Review! The Polk Audio 'Legend' L100 | Bookshelf Loudspeaker

[@ZeroFidelity]

So let's go ahead and address the elephant in the room: Yes, I'm aware of the clearance prices on the outgoing LsiM speakers from both Polk Audio and retailers like Adorama. They've been slinging these speakers out the door from 50-70% off msrp - and that includes warranty with free shipping to those of you in the lower 48 US states! Suffice to say, that makes the LSiM's one of the best deals you can get in high-performance loudspeakers right now. So why didn't I bring that up in the review? Because this assessments focus is on accurately capturing the performance envelop of the L100, and supposed to be relevant for many years to come. Well after the LSiM's inventory is depleted, and the line becomes regulated to the annals of Polk Audio history. I will likely remove this comment (if I can remember to do so) once the LSiM's are gone for good.

[@ross5506]

Just purchased 4 of the Lism 703 in cherry what a bargain for! $1900. all in. These sound great with my 2 Bryston and they can handle the power. That's in Canadian funds. So beautiful made.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@ross5506 Heck yeah! Enjoy the sound!

[@Sonofholhorse]

I, too, couldn't resist the blowout prices on the LSiM line and scooped a pair of the 703s. I'm still in my honeymoon period, but they are everything that I had wanted and more. Having now sampled Polk's [former] flagship line, I can only imagine that the Legend line is superb both in execution and value! As always, a great review, Sean! It also touched my heart a bit, because I also started my audio journey with a pair of entry-level Polk R300s that were on deep discount at Fry's, combined with a Pioneer AVR and a Yamaha Sub. How far we've come!

[@L0st-n0found]

Right now I'm worried there might not be such a thing as decent reliable mid/tweets for the LSiM and wondering how on earth we can expect the Legend to be better. The L200 ($1800/pair) is taking place of the LSiM 703 ($449/pair on sale) right? So are they 4 times the speaker???? Again can we trust they won't have defects. I am willing to work with Polk on getting rid of the defects and based on my only time working with them on the 707 - they were mostly great. I do not expect a speaker that costs $100 or even $20 to have defects. To not sound the greatest, yes, yet to sound as they were intended absolutely. At the start of this last huge Adorama sale I bought 2x707 and 1x706 had some issues went through polk - sent out two new grates and two new 6x9 (I had an issue with 1 bent grate, one that would slip - magnets not working and 1 6x9 visually unsure of audibly) I then ordered 4x703 1 set 702 fx and another 706 Then I found I was having distortion in high frequencies on what seemed to only be one 707. Then I noticed it a bit on 706 Frequency sweeps didn't isolate. I think there may be same issue with the 'good' 707 to a much lesser extent also. Yesterday I tried a pair of 703 and seemed to have some issues in some songs. I moved on to one song that caused the distortion on the 707 and 706 and sounded OK. I then tried some guitar strums that made the 707 and I thought 706 have the crackle. I was listening not very loud at all and thought I detected some. I next listened to the highest notes of Pachelbel - Canon - Stringspace String Quartet and the one 703 was crackling horrendously and definitely with both mid and tweet. Had both 703 plugged in and thought I heard some distortion from the other tweet though unsure. So, so far I have at very least 1 bad tweeter or mid on 1 707 Have had very limited time to figure anything - redoing two houses most everything packed away. Don't have the space or setup to audition. Was planning on eventually a 29x18 room as main audio video room w/ large TV. 2x707 1x706 2x703 2x702 1 or two subs have a jbl l8400p now was thinking maybe go with 2x svs-sb3000 at some point or their successor. Also thinking about using in ceilings for atmos. I have several new currently stored away. Separately was planning the other 703 for stereo with 706 for TV/video in second location. I have sony 1030 and 1080 (175w 8ohm) Yamaha tsr 7850 and another yamaha I had some others put away in storage and was digging for my Marantz a couple days ago to try w/ the 703s but it was gone - had a theft many years ago and some of my audio equipment was taken thought they didn't get back anywhere near that far. Unfortunately they did. I really just wanted very decent speakers after a long time of having OK speakers. I've been using the JBL sub with Sony SS-HA1 as LCR and a few different centers as my main and Yamaha NS-777 as a secondary with four Sony SRS-x9 in various places. As well as a few other this and thats around. Limited reviews though it seemed like some trusted reviewers indicated they weren't the best speakers but very good in their price range. I'm not the guy who has 100k to drop on speakers or heaven forbid one pair of wires. I also became aware after the purchase of all the Polk that my mid to late 80s Polk bookshelf speakers I loved the sound of and thought these being new highest end could only be better - beautiful clean highs - were in fact Infinity bookshelf speakers.

[@L0st-n0found]

I presume @10:44 by the yamaha 806 integrated amp you reviewed you meant the 801?

[@anjin_x]

You've really grown in to the review process compared to the old videos. Keep it up, all the hard work recently shows. Kudos!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Appreciate it!

[@justinking5964]

He is talktive and seems like can talk for hours without boring.

[@markwilson0077]

Zero Fidelity = Straight up, hard core Rock star reviews! Easily the most comprehensive, digestible and detailed reviews...period. I simply don't buy products unless I've heard Sean's input. Thanks for all the hard work Sean, please continue to light the path.

[@ZeroFidelity]

You give me too much credit! Still, I appreciate the kind words all the same.

[@bnplaza]

I always enjoy your description of the speaker sound. Other reviewers never do that. Thank you.

[@barneywee514]

Another awesome review. The comparisons with the older series and other speakers is superb. The contrast makes the value proposition of the Legend clearer. My respect for talking about the price, that's a slap on their pricing strategy. At $999, I would have bought it before this review. Thank you Sean. You are numero uno!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks for the continued support!

[@hi-fihaven2257]

Great Looking speaker! Love that front baffle, great finish work. Great looking cabinet, nice looking build quality. Thanks for another great review man!

[@newtonsantos_photo963]

Such idea to split the talk in two Sessions over yours reviews, this makes a huge difference showing us a versatility and honest aspect from your comments. Congrats !!!

[@robertomusitano4238]

Great review Sean. I have always loved the Polk's.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks!

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Those L-100s look very clean ! I wanna POP THE HOOD ! 😆 Awesome review Sean !

[@mikehanks1399]

Polk wasn't always "mass market." There was a time when they could only be found in select high end audio shops. The highlight of my audio experience was when I met Matthew Polk and got a tour of his manufacturing facility in Baltimore. That would have been the late 70's. I distinctly remember the R&D room and the huge chunk of granite their turntable sat on. He was gracious enough to assign me a dealer number and I could purchase direct from the factory at dealer cost, 40% off retail. Some close friends and family members took advantage of my good fortune but even at dealer cost they were too rich for my blood. I do have a pair of Monitor 5 JR Plus speakers in my bedroom and they are still going strong. Those speakers endeared me to passive radiators. None of this is germane to your video except the fact that at one time Polk Audio was an exclusive brand.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Yep, Polk used to be more of a cliched hi-fi brand that was sold exclusively through B&M's. Was that way for their first 15 or so years in business. Matthews a great guy. I had a chance to riff with him while visiting Polk HQ when I was still a teen. Lots of funny stories were exchanged. Great guy! Glad you had a great experience with the man and his business. :)

[@DineshSingh1201]

Lovely speakers to own!! I'm so happy with my RTiA1 and A3 :) waiting for the tower review.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Sweet! Enjoy!

[@marknelson801]

P❤️LK has put out some awesome speakers over the years. I can’t wait to get my ears on this line. The L800s look like a must listen for me. Marantz and Parasound seem to be great matches for Polk.

[@Turtleback8024]

I've hooked my S55's to a Onkyo TX-NR686. Great sound!👌 The higher the volume, the clearer the sound.👍😎

[@ZeroFidelity]

Marantz and Parasound make for a safe match. The Denafrips match is on a different level though. Same with the little Lux.

[@raj6338]

I agree I would like to listen to the L800s and draw my own conclusion.

[@amb3cog]

Great review as usual. And an interesting speaker. Might pair nice with my vintage tube gear, and my Marantz 2275 also. Especially since I'm in a 12x12 room. Which of the two you compared would need more power to sound good, and get loud?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Both are roughly the same in that regard. Good sound has no relation to power. Loud volumes will be anywhere from 50-60wpc or higher.

[@jakes3139]

Been waiting for this one.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Hopefully it didn't disappoint!

[@johnsweda2999]

@@ZeroFidelity brutal honest review as always and should be, sounded quite fair in your analysis, at the end of the day it's down to the listener. Did you try the iota amplifier with it has a warmer sound I would of thought it'd be a good match.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@johnsweda2999 - It's just an OK match. Fun, but like every inexpensive (sub $1,000) amp that I've ever come across, it just doesn't have enough resolution and performance to match what the L100's are capable of.

[@johnsweda2999]

@@ZeroFidelity why don't you get your hands on the audiolab 6000a that is a very gutsy open amplifier 9 amps output £600

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@johnsweda2999 - Easy answer: Audiolab never once reached out to me and asked for a review on the 6000a. I'll be down if they ever are!

[@tg6373]

I just bought a pair for $599 brand new. The fit and finish is stunning for the price. They also sound amazing out of the box-I hear their potential and can't wait unit they are fully broken in. I also have Evoke 10s which are so f'ing awesome so the fact that the Polk's are making me smile says a lot about these speakers. I'm driving them with a Rotel 1582 MKii power amp. They sounded flat with my AL 6000A so I'd put some power into these puppies.

[@themastroiannis]

do you still have them? do you like them less or more than your dynaudios? just wondering...

[@tg6373]

@@themastroiannis Yes I still have them. I like ty Dynaudio 10s better. The Evoke 10s work with any amplifier I use: AL 6000a, Jadis Orchestra Black, Denon PMA 100 anniversary, Rogue Dragon, Rogue Sphinx. Honestly, the Polks sound the best with the 45W Jadis tube amp. They really sound amazing. Second would be with the Denon. The Polks didn't sound their best with the others. So they can be weird that way. But, when they sing, they sing.

[@themastroiannis]

@@tg6373 i might look then for a pair of dynaudios instead of the polks. thanks for your response!

[@markphilpot4981]

I noticed your post review comment and I agree with not confusing speaker performance parameters with what is happening with the market. That may taint it for most people and influence it in ways that should be obvious. Why go ruin a review by entering market data in a place where it clearly has no business. You did it right again of course and that is why your reviews stick to the content and don’t fly off course. It keeps it real and as always very honest. Not the easiest thing in today’s world where hype is the name of the game! Stay yourself and honest!👍🏻😊

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks for recognizing that Mark! Yeah, I decided that its a point that needed to be addressed - but the formal review wasn't the right place for it.

[@alonsochavez4129]

Nice story about your begginings in the audio paradise.

[@adambrown8867]

All of the best sounding speakers from Polk, Definative, & Golden Ear are all concepts from the same guy; Sandy Gross.

[@rotaks1]

Great comprehensive review!

[@gauravmhatre8785]

Hey... nice review really appreciate your efforts. How does these speakers compare with Polk Audio S20?

[@maureenwassermann767]

Bought the inexpensive Polk Sig 15 at your suggestion and really enjoy them. Have some other speakers in the house, all of which are orders of magnitude higher priced, and the Sig 15 acquit themselves quite nicely. A delightful product.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Glad you like them!

[@indianapolisindiana7856]

I was looking to get Emotiva B1+ or B2+ for my computer, but now I'm thinking about these L100's. They would certainly look a lot better! People rave about the sound of the Emotiva's. Any thoughts?

[@ostvaldseo]

I've also started my joutney with polks.. monitors 5.1 set. Nice set of speakers for the price.

[@stevorcompton5289]

I just retired my Polk Model 10Bs in the last year. I tend to keep my equipment for as long as it suits me and the 10B’s were always a great fit for the way I listen. I traded Matthew Polk’s design for Andrew Jones’ Pioneer SP-EFS73 Atmos system.

[@ZeroFidelity]

The 10B's are great speakers! A very pleasant listen and super easy to work with. Enjoy the Pioneers!

[@minho4575]

4 stars over at home theater review. For $1,200/pr, lots of competition out there.

[@jn3750]

For a bit more, the new KEF bookselves walk all over the POLK. They need to lower the price by 30-40% to stand a chance.

[@craigjohnchronicles2504]

@@jn3750 I've listened to the KEF bookshelf speakers, and no, they don't walk all over the Polk's. Not unless you're spending twice or 4 times as much.

[@betaomega04]

It's interesting that you start off like that because I'm listening to this on LSI9s!

