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Are High End Speakers REALLY WORTH IT? 🤔 Polk Audio R700 Review
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- čas přidán 14. 08. 2024
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► POLK R700 SPEAKER REVIEW
Are high end speakers REALLY WORTH IT? The Polk Audio Reserve Series R700 tower speaker may just redefine what's possible in a hifi loudspeaker under $2000 a pair. This big tower speaker holds its own when sound tested against high-end audiophile speakers. The R700 has near full range sound meaning it is a speaker that doesn't require a subwoofer in every situation. Plus it's a tower speaker that sounds good for music and movies. Find out more in our Polk Audio R700 review!
00:00 INTRO
00:19 POLK AUDIO R700 SPECS
01:12 POLK AUDIO SPEAKER DESIGN
01:50 SETTING UP POLK AUDIO SPEAKERS
02:31 BEST AMPLIFIER FOR POLK SPEAKERS
03:28 POLK AUDIO R700 SOUND QUALITY
08:42 POLK R700 V KLIPSCH 8000F
09:36 POLK AUDIO VS MONITOR AUDIO TOWER SPEAKERS
10:08 POLK VS KLH MODEL 5
10:33 POLK R700 VS WHARFEDALE ELYSIAN
11:07 CONCLUSION
12:06 SPECIAL BONUS CONVERSATION
25:02 SIGN OFF
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► MORE SPEAKER REVIEWS
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Morning to the both of you.... :)
... this might be the 2nd time I've posted.
@@Labor_Jones All good Marvin! Thanks for tuning in!
@@Labor_Jones Thank you for joining us today, Marvin!
@P T The point isn't that the tweeter is attempting to make it seam like we can hear above 20kHz, it's about the fact that the tweeter can reproduce those frequencies meaning it doesn't roll off as strongly as tweeters that cannot extend beyond 20kHz. Make sense?
Honestly there are MANY OTHER Critics that are saying things similar.
... YOU (Andrew) have said twice now that so far as straight on this product XXX is about as good as it gets TWIST is what I think THE INDUSTRY freaks out about. So, to me, If I were those *other companies.* I'd be breaking your DOOR DOWN to get you to Test my Product so I can PROVE you were wrong!
.... There in lay the 2nd Caveat to the puzzle, which is don't wake sleeping dog (the public) that it's equipment is far from sonically better as a whole but cost a whole lot more.
THE FUNNY THING is I don't agree with your assessment Andrew _BUT_ I do agree that anyone who is ditching you from products to review of theirs have more to fear than they think. THE OTHER CRITICS may not have done what you have done, but they do often say along the lines of what you're talking about.
Okay, (I don't have any rights to, but) Steve Guttenberg approach seems to be if it's interesting to him he might review an item, and if it's uninteresting like the KLH Model 5 he said, Paraphrasing, "They don't have anything I really want to review."
Now was that true he had the chance or was it SOUR GRAPES.... ;)
1. Polk really needs to restock these in white
2. I like Kristy coming out with that truth bomb and you being so honest and vulnerable. Thank you for sharing this moment with us and being raw.
The second half goes beyond bonus conversation status. Kristi's take is integral to the channel and I think we all appreciate the candid conversations. Keep 'em coming!
100% agree!
For what it’s worth, to anyone who sees this, I bought the R700s on this review and couldn’t be happier. Thanks A & K.
Do you have them with a sub or all alone? I’m thinking of these for my living room. It’s not a huge space.
@@carlosfranco no sub. Don’t feel it’s necessary with these in my two-channel system. If I were using them in a home theater, however, I might want a sub.
What amplification are you using with your Polks?
@@richardcranford5604 Cayin A-100T.
How does it work for dual purposes? 2 channel and home theater. What is a good match for the center channel for the perfect match? Thanks?
First, I'm not an audiophile, but love, love my music and movies. Being retired now for ten years and able to afford to dip my toes into the Hi-End audio realm a bit, I just set up a whole new system with Sonus Faber, Sonetto VIII speakers. I was replacing my old Klipsch RP-280-F speakers which I've really enjoyed for decades. What am I trying to achieve with the Sonus Fabers.....I don't know? They were $7,000 pr. and to be honest, they do defiantly have a deeper, warmer, overall soundstage than the Klipsch's, but in truth, I just wanted to step up a few notches because I can. With companies out there like Wilson Audio, where you can spend $685,000 on a pair of their top of the line speakers, I think the whole audiophile industry is insanely way, way over the top for what they're charging considering the finite nuances my 68 year old ears can actually detect. I've often wondered: If you blind folded five people in the same room, with the same acoustics, using the same supporting equipment, playing five of the same songs over five different Hi-End speakers, could they tell you what they're listening to or could they differentiate between a highly rated $2,000 pr. set of speakers vs. a $10,000 a pair set or something in between?
I reckon a genuine "audiophile" started off being a music lover first & foremost & from a very young age (unless that was just me but i seriously doubt that) Then a genuine audiophile happened to notice by chance, or sought out, or were shown how their own enjoyment of whatever music they like could be vastly elevated, improved upon & indulged in, when they heard it being played through certain hi'fi equipment that they had never previously heard the like of. And maybe they were utterly shocked by how good it could sound & be enjoyed & also shocked by how much more they are emotionally moved by certain music. (unless that was just me but i also seriously doubt that)
While a fake "audiophile" is somebody who owns music in some physical form (or accesses music via some vitual digital form) just to listen to their equipment with & love to show it off to others with.
If that was my or anyones only motivation to buy hi'fi equipment, then we'd be fake audiophiles & only need 3 or 4 L.P.s (or CDs) max ...just to hear & enjoy "showing off" our equipment with. Maybe some fakes do exist & if so, i pity them for missing out on the love of music which is majestic & transcends price when one considers how buying a 350 thousand £ or $ car is their major love in life
Never try to understand the Audiophile industry or try to explain what things cost or what people spend, this logic can be applied to homes, cars, watches, cameras, televisions, motorcycles bicycles, some costing over 10,000 dollars, comic books, some over 50,000 dollars. If you have never heard a pair of $685,000 speakers be it Wilsons or not in your home with your equipment, you really don’t know, heck we really don’t know.
Too often we try to justify other peoples purchases through our own wallets by saying what is or what isn’t too expensive and saying it can’t be better or talking about the laws of diminishing returns. Your wallet will run out far quicker than any piece of audiophile equipment or consumable goods. So then here comes the justification and envy, that person is an Audiophool. If you don’t have that item or have ever heard the item more expensive or not you really don’t know and are guessing.
I don’t care about 685,000 speakers that I won’t be buying, but I have no problems in listening to them and congratulating those who can afford them because it takes nothing from my man hood and it doesn’t make me feel any kind of way. I just care about what’s in my system and I make sure that I have the best that I can afford at that time because there is always the used market, what might be 685,000 today might be 300,000 tomorrow if not less.
I use reviews only as a guide, relying more on demos, preferably at home. I don’t care what other people have or spend and I have no problems congratulating people who spend 50.00 or 100,000 dollars because it takes nothing away from me or my bank account. We all need to enjoy the hobby for what it is, a hobby and worry less about who hears what or how much someone spends on what. Enjoy the hobby because we have a very short time on this planet.
We all hear differently and there are people that love bass more, mid band more and treble more, so yes there will always be someone who can tell a difference between speakers and equipment, but the more important question is, is the difference worth the cost and for some it is. There will always be something better in life that sounds better. What is important is what Andrew Robinson has always said, “The only person that needs to like your system is you”.
This review epitomized why I continue to support your channel. Honesty, integrity and truthfulness. Because I don’t have a store where I can sample the products, I rely on reviewers to help me with my purchase decision. You have never let me down. You’ve answered my questions and helped guide me to products in my price range. From the KLH model 5’s to the Klipsch Heresy IV’s to receivers, turntables, CD players and even streaming services.
What you two bring to the table is your truly honest “opinions” that I’ve found to be accurate and extremely helpful to me.
Thank you for what you are doing
Thank you so much Gary! Appreciate that!
Agreed. I especially prefer the dichotomy of industry objectivity AND personal insight/interpretations. You guys essentially provide what other reviewers offer, but with extensive knowledge/expertise and personal feedback while injecting your personas into a well prepared, polished presentation. Accolades may be white noise at this point, but everyone needs to hear praise whenever possible to validate and incentivize their continued efforts. 🙏
Honestly, your reviews are without a doubt the most knowledgeable I’ve ever heard and without boasting that $80000 worth of gear is necessary. Not to mention your production quality is three times anyone else. You guys are literally the best and I never miss an episode. What am I looking for? Exactly! Idk and that’s why I watch you, because you heard the really expensive and the $200 a pair speakers and amps. You’ve helped me realize that overspending isn’t the answer to reference or near reference quality. For that, thank you.
I just bought a pair of the r700 about 4 months ago and absolutely love them. I cant say iv listened to another pair of speakers costing less then 10k that sound better. Great video keep up the great work
I have owned these loudspeakers for 6 months now and have also owned electrostatic and planar magnetic units. I have auditioned models from Wilson, Vandersteen, mbl, and the list goes on. I rank the R700s as among the best. I’m not even talking price. I have been in high-end audio for three decades now and have also been a manufacturer of high end speakers. Polk nailed it with this model! Enough said…
Yes! The Polks sound perfectly wonderful and hold up quite well against the most exotic and expensive products available and thru the years I've heard a lot of very expensive speakers. I am not impressed by a speaker that costs more than a car or even a nice house and sounds good. A speaker that an average person can actually afford that sounds amazing is impressive. Thank you Polk Audio!
This was the most revealing review to date. I appreciate your effort and occasionally get blown away by Kristi's insight all around. Was super glad to hear the Emotiva reveiw. Now, if you have the opportunity to get Tekton to review-life is complete.
Agreed I’d love to see some Tekton review happening 👊🏻
I agree amazing vid.
The most honest conversation I've heard in decades. Have experienced similar situations in my 66yrs. Thank you Kristi for keeping it real.
Got my r700 three days ago. All I can say is WOW. It is sooo freakin good. I’ve been practically mesmerized listing to songs I’ve heard hundreds of times! Thanks for the review Andrew. I was about to upgrade my Klipsch R600m ii to the 8000f. Love this sound!
Glad you're enjoying them!
I bought a pair of r700 after your review and FINALLY after almost 5 months of waiting I received them today and oh my me!!! they are killing it... I use them with Yamaha r-n2000a and wow what a sound. Thanks for your great review! I'm going back to revisiting Pink Floyd's discography :)
Nice!! I just literally ordered the same combination today!! Can't wait!!
@@scottseven let me know what you think when you'll get it and experience it :)
love your conversation in the end with Kristi, really shows how you guys really love doing this review for your audience.
Thanks so much!
Do not sell yourselves short on your influence. Keep the authenticity going. It's refreshing. This is in reference to your comments later in the review. If I were a speaker manufacturer I would have my ear to to YOUR ground at all times.
#CoSigned
I Almost never comment on videos, but this is hands down the best review I’ve watched on any product. Seeing you go off topic to identify what I think is the biggest issue in this industry was extremely gratifying. I too have experienced “gate keeping”. It’s absolutely mind boggling how any business survives while alienating potential customers. I was considering the new 700 series 3 line from B&W, but the local dealer quite frankly has a bunch of condescending tools turning their nose up at customers in their showroom. I just want a speaker that will give me noticeable improvement on my old 604 S3s. The R700 is now on my list for auditions. Thank you for this review.
I listened to both, but I can compare them from memory only (different places - same day), the 700 S3 has more details and more high-end and unique sound, while R700 is almost as good as them, but I didn't hear anything special besides their price
Thanks for the great review. I bought the R700 along with R400 5 months ago, mostly based on this review and I couldn’t be happier. Much appreciated!
Kristi and Andrew, I love all your reviews. Your “best of” episode led me to this episode. I truly want to say that you made this tech professional an audiophile. I’ve learned so much from you.
You all are amazing. I wish you the most success.
Hi ... this is for Andrew and his lovely wife.. I am in the UK ...a committed audiophile for 50 years + with years of experience in all aspects of this wonderful hobby.... your reviews are so intelligent an honest ..... thanks for a great channel..
Thank you for the kind words.
Hi Andrew just Purchased a pair of Polk R700s They sound amazing especially percussion instruments and drums really a true sound thank you for the review it was awesome
I paused this video about halfway through the special bonus conversation and became a member because I take this channel and you both seriously. I don't consider myself an audiophile...I just love music and excellent products that help me enjoy it more. Your passion, effort, and the content you bring is more important to me than your "street cred" in a gatekeeping community.
We really appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you around more!
Being a super young sales person in the hi-fi industry everything you said resonated so much almost cried. There are some no problems with this industry. Hearing you guys talk about it is extremely therapeutic.
Without naming names or getting yourself into any trouble, I'd love to hear more about what you've experienced/what you see happening.
Challenged by Kristi, and you rose to the occasion! Great review! (They are on sale at Crutchfield for 895.00 each! They truly seem to be an affordable option for all but the most discerning. Polk used to be a very good speaker manufacturer. IMHO, they become overwhelmed by the home theater phenomenon and became a victim of their own success. Thank you!
This channel is so refreshing. Thank you both! I have always questioned the prevailing wisdom and attitudes of this hobby, but, for what its worth, one experience in particular laid any self doubt I had to rest. I visited a local hi-end boutique and auditioned a set of speakers on a system worth nearly 3X the value of my own. The audition was behind closed doors, with zero distractions, and I was allowed to listen to whatever I wanted for as long as I wanted. I'll never forget the moment that I realized that the system I was auditioning sounded negligibly better than my system at home. Thank you for telling the truth in your reviews!
Hi all!
Just a warning about Polk's warranty and customer service...
We purchased the r700 from crutchfield (excellent customer service) about 8 months ago and have only been using them for approximately 3 weeks. One of the speakers has an awful buzzing from one of the woofers right from the start. The speakers are under warranty. Polk would not send us a replacement speaker or send a technician out to fix the speaker. They only offered us a replacement woofer and instructions on how to replace it ourselves. Crutchfield would have been willing to send a new speaker, but they are out of stock with no known stocking date. It is very disappointing to get a broken speaker from Polk and an unsatisfactory rectification of our problem.
Never comment, but thought I might do so here. This was one of the most honest and forthcoming talks I've seen on this topic, and the part with Kristi was really fascinating. Aside from the topic itself (which was great), I think it really speaks to your personalities and relationship with each other when a) she's not afraid to say anything to you, even if she knows it's not going to be an easy conversation, and b) the way you never interrupt her and really listen to what she's saying. I think that speaks volumes about you both as people, and it also shows a respect to your audience that you are willing to just bare yourselves in front of everyone like that.
About the 'gatekeeping', yeah, I get that sometimes, and not only in hifi. In some ways I suppose it's unavoidable (at least to some degree), and I guess it's up to each of us to take it seriously or not. Don't want to wait on me? I'll gladly shop elsewhere or consider another brand. I've got my little system here and I'm happy with it, and that's good enough for me. Though I do want another amp that I don't really need...haha! Thanks guys for keeping it real!
I’ve replayed this review for a lot of people, particularly around the 13 minute mark. It’s a breath of fresh air… I enjoyed your channel before but you took it to another level by going as transparent as you did. Much respect gained! Kudos! ❤️🔥💪🍻
I'm a Brazilian who always follows you, I love, in addition to the enormous quality of your reviews, the beauty of the interaction between you two, I admire you so much!!!
After some rigorous hunting down singles from two different places because so many said SOLD OUT, I finally got a pair yesterday. Listened rather unimpressed until late last night. Spent a lot of time tweaking sound different from my B&W CM-10's. Got up early and couldn't wait to get them cranked back up, so I just got SXM going on the Roku and let them play for a few more hours. I noticed they were starting to come alive, more spacious, effortless, but seemed a little boomy. So I opened the app for my SVS SB3000 sub and took it off the Music preset and it immediately sounded better. These speakers need very little if any sub, so I basically set the sub to play anything BELOW what the speakers won't, and that with a lot of tweaking to the EQ in my Yamaha Aventage RX-A3080, which I plan to keep and not upgrade to the newer one, in two channel stereo listening, these Polks are HEVEANLY now. Dare I say approaching that hallowed "HIGH END" sound. I LOVE them, and I'm sure they'll just sweeten up even more as time goes by. But I trusted your review and you were SPOT ON, they are PHENOMINAL. THANK YOU for the review. I've been looking for a couple YEARS for something new. Not that the B&W are bad, I just wanted something different, and lo and behold these are not only different but BETTER, and for HALF what I paid for the B&W. The only issue I had was when unboxing, I noticed the split in the vinyl wrap in the back, it was actually even coming lose. I had to take a black sharpie and color in the crack to it wasn't that evident, and smooth the wrap back down best I could, even though it really wasn't sticking, it was at least flat. But if that's the only issue, I'm still a VERY happy camper. PS: I plan on adding a pair of those Emotiva XPA HC-1's. Thankfully the Yamaha has L&R XLR pre outs.
Honestly, I love your videos, not just the data & points of the speakers but what your heart and gut tell you about them! I love the fact that you compared it to the Kplisch to these Polk - just bravo because I was thinking about it before we got to this part of the video and was pleasantly surprised and ECSTATIC you made the comparison and that you gave your OPINION on which one is better, most reviewers leave it as "you decide" which is hard since most people don't have the ability to listen to both? MAKING NEUTRAL REVIEWS USELESS! This is what makes your channel and review method so great. The reality is most people haven't heard as many speakers with different amps and receivers as you have, making your TAKE, your review all the more VALUABLE. Thank you, Andrew, your attention to detail and your ability to compare speakers to the macro speaker environment is bar none.
I recently bought the r700s plus the r400s plus the r900s (as surrounds).. plus 2 pairs of polk rc80i for atmos.. waiting eagerly for these to be delivered and installed.. i auditioned the r700 at my local retailer and was blown away.. listened to some stevie ray vaughn, hendrix, beat it by mj, some metallica, sadie, fleetwood mac, bob marley, norah jones, steely dan, rhcp... whatever i threw at it, these speakers just kicked ass.. speakers i compared to included focal (theva and vestia), kef (q750 and r7), sonus faber (lumina), q acoustics (5040), dynaudio emit and some dalis... The choice was as clear as night and day! Thanks for your review, i would have never heard of these speakers otherwise!
I bought the 700s weeks go with an Atoll IN300. I‘m super happy. For the first time my vinyls sound extremely good. No matter which volume i choose. The 700s are always wonderful balanced and offer the full range of music. Thanks for this nice video. It confirms my decision to buy them.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Andrew & Kristi,
This is a great review. The fact that certain high end brands will not put their gear up for review makes me question them & their motives, far more than I question you guys or your ability to accurately (and honestly) evaluate the performance of a product.
I would personally love to see some higher end reviews but I'm not fussed. My system has been built with a whole lot of your advice and help. You guys were actually responsible for getting me back into the hobby. The fact that brands, for better or worse, like Rotel, Bowers & Wilkins & Marantz still back their products enough to put them up for review was a very big factor in me purchasing them.
