Please Click the like button on the video. It does help my channel out and BEST of all, it doesn't cost you anything haha. To Enter For The Giveaway: 1. Comment on the video (1 entry) 2. Like The Video (1 entry) 3. Click and check out this link : howl.me/chm0sFygWWJ (1 entry) *** Only Subscribers To The Channel Qualify *** 0:00 Intro 1:33 Polk R700 Sound Quality 11:15 Giveaway Announcement 12:46 Polk R700 Build Quality & Room Placement 19:33 Gear Matching 24:45 Polk Speaker Comparisons Polk R700: shop-links.co/chkAGVuuZaM
This giveaway is insane. When u look at the Polk R 700s u would probably think bass cannons but the Power port 2.0 technology really shines and keeps the bass so clean sounding when I heard them. I bought the Reserve 200s and I'm really happy with them.
I’ve had my Polk Audio rti-a9 for years now and I love them. Great quality build at a great price point. I had a friend who’s dad had a pair of Polk Audio speakers who swore up and down by the brand. He had kept the boxes they came in, had a problem with something and Polk audio was so impressed that he had kept the boxes for so long and that the speakers were in pristine condition that they fixed them for free and covered the shipping. I thought that was so cool. I purchased my pair largely because of this story. This was 30 plus years ago and the treatment they gave his dad has always stuck in my mind whenever I think of their company.
The port design integrated with the spikes is something special & really impressive at this price point. I can see it maintaining composure at higher levels of bass. Instead of a back or front port overloading the room, this is 360 degrees. Vibrations are also damped down by the spikes. Great design.
The port is likely tuned somewhere in the 30's or 40's, and as we know with subwoofers, those sounds become non-directional. Therefore it does not matter where the port is on the enclosure.
@@emmet7208 That is not the frequency for the port "Chuffing". The port does not chuff at 30 Hz or 35 Hz or 40 Hz, it chuffs at a much higher frequency than 30-40 Hz.
The fact that Polk is able to do something like this just makes me wish Energy could have figured out how to stay relevant enough to stick around. We need more brands back in this value + world beating space.
@@Eron55555 I still have them as well, and they are still surprising me often and only paid 999$ for the pair, I'm sure they're still hard to beat with their Kevlar woofers but I'd like a review as well to compare before spending too much on today's speakers...I chose them over klipsch for their more neutral sound and I'm not disappointed...I almost regret I didn't get the Veritas back in the day...
Yeah the R700 can play in a small space and with 20 watts but they transform into another beast when fed loads of power and a bigger space. Paired it with a Crown 2502 and a D90SE DAC in a 6m x 9m meter room and the R700 hanged with the best of speakers I heard in the very same room. Of course the R700 would sound less detailed in the mids and highs next to speakers with boosted highs, but with that in mind, they are near flawless. Dispersion isnt that great, so a carefully calculated toe in is needed. 15 degrees off on-axis works best in my case. Imaging and soundstage are beyond excellent in the right sized room.
I have the L600 which are basically the same speakers and I agree with your assessment completely. Based on the gear you are using, I'm not shocked you are happy with the results. Pairing either speaker with high quality gear will be rewarded mightily. 2 ohm stable amps are ideal because these will run down to 3.4 ohms but you can likely get away with a 4 ohm stable amp if you keep the volume away from max. When your amp is running out of spec those low impedance drops often cause distortion and for sure higher current draw. Doing so might lower the amps lifespan or shut it down if it can't handle the power draw. The only tower/floorstanding speakers I could find that sounded better than them cost $25K a pair. I got the L600s for 3K! Because those very costly Focal towers were only giving an extra 7-8 percent improvement in sound I just put all the savings into gear to make up the difference and then some! Polk really has something special here with both the Reserve and Legend lines but you aren't going to fully hear it if you don't power them correctly.
I saw my dad using a Polk stereo system many moons ago. This video brings back tons of memory of me messing with his audio equipment and get yelled for it.
I might not be able to afford the R700 right now but it has replaced the Wharfedale Linton and the Buchardt S400 MK II as my must have dream speaker. Your review cinched my choice after seeing another reviewer’s, that I like, review. Having two reviewers I like, have similar reviews, has me in love with these speakers. Bravo to you!!!
This video teaches us that mixing and matching is an essential part of a well-balanced audio set. In this case, the slightly weaker midrange of these speakers is combined with a nice tube amplifier, which in turn contributes to a better listning experience for the music from this installation. Another facet of this speaker/amplifier combination is that a good installation doesn't have to be extremely expensive, as long as you properly match components. so far my two cents and thanks for the convincing lesson Jay!
The mass love❤ for Polk Audio products in 2022 is really touching to me since each day my 1988 RTA11TL’s routinely display a seasoned audio experience the likes of which you all seemingly have grasped with the fervor that so many channels are exuding audio whispers of love… for a speaker set by Polk after these decades….
Thanks for this review, Jay, and for adding that the R700s can also work well in smaller rooms. My experience over many decades has taught me to expect that Polk Audio speakers can be expected to give pleasure with a wide range of music.
I just got the R500s in my living room to audition when this video came out. Thanks a lot! Now I have to decide whether to send them back and upgrade to these larger units. The R500s sound great, beautiful with music and nice and punchy. Now that I know the flavor, the idea of getting a greater sense of scale and impact is very tempting!
I just bought the R500s on Crutchfield’s site while they were on sale for $1000 a pair. I had wanted to hear them ever since watching Shawn’s review from over a year ago. They are spectacular. I can only imagine the sheer grunt these R700’s beasts will bring to the table. PLUS the Doge 10, are you kidding?? Sign me up and thank you for all the great reviews.
