Reviews of Polk Audio Signature S15 American Hifi Home Theater Compact Bookshelf Speaker

Polk have a somewhat crowded selection of bookshelf speaker options around the ~$200 price point: TSi200, RTi A1 and Signature S15. Despite having the nigh ability, the sound quality on the TSi200 is adequately mediocre. Meanwhile the RTi A1 (total review here) is less powerful than the TSi200, but sounds great and has a beautiful existent-woods chiffonier. So then, where does the Polk S15 stand up?

Polk Audio Signature Series S15 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Black) – 5.25" Commuter, Surround Audio, Power Port Technology, Detachable Magnetic Grille (Discontinued past Manufacturer)

• Polk's S15 Hi-RES BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS deliver Big, RELIABLE SURROUND Sound. Featuring Dynamic Balance acoustic array, each full-range passive speaker has (one) 5.25" commuter & (1) i" Terylene tweeter that produces clear vocals & punchy music with deep bass
• Get more than but STRIKINGLY BOLD, DRAMATIC LOOKS and DYNAMIC HEART- THUMPING SOUND — Polk'due south PATENTED POWER PORT Applied science delivers deeper bass minimizing whatever kind of baloney, giving you rich total-range sound for movies, Tv set and music
• DESIGNED TO DELIVER! The iconic rounded edges & detailing are heavily conceptualized from the all-time acoustic guitars, giving these vinyl cased bookshelf speakers a completely idea-through, performance-oriented yet cleaner fashionable await
• BRING POLK'S ULTIMATE SIGNATURE COLLECTION TO YOUR HOME. Create an all-inclusive complete stereo or surround sound system with this S15 Bookshelf Pair & add two S50 Tower Speakers, a S35 center channel & a subwoofer for a 5.ane or vii.i dwelling theater system
• The Signature Series has earned the hullo-res certified rating and redefined the Existent AMERICAN HiFi Audio with Polk's UNWAVERING Commitment, RELIABILITY, AND Craftsmanship, making it 1 of the most trusted names in audio speakers

Design

While the not-resonant Medite MDF cabinets don't exude the same premium experience as the existent-forest RTi A1, the build quality is excellent. They feature extra bracing and minimum thick baffles.

The S15 is bachelor in either a charcoal-grey or walnut-brown stop. You tin encompass the drivers with acoustically transparent grilles or go out them off altogether. Either way, the cabinets await expert. I personally fancy the driver design and sleeky blackness platform and then prefer to leave them off.

At the back of each cabinet are 2 aureate-plated bounden posts. Although you can't biwire the S15s, the crossover is well pitched and the residuum is just right.

Audio

The S15 features five.25-inch woofers and 1-inch Terylene tweeters. Similar many of Polk'southward speakers, the woofers feature 'Dynamic Balance' applied science that was designed in collaboration with John Hopkins University to minimize the furnishings of unwanted vibrations on the woofer.

Affordable bookshelf speakers typically endure from being likewise bright and sometimes harsh. However, after a 15 60 minutes break in period, I institute the S15 to accept a superbly counterbalanced sound with a surprising amount of punch to its bass. These are still v.25-inch woofers, then for deeper bass music, a sub is still recommended.

The stated frequency response range (50Hz-40kHz) is very impressive and broader than almost every other speaker in the same cost category. Few similarly priced speakers can deliver frequencies upwards to 40kHz, and the S15 is capable of producing a very detailed top end.

The speaker is rear ported, simply Polk telephone call the port a 'Power Port'. Covering the port is a plastic bamboozle device with fins that spreads out the bass frequencies and increases the bass response by 3dB. An added bonus to this kind of port is that the S15 is less fussy near cabinet placement.

Polk S15 vs S20 vs RTi A1 vs TSi 200

The S15 and S20 are both part of Polk'due south new Signature Series. The S20 is considered the full-sized organisation while the S15 is the compact variant. Although the S20 is bigger and more powerful, the build and design are pretty much the aforementioned. Every bit a result, the resulting audio is also very similar.

The RTi A1 is priced almost exactly the same as the S15. The RTi A1 is also a terrific sub-$200 pair of bookshelf speakers, merely there are a few differences. The RTi A1 has a slightly higher power handling (max 125W vs the S15's max 100W) and sensitivity (89dB vs 88dB) significant it tin can get louder. It likewise has real-forest cabinets, as opposed to the S15'south MDF construction. Nonetheless, during testing the S15 delivered superior sound fidelity, and a big part of that is down to the S15's superior frequency response (50Hz – 40kHz vs the RTi A1'southward 50 Hz → 27kHz). If sound quality is your top priority, the S15 is a better pick.

Finally, there is besides the similarly priced TSi 200. In all honesty, I would not recommend these speakers, as the sound quality is brighter and not as balanced every bit either the S15 or RTi A1. They are more powerful, only if you lot desire loudness in that location are better options effectually.

Verdict

Polk take a plant a real winner in the S15. It is rare to find such a balanced sound and wide soundstage in a minor and affordable pair of speakers. They are definitely among my favorite bookshelf speakers that cost under $200 (see full article) and the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.ii is the only speaker that can rival its sound.

Pros

• Cute cabinet pattern
• Superb sound quality for the toll
• Surprisingly good bass

Cons

• Not quite as powerful equally some other similarly priced bookshelf speakers

Rating: 9/10

shepherdseneiver.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.soundmanual.com/polk-s15/

Share this post