Polk Audio intros new VM Series high-end flat panel speakers

fireshoes

Sources: The Retail Bridge newsletter
http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/377945.html

Polk Audio VM Series Loudspeakers Announced

Make no mistake about it; according to Polk its new VM Series loudspeakers were designed specifically with high-end flat panel home theater systems in mind.

The line includes three models -- one floor standing, two on-wall/shelf/stand mounted -- all with Polk's Dynamic Balance drivers and tweeters. Each speaker is made with a polymer/mineral composite, while the tweeters are anodized aluminum domes with neodymium magnets and low-viscosity ferro-magnetic cooling fluid. Each speaker comes in a satin-gloss black or satin-gloss silver aluminum enclosure.

The 49-inch tall floor standing VM30 includes two 4-inch midrange drivers and a 1-inch tweeter in one chamber and four 4-inch bass drivers in a second chamber. The VM30 sits on top of a smoked glass base and will be available at an MSRP of $1,149 each.

The VM20 -- which houses two 4-inch midbass drivers, two 4-inch planar bass radiators and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter -- can fill in as either a left or right front speaker or as a center channel speaker. Each VM20 carries an MSRP of $529.

Each VM10 satellite speaker houses two 3-inch midbass drivers and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter. The MSRP on each VM10 will be $349.

Polk's new VM Series will be available to U.S. and Canadian retailers starting in September.

If your customer is looking for more of a complete system, Polk this week also introduced a new RM Series of home theater speaker systems. The RM Series -- also available in September -- will include a variety of 5.1 and up subwoofer/satellite systems ranging in price from $479.95 to $699.95 MSRP.

pics from ecoustics:





See Polk's fax blast link for better pictures and info:
http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/fax_blasts/VM_Series.pdf

fireshoes

Whatcha think about that? The VM30 is Polk's second most expensive speaker to the LSi25!

MikeC78

VM 30 sports a 1" Ferro-magnetic fluid-cooled Aluminum Dome Tweeter.

The aluminum tweeter doesn't sound to appealing to me.

cfrizz

OMG, they are now joining the metal tweeter makers! I just might have to find a new speaker company!

avguytx

It seems like that's what every mainstream "video" speaker manufacturer is going to. Some of the in-wall/in-ceiling speakers I rep still use silk soft dome tweeters in them. I guess they think the voicing for "video reproduction" works best. Seems like it's more and more about the video versus the audio these days.

MikeC78

Soo sad...

cfrizz

It's probably DEI's directive! I knew it was just a matter of time before they started pushing Polk in a different direction!:( :mad:

Shizelbs

Those are some pricey little speakers. I'll save judgement until I hear them.

cfrizz

Pricey & featherweights!

Product Weight
4.3 lbs
11.6 lbs
25.5 lbs

You blow on them too hard & they will fall over!

Not to mention the strange resemblance to the Def Tech Mythos Towers.

fireshoes

Just added the Polk fax blast link with more pics and info.

dorokusai

Spy Photo.

ohskigod

easy guys!

I remember all this kind of talk right before the release of the surroundbar. we then changed our minds after we heard it, and recognized how good a product it was 2 polkfests ago.

I would reserve judgement until we hear it.

also remember, this is a specific market speaker, slim line, to go with a tv mounted on the wall. they might have had no choice but to go with a metal tweet to make it all work.....who knows.

ohskigod

come to think of it, any way we can get a set of these at polkfest this year?

fireshoes

The spy has pretty nice looking cables and what looks like a rather large amp.

reeltrouble1

Lou,

You are going to get to hear the Polk Lc-RTS line in-walls which are higher up the chain than this one. Well at least I hope you will, I am waiting on two speakers yet but Al told me they are on the way to San Diego.

There will be some of the other new gear, Al is working on it.

RT1

Yashu

I wish the RTi line used this type of tweeter... Metal tweets can sound really good. I am not sure why you guys are knocking them... Aluminum is not going to be too bright, and they sound very natural and neutral...