I've been a Fan of Polk Audio since I was a little child listening to my dad's RT-600's. The R700 looks like a respectable speaker relative to its sensational price point. I Love the use of the two 8" woofers, along with the downfiring port. Most people don't like big speakers in their house, but I believe big speakers produce big sound, and I will never be one to complain. Thank you for your review of these speakers :)
Someone should compare the JBL Studio 698 with these. There aren’t many speakers in this price range that have two 8” woofers. Most are duo and trio 5 or 6-1/4” “woofers”.
I'm new to the audiophile world, but I'm getting goosebumps thinking of listening to my favorite symphonies on this Polk system! This set up looks amazing! Thanks for the video:)
Polk have hit the spot and made the speaker most folk really want, rather than the speaker they think they want, or the speaker manufacturers think they should have! Listenable and flexible, with scale and balance to the fore.
Glad you've been reviewing Polk. I listened to them a lot as a child, ended up selling them at one of my audio jobs, and had more-or-less forgotten them in favor of more boutique brands which tickled my interests a bit more. Through your videos my interest in hearing their recent offerings is now on my to do list. Happy to hear they are back to providing outstanding value once again.
Thanks Jay , another great review . It’s very impressive how Polk has squeezed such quality into the price. The size of these and the fact that placement doesn’t require a lot of distance from wall is amazing.
Hey there Jay's iyagi. Well, I think you've definately found your calling. Nice presentation! Professional, Concise, Informative and yet Friendly almost Comforting... Great combination. To be honest here, I was not expecting the kind of review that you shared with us here and I was happily surprised and grateful for the way that you described the various qualities of the r700 series tower speakers. I have always Loved the higher end Polk Audio Speakers, yet I always seem to find a Hater or two? I really appreciate the Life that I find Polk Audio Speakers seem to add to my music, regardless of my choice of content. I've been eyeing these r700's for a minute now, knowing that I cannot afford them for myself, to replace the Monitor 11Ts and Monitor 5Bs. (antiques, I know) but so am I... Retired and Divorced, which is why I can't afford these gems that you reviewed here. Thank you for all you do for so many of us out here. You and your Channel are awesome. So, until our paths cross again... Remain Well and reasonably Happy and... Keep Smiling as you announce me as the Winner! WooHoo! Cheers...
R700 are awesome value for money and would love to upgrade to these from my current active speakers along with an integrated amplifier. I'm currently using a Pontus2 and would like to get more out of it than my current speakers allow me to. Well done on another great review and I'll be saving my pennies for a new pair of these👍
Jay, you do a really good job of explaining the overall sound signature and best use cases for the speakers. I don't think I would use them in my critical listening room, but would definitely buy them for my home theater room.
For what ever it is worth, another reviewer disagrees with Jay's assessment of soundstage. They claim Jay's room is too small and he is listening in the nearfield whereas they have a larger room and they are listening further back. I am curious as to the dimensions of Jay's room? In the end, we all have our own preferences. And how will it sound in our room with our equipment?
Thanks for the Review. The R700 are really eye catching. I have like Polk for many years and these speakers show me that Polk will be around for many more.
Great review! It’s good to see that Polk is making a come-back in high end audio. I felt for a long time Polk was chasing the regular Joe mass-consumer market and delivering a mid to low-fi product. Lately, it seems Polk is getting serious about making seriously competitive high-end speakers and I’m looking forward to hearing a pair. They’ve certainly got my attention.
I am glad that the R700s are so well received. I still have fond memories of a pair of Polk Audio 4As that I purchased many years ago. A friend of mine came over one afternoon and I had the Polks cranked up using a Technics AVR. He asked me where the other speakers were because he refused to believe that the 4As were the only speakers in my residence! Polk Audio dropped out of my life until the reviews started coming in. I need to win the lottery so I can purchase a pair or two!
I wonder how these would match up against their R200 and a pair of well-integrated subwoofers. Either way, these floorstanders represent a killer value! Thanks for reviewing them - it’s so rare for YT reviewers to look at floorstanders!
I owned the R200 for almost a year paired with a single svs 2000pro. For the money that pair was pretty good in my opinion. I've had the R700 for a few months now and in comparison to the R200 it seems to throw a bigger presentation, better mid bass. The mid/highs sound is basically the same between the 2..but when I put the R200 next to the R700 and AB'ed them the R700 just sounds better, the mid to low bass is more seamless compared to the bookies & sub. I use REW and DSP's to try and integrate subs and adjust the speakers in room FR. Bigger soundstage from the R700. The neutrality and tone is basically the same though. If one likes that sound the R200 is the cheaper way to get it. You will notice if you put better components or upgrade gear around them. Good all around speakers.
I'm planning a major speaker upgrade for my home theater and hadn't seriously considered the Polk Reserve series into consideration. I like the matte finish (just wish they came in white)and the amount of R&D that has gone into them. The R700s are now on my list of contenders!
Nice! In the mid 90s I bought a pair of Polk RT 7s , they were a wonderful large book shelf ported 2 way. I played them for 23 years! (Is that a record? Lol!) Still can find Utube post on them. It taught me one thing about Polk. They know how to build a speaker! Glad to see them putting any doubter’s to rest. Those 700s look like beast! Great review Jay!
I’ve been a Polk fan since the old days when they made the original SDA series. Glad to see them raising the bar again in an affordable floor standing speaker.
I bought the floor standing RT600 back in mid 90s. Fantastic speaker lots of loudness for rock music and the bass sounded so good. I donated my system about 10yrs ago to a local Buffalo NY charity to included a Denon receiver. I gave a last listen to before donating and they were amazing. I miss this speakers today and look forward to hearing these new models soon. Currently have the B&W 705 bookshelves and the Magnepan .7 with McIntosh preamp and amp separates.
@@stanstanly3812 Nah just wait for a sale. They have them all the time. They dropped to 825 during one of them! These are certainly worth 899 without a doubt however! *edit* Now on sale for $825. That is a steal when powered properly.
I love how Polk Audio seems to make really good gear at affordable prices. Although the new mid/woofer cone design the tweeter (ring radiator) has been used by polk for a long time. Kudos to them because from my experience a ring radiator can seem directional and beamy. Polk seems to get how it should be done. Keep doing a good job.
I have the older Polk speakers on one of my systems. I am glad to see polk as a company is trying to create the best without braking the bank. Great video, keep them coming .
I was especially impressed with your favorable comparison to the Klipsch Cornwall. I am familiar with their capability, and for the Polks to exceed that is quite impressive.
Always nice to hear of "affordable" speakers overachieving and Polk designing and bringing to market a product that increases their relevancy. Thanks for the review!
The previous Lsim series was much better. I have the 707s as my rears. Go listen to those. Google the internals of the 707s and see what value those were! Polk actually went backwards a bit on this series. Ohh and the previous 703 is far better than the new two way bookshelf in the legend series. The 703 is a far better speaker in every way.
Happy to hear your opinion on these speakers as I have been researching them. They are well received and respected by all of the reviewers. Thanks for your honest review.
Man..great review. Really enjoyed the formatting, and spending time on placement for towers on the more monster side. It’s exciting - almost incomprehensible- how great components and speakers have improved at this price level. Particularly these speakers. To think that with some careful pairing you can get these close to a couple of Sabrinas or Pendragons?!? Anyway, thank you for bringing an education to affordable and well - designed equipment 🙏🏼👍🏼
To make a speaker under $2k I would assume they had to cut costs on the crossover components. I would be very interested to see you re-review them after upgrading the crossover components.
R700s would be a ridiculous upgrade to my RP600Ms which I happened to get after seeing them on your channel years ago. Keep the awesome content coming!
I like listening to you talk about stereo equipment . Your easy to understand and do a great job of explaining the good and the bad of what you are reviewing.
I'm glad I found your review. I've been looking for some larger speakers to replace my 5.1 setup in my living room. I wanted speakers with more punch than my Paradigm Monitor 7 v5. I've looked at speakers up to $5k per pair and even higher. But the costs add up, and even with the modestly priced Polks I'm looking at almost $5k for a full set not counting subwoofers. So if these are as good as you and everyone else are saying, then I hope these will satisfy my desire for more dynamic movies and music.
Hi Jay, I'm watching your channel very carefully ... I can even say that thanks to you I bought my first Starke AD4.320 amplifier... but unfortunately I still haven't been able to buy any more speakers or audio system component... so I live with the hope that I will be the lucky winner of this generous offer ... What can I say about these speakers ... These speakers are impressive looking in person, very classy looking. Another thing is the design of the grill - the way this is designed, the outer grill frame is perforated and also wraps around the curvature of the front baffle so it's possible the grill would have a minimal effect on the FR... all this I think shows a lot of attention to detail... That being said, Andrei from Romania (East Europe) sends you all the best ...
I ordered my R700’s minutes ago via Crutchfield. I was torn betwixt the R700’s and Klipsch RP8000F-II’S. For the money, the R700’s are the clear choice IMO. The reviews online are STELLAR for BOTH but the R700’s get the edge. I’m PUMPED! They will be replacing my Klipsch RP600M-II’s. I expect to be BLOWN AWAY by the R700’s. I trust that I won’t be let down.
One thing that I really appreciate is the fact that you always give comparaisons. It is so usefull since its difficult to listen to so many different speakers. Thanks you very much for your hard and dedicated work !
Realy interesting to see best product on every price range in your Chanel. I watched almost all your video and I find it always genuine and honest reviews
I commented on the other video for this contest, but playing it safe by commenting here as well. One thing I like about the channel is the variety of gear you review. Keep up the great work Jay!
I appreciate the information that the Polk R700 speaker pairs well with the Doge 10 tube amp. As a long time tube fan, for my next system, this is important. Thanks for the great work Jay!
Thanks for this amazing review, Jay! These R700’s really seem to be getting tons of attention lately, so I’m going to have to find a way to hear them for myself. I appreciate you pointing out their character, build and sonic traits honestly and not just gushing out nothing but praise.
I'm glad to see Polk back in the spotlight, putting out some really great looking designs - and many of them high value. I love the look of the R700 from the port to the dual 8" woofers, to the overall proportions. I also really like the look of the finely textured finish.
Well. A give away. I was going to reply to this episode anyway. My hoary old, I bought them 40 years ago, Cornwalls still impress. And Polk hasn't gotten any love from me in decades. Color me interested. Nice price. Another great episode Jay, and I appreciate your work. Very well done. Thank you. Please carry on!
The great observation about polk is that the LCR Soundstage is amazing listening to music or watching movies, I never win anything so hopefully I can get some money saved for black Friday... mind you I live in the home of polk.. plus Thank All the Veterans for your Service.
Great review! These R700's are getting universal praise across he board by many of the established reviewers. Amazing value for the money! It's making me wonder if I made the right choice in recently purchasing Sonus faber Sonnetto's at more than twice the price!
Unless you went into deep debt to buy them, I doubt you made a mistake. I got the Polk 700 (refurbished), enjoy the heck out of them, don't plan to upgrade within the next 10 years..( how long it's been since I got the Klipsch rp81 pair before this) BUT.. seems a lot of reviewers think more highly of the sonus-faber mids/highs. I didn't want to spend that, but I bet you got something for the extra $$.
Believe it or not this is the speaker I’ve chosen to downsize with. I know that may sound a little strange but what I have now is the Carver Amazing Platinum. Well, the R700 does weigh about 25 pounds less. I have ordered the R700s but I’m in the same boat with everyone else in that they are on backorder. What I really decided to do is use the R 700 in my home theater system and sell the Wharfdale towers that I currently use. I just have to keep my Carvers a little longer. Hopefully the R700 will satisfy my audiophile leanings enough that parting with the Carvers won’t be quite as painful. Thank you Jay for a fantastic review and helping me make my decision.
I like the educacional approach of your videos. They really help the viewer to understand the audiophile terms and to enjoy this hobby...and they are funny too.
Got my daughter started out on HiFi by choosing some Polk LS 70 speakers driven by a Marantz2252 joined by a pro Ject esstential iii turntable. I didn’t hear the set up together until we hooked it up in her large high ceiling LR. Pleasantly surprised as the group had a lot more appeal than I expected. She originally wanted some 901’s but I just couldn’t, she wouldn’t trade these speakers for the 901’s if she could. Polk underrated for awhile now.
I'm just returning to audio after several years away I'm looking to build a newer system. I've been looking into emotiva. Now seeing the new polk, I'm very interested. Thank you for your videos. I'm learning alot about current audio
Jay Great video. I love the fact that you spoke about placement. It really helps in understanding if these speakers can work in the room you have available.
I've been wanting a pair of speakers for a basement listening room for a couple years now. I have an older rec. but no speakers. When I start shopping and comparing- I always end up with various Polk speakers as top choice. They check multiple boxes for my needs- at affordable prices. The R700's or most any size of their Reserve series' would put me into first step audiophile level. Polk fan for decades.
I've been a Polk Audio fan since college days of the early 80's! I still own, and use my Polk Audio iconic Monitor 7B's. Love them, but so happy to see that Polk Audio is back in the game with the Reference series. Thanks Jay for such a comprehensive review of the R700's. Excellent information.
“Skull shaking slam & punch with great low end extension” definitely sounds like my kind of speaker! Sounds like Polk is giving the people what they really want. To feel the music!
Great video, very helpful to hear your assessment of R700 Polk speakers!! - It's hard to believe what the speakers bring to the table at his price point. Now we just need Polk to raise the bar in the midrange and high frequencies to provide the crazy " Audiophiles " out there the Speaker of their dreams for an unheard of price point!
i visited Naples few years back we found a audiophile cafe bar with a killer valve system they were playing some female vocalist in Italian neither one of us had no idea what she was saying yet i think we both had a tear in our eye incredible memory hence we recently decided to try to put a system together if i could get something that sounded half as good id be happy and thanks to your golden ear and my budget the Polk R700 should fit the bill
Jay, you always do a thorough job with your reviews. Glad you reviewed the R700. My first exposure to Polk was years ago when a friend bought a set of 10A's. Those blew me away. Since, I have always been curious about how they evolved their line-up. The R700 is right in my price range. I have a pair of 8 Ohm Infinity Kappa 7.1 Series II's that I love and use to test the Hafler amps I upgrade, but I also would like a high quality 4 Ohm speakers to test them with. These might be just what I'm looking for.
Please Click the like button on the video. It does help my channel out and BEST of all, it doesn't cost you anything haha.
To Enter For The Giveaway:
1. Comment on the video (1 entry)
2. Like The Video (1 entry)
3. Click and check out this link : howl.me/chm0sFygWWJ (1 entry)
*** Only Subscribers To The Channel Qualify ***
0:00 Intro
1:33 Polk R700 Sound Quality
11:15 Giveaway Announcement
12:46 Polk R700 Build Quality & Room Placement
19:33 Gear Matching
24:45 Polk Speaker Comparisons
Polk R700: shop-links.co/chkAGVuuZaM
That speaker is a dreamspeaker for me, I realy hope the hifi system will be mine 😍
@@magnusblom44 best of luck !
@@Jayiyagi
I keep my fingers crossed 🙂
It is always great to see a audio review where value and sound come together, even better when sound exceeds the value
This giveaway is insane. When u look at the Polk R 700s u would probably think bass cannons but the Power port 2.0 technology really shines and keeps the bass so clean sounding when I heard them. I bought the Reserve 200s and I'm really happy with them.
You can't go wrong with speakers. The fact that you're giving away the whole sistem makes this combo even better. Thank you
"Sometimes there is no replacement for displacement" - you, young sir, are a sage! Wise beyond your years.
Hook it up Jay! I’ve tried out the R200 and loved the sound so even more excited to hear the R700. Someone is doing something right at Polk!
Appreciate the opportunity to you given such awesome information about the R700 Polk speakers, thanks a million Jay.
Just got my Reserve 700 on Friday and I love them. I'm only powering them with an Onkyo RZ50 but that's plenty enough for me. These speakers kick ass
So you need to drive them very load to get the most out of them are can you enjoy them at comfortable volumes?
I’ve had my Polk Audio rti-a9 for years now and I love them. Great quality build at a great price point. I had a friend who’s dad had a pair of Polk Audio speakers who swore up and down by the brand. He had kept the boxes they came in, had a problem with something and Polk audio was so impressed that he had kept the boxes for so long and that the speakers were in pristine condition that they fixed them for free and covered the shipping. I thought that was so cool. I purchased my pair largely because of this story. This was 30 plus years ago and the treatment they gave his dad has always stuck in my mind whenever I think of their company.
The port design integrated with the spikes is something special & really impressive at this price point. I can see it maintaining composure at higher levels of bass. Instead of a back or front port overloading the room, this is 360 degrees. Vibrations are also damped down by the spikes. Great design.
The port is likely tuned somewhere in the 30's or 40's, and as we know with subwoofers, those sounds become non-directional. Therefore it does not matter where the port is on the enclosure.
@@emmet7208 That is not the frequency for the port "Chuffing". The port does not chuff at 30 Hz or 35 Hz or 40 Hz, it chuffs at a much higher frequency than 30-40 Hz.
The fact that Polk is able to do something like this just makes me wish Energy could have figured out how to stay relevant enough to stick around. We need more brands back in this value + world beating space.
Energy and Mirage made some great speakers back in the days.... unfortunately these companys don't exist no more... sad...
I have Energy RC-70 towers. Would love to see a vintage review of these with some of the reviewers out there today.
@@Eron55555 I still have them as well, and they are still surprising me often and only paid 999$ for the pair, I'm sure they're still hard to beat with their Kevlar woofers but I'd like a review as well to compare before spending too much on today's speakers...I chose them over klipsch for their more neutral sound and I'm not disappointed...I almost regret I didn't get the Veritas back in the day...
Yeah the R700 can play in a small space and with 20 watts but they transform into another beast when fed loads of power and a bigger space. Paired it with a Crown 2502 and a D90SE DAC in a 6m x 9m meter room and the R700 hanged with the best of speakers I heard in the very same room. Of course the R700 would sound less detailed in the mids and highs next to speakers with boosted highs, but with that in mind, they are near flawless. Dispersion isnt that great, so a carefully calculated toe in is needed. 15 degrees off on-axis works best in my case. Imaging and soundstage are beyond excellent in the right sized room.
It's the Soundstage big ?
I have the L600 which are basically the same speakers and I agree with your assessment completely. Based on the gear you are using, I'm not shocked you are happy with the results.
Pairing either speaker with high quality gear will be rewarded mightily. 2 ohm stable amps are ideal because these will run down to 3.4 ohms but you can likely get away with a 4 ohm stable amp if you keep the volume away from max. When your amp is running out of spec those low impedance drops often cause distortion and for sure higher current draw. Doing so might lower the amps lifespan or shut it down if it can't handle the power draw.
The only tower/floorstanding speakers I could find that sounded better than them cost $25K a pair. I got the L600s for 3K! Because those very costly Focal towers were only giving an extra 7-8 percent improvement in sound I just put all the savings into gear to make up the difference and then some! Polk really has something special here with both the Reserve and Legend lines but you aren't going to fully hear it if you don't power them correctly.
There's no other RUclipsr as generous as you. Thank you,Jay.
I have been a fan of Polk for a long time. These speakers are getting strong reviews and I am seriously considering an upgrade. Thanks for the review.
I saw my dad using a Polk stereo system many moons ago. This video brings back tons of memory of me messing with his audio equipment and get yelled for it.
I might not be able to afford the R700 right now but it has replaced the Wharfedale Linton and the Buchardt S400 MK II as my must have dream speaker. Your review cinched my choice after seeing another reviewer’s, that I like, review. Having two reviewers I like, have similar reviews, has me in love with these speakers. Bravo to you!!!
It is very refreshing to hear your comments, about a modestly price speaker that sounds decent.
This video teaches us that mixing and matching is an essential part of a well-balanced audio set. In this case, the slightly weaker midrange of these speakers is combined with a nice tube amplifier, which in turn contributes to a better listning experience for the music from this installation. Another facet of this speaker/amplifier combination is that a good installation doesn't have to be extremely expensive, as long as you properly match components. so far my two cents and thanks for the convincing lesson Jay!
The mass love❤ for Polk Audio products in 2022 is really touching to me since each day my 1988 RTA11TL’s routinely display a seasoned audio experience the likes of which you all seemingly have grasped with the fervor that so many channels are exuding audio whispers of love… for a speaker set by Polk after these decades….
Thanks for this review, Jay, and for adding that the R700s can also work well in smaller rooms. My experience over many decades has taught me to expect that Polk Audio speakers can be expected to give pleasure with a wide range of music.
I just got the R500s in my living room to audition when this video came out. Thanks a lot! Now I have to decide whether to send them back and upgrade to these larger units. The R500s sound great, beautiful with music and nice and punchy. Now that I know the flavor, the idea of getting a greater sense of scale and impact is very tempting!
I just bought the R500s on Crutchfield’s site while they were on sale for $1000 a pair. I had wanted to hear them ever since watching Shawn’s review from over a year ago. They are spectacular. I can only imagine the sheer grunt these R700’s beasts will bring to the table. PLUS the Doge 10, are you kidding?? Sign me up and thank you for all the great reviews.
Ahh man Good pick.
polks been on fire. I have the Polk r200s and they are amazing. Super clean, balanced sound. Highly reccomend.
I've been a Fan of Polk Audio since I was a little child listening to my dad's RT-600's. The R700 looks like a respectable speaker relative to its sensational price point. I Love the use of the two 8" woofers, along with the downfiring port. Most people don't like big speakers in their house, but I believe big speakers produce big sound, and I will never be one to complain. Thank you for your review of these speakers :)
Someone should compare the JBL Studio 698 with these. There aren’t many speakers in this price range that have two 8” woofers. Most are duo and trio 5 or 6-1/4” “woofers”.
I'm new to the audiophile world, but I'm getting goosebumps thinking of listening to my favorite symphonies on this Polk system! This set up looks amazing! Thanks for the video:)
Polk have hit the spot and made the speaker most folk really want, rather than the speaker they think they want, or the speaker manufacturers think they should have! Listenable and flexible, with scale and balance to the fore.
Glad you've been reviewing Polk. I listened to them a lot as a child, ended up selling them at one of my audio jobs, and had more-or-less forgotten them in favor of more boutique brands which tickled my interests a bit more. Through your videos my interest in hearing their recent offerings is now on my to do list. Happy to hear they are back to providing outstanding value once again.
Thanks Jay , another great review . It’s very impressive how Polk has squeezed such quality into the price. The size of these and the fact that placement doesn’t require a lot of distance from wall is amazing.
