Polk Audio Vs. Klipsch speakers, which is better?

2

Comments

  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited August 2005
    You wouldn't say Bose and say Martin Logan? I'd say their even more opposite sounding.
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,600
    edited August 2005
    Toxis wrote:
    You wouldn't say Bose and say Martin Logan? I'd say their even more opposite sounding.

    I swear... this is the first time I have ever seen those two brands in the same sentence.

    :)
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,223
    edited August 2005
    Right I get it I forgot about the darn crossovers.

    Coupled up with a decent or good sub, clears up all of this. my mids are great and my highs are not harsh what so ever.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited August 2005
    tdogroeder - Any update on your quest for speakers?
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • tdogroeder
    tdogroeder Posts: 53
    edited August 2005
    audiobliss wrote:
    tdogroeder - Any update on your quest for speakers?

    I've decided to go with Polk Audio.
    Yamaha RXV-757
    JM-Lab Focal Cobalt 816 S's, JM-LabFocal Cobalt CC 800 S, FXi3's, RT15's & PSW 303
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited August 2005
    Awesome. Hope you like it. What in particular are you looking at?


    EDIT - nevermind, I could just pay attention and see your thread about the R15 :rolleyes:
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • Wizard2001
    Wizard2001 Posts: 1
    edited January 2013
    I own a pair of klpsch kg4 when i bought them i auditioned few other speakers including an smaller polks that i dont remember the model. Both sounded great. In that occation i prefered the klipsch, but being honest, i cant say the polks where no good. For me i have to stablish something klipsch is a diferent sound. Not every body likes them but a lot of people love them. Is like that klipsch have a bit of urban flavor. You can play a classic concerto but a hip hop song to. Like the first few post that i read, you have to hear them both to deside. Speaker sound is very subjective. But keeping the comparison. I love mi klipsch but woul like to set up another room with polks, because a two diferent sounds, in few words, Polk is kind of mellow and klpsch is kind of heavy or bright. Bot are great speakers and good price on affordable high end. And Polk still better price. Polk is a speaker that give you more bang for your bucks. And truly my next set of speakers might be polk in priorities. Hear them both not in price but more in type range. And you will notice what i tell you.
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  • seabeerob213
    seabeerob213 Posts: 1,843
    edited January 2013
    danger boy wrote: »
    Bose are better than Polk and Klipsch.. you knucklehead. :rolleyes:
    only when paired with the best cables you can buy, Monster
    2 Channel(work in progress):DAC: Schiit modi 2 uberAmp:Parasound 1200 MK IISub:RBH 1010-SEP Speakers: Monitor 5A peerlesscurrently running some krk rokit 3g since the HK pre outs died and i need to start breaking everything down to move in a couple monthsHeadphones:Source: tidalDAC: schiit modius epre: schiit sysAmp: AQ dragonfly black/ schiit magni2 Cans: Velodyne V-True, Grado SR225i, sennheiser x drop gaming headsetPC:DAC: schiit modius e(over spdif)pre: schiit sysspeakers: prenous eris 5 xtSub: Earthquake Sound MiniMe-P63most of my comments are passing on of info, im a noob, im just trying to help how i can, if im wrong or out of place to comment, dont hesitate to let me know :)"WITH WILLING HEARTS AND SKILLFUL HANDS, THE DIFFICULT WE DO AT ONCE, THE IMPOSSIBLE TAKES A BIT LONGER, WITH COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. WE BUILD - WE FIGHT FOR PEACE WITH FREEDOM"Seabee Memorial, Arlington, VA
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  • ravaneli
    ravaneli Posts: 530
    edited January 2013
    TroyD wrote: »
    Well, this being a Polk forum and all....I'm willing to bet the concensus here would be Polk. Go to the Klipsch forum and they will probably say Klipsch.

    Go listen to them both and pick the ones YOU like.

    BDT

    nice :)
    BlueFox wrote: »
    I have found that tube based computers provide the best sound quality. ENIAC and MANIAC I offer a smooth, well defined and articulated sound unmatched by the current silicon based CPUs. :wink:
    jeremymarcinko wrote: »
    But as in all things your perception is your reality.
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  • ravaneli
    ravaneli Posts: 530
    edited January 2013
    I don't think a better speaker is a matter of opinion though. At least when it comes to sound. I can grant you that appearance is subjective and arbitrary, but not sound. Speakers have a clear goal of true reproduction of the source. One of them will sound closer to the real thing, and that objectively is the better speaker, even if you like the other one more.