Sure these speakers probably built more for WAF than performance, but it's cool to see polk trying out a new tweeter somewhere.

McLoki

The next generation of the RM series. I have no doubt that it sounds better than the old RM series - I am not sure why you guys are knocking it. That series has always been about high WAF first and sound second. If they can build a high WAF speaker with decent sound it should bring alot more people into the polk camp. I do not think it was designed to steal sales away from the LSi series - rather bring customers from other brands looking at DefTech mythos - Bose - etc.

Much like the surround bar - just because it is not for you does not mean it is not for anyone.

Michael

MillerLiteScott

fireshoes wrote: »

The spy has pretty nice looking cables and what looks like a rather large amp.

I agree.:cool:

tonyb

Metal tweets.........YUK!!!!
Not exactly innovative is it?Very dissapointed.Throw some ribbon tweets in there,then we'll talk.Even the soft dome would be better.

RuSsMaN

Tony, what were the speakers you've been building for the past 30 years? I forget what they were called.

VR3

I like em.

Hope there is some at PF.

tonyb

Called "crap" Russ.
Needless to say,you don't have to build them to appreciate them.

TroyD

How do you know if you haven't heard them?

The design folks are still the same and I doubt that thier hearing has gone to hell in the past year....

You know, every time Polk does something....people start wailing and moaning that they've sold out, gone to the dogs etc etc etc....

Wait until you've heard them before passing judgement.

While I the sound of soft domes, they ain't the end all be all, nor are ribbon tweeters.

BDT

Willow

Yashu wrote: »

I wish the RTi line used this type of tweeter... Metal tweets can sound really good. QUOTE]

What are you smoking ! the Rti's have enough of a bad rap for music then to add a metal tweet...

VR3

Hmm, assuming their pricing is similar to the past. That nice LRC should run around 399.99 each.

I think I may have found a good solution to put a center channel in my room with its light weight and ability to be mounted to the wall.

HMMM, whats the expected release date?

Willow

I think Polk is on the right track with this line up, for people who are in the market for this type of speaker. I have yet to hear a bad Polk product. I wonder if these will be more difficult to get here in Canada trying to find Lsis here is a no go.

Joe08867

As long as you don't try to use them for straight up music they might be ok. I am definately not a big fan of Metal Domes. The 4" Radiators are neat looking though.

It is funny they want to market them for flat panel TV's when you can't get them against the wall by the TV. They are going to need room behind them for any bass response from the passive radiators.

dorokusai

Joe08867 wrote: »

As long as you don't try to use them for straight up music they might be ok. I am definately not a big fan of Metal Domes. The 4" Radiators are neat looking though.

It is funny they want to market them for flat panel TV's when you can't get them against the wall by the TV. They are going to need room behind them for any bass response from the passive radiators.

The VM30 floor stander is the model with rear PR's, the other two models are wall mountable.

Not good for music? A small driver can sound great and go pretty low in a tuned enclosure. I'm not a fan of Al domes either but it can be done right.

Emlyn

The current silk dome tweeter found in Polk speakers sounds more like a metal dome tweeter in its implementation, so just going to aluminum makes sense. Certainly not the first time Polk has used metal in its tweeters, and if they were aiming for clarity of vocals in the speakers (as most would want from A/V speakers) the metal dome was the best way to go.

tonyb

TroyD wrote: »

How do you know if you haven't heard them?

The design folks are still the same and I doubt that thier hearing has gone to hell in the past year....

You know, every time Polk does something....people start wailing and moaning that they've sold out, gone to the dogs etc etc etc....

Wait until you've heard them before passing judgement.

While I the sound of soft domes, they ain't the end all be all, nor are ribbon tweeters.

BDT

I was just commenting on the choice of tweeter.I will reserve judgement untill I can get an ear on them.But for me personally,metal tweets are not up my alley.But maybe they are for other folks,who knows.No need to get defensive boy's.....jeez.

fireshoes

They are out in the wild now, kids. Anybody else had a chance to demo 'em? I think the black cabinets look really nice. Definitely better looking with the grills on.