I-Sonic Entertainment System 2

Room Filling Sound that absolutely amazed the critics

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The critics are amazed.

The I-Sonic's room-filling sound amazed the critics. Read the impressive reviews from both professionals and customers.

Professional Reviews

GadgetReview.com

"Straight out of the box the I-Sonic delivers stellar audio reproduction values at no expense and I can easily say that I am now a huge fan of Polk Audio products and HD Radio."

"The I-Sonic sounded great regardless of my position to the speakers and even when I was out of the room."

"With no tweaking at all the I-Sonic sounded lavishly lush. In fact, I had never heard classic rock sound so good. Most memorable was how round and balanced the bass sounded. It measured a perfect connection with treble and mid range frequencies to create a classic rock 'symphony of emotion.' "

UltimateAVmag.com

"...compared to the other "docks" out there, 99% of which sound anemic in the bass, the I-Sonic ES2 comes in not only near the top of any short list of recommendations for iPod docks, it comes in at #1."

Playback Magazine

"...it's very efficient and puts out a big-bodied, remarkably detailed sound that definitely lives up to its "room-filling sound" boast."

"...the ES2 came as a revelation: when I walked between rooms, I heard nearly the exact same sound quality wherever I stood."

Professional Reviews

Home Entertainment Magazine

Think of the I-Sonic as the clock radio of the gods..."

"I-Sonic has surprisingly deep bass..."

"...the sound is fairly spacious no matter where you place the I-Sonic or where you are in the room"

"It's a ultra-high-tech-clock radio with pictures"

The Absolute Sound

The curvaceous, nine-pound I-Sonic might look like a "table radio," but appearances are only skin deep."

"The I-Sonic's combination of attributes is compelling..."

"In addition, the I-Sonic's four speakers (two forward-firing and two rear-firing) deliver remarkably similar tonal balance and spaciousness from anywhere in the room."

"The I-Sonic is one of those products I never wished for, but after just a few days with the tabletop marvel, I wondered how I'd ever lived without it."

CNET.com

"Radio lovers may well find the Polk Audio I-Sonic to be their dream machine."

"What radio lovers will really appreciate is the I-Sonic's ample presets: you can store as many as 30 stations and seamlessly mix and match between AM, FM, HD, and XM stations at your leisure."

"[Playing a DVD, I-Sonic] rocked out with a vengeance...[it] packed a wallop and didn't distort, even when we played the I-Sonic at a room-filling volume...thanks to Polk's PowerPort venting technology, the I-Sonic's bass was powerful and surprisingly tuneful, so we could pick out each note."

"The Polk Audio I-Sonic's CD sound was exceptional. Bass, midrange, and treble were perfectly balanced, so the I-Sonic sounded equally accomplished with all types of music."

"...the Polk Audio I-Sonic represents a strong challenge to the Bose Wave Music System and its ilk. From a features standpoint it's an easy winner, and it holds its own--if not beats--the Bose from a performance standpoint, too."

"...when you consider that rivals such as the forthcoming $600 Tivoli Audio Music System don't offer satellite radio, HD radio, or DVD options, the I-Sonic almost looks like a bargain."

CEPro.com

"Polk I-Sonic is Bose Wave Radio Killer."

"... I was impressed - the unit handled the content well, and received overwhelming endorsement from my wife, for its variety of entertainment options, aesthetics and sound qualities."

"This all adds up to a huge hit for Polk. The I-Sonic could be the perfect holiday gift because it offers value, versatility and performance. The I-Sonic is sure to cut into Bose's Wave Radio market."

The Perfect Vision

The Coolest Nine Pounds in Consumer Electronics"

"..this nine pound technology-packed wonder is light years beyond any other product of its kind."

"The I-Sonic’s sound quality was so good I was tempted to critique it the way I would a high-end audio product."

"The sound is full, deep, and rich. In addition, the I-Sonic’s four speakers ...deliver a remarkably similar tonal balance from anywhere in the room."

"Shockingly good sound..."

Detroit Free Press

The revolution in home radio receivers and audio devices that began with the Bose Wave music system has evolved into an all-new device that will soon set a new standard of radio reception and audio reproduction in the home.

It's called the Polk Audio I-Sonic, and while you may have heard it being advertised a lot on FM radio, you need to really hear it to appreciate just how good home audio can sound from a single, all-in-one tabletop device...

It's certainly the best self-contained home audio device I've ever used."

Home Theater Magazine

It's no stretch to see how cool it is to have both analog and digital radio sources plus a CD/DVD player in the same unit, but the terms "high performance" and "compact tabletop entertainment system" don't come together easily in my mind. As it turns out, the thing that most sets the I-Sonic apart from the rest of the very crowded compact tabletop-/bookshelf-system pack is the high quality of its audio performance."

