How Un-Polked are you?

cfrizz

Outstanding post Steve & right on the money!

Early B.

steveinaz wrote: »

The problem is, people get caught up in the prestige thing...you know, if it's sold at CC or BB it can't be good--that's rediculous. Since when does a distributor determine the quality of a product?

Although that sounds good, let's add a little marketing reality to this issue. Polk's market is NOT the audiophile crowd -- defined as audio hobbyists who typically have a more discerning ear than most people and are willing to pay significantly more money for better sound. Generally speaking, Polk's market is the typical BB & CC consumer, and they aren't evaluating Polk speakers on the same basis as most audiophiles. For instance, boomy bass is OK for the general public, but it sounds like garbage to an audiophile. Therefore, Polk's speakers need not be "audiophile quality" in order for Polk make lots of money.

Now, before you guys flame me for this statement, I didn't say Polk speakers weren't audiophile quallity because that is a subjective issue. Nor does it mean that audiophiles shouldn't own Polk speakers because many of us do.

What I am saying is -- Polk would likely have a very different marketing strategy and product mix if it were selling speakers to the audiophile crowd. For instance, the distribution chain would probably be different. The pricing structure would probably be different. The quality of the components would probably be different. The advertising would probably be very different, etc.

So let's be honest with ourselves -- Polk speakers are targeted for the consumer market. Period. That's neither good nor bad, it's just a fact. So Polk owners shouldn't try to make Polk speakers out to be more than it is. We all agree that Polk makes great speakers for the price and for the intended audience. But don't put Polk on a pedestal. They don't make the best speakers on the planet. There are hundreds of speaker brands in Polk's price range, and some of them will kick Polk's ****, some of them are equally good, and some of them suck.

So yes, the quality of the product is determined, in part, by its distribution chain because at the end of that chain is a specific target market with a specific quality expectation. There are lots of other factors, but if you owned a speaker company that designed, built, and marketed high end audio speakers for the audiophile crowd, you wouldn't sell them in BB or CC. Let's keep it real, folks. Polk is doing great in its defined market, but don't try and put Polk in a category where it doesn't belong.

steveinaz

But aren't ALL products targeted for the "consumer market"? I sure hope so.

Sure, you have different lines of Polk, as you do with most any speaker manufacturer to capture that specific demographic. For Polk, the Lsi is an audiophile targeted product; it requires much better quality amplification; amplification your average consumer doesn't have.

ohskigod

so a large company like polk can't market to different crowds? your right Early, Polk markets the Monitor line to same same folks it markets the LSi line to.

just like GM markets the Chevy cavalier to the same people it markets the Cadillac to, brotha, I wont argue with ya, not worth the effort.

to me, the LSi's seemed to be Polk's effort to make the more discerning listener outside the general markets happy. Them making different lines to make a larger segment of customer happy to me does not take away from that effort.

I own polk LSi, you own Taylo's, just because my speaker is made by Polk that makes me part of the average consumer market and you the discerning audiophile?!?!?, brotha, my wife and my wallet would disagree completly.

thats audio snobbery................oh yes, I went there

ohskigod

to add, I admit that they could market the LSi better, but its not there bread and butter, so its not at the top of Polk's to do list I imagine.



If polk intended Lsi's for the "consumer market" but not more discerning listeners, then they really did a piss poor job by making it sound like crap on most recievers and making them 4 ohms...LOL

steveinaz

ohskigod wrote: »

to add, I admit that they could market the LSi better, but its not there bread and butter, so its not at the top of Polk's to do list I imagine.

Precisely. Audiophiles are a small, niche group--it's not where the BIG money is.

Ricardo

What's all this discussion about? Polk makes GREAT speakers, period. Are they the best sounding speakers? No. I don't think this is a surprise for anyone.
I have never heard an LSi speaker, but I've owned 4 pairs of SDA's, which many of you would agree are very good speakers for 2 channel rigs. Now I own a pair of Tylers, and I am not sure if it's the price of the drivers, crossover components, Kentucky labor, or the name tag, but I can say they are in a different league. Are the Tylers the best sounding speakers? No. I've heard some MBL's that I will never be able to afford that sound a lot better.
Obviously gear plays an important role on how a speaker sounds, but whoever says that the LSi's are the best speakers they've heard, has not heard too many speakers (And yes, I feel comfortable saying this even though I've never heard them).

Edit: I have Polk RTi's in my HT and probably will never change them, and Atriums in the backyard that everytime I listen to them I am surprised of how good they sound.

zombie boy 2000

It's definitely the Kentucky labor:p

cfrizz

ROTFLMAO!!!! Bingo!!!!

Thank you for breaking 5 paragraphs down to the 2 words he was actually driving at!:D WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!:D

ohskigod wrote: »

so a large company like polk can't market to different crowds? your right Early, Polk markets the Monitor line to same same folks it markets the LSi line to.

just like GM markets the Chevy cavalier to the same people it markets the Cadillac to, brotha, I wont argue with ya, not worth the effort.

to me, the LSi's seemed to be Polk's effort to make the more discerning listener outside the general markets happy. Them making different lines to make a larger segment of customer happy to me does not take away from that effort.

I own polk LSi, you own Taylo's, just because my speaker is made by Polk that makes me part of the average consumer market and you the discerning audiophile?!?!?, brotha, my wife and my wallet would disagree completly.

thats audio snobbery................oh yes, I went there

heiney9

HTrookie wrote: »

What's all this discussion about? Polk makes GREAT speakers, period. Are they the best sounding speakers? No. I don't think this is a surprise for anyone.
I have never heard an LSi speaker, but I've owned 4 pairs of SDA's, which many of you would agree are very good speakers for 2 channel rigs. Now I own a pair of Tylers, and I am not sure if it's the price of the drivers, crossover components, Kentucky labor, or the name tag, but I can say they are in a different league. Are the Tylers the best sounding speakers? No. I've heard some MBL's that I will never be able to afford that sound a lot better.
Obviously gear plays an important role on how a speaker sounds, but whoever says that the LSi's are the best speakers they've heard, has not heard too many speakers (And yes, I feel comfortable saying this even though I've never heard them).

Edit: I have Polk RTi's in my HT and probably will never change them, and Atriums in the backyard that everytime I listen to them I am surprised of how good they sound.

You've never heard the LSi's but you claim the Tylers are in a different league.........hmmmmmm. They well may be, especially if one believe's price dictates higher quality/better sound. I don't think anyone has stated the LSi's are the best speaker. Get your ears on a properly set-up pair of LSi's then you can comment on them. Just my humble opinion Ricardo

H9

Ricardo

heiney9 wrote: »

You've never heard the LSi's but you claim the Tylers are in a different league.........hmmmmmm. They well may be, especially if one believe's price dictates higher quality/better sound. I don't think anyone has stated the LSi's are the best speaker. Get your ears on a properly set-up pair of LSi's then you can comment on them. Just my humble opinion Ricardo

H9

No, I did not say the Tylers are in a different league than the LSi's. I was comparing with SDA's (1B, SRS, 3.1TL and 1.2TL). Read again.;)

I'm sure the LSi's are great speakers.

Early B.

ohskigod wrote: »

I own polk LSi, you own Taylo's, just because my speaker is made by Polk that makes me part of the average consumer market and you the discerning audiophile?!?!?, brotha, my wife and my wallet would disagree completly.

thats audio snobbery................oh yes, I went there

First, my Taylos are used for my HT center channel 'cause they're not good enough for my 2-channel system.:p Just kidding.

BTW -- I never said that owning Polks automatically makes you an average consumer. Re-read the post.

Oh, and I'd love to be an audio snob someday. Right now I don't have the kind of gear or wallet size to do that.:( But as soon as I do, you guys won't here from me again. I'll be too busy cuddling my Watt Puppies.

Early B.

HTrookie wrote: »

No, I did not say the Tylers are in a different league than the LSi's.

I said it.

And, of course, the pricing is different, so they should be.

Ricardo

heiney9 wrote: »

You've never heard the LSi's but you claim the Tylers are in a different league.........hmmmmmm. They well may be, especially if one believe's price dictates higher quality/better sound. I don't think anyone has stated the LSi's are the best speaker. Get your ears on a properly set-up pair of LSi's then you can comment on them. Just my humble opinion Ricardo

H9

Oh, and on the price comment, there are exceptions for sure, but I do believe that more expensive speakers will generally sound better. better drivers, better xover components, etc.
My comment though is not dictated by how much they cost, but how they sound.

ohskigod

from experience, the Lsi is just one of those speakers that take a but of experimentation to get the best out of them. probably one of its biggest flaws. you have those speakers that sound great on nearly whatever it is hooked up to, different layers of great perhaps, but great none the less. the LSi is NOT that type of speaker.

I tried a number of different set ups for 2 channel as well as the theater (pre/pro settings included) to find the LSi's comfort zone.

You have to have the LSi in your home for a while to really understand it. probably can be said of any speaker, but it seems even more true for LSi's.

ohskigod

Early B. wrote: »

First, my Taylos are used for my HT center channel 'cause they're not good enough for my 2-channel system.:p Just kidding..

NICE...LOL

Early B. wrote: »

Oh, and I'd love to be an audio snob someday. Right now I don't have the kind of gear or wallet size to do that.:( But as soon as I do, you guys won't here from me again. I'll be too busy cuddling my Watt Puppies.

