In this review, we will be comparing R200 and R200 50th Anniversary Edition, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Polk Audio Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk R200 and Polk R200 50th AE first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
R200 and R200 50th Anniversary Edition are members of Polk Audio's Reserve series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Polk R200 and Polk R200 50th AE 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk R200 and Polk R200 50th AE 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 R200 and R200 50th Anniversary Edition are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk R200 |
Polk R200 50th AE |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
R200 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the R200 50th Anniversary Edition features a 1" ring radiator Pinnacle with an integrated waveguide Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
R200 and R200 50th Anniversary Edition has exactly the same frequency range of 51-38k Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
R200 50th Anniversary Edition
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
R200 and R200 50th Anniversary Edition have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
R200 50th Anniversary Edition
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.
R200 and R200 50th Anniversary Edition has the same power range of 30-200 watts.
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
R200 features Binding post type posts and R200 50th Anniversary Edition has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk R200 50th AE's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R200 and R200 50th Anniversary Edition have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Polk R200 Port
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 R200's and Polk R200 50th AE's external dimensions. Polk R200 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm ( 14-1/8 x 7-9/16 x 13-15/16inch) whereas Polk R200 50th AE has external dimensions of 358.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm ( 24-28inch x 7-9/16inch x 13-15/16inch ) .
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk R200 and Polk R200 50th AE in scale.
Comparison image of Polk R200 and Polk R200 50th AE 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 R200 is approximately 685.2cm2 / 106.2inch2 and base area of the Polk R200 50th AE is approximately 685.2cm2 / 106.2inch2.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Polk R200 and Polk R200 50th AE on a Media Console
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 R200 weighs 8.69kg / 19.1lbs and the Polk R200 50th AE weighs 8.80kg / 19.4lbs. This makes the R200 50th Anniversary Edition 1% heavier than the R200.
Here is a comparison of how R200 and R200 50th Anniversary Edition's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk R200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R200:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 GrillesOwners ManualOnline Registration
What's in the Box of Polk R200 50th AE?
Here are the items that come with the R200 50th Anniversary Edition:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 GrillesOwners ManualOnline RegistrationCertificate Of Aunthenticity
 Price per pair* |
749USD
vs
1249USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
358mm
vs
359mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Polk Audio Reserve R200 |
Polk Audio Reserve R200 50th Anniversary Edition |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
51-38k Hz |
51-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
355.0mm (14") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Weight |
8.69kg (19.1lbs) |
8.80kg (19.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |