Surrounds
This product is a vintage Polk model and is not available for sale, but it may still be available in some stores as a closeout or used product. The following text is taken from the original sales brochure for this product and does not reflect current availability. If you happen to have any question or concerns about this product, or any other Polk Audio product, feel free to contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-377-7655 Monday - Friday, 9am - 5:30pm EST
The Simple Choice For Surround Performance
Do You Need Bi-Pole/Di-Pole Therapy?
The next time you're in a movie theater, look around. See all those speakers lining the side and rear walls? They are surround sound speakers. They receive a special soundtrack channel of dedicated sound and with it, they encircle the audience in sound. Encircle is another word for "surround." It's this "surround" effect that puts you in the center of the movie action in the theater. Multiple speaker sets on the walls of large theaters work by throwing the sound hither and yon, all around the room.
It's pretty impractical for you or I to install multiple pairs of big surround channel loudspeakers in our home theaters.
To get the same effect, we can use bi-directional (bipole/dipole) speakers, which have drivers facing opposite directions on a triangular cabinet.
This arrangement spreads sound along the side walls of our home theaters, making it "harder" for us to identify the location of the surround speakers (and thus providing a more realistic, defused sound for a more enveloping experience. Enveloping is also another word for "surround," in this case.)
What's wrong with using normal direct-radiating bookshelf speakers for surround channels? Nothing much. You can usually aim them to get a satisfactory soundscape. Bi-directional speakers give you far more installation options because you can change their radiation pattern for the optimum performance depending on the seating setup of the room in which you watch multi-channel movies.
FXi30 features:
- Reformulated poly-composite Dynamic Balance drivers with butyl rubber surrounds for durability and smooth wide range response.
- 1" silk/polymer composite dome tweeters for clear, detailed highs.
- Perfect timbre-matching with the other speakers in the Polk Audio RTi Series, for a more realistic, more seamless surround environment.
- Triangular cabinets aim drivers and tweeters in opposing directions to produce a diffuse wavefront for wide, lifelike imaging of surround-sound FX.
- Switchable bipole/dipole operation for the most flexible placement options and highest performance surround effects.
- Strong, durable built-in wall mounting brackets for easy installation.
- Gold-plated 5-way binding post inputs for the most secure connections and the most versatile wiring applications.
Driver Complement | |
|---|---|
| Tweeter | |
| Quantity | 2 |
| Diameter | 1" (2.54cm) |
| Type | Dynamic Balance® silk/polymer composite domes, shielded |
| Mid / Woofer | |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Diameter | 5 1/4" (13.34cm) |
| Type | Dynamic Balance® driver, shielded |
Electrical | |
|---|---|
| Total Frequency Response | 50Hz-27kHz |
| Upper -3dB Limit | 26 kHz |
| Lower -3dB Limit | 55 Hz |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Efficiency | 89 dB |
| Crossover | |
| Radiation Pattern | Switchable Bipole/Dipole |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 10-100 watts per channel |
| Inputs | 5-way binding posts |
Amplifier Specs | |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Type | 0 |
Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Dimensions | |
| Height | 11 1/2" (29.21cm) |
| Width | 9" (22.86cm) |
| Depth | 7 7/8" (20.00cm) |
| Mounting Options | Built-in keyhole slot wall-mount brackets supplied |
| Product Weight (each) | 12.00 pounds |
Shipping | |
|---|---|
| Unit of Measure | each |
| Total Shipping Weight | 25.00 pounds |
Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Speaker Warranty | 5 years parts and labor, limited |
Specifications, dimensions and features subject to change without notice. For more information call us at 1-800-377-7655 (USA and Canada). Outside of North America call +1 (410) 358-3600.
Customer Reviews
8 reviews with an average of 4.5
Write your own reviewby Kevin, December 17, 2002
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Solid construction; seamless voice matching with RTi70's and CSi40.
Weaknesses:
None that come to mind.
Review:
I'd have to say that the FXi30's are excellent surrounds for the money that match very well with my RTi70's and CSi40 soundstage. I replaced some very old full range Marantz speakers I was using as surrounds and the FXi30's produced ambient effects I had never heard before using the Marantz speakers.
by Ray, December 25, 2002
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
very clear
Weaknesses:
none
Review:
was replacing bose speakers for these and friends said I was crazy until they heard them what a difference, sounds that I was missing are unbelievable, you want be sorry.
by karenwahl, December 27, 2002
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Clean clear highs and midrange
Weaknesses:
Wieght
Review:
Just replaced my old infinity with these speakers and Lord of the Ring's sounds much better.
by dorokusai, July 15, 2003
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Build quality, warranty, and weight. Bracket is very convenient for mounting. The speaker is a solid performer under high volume movie listening.