Hey there Jay's iyagi. Well, I think you've definately found your calling. Nice presentation! Professional, Concise, Informative and yet Friendly almost Comforting... Great combination. To be honest here, I was not expecting the kind of review that you shared with us here and I was happily surprised and grateful for the way that you described the various qualities of the r700 series tower speakers. I have always Loved the higher end Polk Audio Speakers, yet I always seem to find a Hater or two? I really appreciate the Life that I find Polk Audio Speakers seem to add to my music, regardless of my choice of content. I've been eyeing these r700's for a minute now, knowing that I cannot afford them for myself, to replace the Monitor 11Ts and Monitor 5Bs. (antiques, I know) but so am I... Retired and Divorced, which is why I can't afford these gems that you reviewed here. Thank you for all you do for so many of us out here. You and your Channel are awesome. So, until our paths cross again... Remain Well and reasonably Happy and... Keep Smiling as you announce me as the Winner! WooHoo! Cheers...
R700 are awesome value for money and would love to upgrade to these from my current active speakers along with an integrated amplifier. I'm currently using a Pontus2 and would like to get more out of it than my current speakers allow me to. Well done on another great review and I'll be saving my pennies for a new pair of these👍
Best in Rock and Roll! Very Excited to have Chance at having a system like this! Thanks Jay for the great review and for the opportunity!
Jay, you do a really good job of explaining the overall sound signature and best use cases for the speakers. I don't think I would use them in my critical listening room, but would definitely buy them for my home theater room.
For what ever it is worth, another reviewer disagrees with Jay's assessment of soundstage. They claim Jay's room is too small and he is listening in the nearfield whereas they have a larger room and they are listening further back. I am curious as to the dimensions of Jay's room? In the end, we all have our own preferences. And how will it sound in our room with our equipment?
Thanks for the Review. The R700 are really eye catching. I have like Polk for many years and these speakers show me that Polk will be around for many more.
Great review! It’s good to see that Polk is making a come-back in high end audio. I felt for a long time Polk was chasing the regular Joe mass-consumer market and delivering a mid to low-fi product. Lately, it seems Polk is getting serious about making seriously competitive high-end speakers and I’m looking forward to hearing a pair. They’ve certainly got my attention.
I am glad that the R700s are so well received. I still have fond memories of a pair of Polk Audio 4As that I purchased many years ago. A friend of mine came over one afternoon and I had the Polks cranked up using a Technics AVR. He asked me where the other speakers were because he refused to believe that the 4As were the only speakers in my residence! Polk Audio dropped out of my life until the reviews started coming in. I need to win the lottery so I can purchase a pair or two!
I wonder how these would match up against their R200 and a pair of well-integrated subwoofers.
Either way, these floorstanders represent a killer value! Thanks for reviewing them - it’s so rare for YT reviewers to look at floorstanders!
Well i have polk legend 100 with a sub and my god what a positive experience everyday with them
I owned the R200 for almost a year paired with a single svs 2000pro. For the money that pair was pretty good in my opinion. I've had the R700 for a few months now and in comparison to the R200 it seems to throw a bigger presentation, better mid bass. The mid/highs sound is basically the same between the 2..but when I put the R200 next to the R700 and AB'ed them the R700 just sounds better, the mid to low bass is more seamless compared to the bookies & sub. I use REW and DSP's to try and integrate subs and adjust the speakers in room FR. Bigger soundstage from the R700. The neutrality and tone is basically the same though. If one likes that sound the R200 is the cheaper way to get it. You will notice if you put better components or upgrade gear around them. Good all around speakers.
Well said Sir although I'm 65 yrs old still enjoying your videos and the honest information you deliver every time kuddos.
Don't talk negatively about your age, 65 is nothing if you remain active and healthy. Live well sir 👌💚
I'm planning a major speaker upgrade for my home theater and hadn't seriously considered the Polk Reserve series into consideration. I like the matte finish (just wish they came in white)and the amount of R&D that has gone into them. The R700s are now on my list of contenders!
They come in white and wood
@@broganjosh4729 White is discontinued.
Nice!
In the mid 90s I bought a pair of Polk RT 7s , they were a wonderful large book shelf ported 2 way.
I played them for 23 years! (Is that a record? Lol!)
Still can find Utube post on them.
It taught me one thing about Polk.
They know how to build a speaker!
Glad to see them putting any doubter’s to rest.
Those 700s look like beast!
Great review Jay!
I’ve been a Polk fan since the old days when they made the original SDA series. Glad to see them raising the bar again in an affordable floor standing speaker.
I bought the floor standing RT600 back in mid 90s. Fantastic speaker lots of loudness for rock music and the bass sounded so good. I donated my system about 10yrs ago to a local Buffalo NY charity to included a Denon receiver. I gave a last listen to before donating and they were amazing. I miss this speakers today and look forward to hearing these new models soon. Currently have the B&W 705 bookshelves and the Magnepan .7 with McIntosh preamp and amp separates.
These R700 are an amazing value and for $899, I don't think there is anything in this price range that beats it!
$1099.00
@@stanstanly3812 Nah just wait for a sale. They have them all the time. They dropped to 825 during one of them! These are certainly worth 899 without a doubt however! *edit* Now on sale for $825. That is a steal when powered properly.
@@stanstanly3812 825.00
I've had the opportunity to listen to the smaller r200 and they blew me away, owning a pair of r700 would be just AMAZING!
I love how Polk Audio seems to make really good gear at affordable prices. Although the new mid/woofer cone design the tweeter (ring radiator) has been used by polk for a long time. Kudos to them because from my experience a ring radiator can seem directional and beamy. Polk seems to get how it should be done. Keep doing a good job.
