Looking forward to L800 but have concerns, what are your thoughts?

mpitogo · September 2019

I’ve been a Polk Audio fan for a very long time, since I couldn’t afford them as a kid reading audio magazines in a library. One issue caught my eye, Matthew Polk in a lab coat with SDA SRS as tall as him. Been into music being classically trained on piano and playing other woodwinds in band and orchestra, I wanted to get that high fidelity sound. From then on was really what gear helps get the music conveyed. Out of college my first paycheck when to a pair of Polk RT55 and many iterations later still Polk.

Here are my concerns, two mainly, I understand end of life they have to move inventory but come on $549 for the LSiM 707? And Friends and Family sales 50% off!?!? I wish they would just stop with that. So the L800 for me is not a steep price considering there are speakers in the market well beyond that for bookshelves. As a potential early adopter I want to pre-order and support Polk and support the dealer but if they start discounting, it will really hurt. So first concern is what is the point of setting the price then putting it on sale for 50% off. Second is when the units go end of sales then just end the sale with a moderate discount but don’t have a blow out. Make enough to satisfy inventory especially for the flagship. If they wanted to get LSiM 707 to everyone then set the price at $549 not $1999.

See my signature below LSiM 707, LSi25....

I’m really excited at the prospect of getting an modern SDA but upset and fearful of them cannibalizing the long term value. I see the value in the L800 but if they continue this trend then maybe I’ll just wait a year or two when they start the discounts. Heck I’ve waited this long for SDA why not a few more years so I can eek out the value of my LSiM 707 get some extended ROI.

Emlyn · September 2019

I’d be more concerned about the wait time for a pair of L800s. They could be in short supply over the next couple of years given their size and limited dealer network.

Eventually they will be available below MSRP, but everything is eventually. Then it becomes a matter of how long someone wants to wait for product until the price is right for them to jump. I do think the rest of the Legend line will be discounted somewhat from MSRP maybe as early as next year because they are also aimed at home theater systems where customers will not want to buy a full setup without some sort of kicker. And in our market in the US people simply don’t expect to pay MSRP on most things anymore.

verb · September 2019

Interesting thoughts, and concerns for sure. Here's the way I look at it.

For me, this is a hobby. One of many that I have (yeah I know), and get great satisfaction and joy from that hobby. It's a pursuit, of bigger, and better, pieces, to reach the end goal of, audiophile, uh, utopia. Will I ever get there? Probably not. Most likely not.

But that's the point, it's a journey, and my travels down that path. All good fun!

If I were to look at it as a ROI scenario, then it would really be a business. And that would take away a little bit of the fun. Yep, I'm a consumer for sure!

Of course I don't want to be foolish when spending money.

Will I be one of the first adopters of the L800? Not 100% sure, but I am really excited thinking about it, dreaming about it. What to do with my other speakers? All the things we hobbyists go through when looking to upgrade.

And, part of this hobby is the ability to share with others. As many have done here, share their pieces with folks like me, at ridiculously low prices, as they move up the chain!

Will the L800's be available on the used market? Or below retail? Of course, as time goes on, the next gen SDA is developed, or the other next gotta have thing, we all know the drill!

The key for me is to have fun, pursue the dream, share with others, and spend that money!

mpitogo · September 2019

ROI maybe not the right term more like return on enjoyment.

I have not heard the L800 but from what I am reading it could be a perfect fit. Maybe hunt for the deal is just as exciting.

mhardy6647 · September 2019

At the level of the question you're asking -- I wouldn't be at all concerned.
If there's $6k of value in the L800s, they're worth $6k. My impression is that their is and that they are.

There's a different (potential) issue, which doesn't seem to be related to your concern @mpitogo -- and that is whether they'd be a good investment. A pair of Altec A5 Voice of the Theaters or a 604 Duplex driver is a good investment. A McIntosh MC-225 or a Marantz 8B is a good investment. For the foreseeable future, their value will (continue to) increase.

I would not expect that from the L800 -- or of most modern loudspeakers, for that matter.

... but I wouldn't expect to get burned by buying a pair, either.

F1nut · September 2019

Most audio gear loses 40 to 50% within the first year.

tonyb · September 2019

bump

F1nut · September 2019

I'll see your bump and raise you two.

K_M · September 2019

mhardy6647 wrote: »

At the level of the question you're asking -- I wouldn't be at all concerned.
If there's $6k of value in the L800s, they're worth $6k. My impression is that their is and that they are.

There's a different (potential) issue, which doesn't seem to be related to your concern @mpitogo -- and that is whether they'd be a good investment. A pair of Altec A5 Voice of the Theaters or a 604 Duplex driver is a good investment. A McIntosh MC-225 or a Marantz 8B is a good investment. For the foreseeable future, their value will (continue to) increase.

I would not expect that from the L800 -- or of most modern loudspeakers, for that matter.

... but I wouldn't expect to get burned by buying a pair, either.

This is a tough call for me.
A couple good subs could cost $2,000
A pair of really nice mid sized monitors Maybe another $2,000
Will it readily beat that theoretical combo, for another $2,000??

Hard to say, until I hear them.

Not sure the SDA part really matters to me overall.
But will the overall sound trump a $4,000 combo as above?

Emlyn · September 2019

If someone was not interested in the SDA function there would be no reason to buy a pair of L800s. There is another speaker for those customers.

A pair of L600s would be a better choice for someone looking for a new pair of conventional tower speakers. At $4K those would be right in the sweet spot for comparable speaker lines from other companies. To me the L600s seem like they may be targeted as home theater speakers primarily. They would need a subwoofer or two to supplement the bass in a home theater system.

