Polk Audio F/XiA4 Bipole/Dipole Surround Speaker Overview

[HTKamikazee]

I've been looking for a set of surround speakers for some time and I'm interested in a couple models from Polk Audio. I've never had a bipole/dipole surround speaker and I'm really curious about them as they have some pretty cool tunning benefits. For some reason I'm particularly interested in their F/XiA4 model.

According to the company, their engine is the dual Dynamic Balance® 1-inch dome tweeter design and a 5-1/4-inch Dynamic Balance driver. As I mentioned earlier, their selectable bipole/dipole function offers the versatility to configure the speakers to your liking and available space. All this in a small cabinet which enables it to fit almost anywhere. The F/XiA also features a Cascade Tapered Crossover which, according to Polk, eliminates the comb filtering and beaming, common to multi-driver speakers, which degrades the quality of the audio and collapses the soundstage. While I haven't heard speakers with this technology, I sure have heard some of their speakers and, to this point, the products I have auditioned have met their specs/claims - which means I can't think of a good reason not to believe them. Of course, even then, all claims need to be confirmed. Will I be pleased with this model? I don't know. But I'll let you all know if I decide to get my hands on a pair of these. Check out the following information and let me know your thoughts.

FEATURES:

• The trapezoidal shaped cabinets aim the drivers and tweeters in opposing directions to produce a more realistically diffuse wavefront and wide, lifelike imaging of surround sound.
• Keyhole slots make mounting a snap.
• With the flip of a switch, our dipole/bipole circuitry changes the soundfield from direct to indirect radiation patterns enabling you to place the surround speaker beside or behind you depending on your listening room setup.
• Klippel motor optimization uses laser measurement technology to ensure a smooth excursion path at either end of the volume spectrum for uniform performance at both low and high volumes.
• Polk's proprietary, patented Dynamic Balance technology allows our engineers to design out distortion-causing driver and system resonances, so you only hear the good sounds.
• Durable, computer-modeled, injection-molded butyl rubber surrounds suppress unwanted cone resonances for a lifetime of reliable sound.
• Patented Acoustic Resonance Control® (ARC) technology suppresses cabinet resonance that causes distortion to ensure clear and natural sound.
• Computer-modeled anti-diffraction grilles enhance the good looks while minimizing sonic interference.
• All Polk loudspeakers are timbre-matched within their series, designed with the same components throughout, to achieve seamless speaker-to-speaker blending effects in multi-channel systems.
• Gold-plated, professional-style 5-way binding posts offer the most secure connection options.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Enclosure Type: Mid-High Array Enclosure
• Type: Vented
• Mid / Woofer Diameter / Type: 5-1/4" / Dynamic Balance driver with polymer composite cone and rubber surround
• Tweeter Diameter / Type: 1" / Dynamic Balance silk polymer composite dome
• Efficiency: 88 dB
• Inputs: 5-way binding posts
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
• Recommended Amplifier Power: 20 - 125 watts per channel
• Total Frequency Response: 50Hz - 27kHz
• Total Shipping Weight: 25 pounds
• Speaker Warranty: 5 years parts and labor (original purchaser)

PRICE: $399.95