[@roybanks8709]

Hi Sean. Joining the party a bit late. I know you’re a fan of the LS3/5 type of speaker. Me too. I want a small a speaker great on voice. Would this tempt you ?

[@matthewpool494]

I like the aesthetics quite a bit. :-)

[@JacesOwnWorld]

I want to own the Polk Legends, but I can’t get over their prices. Pretty pricey for speakers that look cheap. I understand they sound great, but visual aesthetics is also important to me, and they look cheap.

[@Mad.Maxx.77]

Polk is selling the L200 for $1199 w/free shipping now. I bought a pair to compare with my LS50 Metas. I like the Metas, but they can be a bit fatiguing.

[@TwoBlackMarks]

So, do you still have the L200s? Do you like them?

[@jimgeroul]

Great review as always! Any chance u get to review Polk Audio HTS subwoofers? or a thought vs svs-1000 line?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks Dimitris. Cant say I have any plans on covering those products in the near future.

[@theedgeofbreakup5192]

Advice please: These with a sub or Polk R600’s for 2 channel listening to CD’s and TV. I will be upgrading to an integrated amp shortly from my older Yamaha RX V673.

[@Bass_therapy_]

Man try the kef q150 I really want your opinion on them. Keep up the awesome videos

[@ericnortan9012]

I own T15's I got from a guy around the corner, mint condition. $40 bucks. Use them in bedroom set up. Nice little speakers. I know mine are low end but how much better are the L100's?🤘💀🤘

[@craigjohnchronicles2504]

How about that. These L100's are now listed at $999 on Polk's website. Nice review, and loving your KZbin channel. I still have my LSi15 speakers (17 years old now), and I have no desire to look for a replacement for those speakers. They're just....so....good.

[@captgugu741]

The intro on your videos always sound fabulous on my speakers even while playing through KZbin. How ? Why ? 🤔

[@indianapolisindiana7856]

Any thoughts on using these on a large desktop on each side of a 43" computer monitor?

[@tonydeniro284]

Would the parasound new classic 275 v2 Amp be enough to drive these? It can be switched to 2-3 ohm setting, 90 watts/ channel 8 ohm; 150 watts/4 ohm..

[@Diatonic5th]

Great review! These speakers look good, but at $1,200 there's a lot of competition from Monitor Audio, KEF, and ELAC.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Lots! At that price, it's all a matter of application and taste.

[@sidtan6013]

For the price, would you get these or the Dynaudio Evoke 10's?

[@walkerhollis]

How will the low end compared to some Polk SDA CRS or Polk monitor 7s? The CRS spec at 25 HZ low end but I'm not sure how accurate that is. App is nad-2600 150 wpc

[@taeheeyoon6020]

Always thanks for your honest review, Sean. Do you have any plan to review some new Wharfedale EVO series? Especially the 4.2 model.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Nope. No plans whatsoever!

[@taeheeyoon6020]

Sad... I wish you had a chance!

[@hassabsaeed9993]

Will you review the L800 any time soon ? thank you

[@douglasbonner6543]

So from where I sit they face competition from Paradigm Premier 100B and 200B also the Totem Skylight. That makes for some pretty fierce competitors. I guess I would check them out but my gut tells me at that price point there is better to be had.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Better all-around performance can be had if you don't need something that's as compact and you can give a speaker a lot of room to breathe. The Paradigms and Totems you mentioned look interesting. I'm sure they're great at achieving their goals. Better? Probably not. But they rarely make bad gear.

[@mmdusa]

I'll take the Buchardt, thank you very much. And the fact that they've knocked down the price so much just goes to show how much the Polk's were overpriced to begin with. Good quality audio products hold their value. Another fine video Sean. Thank you!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Overpriced? Naw. It's the same (or similar) margin that's built into most loudspeakers on the market. Consumer-direct or otherwise. The difference is the lack of regard for brand equity. hehe And yep, those S300 II's are sweethearts. A totally underrated speaker.

[@amb3cog]

Where have they knocked the price down at?

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@amb3cog Should be available through slickdeals if they aren't on Polks ebay store or Adoramas website. The sale is off and on.

[@amb3cog]

I don't see the L100 on sale anywhere? Nor have I since they've been introduced. Are you all talking about their old stuff they're blowing out? Because if so. This comment is very misleading.

