Floorstanding loudspeakers — Polk Audio Reserve R600

The Reserve R600 is a passive three-driver tower belonging to the Polk Audio Reserve series, placed above the compact R500. According to Polk, the Reserve series uses technologies developed for its Legend series to reach more listeners. Pricing is USD 899 per speaker, with black, walnut and white finishes. Certification covers Hi-Res Audio and IMAX Enhanced, and Polk names Dolby Atmos and DTS:X among the supported formats.

Key specs that matter

Polk combines a 1 inch Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeter with two 6.5 inch Turbine Cone woofers, crossed over at 2,700 Hz. Polk gives an overall frequency range of 32 Hz to 50 kHz and -3 dB limits of 43 Hz and 38 kHz. Sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB with 2.83 V at 1 m. Minimum impedance is 4.0 ohm, and the tower is listed for use with 8, 6 and 4 ohm amplifier outputs. Polk recommends amplifiers delivering 25 to 200 W. Dimensions are 279 x 1064 x 381 mm in width, height and depth, with a weight of 21.5 kg. The shipping carton measures 493 x 373 x 1152 mm.

Engineering and use context

Instead of a rear port, the R600 uses a floor-firing port built on Power Port 2.0, the latest version of Polk's patented Power Port design. Polk credits it with louder, cleaner bass and a more defined midrange. Power Port 2.0 integrates X-Port, whose Eigentone filters are tuned to eliminate cabinet and port resonances. The Turbine Cone woofers take their name from a turbine-like cone profile which, according to Polk, delivers a significant increase in rigidity without adding mass. The ring radiator tweeter has a pointed centre intended to guide the spread of high frequencies. The cabinet is carefully cross-braced to suppress interior resonances, and its rounded exterior corners reduce edge diffraction. Speaker wire attaches to one pair of nickel-plated 5-way binding posts. Polk lists the R600 as compatible with the Reserve R900 height module. Spike and pad feet are supplied, and the cabinet is not intended for wall mounting.

Pairing

Given the low minimum impedance, amplifiers and receivers rated for such loads are the safe match. For vertical effects, Polk offers the Reserve R900 height module as a separately sold add-on, which supports Auro-3D and IMAX Enhanced in addition to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Alternatives

The Polk Reserve R500 is the smaller floorstander in the Reserve line, with a 3.9 ohm minimum impedance, two 5.25 inch Turbine Cone woofers with a rear X-Port and 87 dB sensitivity.