If you’re short on time and just want the highlights of this article, here it is:
In summary, the Polk Audio Reserve R100 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers are an entry-level option for those looking to upgrade their sound without breaking the bank. The speakers feature a Pinnacle tweeter, turbine cone, and X-Port bass port, making them Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible and Hi-Res certified. The sound quality is decent, with good detail and clarity, but the lack of low-end extension can be limiting.
The speakers offer a variety of connection options, allowing for convenient placement and easy installation. The R100’s are best suited for casual listeners looking for an upgrade on a budget, but may not be the best option for larger environments or those looking for more powerful and immersive sound.
Quick link:
Now let’s get to its bolts and nuts.
Polk Audio Reserve R100 Review: Sound quality
Have you ever noticed that there often tends to be quite the opposite opinions about a speaker?
I can understand this for more "personal taste" kinda products like clothing, for example.
But for engineering products like speakers? Personal tastes and preferences probably still play a role. But shouldn't it be less?
Why is it that we can't set a universal metric for sound quality?
First time I asked this question to myself has been a pivotal day.
Because it turns out that in the mid 90's, Electrical Engineer PhD Floyd Toole came up with a method called Spinorama. This is exactly what he accomplished with this. Turns out that his book Sound Reproduction is like the bible of audiophiles.
Put it simply, Spinorama is a set of measurements that gives a comprehensive overview of a speaker's performance from various angles.
It allows you to compare the performances of different speakers before even laying your ears hands on them.
Isn't that amazing?
This is why Spinorama was apparently groundbreaking news for audio industry. Hence in the mid-late 2010's, most brands and magazines began publishing Spinorama measurements, despite the challenges of making such measurements.
Fortunately, now we have the Spinorama data for a bunch of quite popular speakers. Pierre Aubert put all this untidy data together and put it into https://www.spinorama.org/. This is a stunning source. Pretty valuable stuff from him right there.
All good up to this point.
Now there comes a caveat.
Since the sound speakers propagate are in the form of omnidirectional waves, all measurements are obtained in anechoic or semi-anechoic chambers (a super-quiet room where soundwaves don't bounce back, here's how different that room sounds [a mind blowing time-adjusted video]).
This is a problem because it means that Spinorama alone, unfortunately, won't give us all we need. Placement and reflections play an equally important role there too.
This is why most A-class brands (like SVS, Bang & Olufsen, etc) often come up with room correction features, adjusted either manually or automatically. The EQ adapts itself to the placement (room, corner, center, etc) for a better (deeper and more accurate) sound. Which is great.
Additionally they often emphasize the importance of placement, here is an example: https://www.svsound.com/blogs/subwoofer-setup-and-tuning/75365187-the-art-of-subwoofer-placement
Anyways...
The source code under Pierre Aubert's work is licensed under GPL (General public license). He didn't perform any of the measurements himself, and instead he compiled all of them into one place, so that makes sense.
At this point, I thought that if there was a tool that combined both the Spinorama with the room acoustics data, it'd be extremely useful.
Unfortunately, it turns out that there wasn't any.
This is where I stepped in and partnered with an Acoustics and Audio Engineering PhD in order to achieve this.
We combined Spinorama data with room acoustics and came up with Soundton. A very simple, 2D online tool that allows you to:
- Reveal optimal speaker positions in a room,
- Test with real speakers from real brands,
- Compare different speakers and different positions in the room.
It can be very valuable for the vast majority.
The colormap provides you the locations with the best (green) and worst (red) listening experience.
It works the best with subwoofers since Soundton processes low frequency response waves only.
- Soundton is going to be, say, 80% accurate. Not 100%.
- Because, other parameters such as the age/materials of the building, furniture/windows in place also have an impact on room acoustics.
- If you want absolutely the most detailed room analysis, then what you need is an acoustics consultant. Mind you that's going to require deep pockets and patience though... assuming you find the right person and they get the job done.
Anyways...
I recently stumbled across the Polk Audio Reserve R100 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers when looking for an upgrade to my current speakers. After doing a bit of research and reading some reviews, I decided to purchase them.
The R100’s promise superb sound quality due to its Pinnacle tweeter, turbine cone and X-Port bass port. The manufacturer claims it is Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible and certified for Hi-Res audio.
The sound quality of the R100’s is certainly better than my older ones, but I have to admit it was not quite as impressive as I had hoped. The highs are detailed and powerful and the mid-range is smooth, with good three-dimensional imaging. The low end is decent, but there’s a lack of extension and punch. The soundstage is fairly wide, but there’s not much depth to the sound.
I think the R100’s would be better suited for music listening rooms than office or den environments. The speakers are perfectly capable of reproducing detail and dynamics, but they’re not as powerful or immersive as more expensive speakers. The detail and clarity, however, make them great for casual listening and classical music.
The R100’s do an admirable job at reproducing surround sound, but I feel the lack of bottom-end extension does detract from the experience. The speaker’s do have the ability to be used in various configurations depending on the room size, and the built-in keyhole hanger makes it easy to mount the speakers on a wall.
Overall, the Polk Audio Reserve R100 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers are a decent choice for casual listeners or those looking to upgrade from their existing speakers without breaking the bank. The speakers are Hi-Res certified, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible, and capable of producing decent sound quality. However, for those looking for more powerful sound, more extension in the low-end, and immersive surround sound, then these may not be the best choice.
Polk Audio Reserve R100 Review: Connectivity
The Polk Audio Reserve R100 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers come with a variety of connection options. They have a pair of binding posts, making them compatible with traditional banana plugs and spades. For convenience, they also have an RCA input, which allows them to be connected to more modern A/V receivers and pre-amp processors.
The R100’s also come with a built-in keyhole hanger, allowing them to be mounted onto a wall. The rubber feet also help reduce resonance and allow the speakers to be placed on a bookshelf or table.
Overall, the connectivity options of the R100’s are satisfactory, allowing for a variety of connection and placement options. The RCA input is particularly handy for those looking for a quick and easy connection.
Polk Audio Reserve R100 Review: Most & least ideal user profiles
The Polk Audio Reserve R100 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers are a decent entry-level option for those looking to upgrade from their existing speakers. They are Hi-Res certified and are Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible, making them great for a variety of sound environments.
The most ideal user profile for the R100’s would be casual listeners looking to upgrade their sound on a budget. The speakers have a detailed mid-range and highs, making them great for classical music and casual listening. The built-in keyhole hanger and the RCA input make them easy to install and connect.
The least ideal user profile for the R100’s would be those looking for more powerful and immersive surround sound. As the speakers lack the low-end extension and punch, they may not be the best option for those looking for a powerful and immersive sound experience. Additionally, the speakers may not be suitable for larger or more demanding rooms, due to the lack of power and extension.
Polk Audio Reserve R100 Review: Conclusion
In summary, the Polk Audio Reserve R100 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers are an entry-level option for those looking to upgrade their sound without breaking the bank. The speakers feature a Pinnacle tweeter, turbine cone, and X-Port bass port, making them Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible and Hi-Res certified. The sound quality is decent, with good detail and clarity, but the lack of low-end extension can be limiting.
The speakers offer a variety of connection options, allowing for convenient placement and easy installation. The R100’s are best suited for casual listeners looking for an upgrade on a budget, but may not be the best option for larger environments or those looking for more powerful and immersive sound.