Who is Polk Audio?

steveinaz

Polk Audio:

- High value way into high-end audio
- The Harley Davidson of speakers
- Interesting designs that break the mold somewhat
- The early 70's-80's speakers had a special uniqueness to them, like Sumo amplifiers.
- Excellent parts availability for legacy models (a BIG plus)
- The blue collar man's speaker
- Unique signature sound/punch that makes them exclusively Polk

Note:
I wish Polk would get back to their 70's/80's era uniqueness and ditch the "everything looks the same" model. Bring the SDA's back, wide front and all. BUILD IT, AND THEY WILL COME. The Lsi and SDA series should be the flagships; the Monitor and Rti series the workin mans speaker--in fact eliminate the Rti altogether, use it's technology in the Monitor series. There should be 3 series; Lsi, SDA, and Monitor.[/soapbox]

inspiredsports

One of those other "you wouldn't a thunk its" about McDonald's also is they generally have "consistently clean bathrooms", even outside of the USA. Traveling with my wife and 4 young children years ago, that was important. Today, it's also important as many other public places don't offer public restrooms. McDonalds does, and how many times do you buy something just because you are "in the door".

The same goes for Polk. I've owned PolkSDA's for 22 years, but become a diehard Club Polk member only last November. This forum brought me "back through the door".

I've purchased other brands of audio speakers between 1987 and November 2008, but I can tell you without a doubt after joining this forum and enjoying the tremendous camaraderie and Customer Service when I needed it, I will not buy another brand of new speaker again.

You "never woulda thunk it", but Club Polk is the McDonald's clean bathroom!

MSALLA

To me Polk is like the corvette. The new Z51 will beat a $300,000 Ferrari for under $150,000. I paid under $700.00 for my Lsi9's and (to me) they sound better then other bookshelve speakers for $1000 and up. Just a no frills total quality package. No money wasted on "cheese cake " flasheyness.

renowilliams

I bought my first polk products a couple of months ago. I was into audio years ago and bought mainly canadian made monitors (Sound Dynamics). I had very different listening tastes back then. I also bought a pair of JBL-4311's in the late seventies.
When I purchased my RTIA5's recently, I did so for two reasons. A friend recommended them and so I came into this forum. You guys and your excitment and committment convinced me. I never went to the store and even listened to them. That being said, It was a very good decision to buy these speakers and I am looking forward to getting more equipment.
So when I think of Polk, I think of the group of dedicated people in this forum and the great sounding gear in my home.


Thanks

Sherardp

Great audio quality at a very good price
excellent customer service
brings together a great group of people through a well respected forum

My 1st polk setup..........and I indeed enjoy the product and being here on the boards sharing everything from audio to anything else with my "buddies".

obieone

JMO, but you CAN'T get better sound for the money! Period!

TECHNOKID

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.

There is definitely unique and common attributes to the brand as the brand reflects its people and of course it always starts with ownership/leadership. This discussion yet proves a concensus, while Polk offers a quality product at a decent price for all budget, Polk is close to its customers and this site proves it.

When I was in the repair business, one of my client told me that he was my client not sloley because I could do the repair but because he felt he was part of a family when he was coming to my shop. The way I felt about operating my business then, I feel Polk as the same attitude towards business while it is much larger and not as easy to do:

1. Polk is passionate about its product creation...
2. Polk is passionate about the happiness and satisfaction of its users...
3. Polk is passionate about the opinion of its users.

While providing a good product, Polk is all about a positive attitude in/toward business and this site and all the testimonies are here to prove this. The image of a company is what the company deserves as it created its own image. Keep up the good work and attitude Polk!

Sherardp

Polk audio is that fresh scent and warmth of biscuits being baked in the morning, that hickory taste of your favorite breakfast sausage. Its that ever so sweet taste of your favorite syrup dripping from those mouth watering pancakes. Its the thirst quenching taste of a cold glass of orange juice.

It's all of dat and a bag of chips, "It Polk Audio Baby!!!"

obieone

Sherardp wrote: »

Polk audio is that fresh scent and warmth of biscuits being baked in the morning, that hickory taste of your favorite breakfast sausage. Its that ever so sweet taste of your favorite syrup dripping from those mouth watering pancakes. Its the thirst quenching taste of a cold glass of orange juice.

It's all of dat and a bag of chips, "It Polk Audio Baby!!!"

Wow! You should be in charge of the Marketing & Merchandising dept.!:D

CaligulaPolk

Sherardp wrote: »

Polk audio is that fresh scent and warmth of biscuits being baked in the morning, that hickory taste of your favorite breakfast sausage. Its that ever so sweet taste of your favorite syrup dripping from those mouth watering pancakes. Its the thirst quenching taste of a cold glass of orange juice.

It's all of dat and a bag of chips, "It Polk Audio Baby!!!"

LMAO!!! Good polk breakfast... hint hint hint copyright

cambir

Excellent customer service...
Fantastic sounding speakers...
Speakers capable of multi-duty (HT, 2-Ch, all genres)...

Thanks polkaudio!

Owner since 2006
Products owned (current): R15, RT25i, RT35, RT600, RT600i, RT800i, CS175i, CS250, CS300, CS400, Monitor 5jr+, Monitor 5 series 2, Monitor 7 (B and C), Monitor 10, SDA 2B
...never met a Polk I didn't like.

Braddles

I agree with all the positive comments about Polk and their products.

But i will say this......

I think Polk dropped the ball when it decided to move away from the higher end of town. i.e. SDA's etc.

When i bought my Monitor 10 b's in 1989 Polk enjoyed a much better name (at least here in Australia) than it does today. When i talk to any sales rep about my Monitor 12's that i've had from new they all say the same thing. "Oh you've got the real polks then". They turn their noses up at the later Polk products. I find this very frustrating knowing how good Polks are.

While i understand the business decisions that Polk have made in recent years to stay competitive in a tough market i can't help but think they have lost some of the status they worked so hard for in their early years by not keeping some sort of higher end product in their line up. Even if it was just to satisfy a small minority, i think it would have helped keep the brand name up there with other brands that it deserves to be with.

I currently own Monitor 12's, Monitor 5's and SDA 2B's and love them all!!!!!

Cardinals-1

McLoki wrote: »

What I think of when someone says Polk audio -

SDA's
White Lab Coat (sorry Matt... )
solid mid-fi company with a few hi-fi offerings (or pretty darn close)
Excellent customer service (this would be more for current customers than new ones)
Club Polk.

I agree with this. I got into Polk back in the late 80's and they had a reputation as one of the most innovative companies in the speaker business. All the reviews praised Polk for producing speakers that match the big guys note for note at a fifth the cost.

What I see now is Polk following the pack not leading by sound quality but leading by aesthetics and keeping the wife happy. I know a company has to do that in todays market, but if Polk would come out with updated products like the SDA SRS series that I use to own. "Not necessarily a retro reunion of the SDA but something as innovative as the SDA" I think Polk would be surprised how many audio heads would tell there wifes to stick it and bring the 80's 90's Polk buzz back to the company.

fossy

Polk Audio is :

affordable..
quality products..
offer a variety for diff applications..
CS is outstanding( haven't needed them but good to know they stand behind their products)..
Offers a forum that sticks to Audio ( Thank you for not allowing political discussion)..

And although I have yet to attend any of the polk sponsored events @ Polk HQ's , to offer up that kinda event for their customers, IMO , speaks many, many volumes about what the customer means to Polk as a company -- Outstanding


Atrium 65
Monitor 7c
Lsi9

tonyb

cambir wrote: »

Excellent customer service...
Fantastic sounding speakers...
Speakers capable of multi-duty (HT, 2-Ch, all genres)...


Aside from customer service,which I think Polk is at the top,great sounding speakers that can do HT/Music?? That field is a bit crowded right now.They haven't yet come up with some signature products that seperate them from the pack. I predicted they would go in a different direction this year and I hope they do.Not that I want them to abandon their mainstays,but they need to create the buzz about their speakers again,so a new line,more customized,with better quality parts could do that.Look at all the other people makeing headway in speaker sales,Salk,Sp tech,Taylors,and on,are all customizing to an extent,and useing quality parts.When you create a great speaker,it helps out your lower lines also by creating the buzz.Worked in the past for B&W,Wilson,Revel,and a cast of others.Polk keeps trying to get market share battleing in the middle of the field,they need to step up and create,like the old days,or have they become a company where marketing is the be all end all?

jacob.simpson

I am really happy to get this thread back to life and great replies and input to Polk directly, hope most of it are taken care during the Preview / audition on 9th of Apr

HHStuart

kab wrote: »

As part of your post can you also state whether you own a Polk product or not? If you do, in what year did you get your first Polk product?

Thanks

Polk - Quality speakers at a reasonable price.

I bought my first Polk speakers in 1989 (SDA II's) or was it 1987?

I also own some LSi 7's not shown in my signature.

nooshinjohn

jacob.simpson wrote: »

I am really happy to get this thread back to life and great replies and input to Polk directly, hope most of it are taken care during the Preview / audition on 9th of Apr

..what audition?

fossy

nooshinjohn wrote: »

..what audition?

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79573

Cardinals-1

Hey I know something original we can do that no one else has. Let's put out a sound bar.

Oh yeah everyone already has one.

How about a new 2 way speaker with a sub that would use the sda technology. The 2-way would have lots of drivers maybe 2 or 3 tweeters and at least 6 mid-ranges but since the sub is in a separate box they speakers would not have to be 2 foot wide like the old sda's. Also "QUIT PORTING SUBS!!!" Make the box the size it needs to be to move the air. I know port tuning has vastly improved over the years, but as soon as you think you have everything tuned in you find some music that makes the sub sound like mud.

woodsman10b

P ricing
O utstanding service
L ongevity
K iller sound

A mazing quality
U nbeatable consistency
D ependable
I ndependent
O verall second to none!!