thegsrguy's Full Review: Polk Audio R50 Main / Stereo Speaker
I see these speakers selling for under $300 a pair...maybe Polk Audio likes losing money? Or maybe they've just figured out a few secrets in giving you good sound at an affordable price. Read on to find out.
The R50 is another component of the timbre-matched R-series of speakers, which are considered entry-level. However, even the cheapest Polk products are still quite good...so don't take "entry-level" to mean "cheap and worthless". As part of the R-line, the colors and styling are familiar. The cabinets are the same thick MDF wood, sanded to be very smooth. Seems and cracks are very tight and don't look to be slapped together. Two colors are available: black and "cherry" (which is really just a medium oak). The grilles are ho-hum black cloth, and can be removed to reveal the cones. If you went for the cherry wood, I actually prefer the look with the grilles off -- the wood is a very nice, rich color that stands out. The cones themselves don't look too cheesy given the price, so don't be nervous about cheap paper cones being shown to the world. A Polk Audio emblem adorns the bottom of the cabinet.
The bases are relatively sturdy, being 1/2" thick and offering the choice of rubber feet for hard floors, or carpet spikes. I never use the spikes since they just tear up the carpet and don't provide much anchoring. I'm not too worried about these tipping over.
The R50s...they're heavy. REALLY heavy. Each speaker is about 40 lbs. A single person can carry one, but it is a two-man job to get them in and out of the boxes usually. I think the weight is a sign of quality in speakers. Weight points to better MDF wood being used, and possibly stronger magnets. Cheap speakers, which happen to be light, often use very thin or lower-density MDF; this means they reverberate or leak. If you have an LCD/plasma TV on a stand, these speakers are just about the right height!
Polk lists the MSRP on the R50 at a ridiculous $700. Although they do sound very good, no one in their right mind would pay $700 for this speaker, let alone a pair of them. But for the sub-$300 price (sales often bring them to $300 a pair!), you'll be shocked. Polk has rated the R50 at 50-20,000Hz.
I question that 50Hz boundary, but suffice to say that the bass from the 6.5" woofers is remarkable. Could you do without a subwoofer? For music, possibly. Tune your equalizers and you may be satisfied. But for anyone needing that boomy window-rattling bass, go get a timbre-matched subwoofer to fill in the holes. The sound easily has the presence of an 8" woofer; this again points to solid engineering, as a properly sized and ported speaker cabinet can really expand the output of the cone.
The dual 6.5" woofers and single tweeter also provide strong mid- and high range sound. As I've written in other reviews, my music tastes lean towards heavy rock and alternative (Seether, Avenged Sevenfold, Shinedown, etc.). This sort of music is well-suited to a speaker with strong mid-range, as a lot of guitar and vocals fall there. I ran some of my favorite songs through the speakers once I had them hooked up, and it brought a new dimension to some of the guitar work...even over my $150 Etymotic headphones. The guitar sounds were very clearly defined and sounded much more distinct from the vocals, something that I feel I cannot live without now. The highs came out much better too, with cymbals and drum hits being sharp and crisp. The soundstage provided by two R50s near each other is tough to beat.
The R50s can take up to 150W (no clue on the RMS rating), which is more than ample for a home theater receiver. I found that even high volume levels kept the sound controlled and enjoyable.
The R50 speakers are designed to be used for stereo music or as front channels in home theater. I think that home theater users will want the dedicated LFE channel via a subwoofer, but someone listening primarily to music will be content with the mild but tight bass response. I don't suggest using these as rear/surround speakers unless you've got money burning a hole in your pocket.
Superior home theater and music performance. Slim tower design conserves floor space, occupies less than one square foot. Polk Audio's exclusive Dynam...More at Amazon Marketplace
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