Polk Audio vs. Klipsch syndrome.

[snakeeyes]

Every system should have a decent sub. What is the volume of the room in cubic feet? (Dimensions)

 

[LamontSim]

Every system should have a decent sub. What is the volume of the room in cubic feet? (Dimensions)

15 ft. X 15 ft.

 

[LamontSim]

I prefer the sound of Polk speakers over Klipsch. I think you'd be much happier with a pair of Polk's listening to your music (my 2 cents).

Wanted to ask you something pertaining to your earlier reply. If my music genre is of R&B, Funk, Soul and Rock, Alternative such as Nirvana, Alternative pop and rock, would the Polk still be better suited or not?

 

[snakeeyes]

15 ft. X 15 ft.

Ceiling height?

 

[LamontSim]

Ceiling height?

Sorry for the delay in answering, about 10 or 11 feet.

 

[snakeeyes]

Sorry for the delay in answering, about 10 or 11 feet.

Probably should be looking at ported 12in subs from HSU, SVS, Rythmik, and Monolith.

 

[LamontSim]

The Rti series I haven’t had that much time with. But I’m almost sure it’s somewhere near the Monitor series which I have owned. I would say that the Polk’s are more enjoyable for music listening because they aren’t as harsh as Klipsch are. HOWEVER, the RP series by Klipsch has somewhat tamed the harshness by using a different tweeter and a softer horn. I haven’t spent that much time with the RPs either, but I have had experience with the Reference series. Anything is better than the Reference series. As long as you don’t get the Reference series, you will be fine.

Between the two? I’d probably pick the Polk’s because I’m still traumatized by Klipsch.

Sensitivity isn’t a huge factor tbh, a few decibels here and there never hurt anyone. Klipsch is obviously the higher sensitivity speaker and will play louder because so, but it won’t necessarily play better than the Polk’s.

As for frequency response, they should be pretty similar. It won’t matter too much on paper but their acoustic signatures will obviously sound much different because it’s a horn vs dome tweeter.

At the end of the day it’s what your ears like. We can only help you out so much.

Russdawg, how are you. Wanted to ask you something since I got some of the best feedback from you on the speaker issue I previously wrote about.
A speaker with a frequency response of 50Hz-26,000Hz vs. 45Hz-25,000Hz both -/+3db.
Which do you think has the better rating for an overall better soundstage?

 

[Russdawg1]

Russdawg, how are you. Wanted to ask you something since I got some of the best feedback from you on the speaker issue I previously wrote about.
A speaker with a frequency response of 50Hz-26,000Hz vs. 45Hz-25,000Hz both -/+3db.
Which do you think has the better rating for an overall better soundstage?

The speaker that is rated for 45hz will extend lower (fuller bass). It’s close to impossible to tell soundstage from a frequency rating. I would think off axis response could be a good indication but other than that, your ears would be the only way to decide. Type of tweeter might be an indication but again, soundstage and imaging aren’t really measured numbers.

 

[everettT]

The speaker that is rated for 45hz will extend lower (fuller bass). It’s close to impossible to tell soundstage from a frequency rating. I would think off axis response could be a good indication but other than that, your ears would be the only way to decide. Type of tweeter might be an indication but again, soundstage and imaging aren’t really measured numbers.

3rd party measurements can explain a lot when phase angles and impedance are closely watched. I'd never take a factory spec, with some exceptions, as a means of understanding the speaker.

 

[Russdawg1]

3rd party measurements can explain a lot when phase angles and impedance are closely watched. I'd never take a factory spec, with some exceptions, as a means of understanding the speaker.

That makes a lot of sense, I’m not that experienced so I’m clearly lacking some knowledge on speakers but I think it’s safe to say that it’s impossible to tell quality of soundstage off frequency response correct?

 

[LamontSim]

The 26,000 was the Polk with the silk dome tweeter. The 25,000 was the Klipsch RP-600M which seems to be the new replacement for the RP-160M with the horn tweeter.

