Hello. I am looking to get some new speakers but I am on a relatively tight budget. WAF is important for me in the buying decision.
I have found a pair of Polk Audio S50 towers for $200 each and that seems like a good deal, but I don't really see any Polk Audio on the recommended lists. Not even in the WAF section. I would prefer a Tower speaker, but I suppose I could go with some good bookshelves on stands.
Here's what I'm considering;Polk S50 Towers (White)Polk S30 Center (White)Polk ES15 Rear's (White)Polk RC60i In Ceiling speakers (for atmos)
All in, I can get this for about $880. It SEEMS like a good set, though I have nowhere to listen to it locally. I really like the aesthetic and haven't had any arguments from the SO yet.
That all being said, the fact that these don't come "recommended" in any of the buying guides has me worried that I am doing myself a disservice by not looking at other speakers.
I don't see ANY white towers anywhere near that range, but there are some bookshelf ones. More specifically, I could get the KEF Q150's for L & R at $300/pair, but then I don't know where I would be able to go from here for center, surround, and atmos speakers. Would the KEF Bookshelf be better than the polk tower? I'm in need of some guidance here.
Hello. I am looking to get some new speakers but I am on a relatively tight budget. WAF is important for me in the buying decision.
I have found a pair of Polk Audio S50 towers for $200 each and that seems like a good deal, but I don't really see any Polk Audio on the recommended lists. Not even in the WAF section. I would prefer a Tower speaker, but I suppose I could go with some good bookshelves on stands.
Here's what I'm considering;Polk S50 Towers (White)Polk S30 Center (White)Polk ES15 Rear's (White)Polk RC60i In Ceiling speakers (for atmos)
All in, I can get this for about $880. It SEEMS like a good set, though I have nowhere to listen to it locally. I really like the aesthetic and haven't had any arguments from the SO yet.
That all being said, the fact that these don't come "recommended" in any of the buying guides has me worried that I am doing myself a disservice by not looking at other speakers https://19216811.cam/.
I don't see ANY white towers anywhere near that range, but there are some bookshelf ones. More specifically, I could get the KEF Q150's for L & R at $300/pair, but then I don't know where I would be able to go from here for center, surround, and atmos speakers. Would the KEF Bookshelf be better than the polk tower? I'm in need of some guidance here
You should also check out the Jamo line at Crutchfield.My budget minded buddy bought a pair and they do not sound bad..He bought the C95II Series .they also offer those in White.He also bought 2 of the Subwoofers and a Yamaha Receiver..Crutchfield has great customer service as well
If you’re seriously considering Polk, you need to step up to the Reserve series, which I see are also available in white. They have been receiving excellent reviews
The R200 which are bookshelf speakers are $749 a pair and receive glowing reviews but will require stands and likely you will want a subwoofer. The other offering in the Reserve Series (all start with R) are said to be excellent also. If I was you I would save until I had enough $s to get the pair you want which I am guessing are towers.
The Polk R series loudspeakers are considered special according to all the online reviewers.
I don't see a subwoofer in your shopping list there, so if you don't already have one, yeah, definitely, get the towers. Even if you do already have a sub, get the towers. If you don't already have a subwoofer, then I would say that might be a better choice than overhead speakers.
I think the Polks, are a solid choice at your price point. Even if they are not the last word in dynamics or refinement, they will at least get the basics right. In a surround set-up what you're try to achieve is a continuity or smoothness of the sonic image, from left to right and front to back. So, it's more important to stick with a single manufacturer's speaker line than to trying to mix and match, which is not easy (I've tried) and pretty much impossible for $800.
Besides some of the other brands mentioned here, Elac, Paradigm, and PSB might also be good alternatives. And maybe it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, you should always make an effort to audition speakers first if at all possible.
All your choices are going to involve compromises, beginning with cost, so that's just part of the process. Do your homework. Plan ahead. And you could wait, save a little more and buy something a bit better, but that is always going to be true. If your Polk speakers check a lot of boxes on your wish list, that is by definition a good choice.
I urge you to read those two reviews and then come back and tell us whether or not they are more valuable than the comments in this thread. Compared to the short comments here, many of them snarky in tone (including mine), those two reviews provide a wealth of information that can help the OP make his decision. I will take a thorough multi-page detailed review by an audio journalist over an Audiogon thread any day. At least the two reviewers actually set up and listened to the speakers! How many comments in this thread are from people who have actually heard them in their own home?
In my experience a detailed review is the best way to find out about a speaker and how they sound - short of an audition. In a few cases, like the Thiel Owners thread, you can actually communicate with people who have first hand experience with what they are talking about but I have found that most comments on the Agon forum are based on poorly informed opinion.