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"In the portable sound system category, the amazing Polk I-Sonic is the clear leader. In addition to the best sound, this system adds a DVD player, XM Satellite Radio, HD Radio and digital sound processing..."

SCI FI TECH

There are certainly plenty of tabletop radios out there to choose from: models from Bose, Cambridge SoundWorks, Boston Acoustics, and Tivoli make for a crowded field. While they all sound good, for the most part they offer only a regular (non-HD) AM/FM radio with a CD player. The Bose Wave at $500 has been king of the hill for the longest time, but for $600 the I-Sonic does more and sounds as good if not better. If you're already spending that kind of money, the extra 100 bucks gets you so much more."

howstuffworks.com

The sound quality of the I-Sonic is extraordinary, but since it is from Polk, this isn't surprising. The cabinet has Polk's Power Port technology for hard-hitting and accurate bass, even though the speakers are rather small. The system even includes a built-in dual alarm clock, so this could be used as an amazing clock radio. Just make sure not to call the I-Sonic an alarm clock, though, as it is so very much more."

"The Polk Audio I-Sonic is an incredible system. It combines Polk's vast speaker expertise with advanced radio and disc technologies to create an unmatched compact stereo. Pick just about any music source, and the I-Sonic can probably handle it."

WJRT-TV

The I-Sonic from Polk Audio is the creme of the crop. The sound is amazing and the features are endless...Polk Audio designed the speaker system to fill the room with sound and it really does. It sounds rich and the bass is deep."

Star Tribune

Polk offers 'the best quality, feature set and most up-to-date product of its kind with the HD and XM.'"

Forbes Life

[I-Sonic's] four speakers project rich bass and crisp high notes, even at low volumes. The I-Sonic would serve nicely as a bedside clock radio-and just as well as a full-on home theater system."

The New York Times

A Home Entertainment Center for the Nightstand….Small enough to fit on a night table, the I-Sonic has dual wake-up alarms and a display that can be dimmed. Built-in and remote controls make it controllable from both sides of the bed, which should give both occupants equal say in choosing from all those programs.” – Ivan Berger

McClatchy-Tribune Newspapers Syndicate

"The I-Sonic's feature set and performance stand out dramatically..."

"Performance in this niche means sound quality...In this regard, the I-Sonic delivers beyond expectations. High quality speakers, clean amplification and advanced digital sound processing delivers sound that is neutral, clear, and exceptionally sweet."

"...the best product of its type on the market."

"Polk wanted the undisputed top spot in the market, and they clearly achieved it."

The New York Times

The I-Sonic had the best reception of all the units, even receiving and recognizing HD Radio from some stations outside the area.”

Sound and Vision

With its stylish semicircular design and sleek silver-and-black cladding, the I-Sonic is like a supermodel."

"..the I-Sonic filled the room with surprisingly good sound for a table radio, and the sheer volume output of its four 3-inch speakers was impressive."

"Since the advent of satellite radio, I've pretty much given up on terrestrial radio, but my experience with HD Radio gave me hope."

"..the sound was so absorbing that for a moment I forgot it was coming from what amounts to a seriously glorified clock radio."

"..the I-Sonic will surely make your world -- and the start of each day -- much more musical."

Popular Mechanics

The I-Sonic ($599) does everything but surround sound. That’s not a backhanded compliment – this compact audio/video system plays CDs, DVDs, AM and FM radio, plus digital HD Radio and XM Satellite Radio (with optional attachments). It also connects to any MP3 player, and works as an alarm clock. And it does all that while sounding like a much bigger system, with front and rear speakers that deliver clear midtones and massive bass throughout the room."

The Hartford Courant

...the new king of multifunction table radios is the I-Sonic from Polk Audio."

"For $100 more than the AM/FM/CD Bose Wave, the I-Sonic offers an HD Radio tuner that would ordinarily cost $300, an XM Satellite Radio option and a DVD player. And sonically, it creates a huge, articulate soundstage unlike any table radio I've heard, including Bose's."

"Sound quality, no matter what I listened to, was consistently superb. The I-Sonic's output covered a huge swath of the room, with no clearly defined source. ... the listener, in effect, hears stereo anywhere within a 180-degree arc of the I-Sonic."

"With music, the I-Sonic absolutely amazed with its ability to throw out a coherent soundstage no matter where I stood in the room."

Maxim December 2006

Whether cranking tunes from HD radio, CDs, DVDs, or even old-school AM/FM stations, the I-Sonic's four internal speakers pump out 360 degrees of high-quality sound. It will make even a prison cell sound like Carnegie Hall."

