Polk or Klipsch

[learnfpga]

Hey All,

I am not a big audioholic but I am building a decent home thetre system. Mostly movies and little bit of music. My living room is medium sized.

I have 46' samsumg LCD and planning to buy Denon AVR 1909.

Originally I was thinking of Klipsch Synergy Quintet II + Sub 10 Woofer (total approx $600).

I just saw Polk RM6880BK on circuit city for $274. It include 10" sub too. Do you guys/gals think this is a good speaker system.

Or should I stick to previous combination.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance.

 

[chuck10553]

as you probably realize the polk will not be as good as the klipsch... the klipsch is much more powerful and will probably be cleaner and crispper... also the sub in the polk system is much smaller... its 165 watt i believe i saw whereas the sub-10 is 450 watts i believe... i have the sub-10 and love it... my speakers are all yamaha but i did seriously look at the quintet II and loved how they sounded and looked but just could not find them for the price i wanted... so basically i would personally go with klipsch... i am more of a klipsch fan over polk to begin with although polk does make some good stuff... although as many in this forum has said go and listen to them and see which you like better... if this is a system you really want to have some boom to it i would definatly go with klipsch... but like i said listen to them and see which you like best! hope this helps!

 

[bandphan]

A good starting point is if you want a good ht try to at the very least try to have your audio budget match the video

 

[dorokusai]

as you probably realize the polk will not be as good as the klipsch... the klipsch is much more powerful and will probably be cleaner and crispper... also the sub in the polk system is much smaller... its 165 watt i believe i saw whereas the sub-10 is 450 watts i believe... i have the sub-10 and love it... my speakers are all yamaha but i did seriously look at the quintet II and loved how they sounded and looked but just could not find them for the price i wanted... so basically i would personally go with klipsch... i am more of a klipsch fan over polk to begin with although polk does make some good stuff... although as many in this forum has said go and listen to them and see which you like better... if this is a system you really want to have some boom to it i would definatly go with klipsch... but like i said listen to them and see which you like best! hope this helps!

If you could get your ears on them, that would be best but that often sucks when it comes to in-store demos.

I don't believe that their is a major compromise in sound quality between the two products. The frequency range is very similar when you factor in the K subwoofer. I believe the soundstage will be larger with the Klipsch due to the design of the actual loudspeaker. It's an MTM array and designed large and ported. The Polk system takes a different approach and may be more directional depending on your enviroment.

At this stage of subwoofer, wpc doesn't mean much and both will be just fine.

I like the soft dome of the Polk over the Klipsch but the K has the advantage in regards to room coverage as a package. Surrounds don't matter at all in this example.

Hey, good luck and let us know where you go.

Mark

 

[PSWii60]

I am not a big audioholic but I am building a decent home thetre system.

Ha, thats funny. Your an Audioholic, you just don't know it yet. I was in denial myself for years and finally gave into to my obsession by joining Audioholics. Give it time

 

[hotroady]

I would check out Reference series Klipsch. Ref RW-12 sub has a 340rms Bash amp that made it best in class...they cut corners w Synergy line.

 

[tom67]

Klipsch subs

I posted a positive Klipsch post above....so dont read this as a contradiction...I own the Klipsch KSW 12 sub and frankly you can do better for less money with a modest sub from someone else....the reference series has some good ones, but too expensive.....I would recommend a smaller sub from HSU.com or SVS.com before anything in the Klipsch, Polk or other common brick and mortar brands...

 

[csaxon]

vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/549999254/klipsch-rsw10d-cherry?s_c=site_search

 

[GZA]

i have been hearing negative things about polk and was told not to buy their products, anyone agree or was i lied to

 

[Midcow2]

I agree with BandPhan ; think about adjusting your budget to spend more $ on speakers

A good starting point is if you want a good ht try to at the very least try to have your audio budget match the video

I agree what BandPhan is rying to nicely say to you is that your probably should think about buying more expensive speakers if you want to get the most out of the your Samsung LCD and you future Denon AVR 1909.

For a typical HT system you want to spend about 2/3rds on speakers and 1/3 on AVR.

Based on what yot are looking at right now you total budget is about $900-$1200.

If it were me I would spend less on the AVR and more on the speakers!

