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
  • AMPLIFIERS
  • SMART FIND

Polk R400 vs Polk R700 Comparison

x
Speaker to replace
Change

Polk R400

Passive Center Channel | 48-39K Hz

Polk Audio Reserve R400
CHECK PRICE
Change
    
Polk R700

Passive Floor-standing | 38-38k Hz

Polk Audio Reserve R700
CHECK PRICE
Polk R400 Polk R400
See at AMAZON
Polk R700 Polk R700
See at AMAZON
Polk R400
See at AMAZON
Polk R700
See at AMAZON
Polk R400 vs Polk R700 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio Reserve R400 is a Center Channel speaker whereas the R700 is a Floor-standing speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Polk R400 and Polk R700 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Polk R400 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer
  • 48-39K Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-200watts
  • Weight:14.91kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 199.0" x 24-5/16" x 14-5/8"( 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm )

Polk R700 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
  • 6.5" Midrange
  • 2 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer
  • 6.5" Midrange
  • 38-38k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:50-300watts
  • Weight:35.90kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1143.8" x 12.6" x 16.9"( 1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3mm )

R400 and R700 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 R500
  
Floor-standing 49-38k Hz 87 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"
Polk R600
  
Floor-standing 43-38k Hz 87.5 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
Polk R200
  
Bookshelf 51-38k Hz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
Polk R400
Center Channel 48-39K Hz 89 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
Polk R100
  
Bookshelf 58-39k Hz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
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"

What size room are the Polk R400 and Polk R700 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 R400 Polk R700
Near-field Poor Bad
Small Room Average Poor
Mid-size Room Good Average
Large Room Average Good
Very Large Room Poor 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 R400 and Polk R700 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

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that R400 is a 2-way design whereas the R700 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.

Driver Polk R400 Polk R700
Driver Setup 2-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - 1 x 6.5-inch
Woofer 2 x 6.5-inch 2 x 8-inch

R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the R700 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2700Hz.

Frequency Response

R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz whereas R700 has a frequency range of 38-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the R700 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R400's min frequency of 48Hz.

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 Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

R400
R700
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Polk R400
Polk R700
Min
Average
Max

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

R400 and R700 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R400 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the R700's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk R400 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R700, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

R400
R700
Min
Average
Max

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.

R400 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R400 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the R700.

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

R700 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R400 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Polk R400 Terminals
Polk R400's Binding post terminals

Polk R700Post Terminals
Polk R700's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

R400 has a rear firing port whereas R700 has a bottom firing ports. Polk R700's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk R400 with its rear-firing port.

Polk R400  Port
Polk R400 dual Port

Polk R700  Port
Polk R700 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 R400's and Polk R700's external dimensions. Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm ( 7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch) whereas Polk R700 has external dimensions of 1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3mm ( 45 x 12.6 x 16.9inch) .

Polk R400 is 944.8mm shorter and 56.3mm less deeper than Polk R700 but it is also 297.3mm wider.

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 R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2 and base area of the Polk R700 is approximately 1373.6cm2 / 212.9inch2. The R400 requires 67% more surface area than the R700 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

What's in the Box of Polk R400?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R400:
  • Center-channel loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Registration
  • What's in the Box of Polk R700?

    Here are the items that come with the R700:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • 4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
  • 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
  • 4 Spike feet (pre-installed)
  • Grille
  • Hex-key
  • Owner's Manual
  • Online Registration

  • Reasons to choose Polk Audio Reserve R400 over Polk Audio Reserve R700
    Sensitivity 89 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Minimum Impedance 4.1 ohms vs 3.6 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    High Frequency Response 39k Hz vs 38k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 199mm vs 1143mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 649USD vs 2198USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Polk Audio Reserve R700 over Polk Audio Reserve R400

    Max Input Power 300 watts vs 200 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Woofer Size 8 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 38 Hz vs 48 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Base Surface Area 1373cm2 vs 2299cm2 Takes less floor space
    Polk R400 vs Polk R700 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Polk Audio Reserve R400 Polk Audio Reserve R700
    Brand Polk Audio Polk Audio
    Speaker Type Center channel speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-200 watts 50-300 watts
    Sensitivity 89 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 4.1 ohms 3.6 ohms
    Frequency Response 48-39K Hz 38-38k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 8"
    Woofer Composition Polypropylene Turbine Cone Polypropylene
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Pinnacle Ring Radiator Pinnacle Ring Radiator
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver N/A" 6.5"
    Crossover Frequency 2500Hz 350Hz and 2700Hz
    Firing Direction rear bottom
    Physical Specs
    Height 199.0mm (7.8") 1143.8mm (45")
    Width 618.0mm (24.3") 320.7mm (12.6")
    Depth 372.0mm (14.6") 428.3mm (16.9")
    Weight 14.91kg (32.8lbs) 35.90kg (79lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish n/a MDF/Vinyl
    Available Colors Black, Walnut Black, Walnut, White
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

    Most Popular Speakers
    Klipsch Reference R-51M
    Klipsch R-51M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    3-way | 89 dB | 4 ohms
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    2-way | 87 dB | 6 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
    B&W 606 S2
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    KEF Q150
    KEF Q150
    2-way | 86 dB | 8 ohms
    Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M
    Klipsch RP-500M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    2-way | 87 dB | 8 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606
    B&W 606
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    Copyright © 2025 by SpeakerDecision
    About Privacy Contact US Camera Decision

    Report a Correction