Weaknesses:
Bracket although convenient, is a little shallow. This becomes more of an issue when using high quality speaker wire. Other than that, none.
Review:
I purchased these speakers to bring me into the world of 5.1. They have performed flawlessly, and I have really enjoyed adding them to the system. I auditioned the FXi50's inhouse, and just didn't find they could do anything that the FXi30 couldn't. PLUS they were a little smaller and made me more comfortable with wall mounting with the provided bracket. This is just based on the size of my room, your room may vary, and the FXI50's also sound excellent. I was pleasantly suprised how much it changes movie watching, and I am slowly watching all the really good movies again, just to find out. :- )
by Kip Gilbert, July 23, 2003
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Excellent build quality and style!
Weaknesses:
Absolutely NONE!!
Review:
I bought the f/x300i speakers for my home theater system that I currently have now. These speakers are very, if not identical, to the f/x30's. All the driver arrays are exactly the same as the fx30, even the cabinet size and volume. I have a harmon/kardon receiver using the R-20 for mains, CS175i for the center and the f/x300i for the surrounds coulpled with a Polk Audio PSW505 Powered subwoofer and a Velodyne VA-1012 Series II powered sub. My entire system is decked out with Monster Cable too. The surrounds sound awesome when placed at ear level on the sides of my couch. My entire living room envelopes you completely in surround sound!!! It's AWESOME!!! Way to go Polk!!!!!!!
by Vincent Farina, October 23, 2003
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
I was expecting a huge speaker and an eyesore on my wall but these was not that big and did not look bad.
Weaknesses:
The sound was not polk quality and not what I expected.
Review:
I hooked these speakers up with my yamaha receiver. Perhaps the problem was that I overpowed them(my receiver pumps 130watts per channel) but these speaker did not hold up. I set them in my reciever as small speakers as recomended by Polk so the bass would be sent to the subwoofer but they still did not pump any quality sound. I was very unhappy with these. This is the first pair of bi-pole/di-pole speakers I've owned and I was expecting much more. So I returned them and upgraded to the fx50's. I must say these are outstanding. They give the surround effect that I was expecting. I sugest spending the extra money and getting the fx50's. My front speakers:rti150/center csi40/sub404
by leo, October 27, 2003
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
adds sounds that did not exist with my other surrounds
Weaknesses:
sound from one side would be great if a small speaker was added to the other side even just balance the sound a little. LSiFX corrects this but at twice the price.
Review:
Great addition to my system, they add sounds that did not exist with my other surround speakers great experience.
by george, May 29, 2004
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Excellent dynamic range and imaging, exceptional power handling with 250watts THX movie sound track... zero distortion. I had these little guys first with the PSW250 before I added another pair of FXi3 to cover up the "hole" in the hall way... I just love these little guys!!
Weaknesses:
They are bookshelf designed speakers, and thus, their driver are not big enough to have a deeper bass. Even a model higher, they can only go down to a 40Hz. If one can say this is a "weakness", then... all the effects are having the same 'problem'... for Polk... I found none... 'other than being a bookshelf design'.
Review:
I have a pair of FXi30 with my Carver 500x power amp-- 250 watts per channel as a stereo amp, they held out excellent. Due to their base line performance can go only to 50hz, I have crossed a pair of PSW250 to extend the bass to a solid 35hz. They are smaller speakers, and they should be treated as such. I have a pair of FXi3 parallel add on to the FXi30 to cover up the opening of my hallway to the dinning/ sitting room, and to provide a much better sound stage. I have a Rotel processor and 4 Carver 500x power amps for my 7.1 system. I have a pair of RT20p in front with a pair of PSW404; and a pair or RT35i with a pair of PSW202 to extend the bass to a solid 40hz in the back effects. The center is a CS350.
Vintage Product
This product is considered a "Recent" or "Vintage" Polk Audio model. It is not a part of our current product lineup. It may still be available in some stores as a "close out" or "used" product. Information provided here about this product may not reflect current realities and does not imply availability. If you happen to have a question or concern about this product, contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-377-7655 M-F 9am - 5:30pm EST. Chances are we remember it.
F/Xi30 Media
F/Xi30 Literature
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