    That said, it is hard to make a cardinal ruling on what brand is better. They are very competitive at all price points. My RtiA line is definitely brighter than my Klipsch Icon line. The frequency response curves are like a perfect mirror. One is domed up (klipsch) and one is domed down (rtia). After more than a year with both i still don't know which i prefer. But I am sure the staffs of one of these magazines like the Audio critic can compare them in detail and say which has a truer reproduction.
    BlueFox wrote: »
    I have found that tube based computers provide the best sound quality. ENIAC and MANIAC I offer a smooth, well defined and articulated sound unmatched by the current silicon based CPUs. :wink:
    jeremymarcinko wrote: »
    But as in all things your perception is your reality.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,068
    edited January 2013
    ravaneli wrote: »
    I don't think a better speaker is a matter of opinion though. At least when it comes to sound. I can grant you that appearance is subjective and arbitrary, but not sound..

    Really Rav ? You just said sound isn't subjective....really ?
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,325
    edited January 2013
    ravaneli wrote: »
    I don't think a better speaker is a matter of opinion though. At least when it comes to sound. I can grant you that appearance is subjective and arbitrary, but not sound. Speakers have a clear goal of true reproduction of the source. One of them will sound closer to the real thing, and that objectively is the better speaker, even if you like the other one more.

    That said, it is hard to make a cardinal ruling on what brand is better. They are very competitive at all price points. My RtiA line is definitely brighter than my Klipsch Icon line. The frequency response curves are like a perfect mirror. One is domed up (klipsch) and one is domed down (rtia). After more than a year with both i still don't know which i prefer. But I am sure the staffs of one of these magazines like the Audio critic can compare them in detail and say which has a truer reproduction.
    Re read this.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,068
    edited January 2013
    mantis wrote: »
    Re read this.

    I did Dan. He claims the freq response curves are mirrored images of each other yet one is brighter than the other. So either graphs and technicals don't mean squat as far as sound quality goes, or it's obviously subjective.....or both. Measurements can be a useful tool, but it is ones own ears....subjective ears, that picks out the differences.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,325
    edited January 2013
    tonyb wrote: »
    I did Dan. He claims the freq response curves are mirrored images of each other yet one is brighter than the other. So either graphs and technicals don't mean squat as far as sound quality goes, or it's obviously subjective.....or both. Measurements can be a useful tool, but it is ones own ears....subjective ears, that picks out the differences.
    Tony , I fully agree with you but the one piece of this puzzle your missing is how the actual speaker performs in ones room.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,325
    edited January 2013
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    I think that if everyone that makes a "sound isn't subjective" post added the words "to my ears" to literally everything they posted, they would begin to realize that sound is *wait for it*...SUBJECTIVE

    ;)
    Sound is but the ability to replay a signal is not.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,159
    edited January 2013
    As far as Polk and klipsch go I own both brands and like both brands, one thing I can say is I prefer the Polk forum over the klipsch forum.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,068
    edited January 2013
    mantis wrote: »
    Sound is but the ability to replay a signal is not.

    Yes it is, but to what degree that replay gear does it, is in itself, subjective.

    Also, how a speaker performs in a room is also subjective. Whats good to you may not be to me. Everything in audio is subjective, everyone perceives sound to different degrees.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited January 2013
    7 year old thread...
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • KellyMic
    KellyMic Posts: 166
    edited January 2013
    My bother has Klipsch and I have Polk's, we both debate which is best but for my subjective ears I feel my Polk's sound better. Neither of us is wrong, and neither is right, we like what we like.
    ---
    Polk Studio Monitor 4.6 Series 2's, Polk RT1000p's, Polk LSi25's, Boston Acoustic VR-975's
    Crown D-75, Crown CE1000, Crown CE2000
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  • Monster Jam
    Monster Jam Posts: 919
    edited January 2013
    Auditioning speakers is a big waste of time. As is comparing "specs" which are likely falsified anyhow.

    The correct way to purchase a speaker is BASED SOLELY ON EVERYONE ELSE'S OPINIONS.
    Do you hear that buzzing noise? :confused:
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  • Polka_sound
    Polka_sound Posts: 51
    edited January 2013
    audiobliss wrote: »
    No one can tell you which speakers are 'best'. You'd have to look at the spec sheet and compare their power handling, construction materials, frequency response, impedance levels, efficiency, etc. to determine which are 'best'. However, audio is a subjective thing, and it doesn't really matter how a speaker looks on paper but how it sounds to you. The only way to get an accurate answer to your question is to find a store that sells Polk and Klipsch (or two stores, each carrying one), and audition them.


    Having said that, Polk and Klipsch, I would say, are two very very different speakers. Polk typically, I believe, has silk dome tweeters that are 'smoother', 'softer', and 'mellower'. Klipsch uses aluminum (or titanium...I forgot which) compression dome tweeters with horns that make for 'hard', 'detailed', 'crisp', and some would say 'harsh' sound. It really depends on what strikes your fancy.

    As you can tell from looking at my signature, I'm a fan of Klipsch speakers. I don't find them harsh at all with my Yamaha receiver, and I'm in love with their sound. However, you may think they're the brightest things you've ever heard. I haven't critcally listened to (well, anything, lol) Polk speakers, so I can't say much about them, but again, it comes down to what you and your ears like.

