sound, the people, all first class. Pride shows everywhere in this company, everyday and I believe this comes from the man himself Matt Polk.


First set RT800i 1999 still rocking.

sbpolk

Hmmm, Polk for me...

My first Polks were RT55's, CS400, and RT25's, I think I bought those in 99. It was a wonderful system. I listened to the RT55's in Circuit City, and then ended up purchasing the whole system from a boutique store for an awesome deal. I later swapped the 55's and the 400's for 55i's and a 400i. That was my core system for a long time. When the new RTi series was released, I picked up Cherry RTi70's and a CSi40. Had those for a couple of years, and then sold them about a year and a half ago when I sold my house.

I got into my new house, and went the rounds with several other speakers, and several other brands. I just couldn't find that "Polk" sound I knew and loved. I was not impressed with the looks of the current generation of RTi speakers, so I ended up going back to the "old" Rti's. I now have RTi70's in black, CSi40, RTi28's, and FXi30's. I love these speakers. I have looked at the current RTi line, and at the upcoming RTi line, and I really prefer the old veneer, the old grill cloth material, and the old Polk Logo found on the generation that I own. I am really dissapointed to see the logo changing!!

I really want to upgrade to LSi15's, LSi7's, LSiC, and LSiFX's..... Maybe someday soon. I didn't know what was missing until a recent visit to Showcase (Tweeter) and listened to LSi15's with a nice amp.

When I think of Polk Audio, I feel comfortable.... not really with anything in particular, I just get a good feeling! I have recommended Polk Audio to many friends and family members, most of whom ended up going that direction. They are just a good, safe speaker for me.

It seemed that when I bought my first set of polks back in '99, Polk was regarded as a good boutique brand speaker. When you told someone in the know that you had Polks, the response was generally very positive. Nowdays, that seems to have changed. It seems like unless the person has firsthand experience with anything higher than monitors, the response is generally negative. I wonder if this is a result of Polk hanging their hat on the Monitor an RM lines, and on Circuit City. It seems like the Polk Brand is much weaker now than it was eight years ago. That is too bad because LSi's and RTi's are really great speakers.

I think Polk might be coming around again though, as is evidenced by the fantastic new crop of in wall speakers that have generated a tremendous amount of buzz in the boutique shop realm. That has really put Polk back on the map, and I think has many people taking Polk seriously again. I hope that Polk can roll that momentum into higher end cabinet speakers, and really hit a homerun with a future release of new LSi's, and maybe even something higher end. A high end THX Ultra2 bookshelf setup would be awesome....

Well that is the end of my tale.... I love polk speakers, and would like to see a re-emergence of Polk as a player in the higher end world!

Oh, last thing. The forum has been awesome. Priceless really! Good people on here, it is shocking that it has stayed THIS good for THIS long!

dkg999

Polk Audio is:

High value audio products - you get more than you paid for in comparison to most competing products
Old School customer service - you still remember who pays the bills
Writing the textbook in brand building and loyalty - see the comments about Club Polk and supporting/interacting with your customers
The visual of Matt Polk in the white lab coat that you used in the '80's will forever be etched in my mind!

Bought my first Polk Audio product in 1985.

Keep up the good work!

Polk65

-A person and product readily comes to mind. Many companies have catchy names but trying to figure out what they are selling is sometimes impossible.
-The sound from their speakers is addictive.
-Their speakers have rubber surrounds that will last.
-Accurate sound that I can afford.
-I want my friends to hear these.
-Performance for my paycheck.
-They keep coming up with cutting edge products.
-Their forum attracts and retains non-Polk Audio owners.
-Their forum is family.
-Company involvement with forum members at annual get-togethers is awesome.
-Opening their doors to forum members for headquarters visits. This made me feel like a kid going to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.
-This is one of those companies that employees must like coming to work.

Their customer service raises the bar.
-I've never had a long wait time.
-Those who answer the phones are understandable both with their technical speak and lack of accent.
-A caring company that makes replacement parts for older models.
-No games. If it's within warranty, they will replace it. If not, give them a call. They will offer suggestions for repair.
-I will buy from again.

