Are High End Speakers REALLY WORTH IT? 🤔 Polk Audio R700 Review
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2024
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► POLK R700 SPEAKER REVIEW
Are high end speakers REALLY WORTH IT? The Polk Audio Reserve Series R700 tower speaker may just redefine what's possible in a hifi loudspeaker under $2000 a pair. This big tower speaker holds its own when sound tested against high-end audiophile speakers. The R700 has near full range sound meaning it is a speaker that doesn't require a subwoofer in every situation. Plus it's a tower speaker that sounds good for music and movies. Find out more in our Polk Audio R700 review!
00:00 INTRO
00:19 POLK AUDIO R700 SPECS
01:12 POLK AUDIO SPEAKER DESIGN
01:50 SETTING UP POLK AUDIO SPEAKERS
02:31 BEST AMPLIFIER FOR POLK SPEAKERS
03:28 POLK AUDIO R700 SOUND QUALITY
08:42 POLK R700 V KLIPSCH 8000F
09:36 POLK AUDIO VS MONITOR AUDIO TOWER SPEAKERS
10:08 POLK VS KLH MODEL 5
10:33 POLK R700 VS WHARFEDALE ELYSIAN
11:07 CONCLUSION
12:06 SPECIAL BONUS CONVERSATION
25:02 SIGN OFF
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► MORE SPEAKER REVIEWS
➔ Klipsch RP-8000F Review: • BEST Speakers for Musi...
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Morning to the both of you.... :)
... this might be the 2nd time I've posted.
@@Labor_Jones All good Marvin! Thanks for tuning in!
@@Labor_Jones Thank you for joining us today, Marvin!
@P T The point isn't that the tweeter is attempting to make it seam like we can hear above 20kHz, it's about the fact that the tweeter can reproduce those frequencies meaning it doesn't roll off as strongly as tweeters that cannot extend beyond 20kHz. Make sense?
Honestly there are MANY OTHER Critics that are saying things similar.
... YOU (Andrew) have said twice now that so far as straight on this product XXX is about as good as it gets TWIST is what I think THE INDUSTRY freaks out about. So, to me, If I were those *other companies.* I'd be breaking your DOOR DOWN to get you to Test my Product so I can PROVE you were wrong!
.... There in lay the 2nd Caveat to the puzzle, which is don't wake sleeping dog (the public) that it's equipment is far from sonically better as a whole but cost a whole lot more.
THE FUNNY THING is I don't agree with your assessment Andrew _BUT_ I do agree that anyone who is ditching you from products to review of theirs have more to fear than they think. THE OTHER CRITICS may not have done what you have done, but they do often say along the lines of what you're talking about.
Okay, (I don't have any rights to, but) Steve Guttenberg approach seems to be if it's interesting to him he might review an item, and if it's uninteresting like the KLH Model 5 he said, Paraphrasing, "They don't have anything I really want to review."
Now was that true he had the chance or was it SOUR GRAPES.... ;)
1. Polk really needs to restock these in white
2. I like Kristy coming out with that truth bomb and you being so honest and vulnerable. Thank you for sharing this moment with us and being raw.
The second half goes beyond bonus conversation status. Kristi's take is integral to the channel and I think we all appreciate the candid conversations. Keep 'em coming!
100% agree!
For what it’s worth, to anyone who sees this, I bought the R700s on this review and couldn’t be happier. Thanks A & K.
Do you have them with a sub or all alone? I’m thinking of these for my living room. It’s not a huge space.
@@carlosfranco no sub. Don’t feel it’s necessary with these in my two-channel system. If I were using them in a home theater, however, I might want a sub.
What amplification are you using with your Polks?
@@richardcranford5604 Cayin A-100T.
How does it work for dual purposes? 2 channel and home theater. What is a good match for the center channel for the perfect match? Thanks?
I have owned these loudspeakers for 6 months now and have also owned electrostatic and planar magnetic units. I have auditioned models from Wilson, Vandersteen, mbl, and the list goes on. I rank the R700s as among the best. I’m not even talking price. I have been in high-end audio for three decades now and have also been a manufacturer of high end speakers. Polk nailed it with this model! Enough said…
This review epitomized why I continue to support your channel. Honesty, integrity and truthfulness. Because I don’t have a store where I can sample the products, I rely on reviewers to help me with my purchase decision. You have never let me down. You’ve answered my questions and helped guide me to products in my price range. From the KLH model 5’s to the Klipsch Heresy IV’s to receivers, turntables, CD players and even streaming services.
What you two bring to the table is your truly honest “opinions” that I’ve found to be accurate and extremely helpful to me.