 

[LamontSim]

As I'm contacting you, I'm presently listening to both switching from A to B to hear the difference between these two. While on some tracks the Klipsch does offer a fuller or broader soundstage where bass is definitely fuller, some tracks are like you stated in previous feedback - too much!

 

[Russdawg1]

The 26,000 was the Polk with the silk dome tweeter. The 25,000 was the Klipsch RP-600M which seems to be the new replacement for the RP-160M with the horn tweeter.

While there is something to be said about speakers that can reach higher than 20khz, the truth is, we can’t hear over 20khz. So as long as the speaker reaches 20khz, there’s no need to compare them there. On the other hand, there is much to be said about the low frequencies. You want the smallest number possible (45hz vs the 50hz) because like I said it will play lower bass. Not too important if you are using a subwoofer though as it will take everything under 80hz.

As I'm contacting you, I'm presently listening to both switching from A to B to hear the difference between these two. While on some tracks the Klipsch does offer a fuller or broader soundstage where bass is definitely fuller, some tracks are like you stated in previous feedback - too much!

Yea most people tend to be wowed by Klipsch immediately, I know I was, but after extended music listening I see the harshness and now I cannot stand to listen to them. It’s weird that you have noticed this harshness so soon without extended listening but it might be for the better.

 

[LamontSim]

While there is something to be said about speakers that can reach higher than 20khz, the truth is, we can’t hear over 20khz. So as long as the speaker reaches 20khz, there’s no need to compare them there. On the other hand, there is much to be said about the low frequencies. You want the smallest number possible (45hz vs the 50hz) because like I said it will play lower bass. Not too important if you are using a subwoofer though as it will take everything under 80hz.



Yea most people tend to be wowed by Klipsch immediately, I know I was, but after extended music listening I see the harshness and now I cannot stand to listen to them. It’s weird that you have noticed this harshness so soon without extended listening but it might be for the better.

Thanks again for the feedback. I'm still looking into the Philharmonic and Ascend Acoustics. Got to find a New York City dealer that may have so I can audition.

 

[LamontSim]

Thanks again for the feedback. I'm still looking into the Philharmonic and Ascend Acoustics. Got to find a New York City dealer that may have so I can audition.

IF I CAN ONE. I remember you said before they're only through the site. Would love to hear these.

 

[Russdawg1]

IF I CAN ONE. I remember you said before they're only through the site. Would love to hear these.

If you head over to the AVS Forum’s Speaker Demo thread, I’m sure you can find a kind soul to demo their Ascends or AAM’s. The AVS Forum is (I think?) much busier and active than Audioholics. It’s where I spend most of my time. They also have a really strong Classifieds forum.

 

[LamontSim]

Serious question for anyone out there. Is there a difference (in sound preferably) between a woofer that is specified as a mid/woofer and one that is just listed as a woofer?

 

[everettT]

Depends on the woofer. I know several "mid" woofers that play quite low.

 

[Russdawg1]

Serious question for anyone out there. Is there a difference (in sound preferably) between a woofer that is specified as a mid/woofer and one that is just listed as a woofer?

Not really, interchangeable terms when used separately but if there is a woofer and a midwoofer on a tower for example, the woofer handles the low frequencies and the midwoofer the mid ranges. Similar to subwoofer vs woofer.

 

[Joe B]

Serious question for anyone out there. Is there a difference (in sound preferably) between a woofer that is specified as a mid/woofer and one that is just listed as a woofer?

Sometimes there is a difference in sound, at least the sound that is being output. In a 2.5 way speaker the mid/woofer is playing both the midrange as well as the lower frequencies of the woofers. Paradigms Pestige Series speakers are a 2.5 speaker. There are 3 identical woofers in the towers. The lower 2 are playing only the bottom end of the music. The woofer below the tweeter is playing the mid's along with the bass.