My answer to the question is : I wanted B&W 702 signatures. They look & sound incredible & I simply wanted them! I built my entire system around them with a goal of getting as much out of them as I could. I am truly happy with my decision. I would LOVE to see Michi on your show! They are a truly wonderful product & I'm sure they would back their product enough to put it up to the test. The X3 controls my speakers in a way I worried wouldn't be possible inside a certain price point. A fact that is in line with your general outlook on value vs performance.
You guys can feel good in the fact that, weather they realise it themselves or not, these "high end" brands hurt themselves in these decisions much more than they hurt your program.
Thanks again & take care
Fraser
I know Kristi has been in on the reviews for a while but I just want to say, her views and opinions are part of what make this channel special. Having two people with differing preferences listening to the same system in the same room is so valuable. Thanks again for a fantastic review guys.
What's your answer to the question?
@@joeykitty2892 So my opinion is chasing the diminishing returns is a fools errand. I wouldn't spend more to get barely any improvement because your ears adjust to what you have and tend to prefer it anyway. Now, spending more for better build quality and thus appearance, I can understand. Something like the Sibelius being hand built with thick solid oak could absolutely be worth it.
Yep, I also always watch to the end for Kristi's opinion as well. There aren't nearly as many women in audio as I would like, so I won't pass on the chance of hearing a women's opinion if I can.
To be honest, upgrading really DOES make a difference, but when you start adding up the costs... Brr. I love products like the R700's!
Received my R700's last week. I think I got the last pair because they are sold out everywhere. I can tell you the hype is real. Comparing these to my Polk RTiA10's is like night and day. I'm no audiophile but I can tell you this line from Polk is amazing. I've owned a few set's of speakers from Polk and they have really hit a home run with the Reserve line. You wont be disappointed if you buy a pair.
Folks if you don’t watch all the way to the end you are missing out on an excellent discussion around the audiophile community and industry. Great review as always.
🎯
Can I just say I really appreciate the honesty and vulnerability you’ve shared to have an honest question and answer with Kristi and not edit that out even if you were uncomfortable. I’m a fan of your channel now and really respect your views now because of this.
I think the tweeter is the only driver that actually Carrie’s over to the Legend series. The rest of the drivers share some similarities, but are built at a cheaper price point. What a great speaker🔈👍🏻
You may be right, nevertheless I think the Reserve Series is better than the Legend. Thanks for joining us!
Really enjoyed the bonus convo. Sub'd to your channel. And I don't even care much about audio! Also ordered the R700s :)
Awesome, thank you! I hope you enjoy them!
FANTASTIC!
It’s been a while since I commented on your channel. That’s because I moved from watching using my computer to using my Apple TV and my 55” TV. But this time around, I felt I HAD to take the time to pick up my iPhone, open up the history of watched videos on CZcams and comment.
With that introduction, back on topic:
As usual, great review. But what really motivated me to add a comment was the extra comments at the end between you and your lady. I mean, there was a bit of everything there (in a very good way). I feel that the opening question completely took you off guard and it was almost like watching a therapy session where the shrink challenges the patient to truly reflect on something important. And you both delivered a very candid and transparent conversation. THANK YOU for that. It was great to watch you guys opening up to the difficulties you face, to the exposure that the channel has, etc.
With all that said, I do have a question for you. And you are probably going to immediately think “Hey, you’re asking me to compare Apples to Oranges!” But you know what..? Not really. Both are pairs of speakers, and their job it to deliver sound. So, here it goes:
How do these R700 compare to the far costlier La Scala?
Thank you so much for the GREAT content that you BOTH put out here for us subscribers.
Peace, be well, Raphael
I thank you for the comment. Objectively, if you can believe it, the Polk is capable of feats the LaScala simply isn't, for example bass. The LaScala isn't what I would call a bass-head's dream come true, whereas the R700 is capable of hitting the low notes with a startling amount of finesse. All that said, LaScala's make an almost indescribable emotional connection with the listener --likely due to their near "you are there" sound signature . While by no means perfect (they are not) the LaScala is the type of speaker that becomes difficult to quantify because I fear or feel it will either connect with the listener...or it won't. Whereas the R700 has a more traditional sound, one that is insanely good and well versed that I cannot see a potential listener or customer having much, if anything to complain about in the end. Hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching!
Raphael, - just to be clear that was a bot pretending to be another creator. Hopefully you didn't actually respond. The account was reported and that comment was deleted.
I completely agree with the gatekeeper comments about this hobby. When I was 26 (and not nearly as successful as Andrew was), I walked into my neighbourhood stereo shop in Toronto and they had Bryston equipment (local high end gear made in Peterborough). I had heard of but never seen it in person before, so I started to check it out. The shop owner bellowed from behind the counter to stop touching the gear unless I was there to buy it. Insulted, I immediately walked out. That store quite deservedly went out of business, and I’ve never been treated like such a vagrant before nor since.
This hobby needs to bring more people in, but unfortunately a lot of it is built on snobbery, wealth, class, and exclusion. Thank you Andrew and Kristi for addressing it, and know that your channel is literally my favourite on all of CZcams. Your videos have sustained me over the last year, and I deeply thank you.
Had the same experience maybe about a year back. I went to a high-end store and wanted to demo a few stuff. Nobody accommodated me well, and when I got the chance to listen to a few tracks, they wouldn't let me play the songs I brought with me. I looked 'too young' to be in the hobby for them (well, I am) and it just so happened that I was wearing casual, baggy clothes that day.
Walked into a couple of other stores and the customer service was fantastic. I got about 2 pairs of towers, 4 amps, 4 subs, among other things. Paid in cash. Screw gatekeepers.
The realness of this compelled me to subscribe. Thank you for this and keep up the good work.
Welcome aboard!
That discussion with Kristy was one of my favourite moments in all the audio videos I've watched over the last few years (and there have been many). Thank you for that! I have and love the RP8000F (mostly based on your review, which I 100% agreed with!) and now am wondering if going to the Forte 4 is worth the money, it's really expensive here in Canada. Curious how the 8000F mk2 will compare.
Andrew alone is the gold standard. Kristy's contribution and partnership put the channel on a whole other and higher level. They are lucky to have found each other. Luck, but also perspectives that are complementary and respectfully explore complex audio truth. This last conversation started haltingly but ended like the Beethoven 9th. It was passionate and detailed but never brash. Priceless.
