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  1. Home
  2. Polk Audio Speakers
  3. Passive Floor-standing Speakers
  4. Polk Audio Signature S55
Polk Audio S55 Review
Polk S55 - Front View

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Main Features

  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
  • 32-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range: 20-200 watts
  • Weight: 44.00 lbs / 20.00 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 41-9/16"x11-3/4"x12-3/8" / 1056.0 x 299.0 x 315.0mm
MSRP: $329 (list price)
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Polk S55 Review
Polk S55 Polk S55
Check price atAmazon›

Made by Polk Audio · United States · since 1972 · sold through dealers

Polk Audio Signature S55 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 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 32-40k Hz and a sensitivity of 90 dB. Polk S55 has an MSRP of 658$ per pair.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the Polk S55 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 later replaced S55 with ES55. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these speakers:
Compare Polk S55 vs Polk ES55

Polk Audio's Signature S Series of Loudspeakers

S55 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
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Polk S60
Compare
26-40k Hz 90 dB8Ω 3 x 6.5"
Polk S20
Compare
39-40k Hz 88 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
Polk S15
Compare
50-40k Hz 88 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
Polk S55
32-40k Hz 90 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
Polk S10
Compare
67-40k Hz 87 dB8Ω 1 x 4"
Polk S50
Compare
33-40k Hz 89 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"
Polk Audio Signature S Series Speakers
Polk Audio Signature S Series Speakers

Frequency Response of the Polk S55 Speaker

Polk S55 has a Frequency response range of 32-40k Hz and Power Range of 20-200 watts. With a minimum frequency of 32 Hz, S55 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 S55's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Polk S55
Min
Average
Median
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Polk S55?
  • Work out the crossover setting - it follows from this speaker's 32 Hz low end
  • Powered subwoofers under $750 - a similar price range to these speakers
  • Every powered subwoofer we cover, whatever the budget
Polk S55 Woofer
Polk S55's Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer


Polk S55 Tweeter
Polk S55's Terylene Dome Tweeter

Crossover frequency of the Polk S55?

The crossover frequency of the S55 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.

Polk S55 driver frequency bands32-2.5kWoofer 6.5"2.5k-40kTweeter 1"20501002005001k2k5k10k20k40kHz, log scale

Impedance and Sensitivity

Polk S55's nominal impedance level is 8 ohms and has a sensitivity of 90 dB.

Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Polk S55
Min
Average
Median

8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Polk Audio Signature S55 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.

Sensitivity

90dB of the Polk Audio Signature S55 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the Polk S55 plays in your room →

What amplifier does the Polk S55 need?

At normal listening levels in a medium room, about 7.5–120 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 $750, or every amplifier we cover.

Input Type

S55 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 S55 Terminals
Polk S55's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Polk S55 External Dimensions and Weight

Polk S55 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 41-9/16 x 11-3/4 x 12-3/8inch (1056.0 x 299.0 x 315.0mm ).

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 S55 is approximately 941.9cm2 / 146.0inch2.

To get a better perspective on the real life size of Polk S55, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).

Polk S55 Real Life Body Size Comparison
Polk S55 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc

Here we place the Polk S55 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a media center to get a better idea about the size.

Polk S55 placed next to a Media Stand
Polk S55 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 S55 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how S55's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Polk S55
Min
Average
Median
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $750
Polk S55
Min
Average
Max

Cabinet type and Materials

Polk S55 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 S55 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 S55  Feet
Polk S55 Feet

Port Position

Polk S55 is a bottom-firing port speaker.

Polk S55  Port
Polk S55 Port

Available colors

Polk S55 is available in Black.

Does the Polk S55 come with a Grille?

S55 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 S55  with Grille
Polk S55 with Grille

What's in the Box of Polk S55?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of S55:
  • 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 S55.

  • 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 Signature S55, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Polk S55

Official Brochure

Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Polk Audio Signature S55 speaker:
Official Brochure for Polk S55

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the Polk Audio Signature S55 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Polk S55

Warranty

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

Polk Audio Signature S55 Alternatives in Passive Floor-standing Speakers
Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
Polk ES55
Compare
2-way 89 dB 8 ohms 34-40k Hz
Polk S60
Compare
2-way 90 dB 8 ohms 26-40k Hz
Polk S50
Compare
2-way 89 dB 8 ohms 33-40k Hz
DALI Oberon 5
Compare
2-way 88 dB 6 ohms 39-26k Hz
Polk XT70
Compare
2-way 86 dB 8 ohms 35-40k Hz
Polk ES50
Compare
2-way 88 dB 8 ohms 38-40k Hz
Klipsch R-620F
Compare
2-way 96 dB 8 ohms 38-21k Hz
Polk R600
Compare
2-way 87.5 dB 8 ohms 43-38k Hz
Frequently Asked Questions about Polk Audio Signature S55

What amplifier do you need for the Polk S55?

Polk Audio rates the Polk S55 for 20-200 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 S55 easy to drive?

The Polk S55 has a sensitivity of 90 dB. That is high: it goes loud on modest power, so it suits low-powered amplifiers, including valve/tube designs.

Does the Polk S55 need a subwoofer?

The Polk S55 reaches down to 32Hz (full range 32-40k Hz). That is genuinely deep bass - a subwoofer is optional unless you want home-theatre effects below that.

What drivers does the Polk S55 use?

The Polk S55 is a 2-way design using a 1" Dome tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene woofers.

Is the Polk S55 sealed or ported?

The Polk S55 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 S55 be bi-wired or bi-amped?

Yes. The Polk S55 has two sets of terminals, so it can be bi-wired or bi-amped: bi-wiring runs separate cable to the treble and bass sections, bi-amping gives each its own amplifier channel. It uses 5-way post terminals.

Can the Polk S55 be wall mounted?

The Polk S55 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 S55 come with grilles?

Yes. The Polk S55 comes with removable grilles.

How big and heavy is the Polk S55?

The Polk S55 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs each and measures 41-9/16 x 11-3/4 x 12-3/8inch (HxWxD).

How much does the Polk S55 cost?

The Polk S55 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $658 per pair.


Polk S55 Detailed Specifications

General
BrandPolk Audio
Full Model NamePolk Audio Signature S55
Speaker Type2-way Floor-standing
Power Range20-200 watts
Sensitivity90 dB
Impedance8 ohms
Frequency Response32-40k Hz
Release DateSeptember 2016
DRIVERS
Woofer Size6.5-inch
Woofer CompositionMica-reinforced polypropylene
Woofer SurroundButyl rubber
Tweeter Size1-inch
Tweeter TypeDome
Crossover freq2500Hz
Port Positionbottom

CONNECTIONS
Connector Type5-way post
Biamp InputsYes
Port Positionbottom
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height1056.0mm ( 41-9/16-inch)
Width299.0mm ( 11-3/4-inch)
Depth315.0mm ( 12-3/8-inch)
Height1056.0mm ( 41-9/16-inch)
Weight20 kg (44 lbs)
EnclosureBass Reflex
FinishMeddite MDF
Available ColorsBlack
Mounting BracketNo
GrilleYes
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty5 Years
Labor Warranty5 Years
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