Pollk R50

[Craig234]

I bought a pair of Polk R50's pretty much without hearing them, because Fry's had them at a ridiculously low clearance price (not sure if prices are allowed to list), and I saw a number of reviews that pretty much all were very positive, including from people who had bought them blind and paid much more.

About to hook them up... did I do good?

Also, I read one review that they really can use a subwoofer. Would you recommend that? Any in particular?

 

[corey]

Also, I read one review that they really can use a subwoofer. Would you recommend that? Any in particular?

Yes.
No. But Hsu & SVS could be a good starting place.

 

[Matt34]

If you like them does it matter what we think? What is you budget for the sub?

 

[engtaz]

Yes, the Polk R50's are good speakers. 2-6 1/2" mid/woofers and 1-tweeter. Matt34's statement is the best, if you like them and they do all you want, then don't worry about a sub. Are you 2 channel or HT?

engtaz

 

[GlocksRock]

I used to have some R30s that I got from Fry's website, they were good for what I paid for them. As long as they sound good to you, that's all that matters. For a sub, I would highly reccomend SVS and HSU, but if you are on a budget, it's hard to beat the Dayton subs from parts express.

 

[Craig234]

Thank you for the replies. I've still yet to hear them in my house, getting them hooked up today.

I don't tend to have a fixed budget for things, but rather to try to make the budget fit what makes sense depending on the available products.

If I were to pull a number out of thin air, I'd say spending $50 on a sub-woofer would be a nice amount, but if ones costing much more 'make sense' in tems of what you get, then I'd consider doing so. Usually I'd have a higher budget; a layoff adjusted that. Right now it's for two music speakers; I might hook them up to the TV I'm replacing, and they could eventually be in a 5.1 (after I figure out how to resolve my preference for the couch on a wall adjacent to the tv with the 5.1 sound being best with a chair in the middle of the room, or at least a couch opposite the tv wall).

 

[mojo_13]

$50 on a sub is a little on the low side. I bought a pair of the r50's from frys and got the bic H-100 off the authorized seller on ebay for 235 shipped. Is this setup the best? Not at all but for a first go round it sounds pretty good to me with a set of polk monitor 30's and a csi3. If I were to do it again I would probably try to save a little more for my subwoofer, but I like the sound and it will due until I find some more good deals and have to upgrade.

 

[m_vanmeter]

if your budget is severly constrained, than consider a subwoofer from Parts Express. Their "Dayton" brand subs are good for the budget minded. An 8" or 10" would definately help out the R50's

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?WebPage_ID=3&Cat_ID=43&ObjectGroup_ID=620&sm=1&so=1

good luck

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I too bought a pair of R50 Polks from Frys for a friends X-Mas present, and paired them with an Infinity PS 12 Sub. The Polks are much warmer in the midrange than my Aperions, but sounded good with the Infinity sub. They will play loud with clean power from an old but goodie Yamaha DSP A1000 integrated amp.

For the money you can't go wrong. If I needed another pair of inexpensive towers I would buy them again

 

[Craig234]

Thanks. I wasn't sure whether to even toss out a figure, because I didn't want to constrain the suggestions. More is ok.

I'm new to buying a subwoofer and don't know SVS or HSU. Any specific models I should look at?

m_vanmeter, I'd probably rather avoid the 'severely constrained budget' ones if they aren't 'just fine'. mojo_13 says he'd buy better than the $235 subwoofer he got if he were buying again. So, I've got SVS, HSU, the Infiniti PS 12, and the bic H-100 mentioned above the budget sub. How to pick from them?

 

[Gimpy Ric]

For $155.00 consider this Dayton 12" from Parts Express:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-635

 

[emorphien]

For the price these older Polks sell for new, I really think it's hard to go wrong. They can make for some seriously decent bargain systems as long as you're not super picky.

 

[unreal.freak]

I bought a pair of Polk R50's pretty much without hearing them, because Fry's had them at a ridiculously low clearance price (not sure if prices are allowed to list), and I saw a number of reviews that pretty much all were very positive, including from people who had bought them blind and paid much more.

About to hook them up... did I do good?

Also, I read one review that they really can use a subwoofer. Would you recommend that? Any in particular?

I checked the price on Frys, Man thats a Smoking deal on those!!!!
If i needed some i would snag a pair for myself. I never went on Frys website before, they have pretty good deals on lots of stuff. Thanks for the heads up.

Peace,
Tommy

 

[m_vanmeter]

"craig"
by "budget constrained" I was not refering to quality. If you do some googling on the Dayton subs, I think you will find they are highly regarded subs. Parts Express is a great retailer for complete speakers and speaker components, so they don't price in all the marketing and hype in their prices.

That said, HSU and SVS are both super "internet direct" dealers and just about anything they sell will work fine with your R50's.

good luck

 

[m_vanmeter]

"unreal"
I have purchased equipment from both www.frys.com and www.vanns.com

Both have great sale prices, but you need to check often as the sales change quickly. It is unique that both Fry's and Vann's have real "bricks-n-mortor" stores, as well as a great internet operation. One suggestion on heavy a/v equipment.....check the shipping costs, they can add a considerable amount to the overall purchase price. That's why I will often do a quick check of amazon.com to see if the items are available from them with free shipping. You just need to do the homework.