Thank you for what you are doing
Thank you so much Gary! Appreciate that!
Agreed. I especially prefer the dichotomy of industry objectivity AND personal insight/interpretations. You guys essentially provide what other reviewers offer, but with extensive knowledge/expertise and personal feedback while injecting your personas into a well prepared, polished presentation. Accolades may be white noise at this point, but everyone needs to hear praise whenever possible to validate and incentivize their continued efforts. 🙏
This was the most revealing review to date. I appreciate your effort and occasionally get blown away by Kristi's insight all around. Was super glad to hear the Emotiva reveiw. Now, if you have the opportunity to get Tekton to review-life is complete.
Agreed I’d love to see some Tekton review happening 👊🏻
I agree amazing vid.
I just bought a pair of the r700 about 4 months ago and absolutely love them. I cant say iv listened to another pair of speakers costing less then 10k that sound better. Great video keep up the great work
This channel is so refreshing. Thank you both! I have always questioned the prevailing wisdom and attitudes of this hobby, but, for what its worth, one experience in particular laid any self doubt I had to rest. I visited a local hi-end boutique and auditioned a set of speakers on a system worth nearly 3X the value of my own. The audition was behind closed doors, with zero distractions, and I was allowed to listen to whatever I wanted for as long as I wanted. I'll never forget the moment that I realized that the system I was auditioning sounded negligibly better than my system at home. Thank you for telling the truth in your reviews!
Honestly, your reviews are without a doubt the most knowledgeable I’ve ever heard and without boasting that $80000 worth of gear is necessary. Not to mention your production quality is three times anyone else. You guys are literally the best and I never miss an episode. What am I looking for? Exactly! Idk and that’s why I watch you, because you heard the really expensive and the $200 a pair speakers and amps. You’ve helped me realize that overspending isn’t the answer to reference or near reference quality. For that, thank you.
The most honest conversation I've heard in decades. Have experienced similar situations in my 66yrs. Thank you Kristi for keeping it real.
I’ve replayed this review for a lot of people, particularly around the 13 minute mark. It’s a breath of fresh air… I enjoyed your channel before but you took it to another level by going as transparent as you did. Much respect gained! Kudos! ❤️🔥💪🍻
First, I'm not an audiophile, but love, love my music and movies. Being retired now for ten years and able to afford to dip my toes into the Hi-End audio realm a bit, I just set up a whole new system with Sonus Faber, Sonetto VIII speakers. I was replacing my old Klipsch RP-280-F speakers which I've really enjoyed for decades. What am I trying to achieve with the Sonus Fabers.....I don't know? They were $7,000 pr. and to be honest, they do defiantly have a deeper, warmer, overall soundstage than the Klipsch's, but in truth, I just wanted to step up a few notches because I can. With companies out there like Wilson Audio, where you can spend $685,000 on a pair of their top of the line speakers, I think the whole audiophile industry is insanely way, way over the top for what they're charging considering the finite nuances my 68 year old ears can actually detect. I've often wondered: If you blind folded five people in the same room, with the same acoustics, using the same supporting equipment, playing five of the same songs over five different Hi-End speakers, could they tell you what they're listening to or could they differentiate between a highly rated $2,000 pr. set of speakers vs. a $10,000 a pair set or something in between?
I reckon a genuine "audiophile" started off being a music lover first & foremost & from a very young age (unless that was just me but i seriously doubt that) Then a genuine audiophile happened to notice by chance, or sought out, or were shown how their own enjoyment of whatever music they like could be vastly elevated, improved upon & indulged in, when they heard it being played through certain hi'fi equipment that they had never previously heard the like of. And maybe they were utterly shocked by how good it could sound & be enjoyed & also shocked by how much more they are emotionally moved by certain music. (unless that was just me but i also seriously doubt that)
While a fake "audiophile" is somebody who owns music in some physical form (or accesses music via some vitual digital form) just to listen to their equipment with & love to show it off to others with.
If that was my or anyones only motivation to buy hi'fi equipment, then we'd be fake audiophiles & only need 3 or 4 L.P.s (or CDs) max ...just to hear & enjoy "showing off" our equipment with. Maybe some fakes do exist & if so, i pity them for missing out on the love of music which is majestic & transcends price when one considers how buying a 350 thousand £ or $ car is their major love in life
Never try to understand the Audiophile industry or try to explain what things cost or what people spend, this logic can be applied to homes, cars, watches, cameras, televisions, motorcycles bicycles, some costing over 10,000 dollars, comic books, some over 50,000 dollars. If you have never heard a pair of $685,000 speakers be it Wilsons or not in your home with your equipment, you really don’t know, heck we really don’t know.
Too often we try to justify other peoples purchases through our own wallets by saying what is or what isn’t too expensive and saying it can’t be better or talking about the laws of diminishing returns. Your wallet will run out far quicker than any piece of audiophile equipment or consumable goods. So then here comes the justification and envy, that person is an Audiophool. If you don’t have that item or have ever heard the item more expensive or not you really don’t know and are guessing.
I don’t care about 685,000 speakers that I won’t be buying, but I have no problems in listening to them and congratulating those who can afford them because it takes nothing from my man hood and it doesn’t make me feel any kind of way. I just care about what’s in my system and I make sure that I have the best that I can afford at that time because there is always the used market, what might be 685,000 today might be 300,000 tomorrow if not less.
I use reviews only as a guide, relying more on demos, preferably at home. I don’t care what other people have or spend and I have no problems congratulating people who spend 50.00 or 100,000 dollars because it takes nothing away from me or my bank account. We all need to enjoy the hobby for what it is, a hobby and worry less about who hears what or how much someone spends on what. Enjoy the hobby because we have a very short time on this planet.
We all hear differently and there are people that love bass more, mid band more and treble more, so yes there will always be someone who can tell a difference between speakers and equipment, but the more important question is, is the difference worth the cost and for some it is. There will always be something better in life that sounds better. What is important is what Andrew Robinson has always said, “The only person that needs to like your system is you”.
Thanks for the great review. I bought the R700 along with R400 5 months ago, mostly based on this review and I couldn’t be happier. Much appreciated!
love your conversation in the end with Kristi, really shows how you guys really love doing this review for your audience.
Thanks so much!
I'm a Brazilian who always follows you, I love, in addition to the enormous quality of your reviews, the beauty of the interaction between you two, I admire you so much!!!
I've been following you two since your were doing the $5 vinyl finds and you have gotten better and better each time. This is one of the best UA-cam channels out there and your honest, down to earth, reviews and dialog are refreshing. Keep it going I do love what you two do. Thank you.
Do not sell yourselves short on your influence. Keep the authenticity going. It's refreshing. This is in reference to your comments later in the review. If I were a speaker manufacturer I would have my ear to to YOUR ground at all times.
#CoSigned
I bought a pair of r700 after your review and FINALLY after almost 5 months of waiting I received them today and oh my me!!! they are killing it... I use them with Yamaha r-n2000a and wow what a sound. Thanks for your great review! I'm going back to revisiting Pink Floyd's discography :)
Nice!! I just literally ordered the same combination today!! Can't wait!!
@@vaiable1 let me know what you think when you'll get it and experience it :)
Finally got around to watching this episode and I have to say, I really appreciate the background and insight introduced in the latter half. I really love the reviews on this channel and I do live vicariously, and that's why I visit. The conversations you guys have are very insightful and thought provoking.
Can I just say I really appreciate the honesty and vulnerability you’ve shared to have an honest question and answer with Kristi and not edit that out even if you were uncomfortable. I’m a fan of your channel now and really respect your views now because of this.
Got my r700 three days ago. All I can say is WOW. It is sooo freakin good. I’ve been practically mesmerized listing to songs I’ve heard hundreds of times! Thanks for the review Andrew. I was about to upgrade my Klipsch R600m ii to the 8000f. Love this sound!
Glad you're enjoying them!
Hi ... this is for Andrew and his lovely wife.. I am in the UK ...a committed audiophile for 50 years + with years of experience in all aspects of this wonderful hobby.... your reviews are so intelligent an honest ..... thanks for a great channel..
Thank you for the kind words.
The bonus conversations are gold. She is bringing so much insights and forcing us to reflect on ourselves.
I love you guys! I just realized I've been following YOU Andrew for years and just realized this fact. Back when A-V was just getting started and HI-FI was the thing YOUR name was on certain reviews I remember reading in the main rags of the time. I can tell how real and passionate you are about what you do, and that is refreshing. All I can say is...keep the faith, keep up the GREAT work you've been doing for years. Your channel IS IT...the best on YT!!! Many blessings to you two in 2023! Always look forward to the next review.
Honestly, I love your videos, not just the data & points of the speakers but what your heart and gut tell you about them! I love the fact that you compared it to the Kplisch to these Polk - just bravo because I was thinking about it before we got to this part of the video and was pleasantly surprised and ECSTATIC you made the comparison and that you gave your OPINION on which one is better, most reviewers leave it as "you decide" which is hard since most people don't have the ability to listen to both? MAKING NEUTRAL REVIEWS USELESS! This is what makes your channel and review method so great. The reality is most people haven't heard as many speakers with different amps and receivers as you have, making your TAKE, your review all the more VALUABLE. Thank you, Andrew, your attention to detail and your ability to compare speakers to the macro speaker environment is bar none.
