In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio Reserve R900 is a Surround speaker whereas the R400 is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio Reserve R900 and Polk R400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
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"
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): 7-13/16" x 24-5/16" x 14-5/8" ( 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm )
Reserve R900 and R400 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 Audio Reserve R900 and Polk R400 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 Reserve R900 and R400 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk Audio Reserve R900 |
Polk R400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Reserve R900 features a 0.75" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woofer . On the other hand, the R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Reserve R900 has a frequency range of 70-32k Hz whereas R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R400 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 Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround Speakers
High Frequency
Surround 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
Reserve R900 and R400 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reserve R900 sensitivity is rated at 85.5 dB and the R400's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk R400 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk Audio Reserve R900, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Surround Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Reserve R900 features Binding post type posts and R400 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
Polk R400 dual 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 Audio Reserve R900's and Polk R400's external dimensions. Polk Audio Reserve R900 has external dimensions of ( ) whereas 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) .
Polk R400 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 618mm wider, 199mm taller and 372mm deeper than Polk Audio Reserve R900.
What's in the Box of Polk R400?
Here are the items that come with the R400:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration