Polk Audio Signature series S55 speakers review.
When it comes to home audio, the name Polk invokes a certain brand promise- one of quality and value, delivering high performance at affordable cost. Over the years, the company has stayed remarkably close to its roots and true to the creation of its story, and that is you can get about 90% of the performance for about one tenth of the cost. The Signature Series is no exception.
The Signature line tower speaker is one step up from the entry-level T-series. The S55 features the same Terylene dome tweeter as the S50 and S60. It has dual 6.5-inch midrange woofers, while the S50 features two 5.25-inch woofers, and the S60 carries three 6.5-inch woofers. There is not much difference in the mid to high ranges for the 3 speakers in the series. S60 will give you a bit more low end bass. If you prefer more bass, then you’ll probably run a separate subwoofer in your system so all 3 models will sound amazing in combination with a standalone woofer.
The vinyl woodgrain outer cabinets with silvered driver diaphragms and brushed-nickle fasteners make this floorstanding speaker look premium and ultra-modern. The speaker grill attaches magnetically so it’s easy to put it on or off depending on your preference. While some reviews knock on the noticeable plastic parts when you closely inspect the unit, we didn’t feel this way at all. The speakers look great even upon close inspection. The veneer wrap is so well done that you really have to look and touch to know that it’s just a wrap on the plastic housing. Keep in mind, none of this has any bearing on the sound quality.
In real world testing, S55 delivers clear and detailed realistic reproduction of vocals and instruments. In other words, they sound amazing! The 1-inch Terylene tweeter is designed to exhibit lower resonance as well as offering a frequency that reached 40kHz. Impressive! It easily fills up an enclosed large living room space with no gaps in audio coverage.
The signature series was designed for home theater and audio listening. Movies really shine with the S55, offering pinpoint detailed dialogue, warm and rich sounds and striking presence in upper midrange. Musically, the sound is clear and present. As we touched on earlier, add a separate subwoofer for that extra oomph. We were very impressed with these speakers taking are of all of our home theater and music audio needs. Retailing for around $269.95 each, the Polk S55 is a perfect blend of performance, style, and value. Get a pair for your home theater setup. You won’t regret it!
Make sure you also get a high-end receiver to power these speakers. We tested ours with a very capable SONY STR-DH590 receiver. The sound is clean and clear. Remember, if you don’t have the budget, always upgrade speakers first as they influence what you hear the most. The more expensive AV receiver will give you all the bells and whistles, not necessarily better audio quality.
Polk Audio product description
• Enjoy rich, clean, full-range sound for movies, TV and music with Polk’s new Dynamic Balance designed acoustic array
• 1” high-resolution Terylene tweeter for crystal clear high frequency response that perfectly reproduces the latest high resolution audio files
• 6.5” mica-reinforced polypropylene cones for clean, clear bass, better linearity, and increased dynamic mid-range
• Exclusive Polk Power Port technology for greater, more impactful bass
Specs
Height: 41.5″ (105.41 cm)
Width: 11.7″ (29.72 cm)
Depth: 12.5″ (31.75 cm)
Weight: 44 lbs (19.96 kg)
Driver Enclosure Type: Power Port Bass Vented
Driver Complement: (1) 1″ (2.54 cm) d (Round) Terylene High-Res Dome – Tweeter, (2) 6.5″ (16.51 cm) d (Round) Dynamic Balance Mica Reinforced Polypropylene Drivers – Mid/Woofer
Total Frequency Response: 32 Hz → 40000 Hz
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Sensitivity (1 watt @ 1 meter): 90 dB
Crossover Type: 2-way
Tweeter/Midrange Crossover Frequency: 2500 Hz
Power Handling (per channel): 20 watts → 200 watts
Speaker Inputs: (1) Set of 5-Way Binding Posts (Gold-Plated)
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