My future audio snob speaker will probably be Harbeths. Monitor 40 were the ones I heard I believe. oh so nice,

I heard the Watt Puppies, didnt feel it, but they were being played in a kitchen with what appeared to be a PC based rig, so I took that experience with a HUGE grain of salt. Long Story.

I have this curse of hearing great speakers in what must be the worst set of circumstances.

Strong Bad

I keep seeing the phrase "Best Sounding Speakers" pop up all the time. Guess what, there are no "Best Sounding Speakers." There are alot of great sounding speakers, but no best sounding.

Every speaker manufactured will always be picked apart by people thinking this or that doesn't sound so great on them. I don't care if it's the Polk LSi line, the B&W Nautilus line or the high end Wilsons. Someone, somewhere will always find some little nuance about any of them and let the world know how sub-par those speakers are and how they are NOT worth the money.

I love Polk speakers, period. I have since the Monitor 10B's I purchased in 1987. It just comes down to finding pleasing speakers to listen to, buying them, setting them up and listening.

Sometimes I wonder with all the gibber jabber about flipping speakers, testing this one and that one, does anyone ever take the time to sit down and just enjoy any of them? Must we critique every subtle nuance all the time?

John

cfrizz

You wrote 5 whole paragraphs that said it loud & clear without actually saying it out directly! Lou just pointed out that that is what you were actually saying!:p

Early B. wrote: »

First, my Taylos are used for my HT center channel 'cause they're not good enough for my 2-channel system.:p Just kidding.

BTW -- I never said that owning Polks automatically makes you an average consumer. Re-read the post.

Oh, and I'd love to be an audio snob someday. Right now I don't have the kind of gear or wallet size to do that.:( But as soon as I do, you guys won't here from me again. I'll be too busy cuddling my Watt Puppies.

Early B.

ohskigod wrote: »

I heard the Watt Puppies, didnt feel it, but they were being played in a kitchen with what appeared to be a PC based rig, so I took that experience with a HUGE grain of salt. Long Story.

WTF????

C'mon, you gotta tell us this story in a different thread. The fancy kitchen rig? It's funny already.

cfrizz

Perfectly summed up John!

I have been thinking that & coming to that conclusion for over the 3 yrs that I have been on this board!

Strong Bad wrote: »

I keep seeing the phrase "Best Sounding Speakers" pop up all the time. Guess what, there are no "Best Sounding Speakers." There are alot of great sounding speakers, but no best sounding.

Every speaker manufactured will always be picked apart by people thinking this or that doesn't sound so great on them. I don't care if it's the Polk LSi line, the B&W Nautilus line or the high end Wilsons. Someone, somewhere will always find some little nuance about any of them and let the world know how sub-par those speakers are and how they are NOT worth the money.

I love Polk speakers, period. I have since the Monitor 10B's I purchased in 1987. It just comes down to finding pleasing speakers to listen to, buying them, setting them up and listening.

Sometimes I wonder with all the gibber jabber about flipping speakers, testing this one and that one, does anyone ever take the time to sit down and just enjoy any of them? Must we critique every subtle nuance all the time?

John

dale 442

I do know this from experience.
It seems everyone enjoys hearing things different. People have audition my 2b's with the Carver and I can tell by the look on their faces that they are extremely NOT impressed. But these are the Cerwin Vega crowd for the most. Nothing against them they are just not for me anymore. Thank god.

I'd say that about 2 in 10 people liked what they heard here. Go figure.
Good speaker, bad speakers, the BEST speakers do NOT exist.

Beauty is in the ear of the beholder. But with some education......;)
Which I'm sure they will never get, or want for that matter.

Ya gotta like your own setup. Only one opinion matters is this case, and that is your own.

heiney9

HTrookie wrote: »

No, I did not say the Tylers are in a different league than the LSi's. I was comparing with SDA's (1B, SRS, 3.1TL and 1.2TL). Read again.;)

I'm sure the LSi's are great speakers.

Alright I understand, the wording was little vague to me . The LSi's, IMO are much better (more accurate, more natural sounding, more pleasant) than SDA's. SDA's are special, but the LSi's are better (IMO) in every regard. In fact I used to be a big fan of classic Polks (Monitors, RTA's and SDA's) the LSi's are decidedly different sounding speaker (over classic Polks) that I feel the overall experience is more balanced. But again the SDA's are a special breed that I like for completely different reasons.

H9

madmax

heiney9 wrote: »

The LSi's, IMO are much better (more accurate, more natural sounding, more pleasant) than SDA's. SDA's are special, but the LSi's are better (IMO) in every regard.
H9

Everyone differs I guess. I tried the whole group of LSi's (7's, 9's,15's) and none of them came close to sounding as pleasant or natural as the SDA's. I guess I liked the '7s the best out of all of them.
madmax

Willow

As for the main topic here, all my speakers in the house are polk...well except my computer speakers.