Here is a really good low cost AVR: Yamaha RX-V363 for only $199.
http://www.4electronicwarehouse.com/products/yamaha/rx-v363.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=yamaha 363&utm_campaign=YAMAHA&engine=adwords!8299&keyword=RX-363&match_type=&gclid=CN3-hprt85YCFQrFGgodS0wNXw

That would up your speaker budget to $700-$1,000. And for that price you can get some very,very nice sound. But first you have to agree and determine how much you want to spend on speakers.

Also, different people have different tastes in speakers. Auditon the speakers and pick the ones that sound best to you.

You can wait on a sub. I like SVS abd Hsu brands best but you are talking at least $400. A very good inexpensive sub is the Dayton SUB-120 HT at$139.90 http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-635

Good Luck!

MidCow

 

[Midcow2]

Welcome to the forum dont worry about $ we will try to help!

i have been hearing negative things about polk and was told not to buy their products, anyone agree or was i lied to

GZA,

First welcome to the forum. And don't worry about not having much money. There are all levels of HT systems here from very, very inexpensive to extremely expensive.

No one will judge you on how much $$ you have or don't have.

However, what they will do is try to find you the best sound ( speakers, AVR, etc.) that are within you budget.

So before one can determine whether Polk is bad or not or whtee there is a better sounding speaker for the price, we need to know you budget, room size and what you will be listening too!

Again welcome to the forum and we will try to help!


Later,

MidCow2

P,S. - For example if you are open to bookshelf speakers, the Cambridge Audio S30 are excellent sound for $219 per pair http://spearitsound.amazonwebstore.com/Cambridge-Audio-S30-Speakers-Natural-Oak/M/B00196SJOI.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

 

[hotroady]

I posted a positive Klipsch post above....so dont read this as a contradiction...I own the Klipsch KSW 12 sub and frankly you can do better for less money with a modest sub from someone else....the reference series has some good ones, but too expensive.....I would recommend a smaller sub from HSU.com or SVS.com before anything in the Klipsch, Polk or other common brick and mortar brands...

A KSW 12 can be improved by placing a 3/8in glass plate below it. Still it is nothing like a RW-12. I should also say; The new RW-12d is not as good as the original. Klipsch has more surround systems in movie theaters than anyone, they're good at it.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

i have been hearing negative things about polk and was told not to buy their products, anyone agree or was i lied to

You were lied to. Polk makes excellent speakers (relative to price, of course.)
It should also be noted that some of us cannot stand the Klipsch sound (though others love it.) To those of us who do not like Klipsch, the sound is irritatingly bright and harsh like fingernails on a chalkboard.

 

[tom67]

Klipsch

I happen to like the Klipsch sound, but even if you dont, remember, dont include the subwoofer as having a certain sound. So, if you like the other speakers...no problem....

 

[dorokusai]

i have been hearing negative things about polk and was told not to buy their products, anyone agree or was i lied to

There are folks that hate every brand, other than their own and some that love equally...it's nothing new.

You have to get your own ears on the gear to really make a decision. Even then you are at the mercy of what's in control but again...its decision time. You can always say no, or that sucks, or that it didn't properly reproduce the female signature I expected.

Don't choose on the suggestion of another, go with your gut or your own ears. You should use others' opinions to get a picture of what you might expect. The rest is up to you.

Mark

 

[Midcow2]

dorokusai gives soem very good advice!

There are folks that hate every brand, other than their own and some that love equally...it's nothing new.

You have to get your own ears on the gear to really make a decision. Even then you are at the mercy of what's in control but again...its decision time. You can always say no, or that sucks, or that it didn't properly reproduce the female signature I expected.

Don't choose on the suggestion of another, go with your gut or your own ears. You should use others' opinions to get a picture of what you might expect. The rest is up to you.

Mark

Dorokusai gives some very good advice! You can get an idea from others which speakers are good and which are bad in different price ranges. However, the best jist of wheher a speaker sounds good or not is going to be YOU. Audition the speakersith the type of music you will be listening too! Also when listening try to emulate youractual house set-up in terms of size and distance if possible.

Good Luck!

MidCow1

 

[GZA]

thanks to everyone who answered my question. i just picked up a pair of new speakers 2 weeks ago and im in the market again for a second set. right now its between a pair of polk and jbl speakers. i well get the models later so you know which ones im referring to.

im hooked on audio equipment. i have been since i was 10 years old, thats when i bought my first stereo and i figure its easier for me to spend $2000 on speakers now because im livin cost is still fairly low rather then when i get my own house