Polk Audio Speakers - "I get no respect!"

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Comments

  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,009
    I might join you. ;)
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Tony M wrote: »
    I might join you. ;)

    You buyin? I'm there! :smiley:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    edited March 2018
    verb wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Look up wind tunnel testing, dingleberries.
    Fluid dynamics at it's most simple form.
    "Air" has fluid properties.......



    I change light bulbs......

    Did you see my Schlieren optics photo of the XB-70, ol' son? :)
    oh no, he's got me on ignore...

    We actually had a supersonic tunnel at my undergrad school. Took about 20-30 minutes to charge the pressure vessel. Hit the button, and BAM, all over in a second! My introduction to Schlieren. :smile:

    I am so old, we had two Beckman Model E analytical ultracentrifuges in the lab with Schlieren optics to measure the protein concentration distribution in the ultracentrifuge cell via glass photographic plates! I did sedimentation velocity runs on those bad boys, developed the plates & read the data using a Nikon microcomparator. You wanna talk about having skin in the game in analytical science :)

    This is a Model E (not one of ours):

    2zdwklo7ivnj.png


    Data looked sorta like this (not mine):

    qqh95sdayvt3.png


    oh, also --

    lrok8x4tvp5v.png
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Very cool stuff. I had not thought about those days in the tunnel until the image of the XB-70. Thank you for that! The good ole days. In class we did mostly subsonic stuff. Easier to make models that wouldn't blow apart!

    And also, You forgot to mention that you were barefoot as well! :smiley:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,481
    Clipdat wrote: »
    @Jstas I bet you're really fun at parties.

    You have no idea....
    You should hear the beer bong thesis.

    Jstas has the cranial knowledge no doubt about it.
  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,776
    edited March 2018
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Look up wind tunnel testing, dingleberries.
    Fluid dynamics at it's most simple form.
    "Air" has fluid properties.......



    I change light bulbs......

    Did you see my Schlieren optics photo of the XB-70, ol' son? :)
    oh no, he's got me on ignore...

    That's what inspired me, Doc..... ;)

    And added: No way would I ignore your vast Jeopardy like knowledge.....
  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,776
    bm4e4xhjvwfn.jpeg
    This one has amplifiers....something we relate to here.
  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,640
    BlueFox wrote: »
    Speaking of fluid properties, tomorrow is Friday and it will be time for some fluid intake and speaker testing.

    Way ahead of you. Been one of those weeks...
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    Polka speakers hmm? Now I'm intrigued.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    edited March 2018
    Everything played through them comes out in 3/4 time.

    It's their proprietary SDA technology: Stosh's Dancehall Array

    Accordion pleated surrounds on the woofers, needless to say.
  • mpitogo
    mpitogo Posts: 475
    OK I’m guilty as charged for a similar opinion but not towards Polk but towards Bose. OK mids, no highs and one note bass. I’ve done my best to stay away from those pricey mediocre sub/sats. For me Polk is a great value brand with decent engineering and quality builds.
    • Living Room Music-2.0 Polk Legend L800 | McIntosh C70 | McIntosh MA5200 (Treble) | McIntosh MC452 (Bass) | Sublimeacoustic K231 Active xover | Denon DP-2500A | Denafrips Ares II | Belkin Soundform Connect | iPad Air USB to DAC
    • Media Room Ht-7.2.6/13.1 (Atmos/Auro-3D) Polk LSiM707, LSiM706c, LSiM702 F/X [x4], height LSiM703 [x6], HSU VTF-15H MK2 Dual | Marantz AV8805A | Rotel RB-1590 (L/R) | Appollon NC500 11ch | Sony UBP-X800 | AppleTV 4K | JVC RS2100
    • Game Room-5.1 Polk LSi25, LSiC, LSiF/X | Marantz SR7009 | AppleTV 4K | Xbox One S | Sony PS2, PS3 | Nintendo Wii | Gaming PC | Sony 75" LCD
    • Master Bedroom Music-2.0 Totem Hawk | Marantz PM-10 | Marantz SA-10 | SONY PS-HX500
    • Office-2.0 Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX, DSW microPRO3000 | Rotel RA-1570 | Marantz HD-CD1
    • Daughter's Bedroom 1-2.0 TBD Martin Logan Forte
    • Guest Room 2-2.0 Klipsch RP-600M | Martin Logan Forte
    • Guest Room 3-3.0 Martin Logan Motion 40, 50XT | Onkyo TX-SR705 | Apple TV | Samsung 55" TV
    • Guest Room 4-2.0 QAcoustics 3030i | Sansui AU-6900 | Topping DX7s | Sansui FR-1080 | TV
    • Maintenance: Pro-Ject VC-S Record Cleaning Machine
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    mpitogo wrote: »
    OK I’m guilty as charged for a similar opinion but not towards Polk but towards Bose. OK mids, no highs and one note bass. I’ve done my best to stay away from those pricey mediocre sub/sats. For me Polk is a great value brand with decent engineering and quality builds.