Lastly, one of the reasons I used the term "audio geeks" is due to your earlier comment. The OP clearly stated that he was on a tight budget and that WAF was important. The Polks filled the bill and they are easily available. He wants to get his system together with minimum hassle and is obviously not the kind of person who is going to do the research, shop ebay, Agon, USAM, or other used equipment sites and put together a multi-brand system. And his wife would probably veto Vandersteens. He just wants some reassurance that he's not making a huge mistake.
BTW, I've a pair of Polk 2 way w/passive bookshelves and a small sub that do reasonable well in my collection. But they're on their way to becoming 'vintage', so...
If willing to go used I bet you can get some Polk LSIM speakers for around that price (705 or 703). Betting they would be a huge upgrade over the S50s.
first thing to get right is “audiophile geeks” don’t mix HT with two channel. OP has not stated his level of two channel. No the obvious Polk like most speaker companies make different levels for speaker lines. I will 100% take a personal experience review here over a mag review that accepts advertising from a company.
If you're seriously considering Polk, you need to step up to the Reserve series, which I see are also available in white. They have been receiving excellent reviews.
The Polk S50 are popular speakers and have been reviewed at least a couple of times. Google "Polk S50 Review" and you will see at least two reviews. Both of these reviews are very detailed and positive. I would suggest that you place much more weight on these reviews than on the comments on this forum. There is an element of snobbery here where people who have never heard these speakers will trash them simply because they are a widely available mid priced brand.that doesn't cater to audiophile geeks.
HiFiShark is a great resource for shopping for used equipment. Personally in my opinion, I think you'd be better off with buying used speakers and new electronics. Do you listen to records? If not the BlueSound POWERNODE is an excellent choice for an amplifier. Its a small box that has HDMI input for your TV's HT. Its a streamer/amplifier with interface that you install on a tablet. I'm guessing your wife would approve of its form factor.
Do you have pets? My significant other has cats I bought her used Canton speakers that have a metal grills and the POWERNODE. Those speakers are pet proof.
However these speakers would not be your best choice for HT.
What is your primary listening going to be? 90% HT 10% music. Once you figure this out we can help you get the best bang for your bucks. One thing I have found is if you compromise or settle for something like it sounds you are you will not enjoy your purchase. You will always be thinking what if. HT does not need to be a matched system you can mix and match with good results. If 2 channel music is priority look on eBay and others for some Vandersteen’s they work will for both. If the towers blow your budget you can add in the other pieces later but will never have to change out the vandy’s.
I have been in the biz since before the first VCR went stereo/HiFi. The single biggest decision is the center speaker and the biggest feature there is to get either a 3-way with the tweeter above a midrange or get a coaxial/coincident driver. Otherwise the LCR blend will not be seamless. This matters equally for soundtracks and for music if you use surround sound. On your budget look at KEF Q Series and Paradigm Monitor Series. Look for used or closeouts of models that have the above. As JB said Polk makes above average HT speakers for the money, but no matter who’s making it a side by side 2-way CCS cannot produce a n image to match vertical L/Rs. Bookshelves are fine but then don’t skimp on the subwoofer. Denon is a dependable AVR maker, just find s closeout that sold for at least $800.00.
At this point, buy what your budget and ears like. There is plenty of time to expand ones' preferences as your time and disposable cash allow later.... ;)
(Imho....the concept of cash being 'disposable' is rather obnoxious, as is most other explanations of such. An acquisition for pleasure, beauty, involvement, and the like shouldn't be considered as an investment either.)
Spouse and I sometimes buy 'art' to our tastes. It may not be 'investment' nor 'museum' levels, but it pleases our eyes, tastes, and mindsets...
Basically, please yourself first and foremost. Adopt whatever your read here to your space as possible and practical, and attend to the all-important SAF 'guidelines'.
Consider carefully the 'tweaks' and 'additions' espoused within these posts.
The Hunt For Perfection can be daunting, and generally can be considered an addiction of a sly nature....
This site is an iffy place to ask for recommendations, as one gets every point of view, including sane ones, crackpot ones, and ones based entirely on preconceived notions. For example, people who say "All XXX speakers are bad" can't possibly have listened to them all, and how do you know what they mean by "bad"? Maybe it's what you would call "good."
On the Steve Hoffman Forums (Google for them), you will find a moderated hardware forum with many practical and generally courteous audiophiles, including quite a few Polk users. Yes, there will be a variety of opinions, but people listen to one another, the moderation tends to weed out the cranks, and you'll find people who actually have listened to the speakers you are thinking about -- and also many other moderately priced speakers.
The present site is great for selling gear, and its forums provide entertainment and at times some good answers to very specific questions. But for someone on a budget asking the question you did, I suggest you try the alternative mentioned and see what you think.
Stay away from the Polk Audios, theres a reason you dont see them in recommended ...(they dont sound good) and nothing you do to them will change that. Difinitive Technologies makes great speakers and KEF and JBL anything but Polks!
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