Andrew and Kristi, well done. I'm 63 and an audiophile (music lover not equipment lover, per the older definition). I'm old enough to remember when Polk was a small company (I was in high school during their early years), the type of company that appeals to certain types of audiophiles. Now that they've grown and can apply economies of scale, they make great speakers for what I feel is a reasonable price. I appreciated the discussion regarding what one really seeks when spending more money. I know I've spent/wasted time obsessing on that next component and the possibility of audio perfection. I'm currently lusting after two different speakers from two different companies. I won't mention their names, but they're made in Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. And they retail between $10,000-$18,000 per pair. Not a small chunk of change.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle for the Polk R700's to be taken seriously is their price. But this is exactly why I'm going to give these speakers a serious listen.
I love you guys! I just realized I've been following YOU Andrew for years and just realized this fact. Back when A-V was just getting started and HI-FI was the thing YOUR name was on certain reviews I remember reading in the main rags of the time. I can tell how real and passionate you are about what you do, and that is refreshing. All I can say is...keep the faith, keep up the GREAT work you've been doing for years. Your channel IS IT...the best on YT!!! Many blessings to you two in 2023! Always look forward to the next review.
Chiming in at 571 comments so far…talk about viewer engagement…speaks volumes to the calibre and quality of your show…congrats on another fine episode Andrew and Kristi!!
Thank you, Sal!
The "validation" discussion compelled me to hit the Subscribe and like button. Thanks for the honesty, sincerity, insights, and reflections.
Fantastic chat at the end. You are so true I no longer strive to buy more expensive hi fi gear because what I got is what I like. Well done Andrew
After watching the review and a few others I decided to get the R700 by Polk and both my wife and I are extremely happy.
Hi Andrew and Kristi, After a near 6 month wait I received my R700 Black Friday deal ($825.00 ea.) and I have to tell you they blew me away. They are paired with an Emotiva XMC-1 and a Crown XLS Drivecore 1502 along with my Plex streaming server hosted in Amsterdam. I didn't do any real tweaking, nor did I apply Dirac treatment. I just set the XMC-1 to reference stereo and enjoyed my jazz playlist for hours last night. You are 100% correct. Placement isn't a huge issue. They're very forgiving on source material and with the exception of only a few "meh" recordings I had goosebumps for the entire listening session. I sold my Klipsch RP 8000F's last year and the R700's just blow them out of the water. I couldn't get the Klipsch's to sound right in my room.
Thanks for being our eyes and ears, giving everyone honest advice as having the ability to audition audio equipment is becoming more and more difficult with box stores closing everywhere.
All the best, Richard Rigg
I just bought these Polk R700s and absolutely love the sound quality! I can't get over how real everything sounds: from vocals, to guitars, to drums, just a pleasure to revisit favorite songs again with these speakers. Only thing I don't love is the look. There are definitely better looking speakers out there at the same price point than these, but I bought them to listen to, not to look at. Very happy with my choice!
Thanks for sharing.
I do have to ask since our reviewer paired each speaker with a Emotiva HC-1 amp almost doubling the cost of each speaker
what are you using to drive them with & how do they sound at lower levels ?
Thanks
@@deadline7610 drove them with a crown 2502 and topping d90se acting as a pre. Dont need to spend crazy money for good power. Have yet to hear anything as good under 10k.
Just curious, how are these speakers at medium to lower volume listening?
@@jeffmpvd7689 Andrew addresses this briefly in the video, although you may be able to get more information from the OP here
@@deadline7610 I am driving these with a Marantz SR6011. They sound great at lower volume. Half my listening time is at a lower level and I really am happy with the sound. Detail rich and bottom end full at a lower volume.
Another great Sunday with your channel! Polk fan here, I have the “mid-range” monitors they sold back in 2002 and love them.
QOTD: I agree with Andrew’s law of diminishing returns. I’ll spend good money on hifi but not stupid money. Thank you both!!
Just bought myself a pair!
After 10 mins in the testroom i knew these would be an good upgrade since i wanted to own a new pair of speakers!
They will be replacing my Canton Karat S8 DC as fronts, however the subwoofer will stay.
The bass didnt go quite deep enough for hardstyle or other heavy electric music, but anything else was insane!
Also thanks for the great content! Its sad to hear some companies refuse to work with you guys becus your giving us an honest opinion and with no bias. Everyone should be able to have great sound no matter there budget!
Wasze podejście do produktu z dziedziny audio daje nadzieję że kupię dobry sprzęt. Mam dość marketingowego bełkotu i dlatego u Was czuję się jak w domu. Dziękuję Wam! Pozdrawiam z Polski
I won't stop saying this: We're in the golden age of Hi-Fi right now.
Fantastic review as always and I love Kristi for bringing the Hi-Fi gatekeeping real talk. It's a genuine problem and Hi-Fi suffers from several off-putting traits like tribalism, gatekeeping, elitism etc. There's so much fear and insecurity from the idea of needing to defend one's own purchases or preferences or approach or budget...
The industry is so good right now, Hi-Fi enthusiasts should be having a 365 day festival. Instead, it's stone throwing, snarling and vitriol. Crazy.
Ha, you had to hear a hifi salesman when I told him I used UTP (computer network cable) as speaker cable! It's pretty high quality solid copper core stuff, but 1 euro per meter in stead of the 37 euros per meter for the van den Hul cable that I also own.. (but didn't tell him about).
From that moment on, he treated me like a child.
Then again, he did that to a female friend of mine from the start, so, eh, yeah....
@@erwindewit4073 Sorry to hear that. It's so needless too!
My experience with HiFi sales has been mixed but I've experienced dismissive and condescending attitudes tbf. No wonder so few women are into Hi-fi.
@@AnotherAnonymousMan I don't think it helps! My friend eventually gave up on the speaker cables and uses UTP cables now. They are good enough she says.
But really, lots more needs changing in our societies to improve things significantly for women....
As a long time Polk fan, the Reserve line is special. REALLY special and really captures what Polk Audio was about in it's heyday....great sound (and at times controversial)at real world prices. Back in the 70's and 80's the Monitor series (particularly the 7s) were unassuming speakers that did everything well. They could compete with the refined sound of the British speakers, the bass of the East coast AR/Advents and the dynamics of the West coast sound......The Reserve line, IMO, has recaptured that magic.
