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  1. Home
  2. Polk Audio Speakers
  3. Passive Floor-standing Speakers
  4. Polk Audio Reserve R600
Polk Audio R600 Review
Polk R600 - Front View

Compare To

Main Features

  • 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer
  • 43-38k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87.5 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range: 25-200 watts
  • Weight: 47.30 lbs / 21.50 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 41.9"x11"x15" / 1063.8 x 280.7 x 381.6mm
MSRP: $849 (list price)
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Polk R600 Review
Polk R600 Polk R600
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Made by Polk Audio · United States · since 1972 · sold through dealers

Polk Audio Reserve R600 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Floor-standing speaker by Polk Audio. It was released in March 2021. It features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 43-38k Hz and a sensitivity of 87.5 dB. Polk R600 has an MSRP of 1698$ per pair.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the Polk R600 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-fieldBad
Small RoomPoor
Mid-size RoomGood
Large RoomGood
Very Large RoomPoor

(* 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 Reserve Series of Loudspeakers

R600 is a member of Polk Audio's Reserve series of Passive speakers. The Reserve range is Polk Audio's high-value step-up line, with Pinnacle tweeter and Power Port technology from the flagship Legend series. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

See all 10 Polk Audio Reserve models compared »

Polk Audio Reserve Series Speakers
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Polk R700
Compare
38-38k Hz 88 dB8Ω 2 x 8"
Polk R600
43-38k Hz 87.5 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
Polk R500
Compare
49-36k Hz 87 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"
Polk R200
Compare
51-38k Hz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
Polk R100
Compare
58-39k Hz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
Polk R400
Compare
48-39k Hz 89 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
Polk R300
Compare
65-38k Hz 86.5 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"
Polk R200 50th AE
Compare
51-38k Hz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
Polk Audio Reserve R350
Compare
75-35k Hz 87 dB8Ω 4 x 4"
Polk Audio Reserve R900
Compare
70-32k Hz 85.5 dB8Ω 1 x 4"

Frequency Response of the Polk R600 Speaker

Polk R600 has a Frequency response range of 43-38k Hz and Power Range of 25-200 watts. With a minimum frequency of 43 Hz, R600 delivers deep bass that will likely satisfy most listeners, especially those who enjoy music. However, movie enthusiasts and music fans who prefer a full range of sound may still benefit from adding a subwoofer.

Here we have a comparison of how R600's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Polk R600
Min
Average
Median
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Polk R600?
  • Work out the crossover setting - it follows from this speaker's 43 Hz low end
  • Powered subwoofers under $2,000 - a similar price range to these speakers
  • Every powered subwoofer we cover, whatever the budget

Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 2000$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Floor-standing speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the Polk R600's 43Hz:

  • KLH Kendall with Low Frequency of 25 Hz (Compare w/ R600)
  • KLH Concord with Low Frequency of 28 Hz (Compare w/ R600)
  • GoldenEar Triton Seven with Low Frequency of 29 Hz (Compare w/ R600)
  • PSB Imagine X2T with Low Frequency of 30 Hz (Compare w/ R600)
  • SVS Prime Tower with Low Frequency of 30 Hz (Compare w/ R600)

Polk R600 Tweeter
Polk R600's Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter

Crossover frequency of the Polk R600?

The crossover frequency of the R600 is set to 2700Hz. 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.

Polk R600 driver frequency bands43-2.7kWoofer 6.5"2.7k-38kTweeter 1"20501002005001k2k5k10k20k40kHz, log scale

Impedance and Sensitivity

Polk R600's nominal impedance level is 8 ohms but can go down to as low as 4 ohms, and has a sensitivity of 87.5 dB.

Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Polk R600
Min
Average
Median

8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Polk Audio Reserve R600 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.

Sensitivity

88dB of the Polk Audio Reserve R600 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the Polk R600 plays in your room →

Minimum Impedance of the Polk R600

Even though the nominal impedance of the R600 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Polk Audio is 4 ohms Polk Audio Reserve R600 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.

What amplifier does the Polk R600 need?

At normal listening levels in a medium room, about 12–190 W per channel into 8 ohms. Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.

We check power, impedance safety and current delivery - not just watts.

Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $2,000, or every amplifier we cover.

Input Type

R600 features Post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.

Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →

Polk R600 Back View
Polk R600 Back View

Polk R600 External Dimensions and Weight

Polk R600 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 41.9 x 11 x 15inch (1063.8 x 280.7 x 381.6mm ).

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 R600 is approximately 1071.2cm2 / 166.0inch2.

To get a better perspective on the real life size of Polk R600, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).

Polk R600 Real Life Body Size Comparison
Polk R600 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc

Here we place the Polk R600 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a media center to get a better idea about the size.

