Polk Audio Signature S50 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Floor-standing speaker by Polk Audio. It was released in September 2016. It features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz and a sensitivity of 89 dB. Polk S50 has an MSRP of 498$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Polk S50 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 | Bad |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Good |
| 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 later replaced S50 with ES50. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these speakers:
Compare Polk S50 vs Polk ES50
Polk Audio's Signature S Series of Loudspeakers
S50 is a member of Polk Audio's Signature S series of Passive speakers. The Signature S range was Polk Audio's affordable line of home-theatre and hi-fi speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 6 Polk Audio Signature S models compared »
Polk Audio Signature S Series Speakers
Polk Audio Signature S Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the Polk S50 Speaker
Polk S50 has a Frequency response range of 33-40k Hz and Power Range of 20-150 watts. With a minimum frequency of 33 Hz, S50 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 S50's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Polk S50?
Polk S50's Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
Polk S50's Terylene Dome Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the Polk S50?
The crossover frequency of the S50 is set to 2500Hz. 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 S50's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms and has a sensitivity of
89 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Polk Audio Signature S50 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
89dB of the Polk Audio Signature S50 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the Polk S50 plays in your room →
What amplifier does the Polk S50 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
9.5–150 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $500, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
S50 has 5-way post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Polk S50's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Polk S50 External Dimensions and Weight
Polk S50 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 37-7/16 x 10-5/16 x 11-1/16inch (951.0 x 262.0 x 281.0mm ).
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 S50 is approximately 736.2cm2 / 114.1inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Polk S50, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Polk S50 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Polk S50 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a media center to get a better idea about the size.
Polk S50 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 →
WeightThe Polk S50 weighs 14.50kg / 31.9lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how S50's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $500
Cabinet type and Materials
Polk S50 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a Meddite MDF 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 S50 comes with 4 Feet (pre-installed) 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.
Polk S50 Feet
Port Position
Polk S50 is a bottom-firing port speaker.
Polk S50 Port
Available colors
Polk S50 is available in Black.
Does the Polk S50 come with a Grille?
S50 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 S50 with Grille
What's in the Box of Polk S50?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S50:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Feet (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Polk Audio Signature S50.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Polk Audio Signature S50, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Polk S50
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Polk Audio Signature S50 speaker:
Official Brochure for Polk S50
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Polk Audio Signature S50 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Polk S50
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.