    But Bose earned that reputation... Polk did not.
  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,199
    One thing I'm still unclear about:
    amorphous solid

    Is this one of the new gender categories ? What are we talking about here ? I want to make sure I'm up to speed with the rest of the class.
    Sal Palooza
  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,124
    DSkip wrote: »
    FestYboy wrote: »
    mpitogo wrote: »
    OK I’m guilty as charged for a similar opinion but not towards Polk but towards Bose. OK mids, no highs and one note bass. I’ve done my best to stay away from those pricey mediocre sub/sats. For me Polk is a great value brand with decent engineering and quality builds.

    But Bose earned that reputation... Polk did not.

    Polk earned their reputation in the mid 90s. Klipsch is in the same arena. Great heritage but the 'name' has been devalued due to the new business approaches.

    Like Pioneer Elite, and Sony
    Marantz....at least the stuck to their guns
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    ...

    Like Pioneer Elite, and Sony
    Marantz....at least the stuck to their guns

    Oh -- the Marantz name was affixed to some pretty regrettable components in the 1980s.


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    (just a few salient examples that you could "win" on eBAY right this minute)
  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,124
    They were high :D
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    edited March 2018
    I think the era in which Philips owned the "Marantz" name --- ahh -- weren't the marque's best years.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marantz
    • 1952 Saul Marantz sells his first audio product, the "Consolette" pre-amp
    • 1964 Marantz acquired by Superscope Inc.
    • 1966 Beginning with the Model 25, and then 22 and 28, Marantz starts manufacturing its products in Japan through a partnership with Standard Radio Corp.
    • 1974 A manufacturing plant is opened on the Péronnes-lez-Binche site, Walloon Region, Belgium
    • 1975 Standard Radio Corp. changes its name to Marantz Japan Inc.
    • 1980 Superscope sells the Marantz brand, dealer network, and all overseas assets (except U.S. and Canada) to Philips Electronics
    • 1983 Marantz's audio enhancement technology (Marantz Enhanced Digital Stereo) is introduced
    • 1992 Philips acquires U.S. and Canada trademarks and dealer network
    • 1997 Saul Marantz dies aged 85
    • 2001 Marantz Japan Inc. acquires the brand and all overseas sales subsidiaries
    • 2002 Marantz Japan and Denon merge to form D&M Holdings, to later be joined by other higher-end audio equipment brands such as Boston Acoustics
    • 2008 Philips sells its remaining stake in D&M Holdings, ending a 28-year relationship between Philips and Marantz
    • 2014 Marantz Professional acquired by inMusic Brands
    • 2017 Sound United LLC acquires D+M Holding
      Products
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    DSkip wrote: »
    FestYboy wrote: »
    mpitogo wrote: »
    OK I’m guilty as charged for a similar opinion but not towards Polk but towards Bose. OK mids, no highs and one note bass. I’ve done my best to stay away from those pricey mediocre sub/sats. For me Polk is a great value brand with decent engineering and quality builds.

    But Bose earned that reputation... Polk did not.

    Polk earned their reputation in the mid 90s. Klipsch is in the same arena. Great heritage but the 'name' has been devalued due to the new business approaches.

    I'll certainly agree with that assessment. But I was referring to the sound signature as described in the post above mine, and how it is very much a detractor to the brand and its heritage. I can't say I've ever heard the same denouncement applied to Polk.
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,560
    edited March 2018
    @Jstas why are you mis-quoting Tony M and making it look like he typed those words? Those are your words that you wrote to mock and ridicule him - by making it look like that was his post. That wasn't his actual quote or what he wrote in his post.

    Not cool man.
    Jstas wrote:
    I didn't read anything you wrote nor did I even bother to actually look at the rather informative link you provided and I readily admit I am uneducated on the topic. Despite all that, I disagree with your informative, factual post, reject your reality and substitute my own because I refuse to even attempt to wrap my brain around the concept that "fluid" is a substance that has no fixed shape and yields easily to external pressure, like a gas or a liquid and not specifically a liquid. I mean, I know I could look this stuff up myself and get educated but gall durn it, you're wrong 'cause I'm losing face here on the Innernet despite your copious amounts of factual evidence and I will not stand for it!

  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,560
    I thought this was a good topic that I made, and would spark up some nice discussion.

    But, no sir...

    Not like this...

    dCdGHgF7yFHFK.gif

    F1nut wrote: »
    JHC.....all this crap over the term fluid coupled....seriously!?!

    Let me settle this once and for all, air is a fluid. End of the effing story.

    Time to close this CF down.