[@corkydukeII5898]

Aaaahhhh, a fellow Polk hater. I've found a new friend : P

[@mpitogo]

I have LSi25 and LSiM 707 in my home. I’m looking to preorder L800’s to move up to the next gen Flagship. What to do with the older 707? I’ve had them for a long time but still very usable.

[@ufarkingicehole]

Did you upgrade yet?

[@epi2045]

Sean if you’re old... Call me Grandpa.

[@dougg1075]

Good review man, I was doing something important and saw this .. bam dropped everything. I’m super curious about these.

[@elmenomaronido6653]

i always loved the Polk Brand ! but for that money i’l buy a pair of monitor audio bronze 2 and a pair of Klipsch Rp600m both with 6 1/2 woofer !!!

[@corkydukeII5898]

I was very close to getting the Bronze 2's too, but due to several somewhat negative reviews I heard bout them, I couldn't quite pull the trigger. Darn shame cuz I really really love the way they look

[@Turtleback8024]

@@corkydukeII5898 This hobby is largely subjective man. Go audition them speakers, and hear for yourself. Someone said the Polk Signature Series S55's rolled off at high volumes. What a load of cow dung. Those towers come alive when pushed! And the sound becomes much cleaner, revealing a lot of information. This was particularly true when I played : The Nearness Of You by Bill Charlap. My gosh!👌 Just imagine if I listened to some misleading reviews on KZbin.

[@corkydukeII5898]

@@Turtleback8024 Unfortunately you're talking to the wrong guy, for I have a totally irrational hatred of Polk and wouldn't even THINK of using them even if you paid me. No offense, I just despise Polk (think of it this way...I'm a lifelong Nikon guy, which means Canon is the enemy and will always be despised. You can say it's silly and irrational, but it is what it is....)

[@corkydukeII5898]

@Fat Rat That's like saying, when shopping for say, a new Car, House, or even 'wife', we shouldn't be concerned with how it/ they 'look'....just so long as it's functional. What a completely ridiculous thing to say. I hope your joking about making that comment. If that were the ONLY criteria, I probably would've purchased the KEF LS50 LONG AGO, but since I totally despise their appearance, it's never gonna happen. What may be important aspects to YOU, isn't important for everyone. (Oh, and I would never put myself in the category of 'serious audio listener'..I'll reserve that for the hi-end snobs...). But thanks for the suggestions anyway (hope you don't take my thoughts here too personally)

[@trubadyr99]

Furniture. Lots of beautiful looking equipment racks and stans which your viewers see in the videos but where to get those? Where are the reviews, links?

[@ZeroFidelity]

The little wooden stands are my own. The equipment rack is a cheap bathroom stand from Ikea called the Molger. The speaker stands are cheap VTI's. No links. Will let Google be your guide. :)

[@jn3750]

How much better than lsim 703? Worth the extra money?

[@josephlogston1184]

I have the Polk RT-7 for 20+ yrs. And wouldn't trade them for any other speaker.

[@oluhamilton2121]

As a past Polk owner I love their products but I feel you can get more bang for the buck. Would like you to review the L200's, though.

[@popcornsamurai]

Just got my LSIM 703 and i love them. these new ones are cool looking but i think im done buying speakers.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Gratz!

[@grantwilson9161]

I bought LSiM 703's at a screamin' good price a couple of months ago... think it'll be a while before I'll be in the market for anything else too.

[@pjo1964]

703 vs L100???

[@grantwilson9161]

703 vs L100?.... Yes!!

[@dandonna3904]

Why we don't use floor standing speaker for surround sound?

[@ttownscott]

Still using my Polk RTA-11t towers. They're very hard to leave behind

[@Gary_M]

They look pretty nice, butI can't help but feel that, aside from the top of the line tower, this series is less ambitious than the outgoing lsim series. Compare the 703 with its three way design and curved cabinets to the conventional boxy two way arrangement here, along with what sounds like a "me too" voicing (just going by your description) and it seems like Polk is playing it safe. For those complaining about the price, though, I'd say "it's Polk, wait for the inevitable sale".

[@ZeroFidelity]

Without being a part of the engineering team, I cannot comment on ambition. Yes, the voicing certainly errs towards the "me too" side of things. Some people will like it. Others wont. I'll never blame them for going in that direction because - that kinda sound is what sells. People want to *hear* their investment and be reminded of it every single time they listen.

[@nyccrcsx]

How does this compare to the lsim 703 I bought the 703 for $540 couldn’t see spending $1300 for a of l100

[@ZeroFidelity]

703 sounds bigger, thicker along the midrange and bass, delivers a bigger sense of scale and can play louder. L100 is lighter sounding, quicker, more dynamic, more detailed and more refined. At $540, the 703's are a no-brainer. However, if you need something that will work well against a wall, a case can still be made for the L100's.

[@creativeslink]

I want some so bad. Would go well with Gregory Alan Isakov and a good edible.

[@bertoray5497]

Port poop chuffing... catchy!

[@abdelkaderelbachir3059]

God dammit why everything has to come in that shiny black piano finish I hate dust and fingerprints

[@ZeroFidelity]

Silver lining: At least it's only the baffle! Most of these speakers are glossy all over the freakin' place.

[@xTG14x]

Agreed. I recently got a Monitor Audio RSW12 in high gloss black, but being ~12 years old, the paint just looks atrocious. I'm willing to bet that a wood veneer or vinyl would look 20× better after the same length of time in the same conditions.

[@wolfgangkramer7228]

megacool 😊🤘🏼 💛

[@Studioaudio1]

How are these with a Crown amp?

[@TheRjee]

Anyone else associate L100 with JBL rather than Polk?

[@randalllawkin]

Yup

[@progressiveguy9959]

I was thinking the same.

[@JEG6919]

Me too.

[@pjo1964]

Yuh

[@georgepnf8596]

Hello Sean, great video man. I'm looking forward for the Triangle Borea BR03 review. I hope that you will upload the video anytime soon. Thanking you

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks for your interest! That review should go live sometime next week.

[@alexanderscott3790]

Maaaan... you could pretty much just make a career outta reviewing a seemingly endless number of 2 way dynamic passive bookshelf speakers! At this point, Im not so sure I cant exactly tell what any given bookshelf monitor is gonna sound like, solely based on its size, its tweeter,and price alone!

[@user473]

Sean, this port design is not going to help with boundary gain or room nodes in any way. It's not such an easy task, that's why kii went through trouble of putting 4 woofers on each speaker

[@ZeroFidelity]

Boundary gain? Yes. Room modes? No. 4 woofers on each speaker won't really help. For wall-boundary placement, the trick will boil down to the xover, driver selection, and cab tuning. For people that want the best performance from a loudspeaker that absolutely *has* to be placed against a wall, some great options to look into would be from companies like Sjofn, Guru, and Audio Note (UK). I'm sure there are others, but these companies focus on designing products strictly for wall-boundary positioning.

[@user473]

@@ZeroFidelity I'm not saying that boundary gain can't be dealt with. I'm saying that the metal thing on the back of this speaker has nothing to do with it. Why do you think Kii's driver arrangement won't help with room nodes?

[@Turtleback8024]

🏃I'm outta here! You guys are speaking too much english!😂

[@nostro1001]

Interesting reading the comments how it shows that some brands are polarizing & likely rightly or wrongly. Mind you everybody has had different experiences, be that poor sales experiences, after sales service, underwhelming products, marketing jive etc. And then of course as we are a world wide audience 😃, different experiences are shared differently from those in other countries. Hey, there's likely different experiences shared from state to state or store to store - that's just retail. Gotta hand it to Polk....look what they did to Sean. He might otherwise of been in some kinda band scoring goals all over the world. He'd have a modern phone sharing his journeys with meaningless 2 line tweets!!👉🏽

[@ZeroFidelity]

#motivationalthursday #liveyourbestlife

[@nostro1001]

@@ZeroFidelity 😂😂😂

[@freekwo7772]

What about Naim Nait 5si?

[@dougg1075]

Don’t they have a bigger monitor also? If so are you reviewing it? The tower ! Yeaaaaaah!

[@ZeroFidelity]

I might. Haven't decided yet.

[@oluhamilton2121]

They also have an L200 bookshelf.

[@gsherlock]

I had to laugh when I saw your carpet marked out with tape, mines the same with different colours for different speaker positioning.

[@porkchopspapi5757]

Omg please put your hands down!