Kristi and Andrew, I love all your reviews. Your “best of” episode led me to this episode. I truly want to say that you made this tech professional an audiophile. I’ve learned so much from you.
You all are amazing. I wish you the most success.
I have returned to this review and this discussion many times in the last few months. A marvelous discussion on so many levels. Seriously, grist for meditation.
I paused this video about halfway through the special bonus conversation and became a member because I take this channel and you both seriously. I don't consider myself an audiophile...I just love music and excellent products that help me enjoy it more. Your passion, effort, and the content you bring is more important to me than your "street cred" in a gatekeeping community.
We really appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you around more!
The "validation" discussion compelled me to hit the Subscribe and like button. Thanks for the honesty, sincerity, insights, and reflections.
Hi Andrew just Purchased a pair of Polk R700s They sound amazing especially percussion instruments and drums really a true sound thank you for the review it was awesome
Extremely glad that I came back to your review on the R700. I greatly appreciate the honesty from you both!
Came back to this is review, after your best of wrap up.
To watch it again.
Once again reminded me of why I enjoy your channel.
The realness of this compelled me to subscribe. Thank you for this and keep up the good work.
Welcome aboard!
Andrew & Kristi,
This is a great review. The fact that certain high end brands will not put their gear up for review makes me question them & their motives, far more than I question you guys or your ability to accurately (and honestly) evaluate the performance of a product.
I would personally love to see some higher end reviews but I'm not fussed. My system has been built with a whole lot of your advice and help. You guys were actually responsible for getting me back into the hobby. The fact that brands, for better or worse, like Rotel, Bowers & Wilkins & Marantz still back their products enough to put them up for review was a very big factor in me purchasing them.
My answer to the question is : I wanted B&W 702 signatures. They look & sound incredible & I simply wanted them! I built my entire system around them with a goal of getting as much out of them as I could. I am truly happy with my decision. I would LOVE to see Michi on your show! They are a truly wonderful product & I'm sure they would back their product enough to put it up to the test. The X3 controls my speakers in a way I worried wouldn't be possible inside a certain price point. A fact that is in line with your general outlook on value vs performance.
You guys can feel good in the fact that, weather they realise it themselves or not, these "high end" brands hurt themselves in these decisions much more than they hurt your program.
Thanks again & take care
Fraser
I appreciate the honesty that you both bring to this channel. Thank you.
One if not the Best and most down to earth audio channel I follow, I really appreciate you both being honest regardless of just saying certain things that brands might not want you to say. Brands have a way of forgetting it’s about the actual listening of the music at the end of the day! There’s a lot of items I cannot afford to buy, or even want to buy as most people probably do but that never stops me enjoying the videos. Thanks again.
Great review and truly appreciate your integrity it means a lot. I too have had a similar experience while shopping for high end brands. Love your recommendations and education. I purchased the Jamo c 97 from Crutchfield two years ago for my office and they did not disappoint. I think we’re stepping up to the r700 for home. Thanks again for the amazing content.
Fantastic chat at the end. You are so true I no longer strive to buy more expensive hi fi gear because what I got is what I like. Well done Andrew
I'm so happy you both are so down to earth when it comes to getting the sound for the common buyer. I bought the Klipsch 800F and I'm happy with them, I just wish there was a place I could go room to room with different setups to hear all types of speakers.at my age it's about what I want not cost. Thank you both for your so honest revues. I am a diehard fan of you both .
A genuine thank you for your candor. Please continue to hold the torch for those of us that agree with your vantage and perspective. Watching your videos I’ve been pulled back into the hobby.
FANTASTIC!
It’s been a while since I commented on your channel. That’s because I moved from watching using my computer to using my Apple TV and my 55” TV. But this time around, I felt I HAD to take the time to pick up my iPhone, open up the history of watched videos on UA-cam and comment.
With that introduction, back on topic:
As usual, great review. But what really motivated me to add a comment was the extra comments at the end between you and your lady. I mean, there was a bit of everything there (in a very good way). I feel that the opening question completely took you off guard and it was almost like watching a therapy session where the shrink challenges the patient to truly reflect on something important. And you both delivered a very candid and transparent conversation. THANK YOU for that. It was great to watch you guys opening up to the difficulties you face, to the exposure that the channel has, etc.
With all that said, I do have a question for you. And you are probably going to immediately think “Hey, you’re asking me to compare Apples to Oranges!” But you know what..? Not really. Both are pairs of speakers, and their job it to deliver sound. So, here it goes:
How do these R700 compare to the far costlier La Scala?
Thank you so much for the GREAT content that you BOTH put out here for us subscribers.
Peace, be well, Raphael
I thank you for the comment. Objectively, if you can believe it, the Polk is capable of feats the LaScala simply isn't, for example bass. The LaScala isn't what I would call a bass-head's dream come true, whereas the R700 is capable of hitting the low notes with a startling amount of finesse. All that said, LaScala's make an almost indescribable emotional connection with the listener --likely due to their near "you are there" sound signature . While by no means perfect (they are not) the LaScala is the type of speaker that becomes difficult to quantify because I fear or feel it will either connect with the listener...or it won't. Whereas the R700 has a more traditional sound, one that is insanely good and well versed that I cannot see a potential listener or customer having much, if anything to complain about in the end. Hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching!
Raphael, - just to be clear that was a bot pretending to be another creator. Hopefully you didn't actually respond. The account was reported and that comment was deleted.
I Almost never comment on videos, but this is hands down the best review I’ve watched on any product. Seeing you go off topic to identify what I think is the biggest issue in this industry was extremely gratifying. I too have experienced “gate keeping”. It’s absolutely mind boggling how any business survives while alienating potential customers. I was considering the new 700 series 3 line from B&W, but the local dealer quite frankly has a bunch of condescending tools turning their nose up at customers in their showroom. I just want a speaker that will give me noticeable improvement on my old 604 S3s. The R700 is now on my list for auditions. Thank you for this review.
I listened to both, but I can compare them from memory only (different places - same day), the 700 S3 has more details and more high-end and unique sound, while R700 is almost as good as them, but I didn't hear anything special besides their price
After searching and searching I finally found a pair of these Polk r 700s on e bay. A rare find . so excited to give them a try! just ordered them a couple of days ago. thank you so much for the review. I look so forward to. all of your reviews every week!! love your content! you both are awesome!!
Another great Sunday with your channel! Polk fan here, I have the “mid-range” monitors they sold back in 2002 and love them.
QOTD: I agree with Andrew’s law of diminishing returns. I’ll spend good money on hifi but not stupid money. Thank you both!!
I know Kristi has been in on the reviews for a while but I just want to say, her views and opinions are part of what make this channel special. Having two people with differing preferences listening to the same system in the same room is so valuable. Thanks again for a fantastic review guys.
What's your answer to the question?
@@joeykitty2892 So my opinion is chasing the diminishing returns is a fools errand. I wouldn't spend more to get barely any improvement because your ears adjust to what you have and tend to prefer it anyway. Now, spending more for better build quality and thus appearance, I can understand. Something like the Sibelius being hand built with thick solid oak could absolutely be worth it.
Yep, I also always watch to the end for Kristi's opinion as well. There aren't nearly as many women in audio as I would like, so I won't pass on the chance of hearing a women's opinion if I can.
To be honest, upgrading really DOES make a difference, but when you start adding up the costs... Brr. I love products like the R700's!
Been watching tons of your video but the conversation at the end about gate keeping got me to subscribe to your channel. Love honest and meaningful content.
Same here
I love your channel, your reviews and comments are always interesting and I feel fair. I also love the interaction between you and Kristi. Thank you for your honesty and transparency in this episode. Good job of Kristi to bring it up and good job of you to respond openly.
Excellent review. I enjoyed the real talk at the end. You and Kristi have helped me purchase two audio items in the past year. You're my first "go to" for an honest opinion.
Being a super young sales person in the hi-fi industry everything you said resonated so much almost cried. There are some no problems with this industry. Hearing you guys talk about it is extremely therapeutic.
Without naming names or getting yourself into any trouble, I'd love to hear more about what you've experienced/what you see happening.
Never comment, but thought I might do so here. This was one of the most honest and forthcoming talks I've seen on this topic, and the part with Kristi was really fascinating. Aside from the topic itself (which was great), I think it really speaks to your personalities and relationship with each other when a) she's not afraid to say anything to you, even if she knows it's not going to be an easy conversation, and b) the way you never interrupt her and really listen to what she's saying. I think that speaks volumes about you both as people, and it also shows a respect to your audience that you are willing to just bare yourselves in front of everyone like that.
About the 'gatekeeping', yeah, I get that sometimes, and not only in hifi. In some ways I suppose it's unavoidable (at least to some degree), and I guess it's up to each of us to take it seriously or not. Don't want to wait on me? I'll gladly shop elsewhere or consider another brand. I've got my little system here and I'm happy with it, and that's good enough for me. Though I do want another amp that I don't really need...haha! Thanks guys for keeping it real!
