A Very Versatile Surround Speaker
Written: Apr 05 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great Sound, Sturdy Construction
Cons: Does Not Use The Tri-Laminate Tweeter
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| cpurser's Full Review: Polk Audio RTf/x Speaker |
When I first saw the Polk RT f/x speakers, I thought to myself, "Why would you have speakers on BOTH sides of the enclosure?" That was before I had ever heard of Bipole/Dipole speakers. What does Bipole/Dipole mean? Here is a short explanation:
In a Dipolar speaker, the two sets of speakers are out-of-phase with each other, while the drivers are one side are pushing, the opposite side is pulling. The result is that there is a "null" or a dead zone of sound in the area along the 90 degree axis of the speaker. Why is that good? When properly set up, a pair of dipole speakers used as surround speakers will provide a very open, enveloping rear effects soundstage without allowing you to pinpoint the location of the speakers themselves. This mode works best with Dolby Pro Logic.
In a Bipolar speaker, the two sets of drivers are in-phase with one another - both sides push air at the same time. Theoretically, a bipolar speaker approaches a 360 degree soundfield - it squirts sound all around the room. That's a good thing if you need to position your surround speakers behind your listening position or anywhere outside of the null area. Some people prefer the greater localization of bipolar speakers when used in digital discrete (DD, DTS) systems. (Ref. Polk Audio web page)
Polk f/x speakers give you the choice of either polar pattern so you can choose the one that's sounds best to you in your set-up. That is exactly what I needed, because at the time of my purchase, I had only a Pro Logic receiver. Once I was able to listen to Dolby Digital, I switched to the Bipolar mode.
I have owned the RT f/x for about 2 years now, and I have been very pleased. The quality of sound produced by these speakers is very high. They do a great job of dispersing the surround sound, keeping the sound from seeming like it is being played right in your ear.
And of course, the RT f/x are built with the Polk quality that they are known for. Features like rubber driver surrounds, 5-way binding posts, sturdy enclosures, etc. The wall mount is even built into the enclosure!
I have only one complaint, and it is because the RT f/x does not have the Tri-Laminate tweeter that my RT7s have. Polk recommends that the speakers contain the same tweeter throughout your system; however, in the real world, I cannot tell the difference between the Tri-Laminate tweeter and the one used here.
If you are looking for a great pair of surround speakers at a great price, check out the RT f/x!
FYI - The rest of the Polk speakers I have in my system are as follows:
Mains: RT7
Center: CS245
surrounds: RT f/x
Master Bedroom: RT3
Check out my reviews on these also!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cpurser
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Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 2 members
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