I have the older Polk speakers on one of my systems. I am glad to see polk as a company is trying to create the best without braking the bank. Great video, keep them coming .
I was especially impressed with your favorable comparison to the Klipsch Cornwall. I am familiar with their capability, and for the Polks to exceed that is quite impressive.
The Cornwall has no bass!!!
The polk actually has bass!!
Always nice to hear of "affordable" speakers overachieving and Polk designing and bringing to market a product that increases their relevancy. Thanks for the review!
The Reserve line from Polk really looks like a force to be reckoned with at this price point, would love to hear what they can do myself!
The previous Lsim series was much better. I have the 707s as my rears. Go listen to those. Google the internals of the 707s and see what value those were! Polk actually went backwards a bit on this series. Ohh and the previous 703 is far better than the new two way bookshelf in the legend series. The 703 is a far better speaker in every way.
Happy to hear your opinion on these speakers as I have been researching them. They are well received and respected by all of the reviewers. Thanks for your honest review.
Man..great review. Really enjoyed the formatting, and spending time on placement for towers on the more monster side.
It’s exciting - almost incomprehensible- how great components and speakers have improved at this price level. Particularly these speakers. To think that with some careful pairing you can get these close to a couple of Sabrinas or Pendragons?!? Anyway, thank you for bringing an education to affordable and well - designed equipment 🙏🏼👍🏼
These Polk speakers really have me intrigued, I want to try them in my room as well. Great job on the video brother.
To make a speaker under $2k I would assume they had to cut costs on the crossover components. I would be very interested to see you re-review them after upgrading the crossover components.
Jay, get G&R research to do a crossover upgrade?
@@philipciantar4824 Just pour some snake oil on top!!
Danny please chime in!
What a great time to be alive for audio enthusiasts. Multiple grewat options at almost every price point
I need a pair of these to replace my sonus faber electa amators
Darren you are such a goof. I think it’s been over a year now since you’ve been a patreon and it never gets old
@@Jayiyagi 2 years, and millions of dollars
Lol good one
I have been a Polk fan for many years, these speakers give off a powerful presence. I am excited to see these in person. Thanks for the great review!
I like a speaker that is bottom firing like me
Oh kuma…
R700s would be a ridiculous upgrade to my RP600Ms which I happened to get after seeing them on your channel years ago. Keep the awesome content coming!
I like listening to you talk about stereo equipment . Your easy to understand and do a great job of explaining the good and the bad of what you are reviewing.
I'm glad I found your review. I've been looking for some larger speakers to replace my 5.1 setup in my living room. I wanted speakers with more punch than my Paradigm Monitor 7 v5. I've looked at speakers up to $5k per pair and even higher. But the costs add up, and even with the modestly priced Polks I'm looking at almost $5k for a full set not counting subwoofers. So if these are as good as you and everyone else are saying, then I hope these will satisfy my desire for more dynamic movies and music.
Never could imagine an affordable speaker in this price bracket would geht such a praise from you! Thank you Jay
Thank you for ALL the reviews you do. You are an asset to the Audio / Musicphile community.
Hi Jay, I'm watching your channel very carefully ... I can even say that thanks to you I bought my first Starke AD4.320 amplifier... but unfortunately I still haven't been able to buy any more speakers or audio system component... so I live with the hope that I will be the lucky winner of this generous offer ... What can I say about these speakers ... These speakers are impressive looking in person, very classy looking. Another thing is the design of the grill - the way this is designed, the outer grill frame is perforated and also wraps around the curvature of the front baffle so it's possible the grill would have a minimal effect on the FR... all this I think shows a lot of attention to detail... That being said, Andrei from Romania (East Europe) sends you all the best ...
Polk audio started my audiophile journey while I was in college. Love the videos Jay keep up the good work!
I ordered my R700’s minutes ago via Crutchfield. I was torn betwixt the R700’s and Klipsch RP8000F-II’S. For the money, the R700’s are the clear choice IMO. The reviews online are STELLAR for BOTH but the R700’s get the edge. I’m PUMPED! They will be replacing my Klipsch RP600M-II’s. I expect to be BLOWN AWAY by the R700’s. I trust that I won’t be let down.
We'll what did you think please let us Know thanks 😊
One thing that I really appreciate is the fact that you always give comparaisons. It is so usefull since its difficult to listen to so many different speakers. Thanks you very much for your hard and dedicated work !
Been a polk fan for years and they've always had bass with no issues. That being said, it's great they've rounded things out with the mids and highs.
Realy interesting to see best product on every price range in your Chanel. I watched almost all your video and I find it always genuine and honest reviews
I commented on the other video for this contest, but playing it safe by commenting here as well.
One thing I like about the channel is the variety of gear you review.
Keep up the great work Jay!
I appreciate the information that the Polk R700 speaker pairs well with the Doge 10 tube amp. As a long time tube fan, for my next system, this is important. Thanks for the great work Jay!
Such a great time to be an audiophile. I would never know about these speakers (and most of what you review) without your insightful words. Thank you!
Thanks for this amazing review, Jay! These R700’s really seem to be getting tons of attention lately, so I’m going to have to find a way to hear them for myself. I appreciate you pointing out their character, build and sonic traits honestly and not just gushing out nothing but praise.
This make for me so much interest. I own focal bookshelves. They are opposite to Polks. And I miss lowend on them. I want Polks!
After so many reviews i think the Polk R700 is going to be my first floor stand speakers i would purchase so far. Great Review!
Thanks for this review. I began my audio journey with Polk Audio speakers in 1986. It looks like I may be returning to my roots.
I like the clarity of presenting products and the neutrality of prewsenting pros and cons for the reviewed products. I Like the Polk R700
I'm glad to see Polk back in the spotlight, putting out some really great looking designs - and many of them high value. I love the look of the R700 from the port to the dual 8" woofers, to the overall proportions. I also really like the look of the finely textured finish.
