Polk RC80i In-Ceiling Speaker Review

[dasdoing]

It's a coax thing. Seems a bit high for breakup modes (except maybe the 8k), so I guess interference relating to the stick-out tweeter. I'm a bit surprised they made it work as well as it does with a passive crossover. A design like this is always going to have issues either on- or off-axis.

but it must be reflections, right?

 

[Steve Dallas]

Interesting review. I have been waiting for one of a coaxial like this. I put 9 of these in my in-laws house as ceiling speakers. The will never win any hi-fi awards, but they were plenty decent as patio speakers and for TV watching for 'normal' people.

I have 2 of the supposedly better version, the 3 way 70RT, in my home theater as heights. They are fine as home theater noisemakers. They are not tweeter-on-a-stick types, however.

 

[beagleman]

Interesting review. I have been waiting for one of a coaxial like this. I put 9 of these in my in-laws house as ceiling speakers. The will never win any hi-fi awards, but they were plenty decent as patio speakers and for TV watching for 'normal' people.

I have 2 of the supposedly better version, the 3 way 70RT, in my home theater as heights. They are fine as home theater noisemakers. They are not tweeter-on-a-stick types, however.

I see that at times on the forum.
Things must be judged by their actual real world usage and account for what (most) people expect.

Not everything can be judged on the basis of Great/Horrible. Some products are simply "Decent" enough to work well within "Reasonable expectations" by normal people.

I guess in my mind, not everything has to be perfect fidelity to be usable. Some of my most enjoyable musical memories, were outdoor concerts, boomboxes, garage systems that were crap and cobbled together speakers that were NOT the last word in fidelity.

But when I want perfect fidelity I will look for it.

 

[jomo]

It's a coax thing. Seems a bit high for breakup modes (except maybe the 8k), so I guess interference relating to the stick-out tweeter. I'm a bit surprised they made it work as well as it does with a passive crossover. A design like this is always going to have issues either on- or off-axis.

I think you are correct with the interference. The woofer is still playing at these high frequencies because the low pass filter is doing little to shut it off (rising impedence). A simple Zobel network (cap and resistor) before the woofer would likely help clean up the high frequency response by shutting off the woofer at the tweeter's frequencies. I do it all the time in car installations and it helps smooth the tweeter response.

 

[Hart]

Tweeter looks like it was installed way off center?

 

[kyuu]

Tweeter looks like it was installed way off center?

It can be aimed, and it currently is aimed a bit off-center. Or it might just be the perspective, since it sticks out from the cone quite a ways:

 

[GWolfman]

The table has 6000 rows. Do the above tools accept large data sets like this?

I can help with Python code if you’re interested. Just shoot me a DM.

 

[BarryTone]

THIS is the reason why ASR exists. Before this website all we had were things like Amazon reviews which are often outstanding based on users unreliable subjective reviews. Now we have actual measurements that tell us that our ears are not lying and why something like KEF in-ceilings cost more. Thank you Amir
Hopefully we see more in-wall and in-ceiling reviews going forward since they are a big part of new construction installs lately.

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

I’m not spending big dollars for Atmos speakers. Highest I would go for is Revel’s cheapest model.

 

[Marin]

It seems a good speaker for AM radio broadcasts because they are typically limited to 4,500 Hz. Other than that, considering the time and money required for ceiling mounting, it is a pass. Thank you Amir for a great review of a flawed product.

Hi, I didn't know that.
But here in Europe we don't have AM radio, we have FM. I listen to it often, there are good radio stations, we even got DAB+.
I know DAB+ is 128kbs MP3, but I don't know anything about FM.
How far do they go in terms of frequency range?

 

[andrewskaterrr]

So I'm not saying this is legit AT ALL, but figure I'd throw my findings in since your measurements showed similar behavior. I did a VERY ROUGH measurement of the RC60i with the grill on I think from 1m away, but it was standing vertically off the edge of a stand I have, free airing. I saw similar cancellations? but at 8.6khz and 15khz. So I'm guessing it's something with the design. I also measured the MAG6R (which I kept) which had it's own cancellations but at different frequencies. Just another measurement that people might be interested in.

 

[beagleman]

So I'm not saying this is legit AT ALL, but figure I'd throw my findings in since your measurements showed similar behavior. I did a VERY ROUGH measurement of the RC60i with the grill on I think from 1m away, but it was standing vertically off the edge of a stand I have, free airing. I saw similar cancellations? but at 8.6khz and 15khz. So I'm guessing it's something with the design. I also measured the MAG6R (which I kept) which had it's own cancellations but at different frequencies. Just another measurement that people might be interested in.View attachment 487953

so your Peaks and valley are at completely different frequencies than Amir got.

Makes me still think, if measured at random spots and angles, it would "Somewhat" even out all the peaks and dips.

Still NOT a great design at all, but have to think more listenable than the on axis would have you believe. I have NOT heard these yet, so hard to say.