R200 50th AE Edition.....

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heiney9
heiney9 Posts: 25,710
in Speakers
Are they that much better than standard R200's?

Eyeing a pair, but I've never heard the 50th AE's

H9
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | Galion TS P75 Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 8,288
    edited December 2025
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    https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/199060/polk-anniversary-r200-speakers/p1

    https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/197372/50-year-anniversary-r200-signed-by-matt-polk/p1

    Opinions vary. Some say not worth it, some say they are better but question the value.
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,905
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    I was quite interested when they were on deep discount but didn't like the cherry finish and saw some reactions indicated maybe not enough difference in sound quality. I already had a pair of regular R200s anyway.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,752
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    the wood veneer is very nice.

    I ultimately didnt like them. I much preferred my Def Tech PM500 monitors in that application (near field on a desk)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,683
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    From what I saw, sound quality wise they are exactly the same. But they are finished nicer. So you get a higher quality finish over the standard R200 models. I think that alone is worth any extra money.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,406
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    R200 on the left, R200AE on the right.
    xfz8in3fbd1u.jpg

    It's impossible for them to sound the same.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,710
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    Yes, I have the standard R200's

    There is a pair of slightly cosmetically challenged AE's, for a good price.

    Thanks for the side by side Jesse, I hadn't seen that photo before. Now I see the difference. I'm sure I could match or exceed the parts in the AE, pretty sure it will cost more.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | Galion TS P75 Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,710
    edited December 2025
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    This the worst of the damage. Damaged in shipping. The seller has the original box.

    o8f7vozolo0l.png
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | Galion TS P75 Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
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    This content has been removed.
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,710
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    My only concern is the seller won't accept returns. Could there be other internal damage? Probably not as this is the worst of it. A couple other places have tiny nicks and a few light scratches that don't show up in photos.

    Seller says they sound fantastic.

    I figure some wood filler and some Cherry touch up. Doesn't have to be perfect.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | Galion TS P75 Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,905
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    Refinishing them with some black paint could be an option. It's for the wood.

    That crossover in the AE is impressive for a factory speaker! Marketing of that aspect could have been better.
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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,815
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    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    A little lipstick and that will buff right out!

    Ivan, did she believe you when you told her that? :#
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
    edited December 2025
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    Emlyn wrote: »
    Refinishing them with some black paint could be an option. It's for the wood.

    That crossover in the AE is impressive for a factory speaker! Marketing of that aspect could have been better.

    I see what you did there. :blush:

    I must say the big selling point for the Expensive Edition R200, for me, was the cherry veneer. I am a sucka for cherry wood (light or dark). :) I would love to have gotten a pair, but not for the MSRP.

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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,905
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    Safe & Sound still has the R200 AE on their website or through Amazon new in box for $849 a pair. Regular price where they are available seems to be around $1200 still.

    The lowest price I recall seeing them when were on discount was around $700 or a bit more than the regular version at the time.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
    edited December 2025
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    The 'problem' is that a number of (early-ish) R200 customers :blush: were able to purchase a pair of the Contact Paper, I mean, vinyl veneered Original Edition B) from Polk for just about $400. At that price, the R200 is a pretty darned fine little loudspeaker as is -- Contact Paper finish and all. ;)

    51663728695_8df33e70f4_b.jpg

    As it happens, we listened last night, via the R200s (and a venerable old Yamaha AVR, to a pretty good quality ecording of a recent holiday concert that we happen to have actually attended live. They sounded great relative to the original performance. :)

    https://youtu.be/rQ_QhlqSvh4?si=LUbk54e-ef7kAKPV
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  • bcwsrt
    bcwsrt Posts: 2,691
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    That would be the ultimate comparison to actually hear it live and then played back through your rig!

    Brian

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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 8,288
    edited December 2025
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    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    The 'problem' is that a number of (early-ish) R200 customers :blush: were able to purchase a pair of the Contact Paper, I mean, vinyl veneered Original Edition B) from Polk for just about $400. At that price, the R200 is a pretty darned fine little loudspeaker as is -- Contact Paper finish and all. ;)

    Some of us paid even less using a coupon...
    Agreed, it a a darned fine little loudspeaker, especially considering the initial investment. All things considered, I would probably sell off everything else I have, and keep my R200 (plus a sub) if I were forced to only have one system in a small/mid sized room. I only notice their deficiencies when I slide over to the other side of the room and listen to my 2-ch system, which is hardly a fair comparison given the original speaker pricing difference and the difference in quality of gear running each system.
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  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,838
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    F1nut wrote: »
    R200 on the left, R200AE on the right.
    xfz8in3fbd1u.jpg

    It's impossible for them to sound the same.

    Gallagher Mansion on left, VR3 on right.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,360
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    VR3 would not use sand resistors.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,815
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    treitz3 wrote: »
    VR3 would not use sand resistors.

    Tom

    Werd.

    n7709gdz0hxd.jpg
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  • mikejedi0619
    mikejedi0619 Posts: 128
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    In
    My .02 opinion if it were me I would feel
    Much more comfortable purchasing these new through Amazon or S and S. Peace of mind no cosmetic or possible internal damage and u get the warranty. :)

    Just something to think about. But no doubt these are sweet speakers. !

    I know they aren’t the same exactly but I do love my L200s. If I couldn’t get L200s in these would be a strong 2nd !!!

    I say go for a new pair if you can ;)
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    "S and S"?
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  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 7,815
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    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    "S and S"?

    g7bd167iy2v0.jpg
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,710
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    treitz3 wrote: »
    VR3 would not use sand resistors.

    Tom

    I was going to mention how odd it was those were there.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | Galion TS P75 Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,710
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    mikejedi0619 wrote: »
    In
    My .02 opinion if it were me I would feel
    Much more comfortable purchasing these new through Amazon or S and S. Peace of mind no cosmetic or possible internal damage and u get the warranty. :)

    Just something to think about. But no doubt these are sweet speakers. !

    I know they aren’t the same exactly but I do love my L200s. If I couldn’t get L200s in these would be a strong 2nd !!!

    I say go for a new pair if you can ;)

    That's partly the reason I'm holding off. These have been discontinued for awhile and I've only seen a couple sources for "new".

    I'll pass at new prices as I am totally fine with upgrading my own R200's.

    These cosmetically challenged pair are $575. A pretty significant savings. And they ship in the original box.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | Galion TS P75 Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,710
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    If I pull the trigger on the AE's, my R200's will be FS.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | Galion TS P75 Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • mikejedi0619
    mikejedi0619 Posts: 128
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    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    "S and S"?

    Safe and Sound :)

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  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,838
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    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    I would like a pair of R200’s and L200’s in my collection, but I have enough stuff sitting around I only pull out and use once in awhile to play with..

    I hope you can audition a set against those modded 7's.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,838
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    heiney9 wrote: »
    treitz3 wrote: »
    VR3 would not use sand resistors.

    Tom

    I was going to mention how odd it was those were there.

    Resistors aside, I can appreciate the AE's X-over part#.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,945
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    xschop wrote: »
    heiney9 wrote: »
    treitz3 wrote: »
    VR3 would not use sand resistors.

    Tom

    I was going to mention how odd it was those were there.

    Resistors aside, I can appreciate the AE's X-over part#.

    And 195 was the P.O. Box # when they were working in the garage. J/k

    George / NJ

    Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
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