Polk Reserve R200: Spinorama and measurements (a really nice surprise!)

[Triliza]

any reviews of the r500 floor stander model in comparison?

Didn't read it myself so no clue about the quality of it:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...some-narrowing-down.34033/page-3#post-1189123

 

[AlexanderM]

So today I had the opportunity to hear the R100 speakers and was more than just impressed, the soundstage was far superior to the tower speakers I listened to at the same time, which really was the KEF Q950s and the Polk Signature Elite 60s. The R100s pretty much disappeared, so the R200s are now on my list.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Polk Reserve R200 - Review & Measurements by Erin

Text review: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/polk_r200/

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[joentell]

I just did an in-room MMM of the R200's I reviewed. I spent 10 minutes on the measurements, so take it with a grain of salt. https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...eview-measurements-by-erin.45492/post-1622309

 

[Ferrarabach]

Probably not for movies, but multi channel music might let you notice the additional extension.

Hi, Sir. I'm about to buy Chane A1.5. I read you have the previous version (Chane A1.4) so I want to know your impressions of these speakers as regards Polk R200. I mean, how do they compare in terms of mids, bass, highs, image and soundstage? Thanks a lot!

 

[Transmaniacon]

Hi, Sir. I'm about to buy Chane A1.5. I read you have the previous version (Chane A1.4) so I want to know your impressions of these speakers as regards Polk R200. I mean, how do they compare in terms of mids, bass, highs, image and soundstage? Thanks a lot!

The R200 digs deeper and has better resolution up top. The Chanes might have a wider sweet spot, both handle power very well and maintain their composure. The R200 is a better speaker, but it's over twice as much. For a movie system I think the Chanes would be fantastic.

 

[Ferrarabach]

The R200 digs deeper and has better resolution up top. The Chanes might have a wider sweet spot, both handle power very well and maintain their composure. The R200 is a better speaker, but it's over twice as much. For a movie system I think the Chanes would be fantastic.

What a surprise! I thought Chane was at least better in the highs. Thanks for your help. I'm thinking of purchasing the Chanes L3 instead. Perhaps, they can compete with the Polks better! Any comment as regards to L3's?

 

[Transmaniacon]

What a surprise! I thought Chane was at least better in the highs. Thanks for your help. I'm thinking of purchasing the Chanes L3 instead. Perhaps, they can compete with the Polks better! Any comment as regards to L3's?

I have never heard the L3s but I would imagine they are a good contender with the Polks.

 

[silver12]

How it looks EQ, whith corrections...?

 

[canthearathing]

How it looks EQ, whith corrections...?

This is how my Polk R200 sounded before Audyssey correction (Teal) and after (Purple). I'm running them as a pair of full range speakers without a subwoofer.

 

[silver12]

This is how my Polk R200 sounded before Audyssey correction (Teal) and after (Purple). I'm running them as a pair of full range speakers without a subwoofer.

View attachment 332740

O great thanks, how much improve sound?

 

[canthearathing]

O great thanks, how much improve sound?

Before the adjustment, the R200s were too warm for my taste and a lot of the higher frequency details are somewhat overpowered by the muddiness presented in the 100hz-300hz region. After the adjustment, the R200s sound much tighter in the lower end and the extension down to the 40hz makes it suitable for music in a near field listening environment like mine. For movies, I would still want a subwoofer.

I've been auditioning these R200s and KEF LS50 Metas. Granted it's not a blind listening test, but sonically I prefer the Polk R200s over the LS50 Metas. This is definitely not what I had expected because going into the comparison, I wanted to like the KEFs more (because, I'll admit, they look beautiful and the cabinets are suitable sized for desktop usage unlike the R200s which I find a few inches too deep). The KEFs seem to measure better and liked by more people, so subconsciously I wanted to like them a lot. But every time I listen, the R200s come out ahead for me. That said, KEFs do seem to have a much larger sweet spot for sound than the R200s. The R200s aren't as forgiving when it comes to speaker placement in relation to your listening window. Maybe things will be different once I integrate a subwoofer, but for now R200 wins overall!

 

[nalap]

Can anyone comment on how the R200 50th Anniversary compare to the R200 for critical music listening ?

 

[tw 2022]

Can anyone comment on how the R200 50th Anniversary compare to the R200 for critical music listening ?

they are reportedly the same , the cab is the only difference...

 

[mhardy6647]

they are reportedly the same , the cab is the only difference...

Crossover componentry is reported to be very different (i.e., expensive-r). Not the crossover design -- just component "upgrades"
Audibly different? I haven't heard a pair, so I cannot comment.
I would love to have cherry veneer cabinets on (my) R200s., but the MSRP was, from my perspective, prohibitive.
I read (at the Polk forums) fairly recently that the remaining ones were (or are) being sold at a fairly steep discount.

 

[tw 2022]

Crossover componentry is reported to be very different (i.e., expensive-r). Not the crossover design -- just component "upgrades"
Audibly different? I haven't heard a pair, so I cannot comment.
I would love to have cherry veneer cabinets on (my) R200s., but the MSRP was, from my perspective, prohibitive.
I read (at the Polk forums) fairly recently that the remaining ones were (or are) being sold at a fairly steep discount.

i somehow missed the crossover component differences, thanks...

 

[nalap]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I couldn't resist the sale price and ordered a pair. ​

mhardy6647 the R200 AE are on sale for $799. Polk website says out of stock but still available at Crutchfield...​

Polk Audio Reserve R200 50th Anniversary Edition

Limited-edition bookshelf speakers

www.crutchfield.com

 

[tw 2022]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I couldn't resist the sale price and ordered a pair. ​

mhardy6647 the R200 AE are on sale for $799. Polk website says out of stock but still available at Crutchfield...​

Polk Audio Reserve R200 50th Anniversary Edition

Limited-edition bookshelf speakers

www.crutchfield.com

enjoy em , they are a very decent choice at the sales price.. that's a great cab....

 

[Venkyrenga]

I am conflicted between Polk r200 and Elac ubr62. I will be driving them with my Marantz pm7000n and I expect rich, smooth and organic sound. Btw I am putting the right speaker very close to a corner.

Please give me your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

 

[VintageFlanker]

I am conflicted between Polk r200 and Elac ubr62. I will be driving them with my Marantz pm7000n and I expect rich, smooth and organic sound.

Smooth, I get it. Rich and organic, I have no Idea what these mean. The R200 will be brighter than the ELAC :

ELAC UBR62 Speaker Review

ELAC UBR62 Speaker Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Polk Reserve R200 Bookshelf Speaker Review

Polk Reserve R200

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Btw I am putting the right speaker very close to a corner.

Then, the wider directivity of the UBR62 could be a problem.