SpeakerDecision
  • SPEAKERS
    • By Type
      Passive Bookshelf Speakers Passive Floor-standing Speakers Passive Center Channel Speakers Passive In-wall Speakers All Passive Speakers Powered Subwoofers Powered Stereo Speakers
      By Feature
      HDMI Input Room Correction Subwoofer Output Front Firing Port Handheld Remote Roon Ready
      By Brand
      Acoustic Energy Aperion ATC Audio-Technica Audioengine Bluesound Bowers Wilkins Buchardt Cambridge Audio Canton DALI Definitive Technology Dynaudio ELAC Emotiva Fluance Focal Fyne Audio Genelec GoldenEar Harbeth Jamo JBL Kanto KEF KLH Klipsch Leak Mackie Magnepan MartinLogan McIntosh Mission MoFi Monitor Audio Nuvo Onkyo OSD Paradigm Perlisten Polk Audio PS Audio PSB Q Acoustics REL Revel Russound Sennheiser Sonos Sonus faber Sony Spendor SVS Tannoy Technics Triangle Velodyne Victrola Wharfedale Wilson Audio Yamaha
  • AMPLIFIERS
    • By Type
      All Amplifiers Integrated Amplifiers Stereo Receivers Streaming Amplifiers Power Amplifiers Compact Amplifiers
      By Power
      Up to 60 watts 61 to 90 watts 91 to 120 watts 121 to 180 watts Over 180 watts
      By Feature
      HDMI Input Room Correction Subwoofer Output Handheld Remote Roon Ready
      Home Theater
      All Home Theater Receivers Anthem ARCAM Denon Integra JBL Marantz McIntosh NAD Onkyo Sony Yamaha
      Headphone Amps
      All Headphone Amplifiers Cambridge Audio iFi Audio McIntosh Naim Pro-Ject Rotel Schiit Audio Sennheiser Yamaha
      Multi-Zone
      All Multi-Zone Amplifiers JBL McIntosh OSD Rotel Russound Sonos
      By Brand
      Accuphase Advance Paris Anthem Arcam Audio Research AudioControl Audioengine Audiolab Bluesound Bose Buchardt Cambridge Audio Cayin Denon Devialet ELAC Emotiva Eversolo FiiO Fosi Audio Hegel HiFi Rose Integra JBL Layer Audio Design LEAK Luxman Marantz Mark Levinson McIntosh Michi MISSION MOON Musical Fidelity NAD Naim Onkyo OSD Parasound Pass Labs Peachtree PrimaLuna Primare PS Audio Rega Rogue Audio Roksan Rotel Schiit Audio Sonos Sony SVS T+A TEAC Technics Vincent WiiM Yamaha
  • SMART FIND
  • TOOLS
  • BLOG
  1. Home
  2. Passive Center Channel Speakers
  3. Polk R300 vs Polk Audio Reserve R350

Polk R300 vs Polk Audio Reserve R350 Comparison

x
Speaker to replace
Change

Polk R300

Passive Center Channel | 65-38k Hz

Polk Audio Reserve R300
Check price atAmazon›
Change
    
Polk Audio Reserve R350

Passive Center Channel | 75-35k Hz

Polk Audio Reserve R350
Check price atAmazon›
Polk R300 Polk R300
Check price atAmazon›
Polk Audio Reserve R350 Polk Audio Reserve R...
Check price atAmazon›
Polk R300
See at AMAZON
Polk Audio Reserve R...
See at AMAZON

Polk R300 vs Polk Audio Reserve R350 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing R300 and Reserve R350, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Polk Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Polk R300 and Polk Audio Reserve R350 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key SpecsPolk R300Polk Audio Reserve R350
BrandPolk Audio
United States · founded 1972
Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972
Design2-way2-way
Tweeter1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator1" Ring Radiator
Woofer2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Turbine Cone4 x 4"
Frequency response65-38k Hz75-35k Hz
Sensitivity86.5 dB87 dB
Impedance8 ohms8 ohms
Power range30-200 watts—
Weight7.64kg / 16.8lbs9.07kg / 20lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)6-13/16" x 19-1/16" x 8-15/16"
174.0 x 485.0 x 228.0mm
5-9/16" x 30" x 7-1/4"
141.3 x 762.0 x 184.2mm

R300 and Reserve R350 are members of Polk Audio's Reserve series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Polk Audio Reserve Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Polk R700
  
Floor-standing 38-38k Hz 88 dB8Ω 2 x 8"
Polk R600
  
Floor-standing 43-38k Hz 87.5 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
Polk R500
  
Floor-standing 49-38k Hz 87 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"
Polk R200
  
Bookshelf 51-38k Hz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
Polk R100
  
Bookshelf 58-39k Hz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
Polk R400
  
Center Channel 48-39K Hz 89 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
Polk R300
Center Channel 65-38k Hz 86.5 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"
Polk R200 50th AE
  
Bookshelf 51-38k Hz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
Polk Audio Reserve R350
Center Channel 75-35k Hz 87 dB8Ω 4 x 4"
Polk Audio Reserve R900
  
Surround 70-32k Hz 85.5 dB8Ω 1 x 4"

The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.


Drivers

Both R300 and Reserve R350 are 2-way speakers.

Woofer - 5.25 inchTweeter - 1 inchWoofer - 5.25 inch
Polk R300
Woofer - 4 inchWoofer - 4 inchTweeter - 1 inchWoofer - 4 inchWoofer - 4 inch
Polk Audio Reserve R350

TweeterWoofer

Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.

Driver Polk R300 Polk Audio Reserve R350
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 5.25-inch 4 x 4-inch

R300 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the Reserve R350 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 4 x 4" Woofer.

Frequency Response

R300 has a frequency range of 65-38k Hz whereas Reserve R350 has a frequency range of 75-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the R300 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reserve R350's min frequency of 75Hz.

The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

R300
Reserve R350
Min
Average
Median

Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Impedance and Sensitivity

R300 and Reserve R350 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R300 sensitivity is rated at 86.5 dB and the Reserve R350's is at 87 dB.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

R300
Reserve R350
Min
Average
Median

Which plays louder on your amplifier?

Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are considering, and watch both numbers move.

Polk R300
 
Polk Audio Reserve R350
 

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

R300 features Binding post type posts and Reserve R350 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Polk R300 Terminals
Polk R300's Binding post terminals

Physical Specs

The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 R300's and Polk Audio Reserve R350's external dimensions. Polk R300 has external dimensions of 174.0 x 485.0 x 228.0mm (6-13/16 x 19-1/16 x 8-15/16inch) whereas Polk Audio Reserve R350 has external dimensions of 141.3 x 762.0 x 184.2mm ().

Polk Audio Reserve R350 is 32.7mm shorter and 43.8mm less deeper than Polk R300 but it is also 277mm wider.

Size, drawn to scale

FRONTPolk R300 front: 485 x 174 mm (19.1 x 6.9 in)Polk Audio Reserve R350 front: 762 x 141 mm (30 x 5.6 in)Polk R300485 × 174 mmPolk Audio Reserve R350762 × 141 mmTOP / FOOTPRINTPolk R300 footprint: 485 x 228 mm (19.1 x 9 in)Polk Audio Reserve R350 footprint: 762 x 184 mm (30 x 7.3 in)Polk R300485 × 228 mmPolk Audio Reserve R350762 × 184 mm
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.

One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.

Polk Audio Reserve R350 needs about 27% more floor or shelf area. Polk R300 is 44mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Polk R300 is 33mm taller.

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 R300 is approximately 1105.8cm2 / 171.4inch2 and base area of the Polk Audio Reserve R350 is approximately 1403.6cm2 / 217.6inch2. The R300 requires 21% less surface area than the Reserve R350 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 R300 weighs 7.64kg / 16.8lbs and the Polk Audio Reserve R350 weighs 9.07kg / 20lbs. This makes the Reserve R350 19% heavier than the R300.

Here is a comparison of how R300 and Reserve R350's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Polk R300
Polk Audio Reserve R350
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Polk R300?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R300:
  • Center-channel loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Registration


Reasons to choose Polk Audio Reserve R300 over Polk Audio Reserve R350

Woofer Size 5.25 inches vs 4 inches Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response 65 Hz vs 75 Hz Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response 38k Hz vs 35k Hz Generates higher frequency
Base Surface Area 1105cm2 vs 1403cm2 Takes less floor space
Price per pair* 449USD vs 649USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Polk Audio Reserve R350 over Polk Audio Reserve R300

Number of Woofers 4 vs 2 More woofers
Height 141mm vs 174mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Polk R300 vs Polk Audio Reserve R350 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications
General Polk Audio Reserve R300 Polk Audio Reserve R350
Brand Polk Audio Polk Audio
Speaker Type Center channel speaker Center channel speaker
Sensitivity 86.5 dB 87 dB
Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
Impedance 3.8 ohms n/a
Frequency Response 65-38k Hz 75-35k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 2 4
Woofer Size 5.25" 4"
Woofer Composition Polypropylene Turbine Cone
Woofer Surround Material Rubber n/a
Tweeter Size 1" 1"
Tweeter Type Pinnacle Ring Radiator Ring Radiator
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver No No
Crossover Frequency 2200Hz n/a
Firing Direction rear n/a
Physical Specs
Height 174.0mm (6.9") 141.3mm (5.6")
Width 485.0mm (19.1") 762.0mm (30")
Depth 228.0mm (9") 184.2mm (7.3")
Weight 7.64kg (16.8lbs) 9.07kg (20lbs)
Enclosure Acoustic Suspension
Available Colors Black, Walnut Brown
Grille Yes n/a
Moisture Resistancy No No
Connections
Biamp Inputs No n/a
Other
Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

Verdict

Siblings in Polk Audio's Reserve series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.

AreaBetterWhy
BassAPolk R300 digs deeper - 65Hz against 75Hz.
Amplifier needsevenly matchedSimilar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power.
SizedependsSimilar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit.
PriceAPolk R300 is cheaper - $449 against $649, about 31% less.

A Polk R300  B Polk Audio Reserve R350
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.

Which should you choose?

Polk R300 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 75Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $200 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.

And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.


Most Popular Speakers
Klipsch Reference R-51M
Klipsch R-51M
2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
2-way | 87 dB | 6 ohms
Wharfedale Elysian 2
Wharfedale Elysian 2
3-way | 89 dB | 4 ohms
KEF Q150
KEF Q150
2-way | 86 dB | 8 ohms
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
B&W 606 S2
2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M
Klipsch RP-500M
2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
Wharfedale EVO5.1
Wharfedale EVO5.1
2-way | 87 dB | 4 ohms
Wharfedale EVO4.1
Wharfedale EVO4.1
2-way | 87 dB | 8 ohms
This site contains affiliate links. We may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through one of them. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Copyright © 2026 by SpeakerDecision
About Privacy Contact US Camera Decision

Report a Correction