I would not use L800s with separate subwoofers in a two channel system but would in a home theater. Subwoofers would need to exceed the bass capabilities of the mains so probably something in the $1.5K each range would be needed.

Buying new speakers is expensive! And personal preference plays a big part. For that reason, getting an audition before buying is a good idea.

Nightfall · September 2019

mhardy6647 wrote: »

My impression is that their is and that they are.

Write it on the calendar! Incorrect grammar by @mhardy6647 on September the 15th of 2019!

tophatjohnny · September 2019

Feeling lucky...in with 69

mhardy6647 · September 2019

Nightfall wrote: »

mhardy6647 wrote: »

My impression is that their is and that they are.

Write it on the calendar! Incorrect grammar by @mhardy6647 on September the 15th of 2019!

yikes, the tea must've been a little extra fermented that day (the 15th).

rpf65 · September 2019

Worry about how much something will cost 6 or 60 months from now in this hobby is a total waste of time. I’ll probably spend the same amount on beer as a pair of the 800’s in a 5 year time frame.

BlueFox · September 2019

Exactly. Time is money, and wasting time to buy is wasting enjoyment time.

mrloren · September 2019

I don't look at audio as an investment. I look at it as enjoyment or entertainment.

@ $6k for a set of speakers, yes I would want to hear them first. I have yet to buy speakers I haven't had a decent listen to first.

I always thought the S60 would have been my last set of speakers, then along comes the great deal on the LSiM-705. I always loved the LSiM but never could afford them.

Now this is where this hobby becomes expensive. I've recently caught myself looking at Anthem and Parasound amps. Don't get me wrong the emotiva sounds great with the LSiM-705. Oh-well we'll have to see how this woodworking season goes.

Rock On

L

audioluvr · September 2019

If I had the notion, I'd jump at the chance of owning the L800's. Building my system around them for optimal enjoyment. If that's your journey,. Follow it

nooshinjohn · September 2019

I am still inclined to believe the 2.3TL with full mods is a better way to go, dollar for dollar. I can't wait to hear them in a proper setup. The rep from the company that will be distributing them contacted me and told me Shelly's Stereo, which is less than two miles from me, is a member of their network and could get them for me, sans demo...

Shelly's happens to be one of the reasons why SDA was discontinued to begin with, as they refused to properly set them up for demo. They were displayed on a long wall, toed in like every other speaker, and underpowered through a switching panel, while the Magnepan's had their own demo suite...

vader540is · September 2019

That's the hobby... Diminishing returns.

IMHO you are better off getting a older SDA and upgrading it... If you really want that SDA sound...if not, then just stick with what you have, those LSim are great speakers.

mhardy6647 · September 2019

on the other hand, the aesthetics of the new L800 are rather more 21st Century friendly and au courant than the... umm... monolithic look of the old SDA models (some of which could've been used by Kubrick in 2001*).

(borrowed image from this very forum!)

SDA SRS from magazine ad by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

_______________
* Or near the end of A Clockwork Orange

nooshinjohn · September 2019

Are those Magnepan Tympani....

mhardy6647 · September 2019

nah, I think they were 'stage props' -- see all of the round 'speaker cutouts' behind the grilles.

TEAforONE · September 2019

I look at the audio hobby like this,as others have stated, buy what makes you happy. Life is WAY to short to worry about the value 5 years down the road. If you are not taking food away from your family,go for it. Because we may not be here 5 years from now. If you can afford them,go listen to them. If you like them,buy them.

Geoff4rfc · September 2019

mhardy6647 wrote: »

on the other hand, the aesthetics of the new L800 are rather more 21st Century friendly and au courant than the... umm... monolithic look of the old SDA models (some of which could've been used by Kubrick in 2001*).

(borrowed image from this very forum!)

I've owned M70's, A9's and now 707's but I gotta tell you, I have always and still do, dig the look of the old SDA's.

That's a speaker's speaker right there!

mhardy6647 · September 2019

I've got no problem with large loudspeakers, but some of those old SDAs just have/had ...

too many drivers

Geoff4rfc · September 2019

mhardy6647 wrote: »

I've got no problem with large loudspeakers, but some of those old SDAs just have/had ...

too many drivers

Are you insinuating......overkill??

I must apologize, I've heard of that word but I never saw how it applied to my set up

Nightfall · September 2019

mhardy6647 wrote: »

I've got no problem with large loudspeakers, but some of those old SDAs just have/had ...

too many drivers

2B 4 Lyfe

Emlyn · October 2019

Crutchfield now has the L800s up for reservation and the L600 on pre-order status. No definite ship dates yet...

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_700L800WN/Polk-Audio-Legend-L800-Brown-Walnut.html

BlueFox · October 2019

Ambiguous pricing. Makes it look like $12K for a pair.

Emlyn · October 2019

The L800s are only sold in matched pairs for the $5998.98 total. Hopefully, the warehouse would not forget they’re supposed to send one left and one right.

The page notes that each speaker comes with a 15 foot SDA cable and they can be linked for a total length of 30 feet if desired.

K_M · October 2019

mhardy6647 wrote: »

I've got no problem with large loudspeakers, but some of those old SDAs just have/had ...

too many drivers

The idea back then was to use several low cost drivers, and hopefully equal one much larger more expensive woofer.
But lobing and dispersion issues were not at the top of the agenda back then nor as well thought out.

Ive had people see our "Big" sdas and ask why 8 small woofers, instead of maybe 2 10" woofers......not sure, maybe they got a better deal on bulk 6.5" woofers...

Looking forward to L800 but have concerns, what are your thoughts?

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