Polk Reserve R350 Review (Center Speaker)

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Where is the port on this speaker?

The water probably got underneath the vinyl wrap and into the MDF, which caused it to expand and maybe warp a little. It's probably a cosmetic issue only and not an audible one unless it caused enough warping to create a crack or hole in the MDF.

The port is on the back.

So far it looks to be warping on the back edge only (between top and back) but I don’t really want to press or peel to find out how deep the damage is as my poking around may potentially make it worse.

What I don’t understand is, why is the top where the water was pooling is perfectly fine and flat with just staining, but the edge seem to have water penetrating through?

Are the edges usually not sealed?

 

[Beave]

I just looked at the pics on page 1 of this thread, and I don't see a port on the back. And Polk's website says it's a sealed design.

As for the water, it probably couldn't/didn't penetrate the vinyl wrap except where there might have been a seam of the wrap along an edge of the speaker. But I'm just guessing here, as I haven't seen one in person to know where the vinyl wrap seam is.

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Cosmetic. Penetrated at seam. Not enough water to cause structural damage.

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

For those of you who are not completely satisfied by R350, and if the Legend L400 is too expensive, based on this thread I have compiled all the mentioned alternatives that could be a good match with the rest of the Reserve series. Is there anything else that I have missed?

1. Getting another R350 and mounting them vertically as Center L and Center R
2. KEF Q150
3. Silver 5L
4. JBL 308p
5. Ascend Horizon
6. SVS
7. Monoprice
8. Infinity RC263
9. ...

I am still looking for an affordable 3-way center that is R350 size to fit between my UST projector and ALR screen, which has not been easy. The size of the R350 is perfect but yea the horizontal dispersion issue is a real big problem for dialog. My audience keeps saying they can't hear what people are saying during big huge Atmos and Dolby shows.

No.. I am not referring to Christopher Nolan movies that are notorious for dim dialog issue

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

For those of you who are not completely satisfied by R350, and if the Legend L400 is too expensive, based on this thread I have compiled all the mentioned alternatives that could be a good match with the rest of the Reserve series. Is there anything else that I have missed?

1. Getting another R350 and mounting them vertically as Center L and Center R
2. KEF Q150
3. Silver 5L
4. JBL 308p
5. Ascend Horizon

I am still looking for an affordable 3-way center that is R350 size to fit between my UST projector and ALR screen, which has not been easy. The size of the R350 is perfect but yea the horizontal dispersion issue is a real big problem for dialog. My audience keeps saying they can't hear what people are saying during big huge Atmos and Dolby shows.

No.. I am not referring to Christopher Nolan movies that are notorious for dim dialog issue

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Need to figure out how to fit 3 way. Switched to inexpensive (on sale) Infinity RC 263. Difference is stark. Dialogue is never an issue. It is big.

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Need to figure out how to fit 3 way. Switched to inexpensive (on sale) Infinity RC 263. Difference is stark. Dialogue is never an issue. It is big.

Yea, fitting a 3-way between UST Projector and ALR screen is challenging.

The Polk Reserve R350 height of 5.5" is perfect as it will not cast block the lower part of the screen.

I haven't researched all the 3-way alternatives yet, but from first glance, it seems the SVS Ultra Center's height of 8.2" may be doable.

Has anyone replaced your R350 with SVS Ultra Center yet and how is your experience with it?

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Yea, fitting a 3-way between UST Projector and ALR screen is challenging.

The Polk Reserve R350 height of 5.5" is perfect as it will not cast block the lower part of the screen.

I haven't researched all the 3-way alternatives yet, but from first glance, it seems the SVS Ultra Center's height of 8.2" may be doable.

Has anyone replaced your R350 with SVS Ultra Center yet and how is your experience with it?

infinity RC 263 is 9.25 high. If you could raise screen, squeeze in. Amir reviewed way back. Often out of stock. On sale sporadically.

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Just curious, would KEF R2C be a significant upgrade to the R350?

The KEF seems to not the dispersion issue of the MTM design of the Polk. My other contender is SVS Ultra Center. Has anyone migrated to any of these two from R350 and happy with your move?

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Due to Directivity issue of the R350, I have considered the energetic 3-way SVS Ultra Center as an "upgrade".

But then if I was going to go for the SVS Ultra Center, why not spend a few more dollars to get the KEF R2C, which has a coaxial design that will produce minimal off-axis drop-off.