Now, as far as SDA goes. Many folks didn't get it/didn't like it (or appreciate it, as it were) back in the day.....and I love classic SDA's and I love my L800's (while I disagree with your conclusions about them....I agree that they aren't a loudspeaker for everyone)....but SDA was controversial (heretical for some, particularly Klipsch folks) then as it is now in some quarters. Wherever you fall on that scale, it's good to see passion about audio.
And the answer to the question.....we like stuff. Period.
Still love my monitor 10
@@raymoore8435 I just relaxed my monitor 10s with the reserve r600. Loving them (and loved my monitor 10s also of course).
Recaptured the magic? These (Reserve series) are much better, you are doing them a disservice to compare them that way.
Based on this review I purchased a pair in walnut at upscale audio for $1860/pr. So glad I saw this review The R700 sound great out of the box. Build quality is great Polk hit a home run with these.
It’s not about personal obligation. I believe it’s about how far you can go with this industry. It’s about telling people where is the stopping point. I guess it’s all about money right but really isn’t everything that’s a darn good question.
This review really surprised me when Kristi and you started chatting.. I heard something I didn't expect from a "review"
FEELINGS.
Honestly guys. WOW!!!!!
I'm so happy you both are so down to earth when it comes to getting the sound for the common buyer. I bought the Klipsch 800F and I'm happy with them, I just wish there was a place I could go room to room with different setups to hear all types of speakers.at my age it's about what I want not cost. Thank you both for your so honest revues. I am a diehard fan of you both .
Been watching tons of your video but the conversation at the end about gate keeping got me to subscribe to your channel. Love honest and meaningful content.
Same here
Always on the search for an guter upgrade for my KEF Q500 which I really love, except for the obvious lack of bass and scale. Really high quality sound. The R700 really seems like a "more affordable" upgrade than the KEF R7 e.g.
Found your reviews always to be honest and helpful and love to get Kristi's opinion on top. She really carries her heart on the tongue 👅.
Really glad you both used your reach to spread the word! Kudos 👍👍
Get a sub
Don’t change a thing with this channel. A real living room, not some dedicated listen environment; like most people. Some high end stuff to dream about, but mostly attainable goods, spoken about in real world terms.
And I agree with the how much better does money get you question; the data and testing is out there, good sounding speakers are a formula now. Aesthetics can change, but they are kinda like a printer. How much better (for a higher price) can you make them? Not much. Good performance just gets cheaper now.
Appreciate you weighing in Kiter! Truly. And I pretty much agree with everything you said!
Great review and truly appreciate your integrity it means a lot. I too have had a similar experience while shopping for high end brands. Love your recommendations and education. I purchased the Jamo c 97 from Crutchfield two years ago for my office and they did not disappoint. I think we’re stepping up to the r700 for home. Thanks again for the amazing content.
The bonus conversations are gold. She is bringing so much insights and forcing us to reflect on ourselves.
Great review guys. I been a polk fan for a minute and to be honest I have other speakers brand but no matter what I still come back to my polk speakers. They are just that GOOD! I still got my polk monitor 4 or my fx1 30 bipole speakers because they are just awesome. Kristi is right alot us don't have much money and we always going to come back to company or speaker brand who's been good to us and they built right.
You said it right there, "we always going to come back to company or speaker brand who's been good to us and they built right." TRUTH!
I’ve been eyeing these speakers for some time and have heard nothing but great things. It’s silly but my biggest hang-up is the big-box stigma Polk acquired over the last several years and the looks I’d get when I answer the question “what speakers are you running?” Kristi was spot on with her question. She could easily have been asking ME “Why do care so much?”
Ignore the haters! Polk speakers are proving again and again to be great!
Thanks for your realness in this video. As a consumer just diving into the hifi industry, I will take this cautionary tale to heart. I recently happened across a very good deal on Klipsch RP-260F towers. While I know I can spend more money, this video helped to reinforce my thought process that these will be a more than sufficient theater and music foundation for me for a very long time. Cheers, and thanks for all you do!
I love this channel and your reviews. Ive purchased the r700 based on your review.
Man that was a really vulnerable conversation with Kristi. No wonder the channel has skyrocketed. Beyond honest. Humility and wisdom.
Thanks Doan! Appreciate it!
I'm so proud of this conversation! Thank you for watching until the end.
Doan, I echo your sentiment 100%, Andrew and Kristi are solidly in my S tier of reviewers. I have found over time that Kristi’s ear and mine are spot on. Kristi, if you see this, thank you so much for being part of the channel, and for all of your sage audio wisdom. Thank you both for not being afraid to speak out on real world topics, and for taking a stand on things.
@@brochg Thank you! I really appreciate your kind words.
@John Kim I'm so glad to know that, John!
Want to come back and say you were right about these speakers. With a emotiva they sound insane
This is one of the best videos I've seen from you Andrew. The conversation with Kristi about the industry was awesome especially the gate keeping.
I have returned to this review and this discussion many times in the last few months. A marvelous discussion on so many levels. Seriously, grist for meditation.
Hey Andrew , I always admire your honesty and unbiased reviews , please keep up the good work 👏 Bravo
Thank you so much Kenneth!
Thank you for being honest and not let your viewers to spent more their hard earned money 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Wow. Never expected praise to that level from a $1000.00 speaker let alone that price from Polk. It was refreshing, surprising, interesting and for me, very well received. I do love them in white. Now Andrew and Kristi, when will we see the review on the Rotel RA-1592MKII. It's on my shopping list as my 2nd choice on integrated full feature amp vs my 1st choice the Yamaha A-S1200 traditional old school integrated. Thank you both for your honesty of your opinions. Cheers.
Let's use the Polk R700's as the new $2000.00 to $3000.00 per pair benchmark for tower speakers. I would love for you guys to get your hands on the following similar priced towers: Arendal Sound 1723S or 1723 towers, Klipsh RP-8000FII or 6000FII and Tekton Electron SE's. I have a feeling that all of them will perform well while adding their brands signature sound elements. You guys are the perfect team for this mission. Cheers.
After 72 years on this planet and having owned a wide variety of all-things-audio, I
find myself more excited now than ever before. Why?
