In the early seventies, it was the golden age for home high fairies. The number of audio-related startups was huge. Not all of them had turned into anything significant, but some projects were successful. Matthew Polk and his comrades started out as a small garage company in Baltimore and, unlike many, didn't die in the abyss of time. On the contrary, he was so successful that he wasn't ashamed to put the motto "real American sound" on the front panels of his products.
It's the same mark of quality as Russian ballet, Brazilian football or English humour. Polk Audio's range of acoustic products is now quite large, and I thought I'd appreciate a strong representative of "The Real American HiFi Home Theater Speaker" - Polk Audio Signature S55 floorstanding speakers - the second oldest model in the range.
I liked the redesigned design: the speakers look modern and stylish, especially when compared to the traditional roughened design of competitors' systems. The combination of the matte grey finish of the cabinet with the clearly visible structure of the wood fibres, glossy front panel lining and light metallized cones of the dynamic heads provides the necessary contrast and will please not only an unsophisticated observer, but also an experienced specialist. The proportions of the speakers look just as perfect. If necessary, the whole front panel can be closed in black.
Two new 6.5-inch mid-bass dynamic heads (in the upper model S60 there are three of them) specially designed for this range are used. The diffusers are made of polypropylene with mica filling, the suspension is made of highly stable butyl rubber, and the centering washer is made of temperature-resistant high-tech fabric Conex. In combination with a large ferrite magnet and a four-layer voice coil, these technological sophistication provides high linearity, low distortion, transparent sound.
The one-inch dome tweeter made from new material Terylene is installed in a shallow waveguide, which bears the company name, the year of the company's foundation - 1972, as well as the traditional reminder buyers Polk Audio that in front of them a real American high-tech. The manufacturer promises the highest level of detail, wide dispersion and long RF range of the tweeter to play modern high resolution files.
Dual gold-plated acoustic terminals allow for both bivouering and biapping connections. The so-called cascading crossover provides seamless lane mating, eliminating delays and creating stable sound images in a wide listening area. This allows you to enjoy a realistic musical picture not only for one person, located strictly in the middle between the speakers, but also for everyone who is nearby. The reflex is led to the floor and beautifully fits into the overall design of the speaker. It is made using a patented technology.
the loudspeaker cabinet is made of thick-walled, medium-density mdf. thanks to a complex internal structure containing ribs and struts, the speaker is free of standing waves and parasitic vibrations, which leads to a more collected, clean and energetic sound. special supports provide for the installation of the speaker on both pile and hard surfaces. it is obvious that the manufacturer has taken the development seriously: the smallest details and nuances are taken into account, even the shape of the fabric protective grill was simulated on a computer for deduplicating.
For a more objective assessment of the musical possibilities of Polk Audio S55, I compared them with speakers of another famous brand, which cost more than twice as much. I will say right away, in my opinion, Polk Audio has released a very successful product, which will definitely be in demand. If you evaluate the sound of S55 as a whole, it is very collected and energetic, but not without musicality and even refinement. It's a very rare combination. There's nothing to say about the high-frequency range, it's so natural that you don't want to select epithets, it's just the way it should be. The midrange
The resolution at the mid frequencies, if inferior to the more expensive loudspeakers, is quite small. It does not reduce the emotional impact of the songs and fits into its price range. The bass is the foundation of the music and Polk Audio is happy to show it. The bass of the S55 is fast, well-defined and balanced. There is no hint of humming, everything sounds tight and confident. There is a fine tuning of the reflex. It can't be said that it stands out from the overall sound, but its contribution at the bass is undoubted. Hearing, tuning.
To sum it up: The Polk Audio Signature S55 sounds powerful and assembled, while the high frequencies are amazingly precise and accurate. The emphasis on bass gives you a sense of drive, and add to that a great look, a quality build and a very realistic price. Although the resolution at the mid frequencies is not as high as the top Polk series, it is higher for this price category than many competitors.
In general, it is a product that will be appreciated by many fans of good music and will be a worthy participant in any interior.
Specifications:
Recommended amplifier power: 20-200W
Repeatable frequency range: 32-40000Hz
Impedance: 8 ohms
Acoustic design: floor-directed phaso inverter
Speakers: 1" dome tweeter, 6.5" conical mid-bass x 2 pcs.
Crossover partition frequency: 2500Hz
Finishing options: Washed Black Walnut
Dimensions with the stand (VHHH): 1054x297x318 mm
Weight: 20 kg
Cost: 94,000 rubles.
The manufacturer's website: www.polkaudio.com/products/s55.
