Polk Audio Legend L100 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Polk Audio. It features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 57-38k Hz and a sensitivity of 85.5 dB. Polk L100 has an MSRP of 999$ per pair but can often be found around 799$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Polk L100 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | Poor |
(* 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.)
Polk Audio's Legend L Series of Loudspeakers
L100 is a member of Polk Audio's Legend L series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Polk Audio Legend L Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the Polk L100 Speaker
Polk L100 has a Frequency response range of 57-38k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 30-160 watts. With a minimum frequency of 57 Hz, L100 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with Polk L100, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $1000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how L100's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Polk L100's Polypropylene Woofer
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 1000$ (Pair), these are the 3 Passive Bookshelf speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the Polk L100's 57Hz:
Polk L100's Ring Radiator Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the Polk L100?
The Crossover frequency of the L100 is set to 2900Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Polk L100's nominal impedance level is
4 ohms but can go down to as low as
3 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
85.5 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the Polk Audio Legend L100 is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.
Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the Polk Audio Legend L100 with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, Polk Audio Legend L100 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps.
Minimum Impedance of the Polk L100
Even though the nominal impedance of the L100 is 4 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Polk Audio is 3 ohms Polk Audio Legend L100 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the Polk L100:
Input Type
L100 features Post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Polk L100 Back View
Polk L100 External Dimensions and Weight
Polk L100 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 13-11/16 x 7-7/8 x 11-5/16inch (348.0 x 201.0 x 288.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Polk L100 is approximately 578.9cm2 / 89.7inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Polk L100, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Polk L100 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Polk L100 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
Polk L100 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
WeightThe Polk L100 weighs 7.68kg / 16.9lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how L100's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $1000
How does the Polk L100 compare to the Polk Audio Legend L200?
One of the natural alternative to the Polk L100 is the L200 which is located one step higher in Polk Audio's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of Polk L100 and Polk L200 Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of Polk L100 vs L200 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
Polk L100 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Wood veneer finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Polk L100 - Side View
Port Position
Polk L100 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Polk L100 Enhanced Power Port Port
Available colors
Polk L100 is available in Brown Walnut and Black Ash.
Wall Mounting
L100 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the Polk L100 come with a Grille?
L100 comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.
Polk L100 with Grille
What's in the Box of Polk L100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L100:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Cleaning cloth Owners Manual Online Registration
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Polk Audio Legend L100.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Polk Audio Legend L100, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Polk L100
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Polk Audio Legend L100 speaker:
Official Brochure for Polk L100
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Polk Audio Legend L100 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Polk L100
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.