#Polk audio audio bar speaker terminals drivers#
#Polk audio audio bar speaker terminals driver#
#Polk audio audio bar speaker terminals series#

Here’s the important part of this though - it doesn’t really matter if the S15 was any good or not before these changes were made because the result afterwards is exceptional. As such, this section has to be seen as concentrating purely on this version and focusing less on the changes that have been made in the process.

#Polk audio audio bar speaker terminals series#

The amount of time I spent listening to any of the original 'non-e’ versions of the S Series speakers has to count as bordering on non-existent. It’s an imperfect comparison but he is to box speakers what Adrian Newey is to racing cars, so there’s a reasonable chance that these changes will be quite sufficient. As well as being previously involved with Q Acoustics (including the peerless Concept 500), he can also add the Mission LX-2 to the list of designs that have had his attention. Polk has worked with Karl Heinz Fink to create the S15e and his track record is pretty impressive in this regard. The detail that might inspire a little more confidence in this process is who has made the changes. The crossover has been slightly revised, the internal bracing has been altered and the power port is lengthened. The changes that have been implemented to make the difference seem laughably small. So far, absolutely everything I’ve described is pretty much as it was in the 'non-e’ prefix version of the S15. The other is that if you want, you can wall mount the S15e via two keyhole mounts in the back of the power port which is something I don’t recall seeing in rival designs of late. The first is that the back of the power port is the limit of the space that Polk feels is needed for the bass port which means that the S15e can be placed without too much concern as to what is happening behind it. Polk claims that this has the benefit of deeper, tighter bass which may or may not be achieved but on a practical level it does two other things. This sits directly opposite the rear bass port and has a tapered cone that serves to direct and control the airflow. At the back is a plastic structure that Polk calls the Power Port.

The most interesting aspect of the oily bits of the Polk isn’t in the cabinet proper. It does result in a sensitive speaker though with a quoted figure of 88dB/w which feels entirely achievable in the real world. The crossover itself works at an unspecified point and seems to be of a fairly simple design and supports single wiring only.

#Polk audio audio bar speaker terminals drivers#

This is more than a fancy word for the crossover, it’s a considered attempt to ensure that the balance of the two drivers is kept optimal in relation to one another regardless of what one is being called upon to do at any one time. These two drivers are integrated via a system that Polk calls Dynamic Balance Technology. This is hardly the stuff of science fiction but it is a little more advanced than might normally be the case for a speaker at this price.

#Polk audio audio bar speaker terminals driver#

The mid bass driver uses a butyl rubber surround and ceramic motor components. The tweeter is apparently rated to 40kHz and the speaker features certification from the High Res Society as a result. There are some interesting details to both drivers though. The drivers are made from materials that are entirely in keeping with Polk’s affordable offerings and consist of a 25mm soft dome ‘Terylene’ tweeter and a 133mm mid bass made from a combination of Mica and Polypropylene. The Polk is a two way standmount speaker - at £250 you should not really expect anything else. Q Acoustics, Mission and Acoustic Energy have all made speakers at this price point that have delighted us, so can this tweaked American take them on and win us over to its charms? There’s plenty of rivals though and we already love plenty of those.

It still looks the same and costs the same but Polk feels we’re going to love it. As a result, the S15 as it existed originally has gone to Europe to be tweaked to our palates. Back in Europe, not only do we have dozens of our own speaker brands to keep us entertained, we also seem to prefer a slightly different presentation and need our speakers to work in altogether smaller spaces. Now operating as part of the Sound United Group, it has an enviable reputation.Īt least, it does in its home market of the US.

Beyond soundbars though, Polk has been making speakers for a very long time. The last time we looked at a Polk product, it was the Command Bar - a product of such category killing virtue, it pretty much ended our search for more affordable soundbars for this year at least. The Polk S15e is a two way standmount speaker that is a member of the large Signature E Series of passive box speakers from Polk.