Best Polk speakers ever?

[Texas42]

Just curious on what the prevailing opinion is (although I'm sure there would be a bunch of different opinions). SRT? SRS? other?

[RuSsMaN]

My favs?

The SRS 2 for the SDA series.

The RT7 for a shelf speaker.

The RTA8 for a small floorstander.

Cheers,
Russ

[avguytx]

My favs?

The SRS 2 for the SDA series.

The RT7 for a shelf speaker.

The RTA8 for a small floorstander.

Cheers,
Russ

Cool...I own that top one. Not that you necessarily put them in order. :D

Actually, I'm sitting here listening to some Amy Grant on them and they just sound spectacular as always.

[zingo]

Everyone likes Amy Grant, but it takes a real man to talk about it openly.

[F1nut]

The Model 9's.

[shack]

Everyone likes Amy Grant, but it takes a real man to talk about it openly.

One of my favorite albums is Amy Grant's "Behind The Eyes". I think I mentioned a couple of her albums in the "What are you listening to" thread. Whats to hide? Interesting voice...good singer. I like some of her CC stuff... some I don't. Some of her stuff is too "Pop" oriented but some I like a lot.

It's hard to pick a BEST Polk speaker because that's very subjective (which seems to have gotten a bad rap lately). Russ' choices are excellent, but as with anything are open for debate. The best for me are:

Large floorstander: SDA 1C - a great all-round speaker that does everything well.

Bookshelf: RT55i - One of Polk's speakers that has a great reputation that is warranted.

Small floorstander: RT400 - Every time I listen to these I am amazed just how "listenable" they are. Specs. say not that good...but my ears tell me otherwise. I think Tour was somewhat impressed (not that it matters - just another opinion).

The fact that I own each of the speakers listed above has absolutely NO bearing on my selection. ;)

[bdaley6509]

SDA 2.3TL with the LSI 15's coming in 2nd (unbiased, of course).

[mhardy6647]

Original Model 7/Monitor 7A IMNSHO represent the best-ever packages of Polk sound/philosophy. I'm sure the Polk Folk themselves wouldn't agree, though...

[markmarc]

The LSi9's my favorite for sound quality. The most important in the Polk's history are the 10B's.

[TroyD]

SRS 2.3tl's - lg floorstander
RT7's - shelf
7a's - small floorstander

BDT

[Lasareath]

Original Model 7/Monitor 7A IMNSHO represent the best-ever packages of Polk sound/philosophy. I'm sure the Polk Folk themselves wouldn't agree, though...

Why Wouldn't we agree?, I really like the 7's, I've heard 7A's & 7B's so far and they are amazing speakers for their size and cost.

I've listened to CRS+'s, 1C's, SRS 2's, SRS 1.2TL's, and I think that the more drivers you have the better the sound stage and the more detail you will get out of the speakers.

To me if Polk made a tower with (12) 6.5" drivers and 8 tweeters that they would most likely sound the best than every other Polk. So if you can agree with that then I would assume that the 1.2's are most likely the best sounding Polks.

Sal

[reeltrouble1]

I am pretty sure Amy is kinky.

I can't pick a fav speaker, I love them all the same like they are my little children.

But I sure wish I still had those 55i's.

RT1

[Silverti]

I must say that my 12 year old Polk Rt12's are great speakers, I still use them as my rear channels to this day.

[zingo]

To me if Polk made a tower with (12) 6.5" drivers and 8 tweeters that they would most likely sound the best than every other Polk.
Sal

You are in luck Lasareath, Polk came out with a similar speaker. They are the little talked about 1.2XLs and from what I hear, they can really fill a room... literally.



SDA SRS1.2XL

Foundation-standing home stereo loudspeakers.
Listen carefully...everything you hear is true, until your ears bleed.

Driver Complement
Subwoofer 4 - 15" Diameter (38.10cm)
sub bass radiator
Midrange 96 - 6-1/2" Diameter (16.51cm)
drivers
Tweeter 48 - 1" Diameter (2.54cm)
SL3000 trilaminate dome tweeters

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Electrical
Overall Frequency Response 6-26kHz
Lower -3dB Limit 27Hz
Upper -3dB Limit 26kHz
Nominal Impedance 2 ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power 500-"Good Luck" w/channel
Efficiency 85 dB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dimensions
Cabinet Size 170-1/2" H x 60-3/4" W x 18-1/8" D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shipping/Other
Total Shipping Weight "Good Try" lbs.

[daesdaemar]

My best speakers ever are my 1986 SDA SRS.

[BrettT1]

I think that the more drivers you have the better the sound stage and the more detail you will get out of the speakers.
Sal

I agree with ya. :D

[rskarvan]

My favorite is the Monitor 10's.

[Lasareath]

You are in luck Lasareath, Polk came out with a similar speaker. They are the little talked about 1.2XLs and from what I hear, they can really fill a room... literally.



SDA SRS1.2XL

Foundation-standing home stereo loudspeakers.
Listen carefully...everything you hear is true, until your ears bleed.

Driver Complement
Subwoofer 4 - 15" Diameter (38.10cm)
sub bass radiator
Midrange 96 - 6-1/2" Diameter (16.51cm)
drivers
Tweeter 48 - 1" Diameter (2.54cm)
SL3000 trilaminate dome tweeters

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Electrical
Overall Frequency Response 6-26kHz
Lower -3dB Limit 27Hz
Upper -3dB Limit 26kHz
Nominal Impedance 2 ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power 500-"Good Luck" w/channel
Efficiency 85 dB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dimensions
Cabinet Size 170-1/2" H x 60-3/4" W x 18-1/8" D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shipping/Other
Total Shipping Weight "Good Try" lbs.

That's It, I NEED Those!, to hell with the wedding!!!!!!

[Yashu]

I would say, the later version of the compact SDA, with RDO upgrades. The only thing that could make those better is drivers that were shielded.

[heiney9]

I think overall the entire SDA line, in particular the last 2 generations. There really never was another speaker line like them before or after. If you are a Polk Audio fan you owe it to yourself to have these pass through your system at some point during your audio journey.

They are made even better with a little x-over tweaking and the addition of the newer, nicer RD0 tweeters.

LSi's are a very close 2nd as they offer excellent value and sound just superb.

H9

[SolidSqual]

I consider my Rti6 the best speaker I have ever heard. Not because it is the best sounding speaker I have ever heard but because at the time I first heard it . . . it played the most beautiful music I ever heard. Since then I've moved on to AZ Adagios, but there's nothing like the first time you hear that sound that captures a little of the high end. It's like a loss of innocence that you can never get back. Once you get used to high-end sound, you can never have your innocence back. I've been hooked on audio ever since.

[Yashu]

The RTi6 is a relatively new speaker. This is interesting how you arrived at this, because I have been "corrupted" for much longer, hehe, but I can only imagine what it would be like, to go through life not paying attention to music or audio, just "hearing" it, not really taking it in... then coming upon a moment where everything fell into clarity, and suddenly music was more than just sound, but a passion, whereby delivered art and science tuned to one purpose. That moment is magic, and it almost doesn't matter what speaker or system it happens with, but it also matters entirely. It is like a drug... you are always seeking that first experience. If you came to this world deaf and blind, and yet had your mind opened by the RTi6, then for that reason alone, it is a worthy speaker, but it wasn't "just" a speaker... it was, as you said, a taste of true high end, and gave to you a gift that you will undoubtedly will cherish for the rest of your life. It will be a passionate relationship, I am sure.

[dorokusai]

My favorite is the Monitor 10 since it was the first loudspeaker I ever owned. The most overhyped loudspeaker is the SDA 1.2TL.