1) CZcams reviewers such as yourself: Because of you 2 (yup 2) and a rather limited
but coveted group of other reviewers, I have learned far more about current audio offerings
than I ever could have back in the day of the ubiquitous brick & mortar store in the days of
yester-year. Now, I do understand that there are disadvantages to this scenario but I have
learned how to listen to reviewers, how they describe products, and and then interpolate their
individual perspectives into my own contextual understanding of a specific product(s). ✅
2) Audio tech evolution. My goodness, how this industry has evolved. I mean; everything
has moved up in both quality and affordability. The DAC evolution is obvious but man-o-man,
the speakers and amps of today were simply not available. Yes, I do know there were some
wonderful products (in the past). Adcom, MacIntosh, for example - but today, the selection is
far wider AND, you can buy according to taste in a much more educated way and this education can
be obtained by listening to reviewers who are honest, know their stuff and have the communication
skills and audio speak to describe a product clearly.✅
I, for one, truly appreciate the work that (certain) audio reviewers put into their craft. Andrew gets my
acknowledgement and I really enjoy Kristi's input. (hope I spelled your name correctly)
Stay the course and follow your excitement. Now, about those Polk R700s. Sounds like these
speakers will make a lot of people very happy. Me? Still leaning towards the Buchardt S400s Mk2s
but ... well, ya never know.... I'm a man and I can change (Red Green saying ... for us Canadians)
Don't change a thing about this channel. You're the number one hifi/av channel for a reason. One thing no other channel has is a Kristi. Her take at the end really makes the videos stand out! I've watched nearly all your videos and I'll be damned if you're channel isn't the most entertaining to watch. Keep up the great work.
What's your answer to the question?
I stay away from absolutes and superlatives. But damn it... Best review you guys have ever done. I understand where you're coming from. Amazing episode. You just set up a new standard.
Appreciate that, Francesco. Thanks for hanging out with us today.
I bought the R700s, but I've always bought Polk. These were insanely expensive for me at the time, but I own 5 of them now. I still feel like I don't belong in Hi-Fi with these speakers. They make me feel like a super casual. But I've been doing this for almost 20 years not counting what my dad bought as a kid. I like the sound of Polk; especially the Reserve series.
I think it's sad that you might have a point in that these aren't seen as proper HiFi among audiophiles... due to that gatekeeping mentioned in this video.
But these polk r700 deliver as good sound as I could ever need in my home. I listened to speakers staring at almost twice the price of these, listened to them in showrooms. But decided on the polk r700's. I'm not regretting that decision at all!
They also seem to respond well to DSP, and using dirac live I've achieved great sound in my living room, without much of acoustic treatment.
My audiophile neighbor was here for a listening session, and seemed quite impressed, especially when I told him what they cost! Allthough, I must say I was impressed to the sound of his system, in his custom built acoustically treated listening room! At a much higher price, mind you.
For once I bought speakers without listening.....after positive reviews...my R700...R400 center in black are with me...for about 2 weeks now...I love these Polk's,paired with XPA 2 running Anthem AVM 70...no regrets 😂
Hi Andrew, these are great sounding speakers for the price. They do sound better than a lot of speakers costing a lot more. You mentioned B&W. I can’t stand B&W at any price. Their brightness is unbearable to me. I have the Dynaudio Contour 60is at $11,000 a pair and the Polks don’t really compare to them. If you ever get a chance to audition the Dynaudio Emit 50’s, at about the same price, you might find that there are at least some manufacturers out there that offer great speakers at a reasonable price. Plus the Emit 50’s are available in white with a more refined and attractive cabinet. Cabinets, drivers and crossovers all made by Dynaudio in Denmark. By the way, your channel is great and I can’t imagine why anyone would complain about your honesty.
I've been an audiophile since my high school days back in the early 80s when I had a Sony PS-X500 turntable (still have it and LOVE it), a fantastic Harmon Kardon cassette deck (direct drive, three heads, Dolby B and C and such), and other high quality components that I could afford on my lawn-mowing and grocery clerking budget (in addition to my biking stuff). I always like to buy quality stuff. I have two Yamaha surround sound receivers that I've had for over 15 years and a Denon that I've also had for around 15+ years. I have the original Klipsche Forte that I bought whenever they came out - late 80s or early 90s??? Still love them.
I'm remodeling a home that we are moving into and because I want Dolby Atmos, I'm looking to buy my first new receiver in 15+ years. I'm also going to buy all new speakers for the Atmos system in my basement theater. My current theater set-up will be my family room system. I was thinking of getting a Klipsch speaker system for the Atmos system but now I'm considering the Polk R700s with either Klipsch speakers for the rest of the system or Definitive (I have 2 Definitive subs that I love along with a great center channel speaker and some surrounds - would love to get your thoughts on Definitive speakers). Thanks for all of your great content - including Kristi's input.
Literally, I have bought these speakers 2 weeks ago. I had wharfedale 4.2 but I wanted stand speakers. I‘ve heard and tested 4 speakers:
1. Polk Reserve R700
2. Paradigm Premier 700F
3. Wharfedale EVO 4.4
4. Focal Aria 948
At the end, it was a difficult choice between Polk and paradigm but I’ve chosen Polk because in stereo without sub it did better. 6 - 7 month ago, I made a mistake and bought musical fidelity’s m2si over Audiolab 8300a. I corrected my mistake. I sold m2si and bought 8300a. The shop where I bought the Polk audio recommended to me to drive the r700 with dual mono block from audio lab in a bi-amp config with my 8300a. But I said no because I am really satisfied with how the Polk are driven by 8300a. 8300a is capable, very neutral and silent amp ( it has the 50hz hum from the transformer which I don’t hear in my listening position). But I should say that I loved the paradigm 700F but the Polk was reduced to 1798 Euro for the pair(yeah you have read it right). I couldn’t look away.
I have been in my house for more than a year now . I can’t get out much . I bought these based on your formula of diminishing returns of what you can get by spending more . I am so pleased with the sound from them powered by your Rotel 1592MKII integrated amp. I love almost all genres of music . I really enjoy classic rock ,& instrumental classical like Yo Yo Ma . I have Focal Chora D model with the center powered by the Onkyo RZ50 and am so thrilled with this also . I like your angle on what a great product costs and spending double or moor might give you a few percentage points of better performance, but do I personally really need that . Me no. I have many issues with my health that have affected my vision and hearing so I couldn’t possibly appreciate those differences ,but I’m thankful for what you 2 have brought into my life with these pieces,& your channel. These products have brought so much life and joy and the world into my home . I just can’t thank you enough . R 700s in my possession for 7 months and still ecstatic
Thank you for sharing your story. I'm very happy to hear that you are enjoying your system.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews No . All thanks to you two . I just love watching your videos even if I can’t afford or need the product you two are just so entertaining and real
As usual it's a great review as it stands. However, the bonus conversation might be the best I heared so far. Love the point Kristi makes and how you two go in depth here. Great stuff!