Love the job Jay did explaining the pluses, minuses and value proposition of the Polk R700's. Thumbs up.
I purchased a pair these about a year ago for $1,800 and have been enjoying them ever since! Thanks for confirming what I have been hearing.
I use these with a Lyngdorf TDAI-1120 with great results.
Good review and good to see Polk still kickin' it!
Amazing how much speakers have improved despite the technology is basically the same for decades. Very good review.
Well. A give away. I was going to reply to this episode anyway.
My hoary old, I bought them 40 years ago, Cornwalls still impress.
And Polk hasn't gotten any love from me in decades.
Color me interested. Nice price.
Another great episode Jay, and I appreciate your work.
Very well done. Thank you.
Please carry on!
Haven't even considered Polk in years but thanks to your review they're back on my radar.
The great observation about polk is that the LCR Soundstage is amazing listening to music or watching movies, I never win anything so hopefully I can get some money saved for black Friday... mind you I live in the home of polk.. plus Thank All the Veterans for your Service.
Great review! These R700's are getting universal praise across he board by many of the established reviewers. Amazing value for the money! It's making me wonder if I made the right choice in recently purchasing Sonus faber Sonnetto's at more than twice the price!
Unless you went into deep debt to buy them, I doubt you made a mistake. I got the Polk 700 (refurbished), enjoy the heck out of them, don't plan to upgrade within the next 10 years..( how long it's been since I got the Klipsch rp81 pair before this) BUT.. seems a lot of reviewers think more highly of the sonus-faber mids/highs. I didn't want to spend that, but I bet you got something for the extra $$.
As a Polk SDA and monitor fan in the 1980s, I’m glad Polk is producing an affordable good sounding speaker again thanks Jay love your channel
Me too.
Me three....still have my Monitor 10's and also Rt 55i models.
Believe it or not this is the speaker I’ve chosen to downsize with. I know that may sound a little strange but what I have now is the Carver Amazing Platinum. Well, the R700 does weigh about 25 pounds less. I have ordered the R700s but I’m in the same boat with everyone else in that they are on backorder. What I really decided to do is use the R 700 in my home theater system and sell the Wharfdale towers that I currently use. I just have to keep my Carvers a little longer. Hopefully the R700 will satisfy my audiophile leanings enough that parting with the Carvers won’t be quite as painful. Thank you Jay for a fantastic review and helping me make my decision.
I like the educacional approach of your videos. They really help the viewer to understand the audiophile terms and to enjoy this hobby...and they are funny too.
Got my daughter started out on HiFi by choosing some Polk LS 70 speakers driven by a Marantz2252 joined by a pro Ject esstential iii turntable. I didn’t hear the set up together until we hooked it up in her large high ceiling LR. Pleasantly surprised as the group had a lot more appeal than I expected. She originally wanted some 901’s but I just couldn’t, she wouldn’t trade these speakers for the 901’s if she could. Polk underrated for awhile now.
I'm just returning to audio after several years away
I'm looking to build a newer system. I've been looking into emotiva. Now seeing the new polk, I'm very interested.
Thank you for your videos. I'm learning alot about current audio
Jay
Great video. I love the fact that you spoke about placement. It really helps in understanding if these speakers can work in the room you have available.
I've been wanting a pair of speakers for a basement listening room for a couple years now. I have an older rec. but no speakers. When I start shopping and comparing- I always end up with various Polk speakers as top choice. They check multiple boxes for my needs- at affordable prices. The R700's or most any size of their Reserve series' would put me into first step audiophile level. Polk fan for decades.
I enjoy hearing about products i can't afford. But I found this review very helpful because these speakers are in the sweet spot of my budget.
I've been a Polk Audio fan since college days of the early 80's! I still own, and use my Polk Audio iconic Monitor 7B's. Love them, but so happy to see that Polk Audio is back in the game with the Reference series. Thanks Jay for such a comprehensive review of the R700's. Excellent information.
LOVE Polk Audio Speakers !! Highly recommend them to anyone building a Home Theater from scratch. Satellites or Towers....win either way.
I've been a fan of polk for a long time now and I wasn't quite sure if i should upgrade to the reserve and this review really helped me out!
“Skull shaking slam & punch with great low end extension” definitely sounds like my kind of speaker! Sounds like Polk is giving the people what they really want. To feel the music!
How’s that musical?
You’ve done a great job of highlighting this speakers value. I can’t wait to hear it.
I've been eyeballing a pair of R700's for a little while now, they seem like the most bang for the buck, and I mean BANG! Like that!
Great video, very helpful to hear your assessment of R700 Polk speakers!!
- It's hard to believe what the speakers bring to the table at his price point. Now we just need Polk to raise the bar in the midrange and high frequencies to provide the crazy " Audiophiles " out there the Speaker of their dreams for an unheard of price point!
i visited Naples few years back we found a audiophile cafe bar with a killer valve system they were playing some female vocalist in Italian neither one of us had no idea what she was saying yet i think we both had a tear in our eye incredible memory hence we recently decided to try to put a system together if i could get something that sounded half as good id be happy and thanks to your golden ear and my budget the Polk R700 should fit the bill
Jay, you always do a thorough job with your reviews. Glad you reviewed the R700. My first exposure to Polk was years ago when a friend bought a set of 10A's. Those blew me away. Since, I have always been curious about how they evolved their line-up. The R700 is right in my price range. I have a pair of 8 Ohm Infinity Kappa 7.1 Series II's that I love and use to test the Hafler amps I upgrade, but I also would like a high quality 4 Ohm speakers to test them with. These might be just what I'm looking for.
Jay's way and the h-fi way! A strong pairing. And much appreciation for the give-away opportunity!