I-Sonic Awards

Winner of the 2006 Best of Innovations Award

Polk Audio's I-Sonic™ was honored as the winner of the 2006 Best of Innovations award for the Audio Component category in the annual CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards program. Sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and endorsed by the Industrial Designers Society (IDSA), the International CES Innovations Awards highlight product advancements in technology design and engineering.
CES 2006 Innovations Award

Popular Mechanics: Editor's Choice Award

In recognition of outstanding achievement in new product design and innovation.
CES January 5, 2006

Electronic House Magazine: Product of the Year for 2006

Polk Audio's I-Sonic™ was honored as one of the winners of the Electronic House Products of the Year for 2006. In Addition the I-Sonic will be featured on electronichouse.com for a full year. The I-Sonic was judged on reviews, product demos, technological innovation, combined with overall value-and just plain outstanding features!
electronichouse.com, 2006

News Tips: Cherry-Picks Award 2006

We look for things that compel a "Wow"! Polk's speaker expertise plays a hand in a big, rich sound. A WOW!
newstips.com, CES 2006

Customer Reviews

# of Reviews: 42
Average Rating: 4.38/5


Write your own review



Larry Goodwin
(August 30th, 2006)
Overall my experience with the I-Sonic has been a mixed bag. The radio's high definition performance pretty much lives up to expectations. Moreover, the ability to play DVD's and the portability of ...

 

Richard Muerle
(March 29th, 2007)
A genuine Bose killer (and I have a Bose). Excellent sound in all ranges and at all volumes. GOOD looking unit. GOOD size.

If your location for receiving HD radio signals is O.K., the u...

 

Robert Braid
(March 19th, 2007)
Following a great deal of research and soul searching between the ISonic and its competitors we bought one and would highly recommend it as an excellent multifunctional audio and radio system. Great s...

 

John McCann
(November 28th, 2006)
While I own a $10,000 component stereo system, my Polk I-Sonic is the system I use much more frequently. When it comes to projecting a rich, full sound throughout a 914 square foot condiminium, the I-...

 

Larry Smith
(November 19th, 2006)
I purchased the I-Sonic and am very pleased. It is the best sounding portable radio beating the Boston and Bose. Trying HD was my main reason to try a $600 radio, the great sound had me sold. The extr...

 

Paul Taibl
(September 2nd, 2006)
Tested a prototype and the sound was outstanding for a unit its size. Just bought a production model and hooked up the XM antenna--wow! Couldn't be more pleased with the functionality and sound. Rep...

 

L. D. Jacobson
(November 16th, 2006)
The I-Sonic is a great product with the typical Polk quality I have come to expect but I have I have been disappointed with the buying experience associated with the I-Sonic. If you want to use the XM...

 

judith kristen
(November 19th, 2006)
I loved being able to adjust the treble and bass... all the new equipment including Bose is preset and that is not good for my oldies...this is fine sound for the size room it is in...

 

Gabriel Grenon
(November 18th, 2006)
I got my I-Sonic entertainment system since almost two months; I was looking forward to get it since an year. I must say that I didn't see this kind of interesting system (that big) since 1966 (Philli...

 

Bill Fotheringham Jr.
(February 12th, 2007)
The I-Sonic's sound quality is truly remarkable. The bass and treble response are extremely clean and true, and the sheer amount of room-filling sound is hard to believe. When I showed the I-Sonic to ...

 

Richard Rauh
(November 20th, 2006)
First of all, I love the system. Just wanted to point out that if the unit is tipped back with a cd in the tray, it can easily slip out and get stuck inside. I had to turn the unit upside down and jig...

 

William Nungester
(November 19th, 2006)
Overall, the I-Sonic is an excellent audio system. I have enjoyed its deep sound (along with many co-workers), especially on those late night "gotta beat the deadline" jam sessions.

 

Charles Cassidy
(March 22nd, 2007)
Actual rating would be 4.5 stars if that were an option...

Sounds very good, with solid, but not overwhelming bass, and clear highs. The interface with the radio is well thought out. ...

 

Jordan Valinsky
(April 2nd, 2007)
I love it! Best purchase I've made in a long time!

 

Karen M Lee
(February 9th, 2007)
I purchased the I-Sonic for my fiancee for his birthday. He wanted to upgrade from his cheap college Sony clock radio and was looking at the Bose system. I shopped around and did some research -- I ...

 

Mike Miller
(February 12th, 2007)
From the moment we plugged in the ISonic, we have been very impressed. We purchased the ISonic after researching a number of other comparable sized radios and feel we definetly made the right choice. ...

 

David Melucci
(April 2nd, 2007)
4.5 really...
It IS everything that everyone has been raving about (and some of the negatives, too). I'm glad everyone feels that this is a better product than BOSE-Wave, as these sentiments af...

 

Dana Archer
(November 17th, 2006)
This beautiful well-designed, full-featured unit is a great addition to my office. It's small footprint allows you to put it almost anywhere; its good looks, however, beg for an elegant setting.