Thank you SO much for watching. I'm so proud of the conversation we were able to have in this one.
Thanks so much Alwin!
The more honest opinion, the more trust from viewers. Thanks for that last part.
I’ve watched this review at least five times and like all of Andrew and Kristi’s Hi-Fi coverage, it really has me thinking! For someone who finds the R700s to be on the large side, I can’t help but wonder what, if anything my ears would be giving up to the R700s if I opted for a set of R600s paired with a subwoofer. At any rate Polk hasn’t been this exciting in years.
I've always liked hearing Kristi's insights as she, like me, is less of an expert (hats off to you Andrew) and more of a gut feeling listener. This video though, wow! Kristi turned it up to 11 and went full journalist asking the best question I have ever heard put to an audiophile. The answer was worth listening to twice and the question has shaken me to my core. It has completely changed the way I think about audio.
There is always a bigger fish so perhaps the wiser, more obtainable goal should be finding equipment that is enough. Accept it and enjoy it without letting one's mind wander to thoughts of more.
Heavy stuff, Kristi. Thank you.
This video is so true. I remember going into a dealership in the early 90's wanting to audition a Krell amp. The salesman asked me what I did for a living. He then asked what speaker I was currently using. I told him I had a Thiel 3.6. He then asked me were I purchased it and if I had considered a cheaper alternative. At this point my wife said let's go and we left. That is the last time I've set foot inside a true hifi store. At one point I had a nice system. Thiel Speakers, Audio Research amps and a Linn turntable. Now I listen to mainly streaming music. My Thiels which are now over 25 years old are showing their age so I watched this video to see if anything has changed. Companies like Polk, Paradigm. 700 series B&W and Focal allow me to order my stuff online and skip the judgements.
That dealer was clueless. Thiel 3.6s were not cheap in their day and required a good solid amp to drive them. Anyone who had a Thiel / AR / Linn setup in the early '90s was serious about hi-fi and had the budget to put together an excellent system.
The good news is that speaker performance has improved by leaps and bounds at every price point, due to the advent of computer-aided loudspeaker design. I don't have a desire to own a sound system that is "exclusive." I want quality sound and pricing that won't break the bank.
Seeing this review made me question that in the late '90s, I spent about $1,700 for a pair of Magnepan 1.6s. Ribbon speakers have a unique sound, but I'm sure these Polk R700s would out-perform those Maggies in nearly every respect. And the Polks work well with a wider variety of amps.
Excellent review & discussion as usual. I've had the R700 + R400 + R200 in a 5.1 configuration in my living room for about a year now. I'm in love with them. And believe me, these aren't the most expensive speakers in my house. These are a great bargain if you looking for something with great performance but don't want to break the bank. Mine are being fed by an Emotiva XPA Gen 3 amp.
When Henry Kloss revealed that after designing an expensive speaker for months, they could get a Radio Shack speaker to sound just as good by using a 10 band equalizer, it pretty much killed any desire to spend lots of money on speakers.
🤔🤫😬
Same thing happened to me with an audio salesman, I felt good to actually buy a pair of speakers and maybe build a relationship with the store. However he acted so superior I left and bought them on Amazon. Klipsch. Great 👍 review thank you.
Wow, that’s a shame…
Andrew, not only are you one of the most knowledgeable people who review online, you’re by far the most eloquent. It’s like listening to Churchill rally the nation.
Cheers, from Canberra - Australia.
P.S. Kristy is correct, it’s just snobbery and it’s rife and it’s something I think of in this way: Wolves don’t bother themselves with the opinions of Sheep.
There seems to a be a solid niche for your channel in covering audio equipment that lies between that covered by Cheap Audio Man and the more traditional high-end and audiophile channels. Products which many of us can still afford while offering a mix of sound quality, design, and luxury that is impossible in true budget gear.
I think honest reviews, and useful recommendations, are anathema to the "high end" audio industry because most of the industry are selling BS . The term "high end" means only one thing: expensive. When a company describes itself or it's products this way it is a clear indication that they have no goal other than being expensive for the sake of being expensive, and everything else is just a justification. In contrast, when a company describe their products as "high fidelity" it means they are at least _trying_ to reproduce music as accurately as possible. Or conversely, if they talk about luxury it indicates that their focus is on design, build quality, and exotic materials.
The pretentiousness and vindictiveness Kristi describes does exist in other industries, not mass market focused industries, but luxury industries that focus on image over performance. A prime example being the luxury watch industry.
I like your comment, Dennis. I think that, by and large, you're right.
Ok Andrew, you got me. I just ordered a pair of 700's out of mere curiosity. In the meantime, I will enjoy my Cornwall ivs. I hope you guys are loving yours
I ran a Crown K2 on these just for fun one evening. Good God what a revelation. I couldn't believe how crazy they responded with that kinda power.
I’ve had my R700’s for 6 months now, and just went to Pre / Power with a Parasound 200 Pre and ZoneMaster 2350 (rated at 350W into 8 ohms), and I can definitely attend to more power giving even better results - this pairing just blows me away. I could not want for more. Awesome, detailed, thoughtful review. You guys are great communicators. Great stuff!
Note: I actually went from KEF Q950’s (nice speakers, but felt something was missing), paired with the Cambridge Audio CXA80, to the Polk R700’s, and found them a marked improvement. Even with running them with the Parasound 200 Integrated, but especially with the Parasound Pre/Power. I actually think they’re a better looking speaker, and built a bit better too. Which I’m sure some will have a very different opinion to, haha.
Since you have these speakers, I have a question. How are these at medium to lower volume listening? Do they sound dull or are they still wonderful? My current speakers really only shine at higher volumes so I'm looking for something that I can enjoy in the evening at lower volumes.
@@jeffmpvd7689 Hey Jeff, this is really where I noticed a difference with the KEFs, which were still nice, but the R700s really sound great at low to medium levels, not dull at all. Most of my listening is in this range. With the 110w Parasound Integrated they were already good, but even better with more power from the ZoneMaster 2350.
Bought these blind or should I say deaf after this review.
I am most happy with the sound, it's so silky smooth, like an angel peeing in my ears. I feed these speakers a solid 250watts with a Hypex Nilai diy class d stereo amp.
Thanks for the awesome and real content. Greetings from the Netherlands. Marco
bought the r700 because of this review!!!! i love it so much!!!
when i bought this the salesman told me he sold 5 pairs that month with customers mentioning you!! how awesome is that!! thank you for leading me in the right direction.
Glad you like them!