Polk R600 placed next to a Media Stand
Polk R600 Floor-standing Speaker next to a Media Stand

Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →  ·  Work out where they should sit in the room →

Weight

The Polk R600 weighs 21.50kg / 47.3lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how R600's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Polk R600
Min
Average
Median
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $2000
Polk R600
Min
Average
Max

How does the Polk R600 compare to the Polk Audio Reserve R700?

One of the natural alternative to the Polk R600 is the R700 which is located one step higher in Polk Audio's Passive Floor-standing selection.

Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:

Polk R600 vs Polk R700 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Polk R600 and Polk R700 Size and External Dimensions

Check the Detailed Comparison of Polk R600 vs R700 for more details.

Cabinet type and Materials

Polk R600 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 R600 comes with the parts below which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on:

  • 4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
  • 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
  • 4 Spike feet (pre-installed)

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 R600 is a bottom-firing port speaker.

Polk R600  Port
Polk R600 Port

Available colors

Polk R600 is available in Black, Walnut and White.

Does the Polk R600 come with a Grille?

R600 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 R600 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.

Polk R600  with Grille
Polk R600 with Grille

What's in the Box of Polk R600?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R600:
  • 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

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Polk Audio Reserve R600.

  • Speaker Cable and Connectors
    • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
    • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
    • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
  • Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find 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.

User's Manual

For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Polk Audio Reserve R600, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Polk R600

Official Brochure

Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Polk Audio Reserve R600 speaker:
Official Brochure for Polk R600

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the Polk Audio Reserve R600 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Polk R600

Warranty

5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.

Polk Audio Reserve R600 Alternatives in Passive Floor-standing Speakers
Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
Polk R700
Compare
3-way 88 dB 8 ohms 38-38k Hz
Polk R500
Compare
2-way 87 dB 8 ohms 49-38k Hz
Polk ES60
Compare
2-way 90 dB 8 ohms 32-40k Hz
Klipsch RP-6000F
Compare
2-way 97 dB 8 ohms 34-25k Hz
Polk R200
Compare
2-way 86 dB 8 ohms 51-38k Hz
Polk S60
Compare
2-way 90 dB 8 ohms 26-40k Hz
Wharfedale EVO4.4
Compare
3-way 89 dB 8 ohms 44-22k Hz
Polk S55
Compare
2-way 90 dB 8 ohms 32-40k Hz
Frequently Asked Questions about Polk Audio Reserve R600

What amplifier do you need for the Polk R600?

Polk Audio rates the Polk R600 for 25-200 watts of amplifier power. It is an 8-ohm speaker, the usual nominal load, so almost any amplifier or receiver can drive it.

Is the Polk R600 easy to drive?

The Polk R600 has a sensitivity of 87.5 dB. That is about average for a home speaker, so it is neither hard nor especially easy to drive.

Does the Polk R600 need a subwoofer?

The Polk R600 reaches down to 43Hz (full range 43-38k Hz). That is deep enough that many listeners will not feel the need for a subwoofer with music.

What drivers does the Polk R600 use?

The Polk R600 is a 2-way design using a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone woofers.

Is the Polk R600 sealed or ported?

The Polk R600 uses a Ported enclosure. A ported design uses a tuned vent to get more low-end output from the same driver, but it wants some breathing room behind it.

Can the Polk R600 be bi-wired or bi-amped?

No. The Polk R600 has a single pair of terminals, so bi-wiring and bi-amping are not possible. It uses Post terminals.

Can the Polk R600 be wall mounted?

The Polk R600 does not include a wall-mount bracket or keyhole, so it is designed to sit on a stand, shelf or the floor.

Does the Polk R600 come with grilles?

Yes. The Polk R600 comes with removable grilles.

How big and heavy is the Polk R600?

The Polk R600 weighs 21.50kg / 47.3lbs each and measures 41.9 x 11 x 15inch (HxWxD).

How much does the Polk R600 cost?

The Polk R600 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $1,698 per pair.


Polk R600 Detailed Specifications

General
BrandPolk Audio
Full Model NamePolk Audio Reserve R600
Speaker Type2-way Floor-standing
Power Range25-200 watts
Sensitivity87.5 dB
Impedance8 ohms
Frequency Response43-38k Hz
Release DateMarch 2021
DRIVERS
Woofer Size6.5-inch
Woofer CompositionPolypropylene Turbine Cone
Woofer SurroundRubber
Tweeter Size1-inch
Tweeter TypePinnacle Ring Radiator
Crossover freq2700Hz
Port Positionbottom

CONNECTIONS
Connector TypePost
Biamp InputsNo
Port Positionbottom
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height1063.8mm ( 41.9-inch)
Width280.7mm ( 11-inch)
Depth381.6mm ( 15-inch)
Height1063.8mm ( 41.9-inch)
Weight21.5 kg (47.3 lbs)
EnclosureBass Reflex
FinishMDF/Vinyl
Available ColorsBlack, Walnut, White
Mounting BracketNo
GrilleYes
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty5 Years
Labor Warranty5 Years
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