[@scottlowell493]

Polk Monitor 5 and 10 (peerless tweeter) were a much more musical set of speakers than most in the late 70's early 80's. The LSi disappointed me. Great( vifa ring) tweeter, mediocre woofer. I'm trying to remember who had a turbine-style woofer... dynaudio maybe?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Love the original Monitor series. The 5Jr's in particular were lil' sweethearts. The LSi's can be pretty banging when you pair em' up to the right gear. Still won't be for everyone, but they can be pretty nice.

[@Anewleaf1975]

Would of been easier if i was told yeah these speakers are really good playing some Metallica and Hellyeah play some Five finger death punch while your at it. I got dizzy with all the specs

[@ericnortan9012]

I got Cerwin-Vega! SL15'S with a Crown XLi2500 amp for that stuff. It's awesome. I listen to mostly metal and find big box 3-ways are the best sound for me. I grew up in the 70's & 80's and a full range speaker with real bass just sounds right with rock and metal. 🤘💀🤘

[@Anewleaf1975]

@@ericnortan9012 Klipsch = R-51PM powered speakers = Klipsch R-100SW subwoofer featuring a spun-copper IMG woofer and all digital amplifier = center speaker RW-34C Wireless Center Channel Speaker - Klipsch Reference = went with the Audio-Technica AT-LP7 Manual belt-drive professional turntable with built-in phono preamp!! Now just waiting for u.p.s then breaking the speakers in.

[@ericnortan9012]

@@Anewleaf1975 I love new stereo equipment! That sounds like a really awesome set-up. The Klipsch I've heard were really nice.

[@nedlenny5523]

Polk Monitor 10Bs were my intro!

[@dougg1075]

Magico used a ring tweeter. I have them in mine and they are great.

[@radomirlilic2472]

That woofer is very Fostex like...

[@ZeroFidelity]

Similar design elements for sure - all with the same goal in mind.

[@TD402dd]

Great when you compare them to themselves. They don't match up to other speakers in the same price range.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Yes and no. On one hand, they stack up pretty well against other compact speakers at the same price. On the other, if you can get away with bigger speakers, then yes - better overall performance can be had.

[@jamesmccaffrey1892]

No pedantic today. That's O.K. Been waiting to slide that one into conversation myself. hasn't happened yet. Tricky business.

[@Turtleback8024]

😂

[@wildbill3006]

That's pretty pathetic of Polk to use "L100", a model name that is most associated with a legendary JBL speaker model. Do they have no shame?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Do you feel the same way about the dozen + companies that use the LS3/5a designation, even though only manufacturer is currently licensed? My guess is Polk didn't even think about JBL when coming up with the model number - as neither product occupies the same space.

[@RumblestripDotNet]

Polke Bowls

[@dougg1075]

Let me tell you that “kiss” waveguide.... somebody is kicking themselves for not thinking of that. That’s the sauce

[@isaidstream4547]

KLIPSCH RP 600M IS BETTERRRRRR!!!!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@Turtleback8024]

Polk is probably targeting a different market than that of Klipsche. So for some the L100's are waaaay better than the RP600M. This hobby is subjective at its best.

[@ZeroFidelity]

The Klipsch RP-600M gets curb stomped by the L100 in terms of resolution, refinement, and dynamic punch. The Klipsch will beat out the Polks in terms of loudness, their "you are there" projection, and midrange scale.

[@dougg1075]

3d print that bass port “ kiss” and add to yo jams

[@corkydukeII5898]

I'm sure you'll disagree Sean, but here's another maker (Polk) that doesn't need any YT reviews whatsoever, since Polk already has a HUUUUGE fanboy following. IMO it's much better just to stick with lesser known manufacturers (...then again, it's important for YT channels to get subs/views, so I get it.....)

[@jakes3139]

What are the lesser known brands that he should be covering, because imo he has done a bunch already. Also why say a larger name company doesn't need a yt review. I've never heard these and am looking forward to hearing many KZbinr opinions to help my decision in making a purchase.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I appreciate your feedback, but there's one thing you have to understand: I don't give a sh*t about views. If I did, Zero Fidelity would be completely different. I'm doing this review because, as I literally said in the beginning, Polk Audio products have been a huge part of my journey. As always, people have a choice as to what to watch. There's plenty of hi-fi out there!

