Polk R100 bookshelf speaker (review by Erin)

[sweetchaos]

Video review:

 

[mhardy6647]

Has anyone compared the R100 to the R200 mano a mano (so to speak)?

 

[abdo123]

Hey @hardisj I just finished the video review! Quite the pickle isn't it?

I really don't think the tweeter is too hot from a PIR perspective, the level is set in a way that maximizes the Olive score. it's almost as if someone is making a text book perfect speaker other than the crossover dip.

I think what's happening here is that the on-axis response is way too hot and that's what we actually perceive at very high frequencies, the direct sound. (pic straight out of Toole's book)

 

[abdo123]

@MZKM do you mind 'doing the thing' for the perference score? I'm expecting some very impressive numbers for the R100.

 

[MZKM]

@MZKM do you mind 'doing the thing' for the perference score? I'm expecting some very impressive numbers for the R100.

Erin hasn’t posted the data file. Pierre seems to calculate them them for Erin’s recent works, so not sure if Erin messages it to him or if Pierre is simply digitizing the graphs.

 

[abdo123]

Erin hasn’t posted the data file. Pierre seems to calculate them them for Erin’s recent works, so not sure if Erin messages it to him or if Pierre is simply digitizing the graphs.

Erin posts data files? I always digitize the plots!

 

[sweetchaos]

Erin hasn’t posted the data file. Pierre seems to calculate them them for Erin’s recent works, so not sure if Erin messages it to him or if Pierre is simply digitizing the graphs.

He messages the data.

 

[moonlight rainbow dream]

What is the highest scoring passive 5 inch driver bookshelf speaker right now? Kef LS50 Meta?

Zaph's ZA5.2 TM scores a tad higher w/ sub.

 

[hardisj]

He messages the data.

Correction: I email @pierre the data. Often before I ever post it on my site (in which case, I ask him to 'hold' the data until I publish the review).

 

[sdiver68]

Do we have a preference score with sub yet? Wonder what if any difference vs R200 in PS with Sub.

 

[lostwind]

Do we have a preference score of R100? The big brother got impressed score of 6.3, I’m curious of R100 because of my small bedroom.

 

[sweetchaos]

Polk R100:
Preference Score is 5.6 and would be 8.0 with a perfect subwoofer.
Preference Score is 6.1 with an EQ and would be 8.6 with a perfect subwoofer and the same EQ.
LFX: 52hz

Polk R200:
Preference Score is 6.3 and would be 8.3 with a perfect subwoofer.
Preference Score is 6.4 with an EQ and would be 8.4 with a perfect subwoofer and the same EQ.
LFX: 42hz

 

[sdiver68]

Interesting the R200 is that much higher, yet with sub and EQ the R100 pulls ahead.

Both up there in pretty rare air with sub.

 

[lostwind]

Polk R100:
Preference Score is 5.6 and would be 8.0 with a perfect subwoofer.
Preference Score is 6.1 with an EQ and would be 8.6 with a perfect subwoofer and the same EQ.
LFX: 52hz

Polk R200:
Preference Score is 6.3 and would be 8.3 with a perfect subwoofer.
Preference Score is 6.4 with an EQ and would be 8.4 with a perfect subwoofer and the same EQ.
LFX: 42hz

Thank you for your reply. By the way, how can I find the EQ data?

 

[Benedium]

Interesting the R200 is that much higher, yet with sub and EQ the R100 pulls ahead.

Both up there in pretty rare air with sub.

After checking pierreaubert.github.io I realise most speakers do very well with EQ and subwoofer. For example, even jbl stage a120 scores 8.3!

 

[lostwind]

After checking pierreaubert.github.io I realise most speakers do very well with EQ and subwoofer. For example, even jbl stage a120 scores 8.3!

5.6 of r100，still quite good for $500.

 

[MarkWinston]

Th

After checking pierreaubert.github.io I realise most speakers do very well with EQ and subwoofer. For example, even jbl stage a120 scores 8.3!

This is why I dont really care about preference scores, with eq the 120/130 still sounds, at best, average.

 

[abdo123]

Interesting the R200 is that much higher, yet with sub and EQ the R100 pulls ahead.

Both up there in pretty rare air with sub.

That's only the case because it's not measured with a Klippel.

 

[mhardy6647]

Any chance of getting a mano a mano speako a speako quantitative assessment of the R100 vs. its "Legend-series" cousin (L100)?
That would be interesting -- given the price difference between the two.
(and, in full disclosure, I'mma ask the same question of the R200 and the L200, too... which is, frankly, the comparison that interests me more)

 

[MarkWinston]

Sub

Has anyone compared the R100 to the R200 mano a mano (so to speak)?

Subjectively, I owned the R100, currently own the R200 and I am looking very very hard at the R700. Comparing the R100 and 200, they both tonally sound the same but a 5 inch woofer is never going to give you the same impact of a 6. The R100 crumbles at higher volumes, starting to scream and shout, losing composure real quick. The R200 remains composed at the same volume, they almost sound like different speakers at this point. The R100 can take a lot of power, dont get me wrong but its going to sound sissified against its bigger brother. I dont really usually like smaller neutral speakers (especially 4 inchers) they sound boring as hell, and the R100 is on the edge of that line. With or without a sub, Ill definitely take the R200s anytime anyday, mainly because of how it handles power. The R700 will most probably be my end game speakers, amplification is goin to cost my left nut though.