And then I thought, if I was going to for the R2C, why not just jump to the R2 Meta which is a newer design and has addressed all the issues of the R2C.

But then if I am getting the R2 Meta, then why not just skip another step to go to the R6 Meta which is bigger and stronger than R2 Meta.

Thank goodness the KEF Reference is too big a step to jump to, hence R6 Meta has been ordered.

Hopefully this thinking process helps other owners of R350 who is considering an alternative.

I will report back how much of an "upgrade" the R6 Meta is to the R350.

I might run a few scans before listing R350 for sale, does anyone want to see before and after test results?

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Due to Directivity issue of the R350, I have considered the energetic 3-way SVS Ultra Center as an "upgrade".

But then if I was going to go for the SVS Ultra Center, why not spend a few more dollars to get the KEF R2C, which has a coaxial design that will produce minimal off-axis drop-off.

And then I thought, if I was going to for the R2C, why not just jump to the R2 Meta which is a newer design and has addressed all the issues of the R2C.

But then if I am getting the R2 Meta, then why not just skip another step to go to the R6 Meta which is bigger and stronger than R2 Meta.

Thank goodness the KEF Reference is too big a step to jump to, hence R6 Meta has been ordered.

Hopefully this thinking process helps other owners of R350 who is considering an alternative.

I will report back how much of an "upgrade" the R6 Meta is to the R350.

I might run a few scans before listing R350 for sale, does anyone want to see before and after test results?

You will be fine.

 

[sstecker]

so if you're using an acoustically transparent screen, would rotating the 350 vertically transform this into a great center channel?

 

[Beershaun]

so if you're using an acoustically transparent screen, would rotating the 350 vertically transform this into a great center channel?

If you have an acoustically transparent screen I'd recommend getting a center that is exactly the same as your left and right speakers.

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

If you have an acoustically transparent screen I'd recommend getting a center that is exactly the same as your left and right speakers.

I agree. Only situation that's feasible.

 

[Holmz]

so if you're using an acoustically transparent screen, would rotating the 350 vertically transform this into a great center channel?

That concept reminds me of the ape scene in “2001 A Space Odyssey“.

 

[traxman007]

Hi guys, first of all merry Christmas

I have a dilemma for choosing a new set of 5.0.2 speakers for my home theater – medium sized room.

I had for two years polk ES55, ES35, ES10 and XT90. I sold all of them except XT90, these I still have because the buyer didn’t want them. Now I bought a pair of polk R600 speakers few days ago. They are really great just like the all Internet reviewers stated and I really like them in every way, but now I need the rest of the speakers.

I searched the google and youtube and I don’t know what to buy. First I thought I just will buy R350 and R100 for the surround, or maybe to save some money ES15. But after reading some reviews about R350 (Erin’s corner and here on Audioscience) the R350 is total crap. And in general, all 2-way, 2.5-way and some 3-way design are just terrible for central speaker (horizontal wave cancelation and narrow directivity). At the moment I pulled the handbrake and I don’t know what to do. I prefer slim design for central speaker because the space and aesthetics are no.1 to be concerned. I know that that is a “big” problem, but that’s what it is. Maybe smaller non-slime central speaker would fit, but it depends on the dimensions.

So, I need some recommendation what to choose for center, surround and maybe height speakers and that their sound signature is so what similar to R600. And of course I would like that all the rest of the speakers (except R600) are from one brand and one series.



Any advice or a pointer is appreciated

 

[beagleman]

Thanks Amir.

It is refreshing to see the Polk team in the video say this was made to fit in the line at a price point, and admit you need to go up to the L400 to get something better.

Unfortunately, they really missed the mark since the center is the most important channel in a surround setup.

It is funny there isn't even a configuration that is rising to the top in this category. I am looking forward to more center channels in the market, and in the reviews.

No, I think for the "average" joe home theatre owner, they either do not care about dispersion, OR want a particular height of speaker or price point.

The realities of marketing make it "Nearly" impossible for all models to be great. There would then be no big incentive to go better.
To "Me" the limitations of a mediocre dispersion center are real, but often still relatively usable and not quite the handicap some claim it to be.

Yes a 2.5 way or 3 way is Far better, but to most people even the worst measuring will still be usable if we go to the standards of what maybe 75% of people expect.

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

I replaced 3 way Infinity center with 2 way Revel C205. Listening area is narrow. Revel is vastly superior. Depends upon your needs. Wide room with various seating may require 3 way. I doubt most guests would notice. Members will sit in sweet spot anyway.