I don't remember exactly when I brought SRS 2.3's home. I do remember exchanging them within a year when the "new" TL version became available.

george daniel

It's pretty much all been said,, Polk Audio--" They Care"

Products, 1990--11 T's
followed by, Sda 1c x3
SDA SRS 2
SDA SRS 2.3
mon. 5 & 5 jr and 7c's

Edit; notice how the words customer service keeps poping up? Customer Service-the key to success, Polk does NOT forget about the customer after the sale,,product support,, and doing the right thing,,just makes you feel good.

engtaz

All of the above is why we continue to seek Polk products. AKA George sneaking into Florida for some 1C's. Ha Ha

Enjoy,engtaz

george daniel

engtaz wrote:

All of the above is why we continue to seek Polk products. AKA George sneaking into Florida for some 1C's. Ha Ha

Enjoy,engtaz

why don't you run over there and pick them up for me,,keep them until thanksgiving and I'll pick them up when I visit my wifes family on turkey day? :eek:

liordra

well thought through product Design,
which makes products to good value for money.

TroyD

Two pages? That's IT? You slackers!

Ok, first, in context of who Polk was, when I was a newbie.....and the folks that I try to 'bring in to the fold' have similar impressions. Anyway, before I knew anything about audio, I knew the name Polk Audio, it SOUNDED (the name) higher end as opposed to say Infinity or JBL. Why, I don't know. Maybe because 'audio' was in the title. In college and thereafter I knew a few guys that were stereo guys. Many of them had Polk speakers. What I'm getting at is that I always associated Polk as a premium product. At least in terms of the general public's perception.

What does Polk mean to me now? Well, one word? Home. I honestly view my association with Polk as more of a reasonably close friendship basis more than a retailer/customer relationship. By design or not, that's how I see it nor do I think that my situation is unique.

Now, second to none CS, astronomical price/performance ratio....etc etc, that's all true but to a lot of us it's more than that. It's personal.

When I buy a Polk product, it's not a case of...ok, here is our widget. It's more a case of Matt, George, Al, Paul, Jim, Ken handing over to me something and saying this is our product, we are proud of it. This is why were proud of it. We think, within parameters, it's the best product you can get and that is important to us. Now that have one of our products, here is the secret Polk handshake. I dunno...it's hard to explain but hopefully you get my drift. Anyhow, I own other speakers and (blasphemy) I think some of them are better than Polk speakers (ie Quads). I do not, however, have an emotional attachment to the Quads. I also, as many of you know, own 2.3tl's. If money got tight, I would sell the Quads. No biggie, something else will come along. My 2.3tl's....I could be HOMELESS and I'd be humping down the street in a shopping cart.

Many of us remember when Micah left there was a fear (and this surface again with the DEI thing) that we would lose that sense of community with Polk. That was a real and palpable, if unfounded, fear. The fear was not so much about the gear, but the atmosphere and personal bond. Al said this:

While Micah may have put his unique spin on it, Micah picked up the culture of Polk...not the other way around.

...and there you have it, the culture of Polk....cool shiite.

1999 - RT7's
2007-SDA 2.3tl's, CRS+, R10, R15, Atrium45, Mon7A, 5's


Anyway, that's my story.

BDT

jacob.simpson

POLK Products has huge competition yes its their own CS department i dont need to elaborate on this further...:D

Lowell_M

jacob.simpson wrote: »

POLK Products has huge competition yes its their own CS department i dont need to elaborate on this further...:D

Well... You might want to because I don't understand what you are implying. :rolleyes:

jacob.simpson

a_mattison wrote: »

Well... You might want to because I don't understand what you are implying. :rolleyes:

Some companies have excellent products in their portfolio, but pathetic Customer Service, Now here is one company which produces some of the best speakers and then there is CS department which equally serves its customers in their own style, I cant recall till now in electronics or in Audio in general such Co ordination between CS and Sales Dept is acheived.(exception to Very High end made to order specialists)
Hope i was able to answer a bit about it.:)
Its always best have Healthy competition within any company in a co ordinated manner between various depts