Polk Audio

I've had the same attitude toward Best Buy as most on this forum. I've only gone there to buy a TV or air conditioner. But if they're getting into more high end, what's wrong with that? Granted, it's entry-level "audiophile" gear, but I'm shocked to find decent speakers such as MartinLogan...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/MartinLogan+-+Theos+8%22+Floor+Speaker+%28Each%29+-+Gloss+Black/2768792.p?id=1218349687756&skuId=2768792

I have the Rti-A1's in my bedroom set up and they sound good considering what they cost. Polk Audio is the budget king at the moment. BB is a good place to audition speakers before you buy. They also price match anything in their magnolia showroom
which is cool considering they are now carrying some hi end stuff.
Polk Rti-A1's are great in a small to mid sized room.

Hi,We do not have a magnolia room here at our best buy store in mobile,ala! I am shocked just as lowrider57 is to know they are carrying this type of equipment! @ Mcondon, I have a pair of infinity RS-1 book shelf speakers that are from the late 90s, they sound better than eany polk audio book shelf speakers I have ever heard!, the timbral accuracy of these little book shelf speakers is uncanny to say the least!, very good speakers for the asking price new!, they have out-performed book shelf speakers many times their price!,, cheers!

Funny how a thread about Polk can morph into a discussion about Best Buy.

But for the record, not all Best Buys have mini-Magnolia stores in them. In fact, most don't. And these "mini" Magnolias only carry limited high end brands and models. You won't find a B&W 802D at a mini-mag, but you will find the 600 & CM series. Electronics are very limited at the mini's too with no McIntosh, Marantz Reference, Arcam, etc. For these you must move up the Magnolia food chain to a Magnolia Design Center (also found in very limited Best Buys) or a stand alone Magnolia Home Theater store which I believe are only on the US West Coast.

Here in the Twin Cities, home of Best Buy, there are about 22 Best Buys stores but only 5 have "mini" Mags and only 2 have Design Centers.

So when someone says Best Buy carries VA, B&W, ML, even McIntosh, it is a very misleading statement. Best Buy owns Magnolia and these products can only be bought at Magnolia. Its sort of like when Ford owned Aston Martin and Jag; you couldn't buy a Vanquish at any old Ford dealer, now could you?

So don't feel bad Audiolabyrith. As for Polk speakers, I never owned a pair, so I can't comment on them.

"Funny how a thread about Polk can morph into a discussion about Best Buy."

That was my doing. Someone was complaining that audiophiles don't like Polk anymore because they lost their "snob appeal" (I think thats what they called it), and are sold in big stores. I just pointed out some of the other lines offered in Best Buy. As far as this whole Best Buy/Magnolia thing, you got me. I don't really like BB so I'm not keeping track of what's sold in each store. Every one I've ever been to has a Magnolia section. Also, when you do a search for products on their web site, they list all the Magnolia products right along with regular BB items. I really don't see what the big deal is with Magnolia anyway. The one decent thing about BB is that if they don't have something in stock, they will ship it to your local store.

I do think its a foolish move for high end brands to sell in BB/Magnolia. But not because of the whole snob factor thing. Everything is about equipment matching and setup. Its a miracle that the people who work at BB can even turn the equipment on in the morning when they come in to work, let alone sell it, and set the stuff up for customers. Thats the real problem. I wouldn't trust those people setup and place a pair of speakers on a boom box.