Sound
Contents
The last time we received a Polk speaker we were not so enthusiastic but we notice immediately that Polk has bettered itself. Where the bass used to be a bit messy and boomy, this is fortunately not the case anymore. It is still an American sound but the bass is now a lot tighter and cleaner. It does not have the punch of some competitors but that is also not the DNA of the R700. The Polk Audio Reserve R700 is a large speaker and with those two large woofers they go for deep and full bass that flows nicely. It’s bass that you feel at higher volumes. The R700 therefore comes into its own in a somewhat larger room. With us it was just about okay, but we do not play too loud.
The midrange is a bit well behaved but has the advantage that a lot of music sounds just a bit better and that lesser recordings do not come over as harsh and unplayable. The midrange is a bit darker than we are used to and so it will be important to find a suitable amplifier if you want to get the balance perfect. This is true of any speaker but here it is striking. An Audiolab 6000A or Advance Paris Myconnect M60 – to name a few – seem like suitable partners to us.
The Ring tweeter doesn’t provoke and doesn’t sound artificial and it is still providing enough detail. There is a nice dispersion and surprising insight into better recordings. What is noticeable is that the sound comes loose very nicely. And the sweet spot is indeed wider than average. Occasionally we miss some sparkle but it is also a matter of getting used to. With vocal work and jazz, this tuning works particularly well. It puts a warm blanket around the music making you sink comfortably into the sofa.
So we would describe the overall playback as forgiving, controlled and generous. This is not the fastest speaker but you know that when you choose the R700. This is a speaker to relax with. A speaker that you can listen to for hours at a time and that makes many genres sound good. That in itself is an absolute asset
For Whom
The Polk Audio Reserve R700 quietly does its thing and with an appropriate amplifier can balance out nicely. You could, of course, buy an R500 or R600 but they don’t have those extra woofers and because of that, they will sound different.
The R700 is a true three-way that is not afraid to growl and roar. This is a speaker for those who are tired of their bare monitor sound and finally want to feel some bass drums in their stomach. No more mister nice guy. Just put on the music and go. No audiophile nonsense, just play the entire history of pop and rock music in all its glory. Preferably at a hefty volume. This is a speaker that wants to let go and makes even lesser recordings sound good. The fact that the R700 is also very affordable makes it a unique opportunity to buy a great speaker at a friendly price. Just make sure you have the space for it.
Compare
Our Acoustics Energy AE509 is faster, has more punch but has the same quiet reproduction. Our Acoustics Energy AE509 is a 2.5 system and a bit more expensive and then the three-way Polk Reserve R700. It doesn’t go as deep as the R700, but has more punch and speed. Yet the AE509 pales next to the R700. Rock music in particular sounds fuller and more complete on the R700. The sweetspot is wider on the R700 and the soundstage a bit wider. Both are fun speakers that you just enjoy without question
Conclusion
The Polk Audio R700 was actually our second choice, but by now we're really glad they stayed here for a while. After a few weeks, we were totally on board and understood what this floorstander stands for. Fun, fun. But with more sophistication than before. Although it is a relatively large speaker, it is easy to place and set up.Polk Audio has made serious strides in terms of technology and playback and the 'custom made' elements of the Legend series take this Reserve series to the next level. Anyone looking to have fun with their music should definitely put this R700 on their shortlist. Listening pleasure guaranteed.