The Polk S60 (see image) is the largest and heaviest of all three and offers the widest frequency spectrum.
For those of you looking for a pair of floor-standing speakers for your home that won’t break the bank, have a look at the Polk S50, S55, and S60. While probably not competitors for the likes of heavy-duty audiophile brands, the quality on offer here in this price range makes for great value for consumers looking for optimized listening pleasure in their home-theater and sound systems.
In summary, all three speakers in this series are solid pieces of equipment that offer a sleek, retro-futurist look and high-fidelity sound specs. The Polk S60 is the largest and heaviest of all three and offers the widest frequency spectrum. The Polk S55 and Polk S50 are closer contenders in sound but come with minute differences in size and weight.
Let’s have a closer look.
Design
The aforementioned retro-futuristic aesthetic is probably the strong point of all three speakers. Available in what Polk calls 'Walnut' brown or black washed paneling, the bold, visible bolts and rounded and chrome bezels give these tall, skinny speakers bring a chic vibe that would look as comfortable in a minimalist living room as they would in a cozy study (when placed intelligently). Additionally, they come with stabilization stands which not just add to the aesthetic but add genuine utility. This ease in design is generally a big plus for floor-standing speakers, which can often tend to be somewhat clumsy and bulky in design.
That being said, none of the three are very light or portable. The Polk S60, as the model number probably gives away, is the largest of them all and weighs in at 50lbs. The Polk S55 follows with 44lbs, and the Polk S50 with 32lbs.
The Polk S50 (see image) is the most lightweight at 32lbs.
Dimensions
S50: 10.9 x 7.5 x 37.4 inches
S55: 12.5 x 11.7 x 41.5 inches
S60: 15.7 x 8.5 x 44.5 inches
Also check out the complete specifications of the Polk Signature Series.
Sound
Let me tell you something right off the bat.
The sound quality performance you'll end up getting from a speaker will always depend on your room acoustics - particularly room dimensions and speaker positions.
The impact of the combination of these two is actually so strong that in most cases, it doesn't even make sense to utter a single word on sound quality without speaking of them.
This is also why it's not unusual to see completely different reviews of the same speaker.
In one case the speaker might be placed in a sweet spot inside the room and hence the user might be satisfied. In other cases the same speaker might be ill placed and hence user might even have returned it.
The point most people miss here is that it mostly isn't even about the engineering behind the speaker itself. It's about where you place the speaker inside which room.
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So, in order to solve this problem, I've partnered with an Acoustics and Audio Engineering PhD and created Soundton - a simple, 2D, browser accessible online speaker placement calculator.
With Soundton, now there's a way to figure the sound quality of most speakers before you buy them.
Read more about its working principles at soundton.com.
The end colormap provides you the locations with the best (green) and worst (red) acoustics.
ASAP Science also made a video on the loudest and quietest rooms in the world. A mind blowing example of the importance of acoustics (play time adjusted video below).
Other parameters such as the age/materials of the building, the furniture & carpets in place, etc can and will, of course, have an effect on room acoustics, too. But it's much less compared to other parameters mentioned above.
Also, while you're at it, blast my Hidden Electronic Gems list to test the speakers:
Anyways...
The general quality of sound amidst all three is similar.
High-fidelity clarity and balance for a budget price. The trebles and mids are clear and transparent, the much-dreaded low-mids are not too muddy if placed properly, and the bass is focused and no-nonsense.
The only catch with that last bit (the lower frequencies) is that they can be a little muffled at lower volumes and need a little cranking up for their clarity. But for listening to music or watching movies, these offer more-than-sufficient headroom for your pleasure and convenience.
Polk S60 comes with the broadest frequency spectrum (check specs below). The Polk S55 and Polk S50 have a minimal difference of 1Hz in the lower range. But between each set of speakers is a difference of 100W in Power output. So while the overall character in sonic output is similar, your best strategy on choosing the right pair is to take the size of your room into account.
All this being said, it is important to note that these speakers do not offer the kind of sheer volume and power a larger speaker system with a subwoofer and satellite outputs for sheer trebles would. But they’re way less complicated to set up and give you a nice, even output that integrates itself quite easily in most rooms. So the trade-off at the end of the day is fair.
The Polk S55 (see image) and Polk S50 have a minimal difference of 1Hz in the lower range. But between each set of speakers is a difference of 100W in Power output.
Specs:
Frequency Range:
- S50: 33 Hz - 40 kHz
- S55: 32 Hz - 40 kHz
- S60: 26 Hz - 40 kHz
Peak Power:
- S50: 150 W
- S55: 200W
- S60: 300 W
Impedance:
- S50: 8 ohm
- S55: 8 ohm
- S60: 8 ohm
Connectivity
These speakers are passive (meaning you’ll need an additional amplifier to use them) and don’t offer any wireless connectivity like Bluetooth either. But Polk speakers are compatible with most Home theater AV receivers. This gives you multiple setup options. You could use these as a 5.1 channel system on their own or upgrade to an immersive multi-room setup with 7.1, 9.1, or more channels.
Price
At the time of this article, The Polk S50 is priced at around $199, the Polk S55 at $263, and the Polk S60 at approximately $359 per speaker. (Please check your local dealer for changes).
Verdict
In conclusion, this is how the three speaker systems stack up against each other:
- Design: Tie. The Polk S50 is the most lightweight, though.
- Sound: The Polk S60 gives you the broadest spectrum.
- Connectivity: A clear tie.
- Price: The Polk S50 wins.