Polk Audio Reserve R200 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Polk Audio. It features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 51-38k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. Polk R200 has an MSRP of 749$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Polk R200 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 R200 Speaker Structure
Polk Audio's Reserve Series of Loudspeakers
R200 is a member of Polk Audio's Reserve series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Polk Audio Reserve Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the Polk R200 Speaker
Polk R200 has a Frequency response range of 51-38k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 30-200 watts. With a minimum frequency of 51 Hz, R200 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 R200, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $750. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how R200'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 R200's Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer
Polk R200's Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the Polk R200?
The Crossover frequency of the R200 is set to 3000Hz. 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 R200's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
3.8 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Polk Audio Reserve R200 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, Polk Audio Reserve R200 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 R200
Even though the nominal impedance of the R200 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Polk Audio is 3.8 ohms Polk Audio Reserve R200 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 R200:
Input Type
R200 features Binding post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Polk R200 External Dimensions and Weight
Polk R200 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 14-1/8 x 7-9/16 x 13-15/16inch (359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm ).
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 R200 is approximately 685.2cm2 / 106.2inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Polk R200, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Polk R200 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Polk R200 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
Polk R200 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
WeightThe Polk R200 weighs 8.69kg / 19.1lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how R200's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $750
Cabinet type and Materials
Polk R200 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Vinyl 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.
Speaker Feet
Polk R200 comes with
Rubber Pads which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on. It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
Polk R200 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 R200 Port
Available colors
Polk R200 is available in Black, Walnut and White.
Wall Mounting
R200 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the Polk R200 come with a Grille?
R200 comes with magnetic 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. Since the included grille of the R200 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
Polk R200 with Grille
What's in the Box of Polk R200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R200:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 GrillesOwners ManualOnline Registration
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Polk Audio Reserve R200.
- 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 Reserve R200, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Polk R200
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Polk Audio Reserve R200 speaker:
Official Brochure for Polk R200
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Polk Audio Reserve R200 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Polk R200
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.