Thank you for being honest and not let your viewers to spent more their hard earned money 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
When it comes to audio as far as I’m concerned you are the final word! Keep up the AWESOME work and thanks so much for what you do!
Thanks for your realness in this video. As a consumer just diving into the hifi industry, I will take this cautionary tale to heart. I recently happened across a very good deal on Klipsch RP-260F towers. While I know I can spend more money, this video helped to reinforce my thought process that these will be a more than sufficient theater and music foundation for me for a very long time. Cheers, and thanks for all you do!
Challenged by Kristi, and you rose to the occasion! Great review! (They are on sale at Crutchfield for 895.00 each! They truly seem to be an affordable option for all but the most discerning. Polk used to be a very good speaker manufacturer. IMHO, they become overwhelmed by the home theater phenomenon and became a victim of their own success. Thank you!
Love the polish and effort that go into your vids, but it's the bonus conversations are what makes this channel keep it up
Thanks! Glad you enjoy it!
I really appreciated Christy and you discussing being honest about when a product delivers everything necessary for a fantastic performance, even though it is reasonable in cost. Respect!
After watching the review and a few others I decided to get the R700 by Polk and both my wife and I are extremely happy.
Best, most honest and pertinent review to date! Bravo 🙌
Excellent review & discussion as usual. I've had the R700 + R400 + R200 in a 5.1 configuration in my living room for about a year now. I'm in love with them. And believe me, these aren't the most expensive speakers in my house. These are a great bargain if you looking for something with great performance but don't want to break the bank. Mine are being fed by an Emotiva XPA Gen 3 amp.
This is one of the best videos I've seen from you Andrew. The conversation with Kristi about the industry was awesome especially the gate keeping.
It’s not about personal obligation. I believe it’s about how far you can go with this industry. It’s about telling people where is the stopping point. I guess it’s all about money right but really isn’t everything that’s a darn good question.
Excellent review ... thanks so much now looking to purchase R700. Bonus conversation was exactly what I needed to hear :)
The best review I’ve seen from you please keep this level of content your reaction based on what she asked you really connect me towards you like there is so much more about you as a person this might sound strange but I get that you are an amazing person god bless both of you and this incredible channel you are the best!
Loved the conversation between you and Kristi at the end. I somewhat hit on this in my 2022 wish list video, but after hearing you and Kristi, I want to maybe revisit the topic about gatekeeping, etc, that's happening right now in this industry. The pandemic has created a whole slew of new consumers who are now interested in home theater that never gave it a thought previously. Thanks for the look into both of your minds about even running a successful UA-cam channel in this home audio space.
Great honest review...best ever on this channel!! Really appreciated... Thanks Kristi!
Just bought myself a pair!
After 10 mins in the testroom i knew these would be an good upgrade since i wanted to own a new pair of speakers!
They will be replacing my Canton Karat S8 DC as fronts, however the subwoofer will stay.
The bass didnt go quite deep enough for hardstyle or other heavy electric music, but anything else was insane!
Also thanks for the great content! Its sad to hear some companies refuse to work with you guys becus your giving us an honest opinion and with no bias. Everyone should be able to have great sound no matter there budget!
Folks if you don’t watch all the way to the end you are missing out on an excellent discussion around the audiophile community and industry. Great review as always.
🎯
I have been looking at Jamo. Klipsch and Wharfedale towers but after watching this I just put in my order for the R700’s. Can’t wait to get them! Thanks for the great review and for the honesty you bring to this subject.
Chiming in at 571 comments so far…talk about viewer engagement…speaks volumes to the calibre and quality of your show…congrats on another fine episode Andrew and Kristi!!
Thank you, Sal!
I love this channel and your reviews. Ive purchased the r700 based on your review.
Thanks Andrew for all you do for us. I personally find your videos very educational. Thanks again.
Wow, I love you reviews Andrew. Your views, without relying on measurements and specs and instead focus on what they sound like in the real world is some of the most enlightening options I have watched. I have a long history of Klipsch and currently have the RP-280F/RC-62ii and am looking to upgrade. The Polk R700, Martinlogan 40i or XT60i or Klipsch RP-8000F ii are on my short list. Would love to see you do some comparison in your options of some of these. Keep up the great work.Any ML reviews coming?
The more honest opinion, the more trust from viewers. Thanks for that last part.
Really enjoyed the bonus convo. Sub'd to your channel. And I don't even care much about audio! Also ordered the R700s :)
Awesome, thank you! I hope you enjoy them!
