Polk R700 Review by Audioholics

[mhardy6647]

Regardless of what manufacturer specs might say all tower speakers are 4 ohms.

Eh?

 

[paulgyro]

Eh?

Most all of them dip to 4 ohms or less.

 

[mhardy6647]

Regardless of what manufacturer specs might say all tower speakers are 4 ohms. You want at least 200 watts and good clean power to make your speakers come alive.

Most all of them dip to 4 ohms or less.

hmm. "most all" ≠ "all"

e.g.,

source: https://www.stereophile.com/content/devore-fidelity-orangutan-o96-loudspeaker-measurements

JBL 4367 Studio Monitor loudspeaker

www.stereophile.com

If you mean "tall skinny loudspeakers with lots of drivers in them", yup, most of them do (dip below 4 ohms). Not that they have to, though.

 

[paulgyro]

Certainly "most" does not equal "all" but there are plenty of times in normal conversations "all" doesn't mean "all" . I will however point you to an short video on this topic at hand. The point being made is a majority, which means most, but not all loudspeakers are 4 ohms. I trust they know what they are talking. Perhaps Scott doesnt.

 

[fuzzychaos]

Those aren't cheap speakers, they're 500€/pair more than KEF R11 for example. They better sound good

Aren’t the KEF R11’s $3000 each?

 

[3125b]

Aren’t the KEF R11’s $3000 each?

1777€ each currently.
But I only looked at the L600 on the Polk website, they are available for much less actually, so they end up costing the same as KEF R7 at 2700€/pair.
In the US the value proposition might be very different.

 

[behappybevegan]

Aren’t the KEF R11’s $3000 each?

I read the r-series maybe getting an updated new generation so could be current models will be reduced. Who knows.
Of course a DIY would be even cheaper and possibly even better.

 

[3125b]

Of course a DIY would be even cheaper and possibly even better.

Where would you get a comparably good coaxial driver though? And four good 6.5“ don‘t come that cheap either, custom crossover, plus a lot of MDF and a professional paint job (can‘t achieve a comparable finish in your garage) etc.
That‘s not gonna come much cheaper than 1777€.

 

[behappybevegan]

Kef coax >

Haut parleur KEF R11n R7

Haut-parleurs, boomer, woofer,uniq, uni-q, medium, tweeter KEF, centre technique agrée par KEF depuis plus de 20 ans

setelec-shop.fr

Coax 300,-
8 mid-woofers 800,-
crossover 200,- (?)
mdf, paint etc. 500,-

So 1800,- a pair.
Make it 2000,- a pair.

Cheapest pair in the Netherlands is 4000,-

 

[behappybevegan]

Just to be clear 1777,- is the price for each>

CSMusiksysteme GmbH | Ihr Hifispezialist

csmusiksysteme.net - Ihr Onlineshop rund um Home Entertainment, Home Cinema, Hifi, Car-Hifi. Schelle Lieferzeiten, Kauf auf Rechnung, Finanzierung!

csmusiksysteme.net

Normal price is 4000,- a pair (non b-ware)

https://www.idealo.de/preisvergleich/OffersOfProduct/6696369_-r11-kef.html

 

[behappybevegan]

I would spend a little more and get the Wharfedale Elysian 4 for 5000,- a pair > https://www.smitsarnhem.nl/elysian-4

 

[SlowCar]

I would spend a little more and get the Wharfedale Elysian 4 for 5000,- a pair > https://www.smitsarnhem.nl/elysian-4

Why? Do you have any measurements or credible review?

 

[abdo123]

Kef coax >

Haut parleur KEF R11n R7

Haut-parleurs, boomer, woofer,uniq, uni-q, medium, tweeter KEF, centre technique agrée par KEF depuis plus de 20 ans

setelec-shop.fr

Coax 300,-
8 mid-woofers 800,-
crossover 200,- (?)
mdf, paint etc. 500,-

So 1800,- a pair.
Make it 2000,- a pair.

Cheapest pair in the Netherlands is 4000,-

That's actually a very fair markup. i expected much much more.

 

[delta76]

That's actually a very fair markup. i expected much much more.

you are seeing retail price for components. The actual cost of them are likely half of it

 

[abdo123]

you are seeing retail price for components. The actual cost of them are likely half of it

Eitherway between R&D, shipping, marketing, taxes .etc a 100% markup without factoring in any labor hours is not bad at all.

 

[delta76]

Eitherway between R&D, shipping, marketing, taxes .etc a 100% markup without factoring in any labor hours is not bad at all.

no, the actual component cost is about 1000/pair (my guestimate). they are selling at 4000/pair. I agree it still looks reasonable, factor in their R&D, labor, initial investment for factories, marketing and dealer's cut etc.. but definitely not 100% markup.

 

[SlowCar]

Does it make sense to cross R700/L600 with SVS PB1000 Pro?

 

[hdkeith]

Does it make sense to cross R700/L600 with SVS PB1000 Pro?

I personally run my Klipsch RP-280F as large and run my Denon subs as LFE+mains and cross the sub at 120hz because I love bass and as good as the Klipsch are at getting low they can’t match my dual PSA V1800s. I also run my subs 6db hot as I like the punch. And then I cross the RP-280F at 60HZ.

 

[Transmaniacon]

Does it make sense to cross R700/L600 with SVS PB1000 Pro?

A sub is pretty much always going to do a better job with the low frequencies. I’d try like a 60Hz crossover and see how it sounds.

 

[paulgyro]

Does it make sense to cross R700/L600 with SVS PB1000 Pro?

Yes, a sub is almost universally recommended to optimize bass response in your room as there is a lot more flexibility in their placement vs main speakers.