  • mpitogo
    mpitogo Posts: 475
    @F1nut yes agree, I have two of those Fluid Coupled Quadrilateral bass radiators. I’m actually a fan of the DSW microPRO. I have a pair of 3000’s, the 4000s are a bit ellusive, have found any for sale.
    • Living Room Music-2.0 Polk Legend L800 | McIntosh C70 | McIntosh MA5200 (Treble) | McIntosh MC452 (Bass) | Sublimeacoustic K231 Active xover | Denon DP-2500A | Denafrips Ares II | Belkin Soundform Connect | iPad Air USB to DAC
    • Media Room Ht-7.2.6/13.1 (Atmos/Auro-3D) Polk LSiM707, LSiM706c, LSiM702 F/X [x4], height LSiM703 [x6], HSU VTF-15H MK2 Dual | Marantz AV8805A | Rotel RB-1590 (L/R) | Appollon NC500 11ch | Sony UBP-X800 | AppleTV 4K | JVC RS2100
    • Game Room-5.1 Polk LSi25, LSiC, LSiF/X | Marantz SR7009 | AppleTV 4K | Xbox One S | Sony PS2, PS3 | Nintendo Wii | Gaming PC | Sony 75" LCD
    • Master Bedroom Music-2.0 Totem Hawk | Marantz PM-10 | Marantz SA-10 | SONY PS-HX500
    • Office-2.0 Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX, DSW microPRO3000 | Rotel RA-1570 | Marantz HD-CD1
    • Daughter's Bedroom 1-2.0 TBD Martin Logan Forte
    • Guest Room 2-2.0 Klipsch RP-600M | Martin Logan Forte
    • Guest Room 3-3.0 Martin Logan Motion 40, 50XT | Onkyo TX-SR705 | Apple TV | Samsung 55" TV
    • Guest Room 4-2.0 QAcoustics 3030i | Sansui AU-6900 | Topping DX7s | Sansui FR-1080 | TV
    • Maintenance: Pro-Ject VC-S Record Cleaning Machine
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    quoting myself :p
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Everything played through them comes out in 3/4 time.

    It's their proprietary SDA technology: Stosh's Dancehall Array

    Accordion pleated surrounds on the woofers, needless to say.

    1hbluzie65bq.png
  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    One thing I've noticed over the years with Polk is that certain models fly under the radar concerning build and sound quality with audio circles..until they get their ears on a pair driven by decent gear...then the consensus always seems to be WOW...Who builds those?..Or..What kind of speakers are those?..When they find that they are Polk..it's time to pick the jaw off the floor...
  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
    I will pitch into the original topic of this discussion.
    I had a friend who was always talking trash about Polk Audio. He would just go on and on, saying things like Polk is cheap trash at sometimes high prices, or Polk is worse than... I’m not even going to say the word (begins with a B and ends with a ose), and when I got my LSis he couldn’t believe I had made such a and I quote “grave mistake” and about a week later he came over and listened to them, and just didn’t say a word. He just sat there. And then he grabbed the remote and turned the music back on. He later told me that they were the best speakers he had ever heard, and he was going to try and find a pair of them. Coming from the same person who said they were worse than Bose!

    Also, this is kinda off topic, but my grandpa found a pair of the “high end” Bose headphones at goodwill, and he wanted me to listen to them. And to be honest, the had solid and deep lows, ok midrange, but the highs were sooo bad. And it was all super muddy. I have always thought people were exaggerating about Bose, but nope, they really do stink.

    Micah
  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,009
    edited March 2018
    Polk does get a nod from all the people I have met selling off my collection or another. I say Polk Audio is one of my all time favorite brands and they say " Oh yeah, they're pretty good speakers". I've never heard from anybody that they suck, ever. But these are normal young or old consumers. Not dealers...

    And when they hear the SRS2's, like above, their jaws hit the floor here too. I've sent a lot on their way with a new found experience of what music can sound like with good gear.

    Just think if I had better interconnects... B)
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    mlistens03 wrote: »
    I will pitch into the original topic of this discussion.
    I had a friend who was always talking trash about Polk Audio. He would just go on and on, saying things like Polk is cheap trash at sometimes high prices, or Polk is worse than... I’m not even going to say the word (begins with a B and ends with a ose), and when I got my LSis he couldn’t believe I had made such a and I quote “grave mistake” and about a week later he came over and listened to them, and just didn’t say a word. He just sat there. And then he grabbed the remote and turned the music back on. He later told me that they were the best speakers he had ever heard, and he was going to try and find a pair of them. Coming from the same person who said they were worse than Bose!

    Also, this is kinda off topic, but my grandpa found a pair of the “high end” Bose headphones at goodwill, and he wanted me to listen to them. And to be honest, the had solid and deep lows, ok midrange, but the highs were sooo bad. And it was all super muddy. I have always thought people were exaggerating about Bose, but nope, they really do stink.

    Micah

    Reminds me of my friend that only likes Klipsch. In the 30 years I've known this guy that is all he ever had. He use to mock my Advents but always turned them up when he was over. My RTi-8 he liked a lot due to the brightness of them. Now my Signatures he loves them and wishes Klipsch would make a speaker like that. We both agree that Bose suck!

    Speaking of Bose. My wife is Filipino. If any of her friends have audio it's Bose. They all say that my speakers are too big and the cubes are the way to go. I just tell them, I want to hear all the music. Whenever they are over I always toss on an action flick and turn it up. I then get "your theater is awesome" my reply is "I have real speakers".

    Too many people type brand and are afraid to go look at other brands.

    I have to admit that my friend with the Klipsch system does sound good to a point, then again he has over $15k in his system. I just wish he would let me hook up his A51 for a weekend.
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music