 

Timothy Joner
(March 1st, 2007)
Absolute must for anyone not want to spend 2 grand for a big system, but wants great sound. I have this hooked up in my living room to my tv. Great sounds and is very convenient for my Ipod. Clear ...

 

Samuel Byron
(November 17th, 2006)
This is a great machine with great sound and a very versatile and intuitive on board and remote control system.
It is Polk quality through and through even though Mine has one glitch which is i...

 

Steve Head
(November 17th, 2006)
I have enjoyed my Polk audio system overall. I haven't subscribed to xm radio yet, but am planning to do so.

 

Ken Guthrie
(December 9th, 2006)
The Polk I-Sonic provides wonderful sound and a multitude of media options in a sleek package. It is easy to set up right out of the box and is a great solution for those individuals looking for a pow...

 

Douglas Barton
(November 17th, 2006)
I find the combinatino of XM Radio, HD Radio and CD player remarkable and the sound quality is far better than the Bose Wave Radio that I own. Yes, it's a little expensive -- but well worth the inves...

 

howard berliner
(November 17th, 2006)
The I-sonic looks great and sounds great. I find the controls a bit awkward to use and it is surprising that the back panel will not attach once you put in any antenna's or other peripheral devices. I...

 

Nick DeCarlo
(February 13th, 2007)
This is a wonderful system for the money. It is small and compact in size, but big in sound quality and features.

 

Kevin Klemens
(February 14th, 2007)
Great Sound, attractive unit.
simple connections

 

Ron H.
(February 12th, 2007)
Works as advertised and does a fine job doing so. Very full sound. Treble / bass are very linear in response to volume. Controls are easy to navigate. All signals work very good (no chance to test...

 

robert challinor
(November 18th, 2006)
excellent sound and controls I am taking it to
Florida for the winter. i am going to use it formy dvd cd radio music. this is a great product

 

william cline
(November 18th, 2006)
I purchased this radio without listening to a demo, so I was uncertain about sound quality. I made my choice based on features: HD radio, XM radio, DVD, and lots of inputs and outputs. All of my expec...

 

Frank Sullivan
(November 19th, 2006)
I was going to buy a bose, but on my sons recommendation I bought the polk instead. I'm not sorry!There are some many extra features with the polk that don't come with the bose. It is worth every penn...

 

Kevin Walters
(December 1st, 2006)
Have been very impressed with the sound that the I Sonic produces. It is what you would expect from Polk Audio. It fills the room nicely and has great balance and clarity. This combined with all of...

 

Bob
(March 18th, 2007)
This system can really fill the room with BIG sound.Small form factor is perfect for any room.

 

Jason Slote
(February 9th, 2007)
This is much better than the average "table radio." The tuner is very sensitive and works very well with HD radio. It plays CDs and DVDs, and it has plenty of power and a very clean sound. I'm very ha...

 

Jack
(February 13th, 2007)
Rich, full, room filling sound from a small package. Great CD/DVD player. Having owned Polk speakers over the years I knew the I-sonic would sound great, but it exceeded my highest expectations.

 

spyros karavas
(November 17th, 2006)
the sound is extraordinary for something that is this size. i've attached xm and i have never had so much fun just listening to the radio.

 

adam
(March 13th, 2007)
Excellent Features in a unit that I'm sure sounds better then anything its size, but it doesn't get loud enough. This can not be used as a main stereo unit. I am planning on bringing this thing to h...

 

Joeff Williams
(February 13th, 2007)
We love our I-Sonic entertainment system. The sound on the HDRadio stations is unbelievable. Music/talk sounds like it is live. The system is loaded with all kinds of nice features and can play a w...

 

Bruce Cotler
(February 12th, 2007)
I am very pleased with this system. A few months prior to this purchase, I bought a "Wave" radio, and then found out about the I-Sonic. I returned the "Wave" and am so glad I did. Its like comparin...

 

Gene King
(February 13th, 2007)
I purchased the I-Sonic initially to replace a Proton clock radio in my bedroom. I had a ministereo system with multiple speakers in the bedroom through which I also received my room-filling TV sound....

 

Brad Kerley
(March 31st, 2007)
Overall this radio is very nice. The sound is amazing, very rich and attractive. One unexpetced dissapointment I have with the radio is the delay in sound as compared with other radios. I have a porta...

 

rlavelle
(October 21st, 2008)
I was shopping for the Boston Acoustics component that is similar when I listened to the i-Sonic. The sound blew me away. I already own a Bose wave and when you compare them side by side the Bose soun...

 

mary Anne Feliprada
(March 2nd, 2009)
I like the design and the fact that for a small unit it has a lot of functions.

 
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