    Go out and listen and decide for yourself.

    +1 klipsch is a very good manufacturer of horn loaded speakers. Really well built
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  • Energene
    Energene Posts: 8
    edited January 2013
    I agree. I have to support 5 home theaters that means like 18 pairs of speakers. I like some of the older Klipsch speakers but Polks destroy the newer ones. Now Polk vs. Paradigm or B & W Nautilus would be a much tougher call.
    My Polk Rti 150's with an A7 center beat out a mid range matched B & W set up but it took me almost three days to figure it out.
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  • Energene
    Energene Posts: 8
    edited January 2013
    I liked the Bose 901 series, the rest of their stuff is just not that good at all.
    I never heard Martin Logans. I have read they are awesome.
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  • canadianicon25
    canadianicon25 Posts: 200
    edited January 2013
    to each his own...
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  • ddsski
    ddsski Posts: 50
    edited February 2013
    There is a way to determine which is better. Which speakers can you listen to on a quality amp for hours with no listener fatigue??? My answer would be certainly not the Klipsch speakers. They have always been frat house rockers, organ enhancerrs and speakers that could make an orchestra sound like a brassy marching band... BTW those Rti's aren't that great either. Only decent Polks are the LSi series due to the vastly superior tweeters IMHO.
    The MAINE System
    Marantz AV7005
    2 Carver M200t's biamped, Adcom GFA 7000
    Pioneer DV-46A, Lightspeed
    Polk LSi 15's, PMC DB1+C, Polk LSi7, Sunfire True Sub II
    Samsung HP-T1254 42in Plasma
    Kubala Sosna Center wiring, DAO Kubala Sosna , Apature & Monster HDMI's

    The CT System
    Marantz AV7005
    MacIntosh MC352, Marantz MM7705w/Sig. upgrade
    Polk LSi15's, Golden Ear Technologies Sat 50's & 50C
    Kubala Sosna Speaker wire, Audioquest interconnects and assorted other goodies
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,104
    edited February 2013
    I agree with Gudnoyez: I have Klipsch KG4's with titanium tweeter upgrade and Polk SDA 2A's modded. Both very economical and different and I like them both. One thing I can say objectively is I prefer the Polk Forum!
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,967
    edited February 2013
    Monster Jam wrote: »
    The correct way to purchase a speaker is out of a white van.

    fixed it for you^^^^^^:razz:
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  • ddsski
    ddsski Posts: 50
    edited February 2013
    Typically if you look at frequency response and flatness of the sound etc, the klipsch speakers are "hot" while the LSi speakers are much more linear and "TRUE" That is not subjective. The accurate reproduction of sound is the ultimate goal of any component be it a speaker, amp, cartridge, wire etc. To let your ears believe this you must listen to some natual, non enhanced instruments like Pianos, classical orchestras acoustic guitars etc. Ideally you should close your eyes and think the instrument is playing in front of you. That is faithful reproduction of sound. The LSi15 do this as well as just about anything I've ever heard in their price segment. I'm not talking Golden Ear..... WOW that another level. I've heard plenty of Klipsch speakers over the years. They crank with the very best and in college they'd be a much better choice or for that outdoor picnic but you'll NEVER get anyone with decent hearing tell you they faithfully reproduce ideal natural sound as mentioned above. Maybe at 120db loudness they hang on longer than most other stuff but at those levels you'd already be deaf. A piccolo on a Klipsch is a painful shrill thing
    The MAINE System
    Marantz AV7005
    2 Carver M200t's biamped, Adcom GFA 7000
    Pioneer DV-46A, Lightspeed
    Polk LSi 15's, PMC DB1+C, Polk LSi7, Sunfire True Sub II
    Samsung HP-T1254 42in Plasma
    Kubala Sosna Center wiring, DAO Kubala Sosna , Apature & Monster HDMI's

    The CT System
    Marantz AV7005
    MacIntosh MC352, Marantz MM7705w/Sig. upgrade
    Polk LSi15's, Golden Ear Technologies Sat 50's & 50C
    Kubala Sosna Speaker wire, Audioquest interconnects and assorted other goodies
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  • Monster Jam
    Monster Jam Posts: 919
    edited February 2013
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    fixed it for you^^^^^^:razz:

    :) Made my day!
    Do you hear that buzzing noise? :confused:
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  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited February 2013
    I know this is a really old thread but had to comment anyways. I've owned several sets of Klipsch speakers from the Synergy, Heritage, and Reference lines and have liked them all in different ways finally settling on the Rf82's because I can't afford the Rf7's at the moment. I've also owned and heard many different Polk speakers and absolutely love my Rti12's. They're both great and excel in differnt ways, it's really like having a coke vs pepsi or chevy vs ford argument and it all comes down to a matter of personal opinion.
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