[@amb3cog]

I'm not a Polk fan, and want to know what they sound like. Just because they have a following. Does not mean that there aren't tons of people who are a) interested in these speakers, and b) have no idea what they sound like. Not to mention. It's not as if Sean only reviews stuff from well known companies. He reviews gear from all sorts of different companies.

[@corkydukeII5898]

@@ZeroFidelity You're right Sean, I probably should've actually listened to the review 1st before posting a comment (seeing the name 'Polk' provoked my senses in an irrationally negative way, as it usually does. I need help I know). Anyways, my apologies and keep up the great reviews as always! (btw - do these compare somewhat favorably with the Jamo C93 II's, even though they're about twice the price?)

[@Turtleback8024]

Corky Duke it's like saying Nike no longer needs marketing. That's pretty messed up man.😂

[@hochhaul]

*Yamaha 801 aka A-S801 kzbin.info/www/bejne/panMZqOArcehhs0

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks. Knew something sounded off when I said it.

[@hochhaul]

@@ZeroFidelity Haha hey it happens. It's an impossible task to remember a seemingly endless number of audio component models.

[@FungedeBagre]

Small speakers and sound propagation don’t go well together. Simple physics.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Not sure what you're aiming for with this comment?

[@stephenoverton8352]

Sadly, Polk Audio has taken the route of so many other manufacturers today by raising their prices to ridiculous levels and limiting the number of people that can afford this new "Legend" line. Even worse they're using gimmicks now like "Turbine Cone Drivers" and "Enchanced Power Port" to justify the ridiculous prices...LOL. I hope they sell millions of these so-called "monitors" at $1200, but I won't be one of the suckers that buys a pair as long as companies like Klipsch and Tekton are in business.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Stephen - Breaking up standing waves along the woofer cone isn't a gimmick. Nor is breaking up port chuffing or controlling how air is dispersed from the loudspeaker. As for raising prices: Polk Audio offers plenty of speakers below the $1000 price-point, to include huge towers. This line isn't meant to be within the reach of a HS kid working a summer job, and there's nothing wrong with that. And how exactly is somebody a "sucker" for buying these Polks when Klipsch and Tekton earn just as much money per-sale and don't offer a competitive solution? Sure, be a fan of other products all day long, but let's not go around pretending that Tekton, Klipsch, KEF, Monitor Audio, ELAC, etc.. are a level above anybody else. None of them are. They each offer solutions that have objective strengths and weaknesses.

[@stephenoverton8352]

@@ZeroFidelity So all of a sudden you're an expert on driver design by stating this "turbine" nonsense isn't a gimmick and really helps with standing waves within the cone?? Perhaps companies like SEAS, Vifa or Peerless should instantly hire you to design their drivers since all of a sudden your now some type of expert on driver design...LOL. "Port chuffing" is also a common phenomenon that is common with any bass reflex design if you push wimpy small speakers "monitors" what they're capable of. Anybody with the IQ of a sign post knows this. Why don't you get REAL?? I've been designing speakers longer than you've been alive, so DON'T tell me what works and what doesn't work when it comes to these wimpy ass 2-way "monitor" designs! Just because you have this little KZbin "review" channel here, doesn't make you an authority on speaker reviews, especially when most of your reviews are beginning to sound repetitious like the ole' proverbial "broken record". When you can actually measure speaker performance like John Atkinson at Stereophile, then I may consider watching your future reviews. Otherwise, I'll pass since I'm tired of hearing the same old s_it from every speaker you review regardless of price.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@stephenoverton8352 - I'm sure that rant felt good, didn't it? For somebody your age, I'd expect you to at least be able to tone down the emotion and tune up the information.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@Fat Rat Matthew cashed out of Polk Audio over half-a-decade ago. Beyond that - what causes you to even make such a claim? Have you compared the System Audio Legend 5's directly to the Polk Legend L100's in a familiar environment? You see - that would surprise me. System Audio is difficult to come by outside of select EU markets, and few dealers in the US currently have the L100's out in a showroom.

[@omgwtfpwnd]

@@stephenoverton8352 Dude you deserve a standing ovation! This reviewer is annoying.

[@krane15]

More speaker and less talking head.

[@ZeroFidelity]

If ya want pretty shots of the product or sound clips - this ain't the place to be!

[@corkydukeII5898]

@@ZeroFidelity Hahaha! What a great reply!