I was putting together a 2 channel set up for my daughter and having never tried a Polk speaker before I was surprised when my vintage guy turned up A pair of LS 70’s in his garage. I thought they were pretty incredible blasting away Chuck Mangione so my little girl is now enjoying her Project turntable Polk speakers and a lovely Marantz 2252 and now Polk is always in the game as we both go fishing in the 2 channel pond. Life is good.
I love your channel you guys get it right! I’ve made purchases because of your viewpoints that I value. Please, continue the great work of giving great in- depth views on audio. Thank you 🙏🏾
Want to come back and say you were right about these speakers. With a emotiva they sound insane
I recently bought the r700s plus the r400s plus the r900s (as surrounds).. plus 2 pairs of polk rc80i for atmos.. waiting eagerly for these to be delivered and installed.. i auditioned the r700 at my local retailer and was blown away.. listened to some stevie ray vaughn, hendrix, beat it by mj, some metallica, sadie, fleetwood mac, bob marley, norah jones, steely dan, rhcp... whatever i threw at it, these speakers just kicked ass.. speakers i compared to included focal (theva and vestia), kef (q750 and r7), sonus faber (lumina), q acoustics (5040), dynaudio emit and some dalis... The choice was as clear as night and day! Thanks for your review, i would have never heard of these speakers otherwise!
Great review and loved the commentary on the audiophile community. Couldn’t agree more. You keep doing you.
Love you’re channel and the approach to HIFI that you bring. Keep on keeping on.
Hi all!
Just a warning about Polk's warranty and customer service...
We purchased the r700 from crutchfield (excellent customer service) about 8 months ago and have only been using them for approximately 3 weeks. One of the speakers has an awful buzzing from one of the woofers right from the start. The speakers are under warranty. Polk would not send us a replacement speaker or send a technician out to fix the speaker. They only offered us a replacement woofer and instructions on how to replace it ourselves. Crutchfield would have been willing to send a new speaker, but they are out of stock with no known stocking date. It is very disappointing to get a broken speaker from Polk and an unsatisfactory rectification of our problem.
I bought the 700s weeks go with an Atoll IN300. I‘m super happy. For the first time my vinyls sound extremely good. No matter which volume i choose. The 700s are always wonderful balanced and offer the full range of music. Thanks for this nice video. It confirms my decision to buy them.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Andrew and Kristi, well done. I'm 63 and an audiophile (music lover not equipment lover, per the older definition). I'm old enough to remember when Polk was a small company (I was in high school during their early years), the type of company that appeals to certain types of audiophiles. Now that they've grown and can apply economies of scale, they make great speakers for what I feel is a reasonable price. I appreciated the discussion regarding what one really seeks when spending more money. I know I've spent/wasted time obsessing on that next component and the possibility of audio perfection. I'm currently lusting after two different speakers from two different companies. I won't mention their names, but they're made in Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. And they retail between $10,000-$18,000 per pair. Not a small chunk of change.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle for the Polk R700's to be taken seriously is their price. But this is exactly why I'm going to give these speakers a serious listen.
I continue to be so impressed with every review! I love that you guys are so genuine, keep doing what you are doing you guys really have something extraordinary. Anyway maybe that’s sounds over the top? But It’s hard to put into words how much I enjoy your commentary, and it also doesn’t hurt that you guys can be very entertaining at times as well. Thanks
Thank you so much!
I completely agree with the gatekeeper comments about this hobby. When I was 26 (and not nearly as successful as Andrew was), I walked into my neighbourhood stereo shop in Toronto and they had Bryston equipment (local high end gear made in Peterborough). I had heard of but never seen it in person before, so I started to check it out. The shop owner bellowed from behind the counter to stop touching the gear unless I was there to buy it. Insulted, I immediately walked out. That store quite deservedly went out of business, and I’ve never been treated like such a vagrant before nor since.
This hobby needs to bring more people in, but unfortunately a lot of it is built on snobbery, wealth, class, and exclusion. Thank you Andrew and Kristi for addressing it, and know that your channel is literally my favourite on all of UA-cam. Your videos have sustained me over the last year, and I deeply thank you.
Had the same experience maybe about a year back. I went to a high-end store and wanted to demo a few stuff. Nobody accommodated me well, and when I got the chance to listen to a few tracks, they wouldn't let me play the songs I brought with me. I looked 'too young' to be in the hobby for them (well, I am) and it just so happened that I was wearing casual, baggy clothes that day.
Walked into a couple of other stores and the customer service was fantastic. I got about 2 pairs of towers, 4 amps, 4 subs, among other things. Paid in cash. Screw gatekeepers.
