In this review, we will be comparing L600 and L800, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Polk Audio
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk L600 and Polk L800 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk L600 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer
- 34-38k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-300watts
- Weight:35.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1182.0" x 13" x 16-3/4"( 1182.0 x 331.0 x 426.0mm )
Polk L800 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 10" Polypropylene Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 32-38k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-300watts
- Weight:68.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1236.0" x 18" x 17-7/16"( 1236.0 x 458.0 x 443.0mm )
L600 and L800 are members of Polk Audio's Legend L series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Polk L600 and Polk L800 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Polk L600 |
Polk L800 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk L600 and Polk L800 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both L600 and L800 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk L600 |
Polk L800 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
2 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 10-inch
|
L600 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 410Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the L800 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 10" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 370Hz and 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
L600 has a frequency range of 34-38k Hz whereas L800 has a frequency range of 32-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the L800 can go slightly deeper then the L600's min frequency of 34Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
L600 and L800 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. L600 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the L800's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk L800 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L600 and the L600 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both L600 and L800 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Polk L600's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Polk L800's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both L600 and L800 have down firing ports.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Polk L600's and Polk L800's external dimensions. Polk L600 has external dimensions of 1182.0 x 331.0 x 426.0mm ( 46-1/2 x 13 x 16-3/4inch) whereas Polk L800 has external dimensions of 1236.0 x 458.0 x 443.0mm ( 48-5/8 x 18 x 17-7/16inch) .
Polk L800 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 127mm wider, 54mm taller and 17mm deeper than Polk L600.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk L600 and Polk L800 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk L600 and Polk L800 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Polk L600 is approximately 1410.1cm2 / 218.6inch2 and base area of the Polk L800 is approximately 2028.9cm2 / 314.5inch2. The L600 requires 30% less surface area than the L800 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Polk L600 weighs 35.30kg / 77.7lbs and the Polk L800 weighs 68.50kg / 150.7lbs. This makes the L800 94% heavier than the L600.
Here is a comparison of how L600 and L800's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk L600?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L600:
Floorstanding loudspeakerLarge grilleSmall grille4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)4 Spike feet (pre-installed)2 Jumper-wires (pre-installed)Cleaning clothOwners ManualOnline Registration
What's in the Box of Polk L800?
Here are the items that come with the L800:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Large Grilles2 Small grillesTwo 15-feet SDA interconnect cables8 Rubber feet8 Spike feet2 Jumper-wires (pre-installed)2 Cleaning cloths2 Hex-keysOwners ManualOnline Registration
 Minimum Impedance |
3.3 ohms
vs
2.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
1182mm
vs
1236mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1410cm2
vs
2028cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3498USD
vs
5998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Polk Audio Legend L600 |
Polk Audio Legend L800 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-300 watts |
25-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.3 ohms |
2.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-38k Hz |
32-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
410Hz and 2900Hz |
370Hz and 2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
down |
down |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1182.0mm (46.5") |
1236.0mm (48.7") |
| Width |
331.0mm (13") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Depth |
426.0mm (16.8") |
443.0mm (17.4") |
| Weight |
35.30kg (77.7lbs) |
68.50kg (150.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |