Are Polk Subwoofers Good? (Buy or Avoid)
Every small room needs a specially designed subwoofer with the right features to handle the low frequency and deliver the best sound output.
Many budget subwoofers exist, but how do you know the one that fits your budget? Polk subwoofer is one such budget subwoofer that meets the need of budget users.
However, are Polk subwoofers good?
Polk produces the ideal subwoofer for people on a budget to enjoy every dramatic part of their music and movie. However, the quality cannot be compared to premium subwoofers as there were complaints of distortion at extremely low frequencies.
Even with the distortion, Polk subwoofers served users well. It performed well in small rooms as the walls acted as a surface that produced reverberation for the sound.
This article will explore various things users need to know before buying Polk subwoofers.
Who Makes Polk Subwoofers?
Polk Audio is an American brand established in 1972. Three classmates founded it: Polk Matthew, Klopfer George, and Gross Sandy, who met at John Hopkins University.
The company stands out for its expertise in audio products, which fit homes and automobiles. Their products include amplifiers, speakers, soundbars, car and boat audio, powered subwoofers, FM tuners, etc.
Polk Audio has its headquarters in San Diego, California. However, the company was bought in 2006 by Directed Electronics.
Are Polk Subwoofers High Quality?
A typical Polk subwoofer wears a wooden look and is adorned with a titanium design. It features some bracing and damping to remove distortion, standing waves, or anything that might alter your music listening experience.
Polk subwoofers come in various colors, making them the perfect match and which will fit your home theater system and indoor aesthetics.
You have a special bass port on the sub where you can get maximum bass from the device. The special enclosure design helps ensure that the subwoofer will not tip even at a loud volume.
Everyone who wants a loud, deep, thick bass will find the Polk subwoofer extremely beneficial. It produces superior performance without distortion thanks to the resonance-free Dynamic balance material.
Even at a high volume, you get a crystal clear output with little distortion. The sub features an amplifier that can produce various wattage outputs.
Every Polk subwoofer features a laser-based KlippelDistortion measurement tech that brings down the sound distortion, providing accurate playback. You can comfortably play your music at ungodly volumes without losing the quality.
Does Polk Produce Good Quality Sound?
If the idea of having a resonating bass appeals to you, the Polk subwoofer might be a terrific choice. The power output is detailed and strong enough that every detail from the song, instruments, and background will stand out.
Even as powerful as it is, the output is clear, balanced, and detailed, neither overpowering nor distortive.
This sub enjoys superb engineering, which ensures optimum sound quality. The high-quality driver, optimum speaker geometry, and enclosure all contribute to the top-quality sound.
Polk subwoofer also features an internal bracing that brings down distortion in low-frequency sounds. It has a resonance-free dynamic driver, making it a perfect choice for people who want quality sound free of any unwanted effect.
Polk produces a clean and clear tone with deep and accurate bass. The sound quality is impressive, adding life and audibility to all percussion and wind instruments without excessive power that might alter the listening experience.
Will Polk Subwoofer work with my Home theater setup?
People with small and enclosed spaces where they love to enjoy precise detail without losing anything to the wall or outside will find Polk subwoofers incredible.
Even though the sub is powerful, there were minor sound quality issues. One common complaint is the port noise which arises when you crank the volume up. This, however, might not be an issue if you will not be cranking your subwoofers too loud.
This issue makes the subwoofer unsuitable for large rooms. One way around this is to construct a custom cabinet that can house the amp and sub.
Also, at extremely low frequencies, there could be distortions. This was pretty common with music, even though not with movies.
You can still get a kick-ass bass with the subwoofer even with these flaws. Polk will expose you to nerve-cracking bass as if you are inside the movie scene.
User Experience with Polk Subwoofer
Polk subwoofer has an overall review of 4.6 on Bestbuy, one of the giant eCommerce stores. More than 200 users expressed their opinion on their impression of the Polk subwoofer:
I have owned a couple of these, with one in my living room, which rattles my window. There is another in my cabinet that rocks the neighborhood. This is impressive quality at a great value. I love the affordable price as well, even though I am sure there are great ones.
I needed a subwoofer for my parlor. I just lost my old subwoofer, and I needed a replacement fast. My budget was restricted, so I was limited in selections. Many research I did pointed to Polk, and I was not disappointed. I am glad I got this as my living room is not even too big.
With my 7.2 surround sound setup in my living room, this Polk subwoofer adds color and life to the setup. It is a beast that rumbles my walls, couch, and floor when it comes to music. No matter how hard I pump the volume, I can hear the bass repeatedly. I now enjoy my music better as it rocks my whole house.
Some users were not so delighted with the sub, however. A couple of negative feedbacks are:
I got this sub and connected it with my home theater system, which was pretty easy. However, I experienced annoying distortion at just half the volume. I did many things like adjusting the port, crossover, and others which didn’t help. I will have to return and purchase another one.
While the experience above was a disappointment, one shouldn’t expect too much from a sub of this price range. Besides, having a negative experience is low as more than 93% of users had a good experience with it.
Price of Polk Subwoofer
Generally, the retail price of the Polk sub revolves around $100 and above. You can get some high-end models for $300 and above.
Check eBay for sweet deals and bargains that will work for your budget. Better still, consider waiting for a discount if you want better deals.
Conclusion
Polk subwoofer will deliver excellently, and add life to your home theater system.
It is a budget subwoofer available for people who want a cheap upgrade to their home theater system. However, the possibility of distortion is there as this was the complaint of most users.
If you are not on a budget, consider going for other high-end models to satisfy your music listening needs.