Hi Andrew and Kristi, After a near 6 month wait I received my R700 Black Friday deal ($825.00 ea.) and I have to tell you they blew me away. They are paired with an Emotiva XMC-1 and a Crown XLS Drivecore 1502 along with my Plex streaming server hosted in Amsterdam. I didn't do any real tweaking, nor did I apply Dirac treatment. I just set the XMC-1 to reference stereo and enjoyed my jazz playlist for hours last night. You are 100% correct. Placement isn't a huge issue. They're very forgiving on source material and with the exception of only a few "meh" recordings I had goosebumps for the entire listening session. I sold my Klipsch RP 8000F's last year and the R700's just blow them out of the water. I couldn't get the Klipsch's to sound right in my room.
Thanks for being our eyes and ears, giving everyone honest advice as having the ability to audition audio equipment is becoming more and more difficult with box stores closing everywhere.
All the best, Richard Rigg
Thanks for your review of the R700s. I especially like the conversation that you and Kristi had at the end. I love a phenomenal surround sound experience. There is such a large plethora of speakers out there and i found that maybe 90% of them are just crazy expensive and that has alway bothered me. I have watch a lot of you speaker reviews in 2022. This review convinced me to upgrade my very old Polk RT800i towers to Polks R700s. I purchased them January 2023 from Audio Advice over the internet. I also went ahead and bought two Outlaw 2220 monoblocks to power the R700s and they sound phenomenal. Thank you for all of your reveiws.
Love the philosophical component to your channel. It has changed my outlook on Polk also. I really can't wait for the elysian four review, they're my end game obtainable speaker! I just hope they can do rock, metal and pendulum justice too! So many hifi speakers fall down with these genres.
Hey Andrew , I always admire your honesty and unbiased reviews , please keep up the good work 👏 Bravo
Thank you so much Kenneth!
Received my R700's last week. I think I got the last pair because they are sold out everywhere. I can tell you the hype is real. Comparing these to my Polk RTiA10's is like night and day. I'm no audiophile but I can tell you this line from Polk is amazing. I've owned a few set's of speakers from Polk and they have really hit a home run with the Reserve line. You wont be disappointed if you buy a pair.
Happy New Year Andrew and Kristi. What a great historical overview and a personal stroll through memory lane, having personal experience with 3 of the 10 items on your list.
I was genuinely shocked to learn from Kristi that Altec Lansing invented the soundbar in the 90's. They were my favorite PC speaker maker and to this day I still think of them as a computer peripheral maker more than a speaker maker. I agree that soundbars have brought more people to the hobby than any other single innovation. For that alone, audiophiles should give their respect to the innovation. Form matters as much as function and soundbars are the right form for the mainstream.
Awesome review of these speakers and more importantly, thank you for that discussion with Kristi. That portion of the video speak to home a lot. I have been pressured into trying to get "better" speakers and while I would love to own some Monitor Gold speakers, I'm not in a position to be able to afford them. I have Polk Audio Signature system with 2 S55, a pair of S15, S35 center and HTS 12 for my house. It was a really big deal and I was piecing them together for years, waiting for them to go on sale at Fry's Electronics.
Please keep up the good work and hope for the best for you and your channel.
Just ordered a pair, largely due to this review. Thanks!
I think the tweeter is the only driver that actually Carrie’s over to the Legend series. The rest of the drivers share some similarities, but are built at a cheaper price point. What a great speaker🔈👍🏻
You may be right, nevertheless I think the Reserve Series is better than the Legend. Thanks for joining us!
Dear Mr. Robinson, thanks to your and certain other reviews, my living room has now a pair of R700s + R300 center speaker. Of course, the base is subwoofer-extracting but to my surprise, the middle and highs were excellent, very clear. And I finally could hear what "soundstage" means. Now I just need a new amplifier but I am confident that that's it and no more expensive equipment are not needed to acquired ever again.
wow what a review, you have definitely put my mind at ease about the price point that I set myself with a system. I felt that I needed to continually raise my budget. This brings it back to reality for me
This review really surprised me when Kristi and you started chatting.. I heard something I didn't expect from a "review"
FEELINGS.
Honestly guys. WOW!!!!!
Fascinating review and excellent question Kristi. Great job, both of you! I’d like to give these an audition. One thing I’d like that these don’t offer is higher efficiency and easier to drive. I love my 8watt S.E.T. Amplifier and I suspect it would struggle to drive these, even its 4 ohm setting.
I love your conversation at the end about gate keeping, truly a pet peeve of mine in ANY industry. I’ve seen it way to often. In fact, just a year and a half ago I walked into a BMW dealer to test drive a vehicle and was literally told my “price range” was better had on the used lot. This after I had received a $75K retention bonus from my employer and was ready to buy my wife’s dream car. She was so upset, we walked out and found a low miles private sale who truly wanted our money.