In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio Reserve R500 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the Reserve R900 is a Surround speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk R500 and Polk Audio Reserve R900 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk R500 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer
- 49-38k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:17.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 41.1" x 10.1" x 13.7" ( 1044.5 x 255.4 x 348.8mm )
Polk Audio Reserve R900 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.75" Ring Radiator Tweeter
- 4" Woofer
- 70-32k Hz Frequency Response
- 85.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Weight:kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 6-1/4" x 6-9/16" x 12-5/8"
R500 and Reserve R900 are members of Polk Audio's Reserve series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Polk Audio Reserve Series
History
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk R500 and Polk Audio Reserve R900 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both R500 and Reserve R900 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk R500 |
Polk Audio Reserve R900 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
R500 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Reserve R900 features a 0.75" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woofer .
Frequency Response
R500 has a frequency range of 49-38k Hz whereas Reserve R900 has a frequency range of 70-32k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 49Hz, the R500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reserve R900's min frequency of 70Hz.
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
R500 and Reserve R900 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R500 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Reserve R900's is at 85.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk R500 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk Audio Reserve R900, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R500 features Binding post type posts and Reserve R900 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk R500's Post terminals
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 R500's and Polk Audio Reserve R900's external dimensions. Polk R500 has external dimensions of 1044.5 x 255.4 x 348.8mm ( 41.1 x 10.1 x 13.7inch) whereas Polk Audio Reserve R900 has external dimensions of ( ) .
Polk R500 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 255.4mm wider, 1044.5mm taller and 348.8mm deeper than Polk Audio Reserve R900.
What's in the Box of Polk R500?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R500:
- 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