Bookshelf Speakers — Polk Audio T15

The T15 is the bookshelf loudspeaker of the Polk Audio T-Series, an entry-level range that the company pitches for a first home theater or stereo system, for small rooms or for multi-room use. This two-way passive speaker ships as a pair in a black wood grain finish, and the series was completed by the T30 centre channel and the T50 floorstander. Polk states that its speakers are designed and engineered at its research and development facilities in Maryland and California.

Key specs that matter

A 0.75 inch Dynamic Balance silk and polymer composite dome tweeter works with a 5.25 inch Dynamic Balance mid/woofer that uses a mineral-filled polymer composite cone. Polk gives the -3 dB limits as 65 Hz and 20 kHz. Efficiency is rated at 89 dB, while Polk suggests amplifier power of 20 to 100 W per channel, with maximum power handling listed at 150 W. The cabinet is 27 cm high, 16.51 cm wide and 18.42 cm deep. Inputs are a single pair of gold-plated 5-way binding posts, which Polk says accept several secure wire connection types.

Engineering and use context

Furniture-grade MDF forms the cabinet, which is vented by a bass port on the front baffle. Polk says its Dynamic Balance drivers and tweeters are intended for wide response with low distortion, and that the series was developed with wide dispersion so that every listener in a room is covered rather than a single seat. The high efficiency is presented by the maker as allowing the speakers to run from modest amplifiers and receivers. For wall installation the T15 has an integrated keyhole slot, and it is designed for vertical orientation. Polk lists a five-year warranty covering parts and labour for the original purchaser, applying to both cabinet and drivers.

Pairing

As an optional accessory Polk suggests speaker stands of 76 to 91 cm. For a multichannel system the T15 can be combined with the T30 centre and T50 towers from the same series, and the company proposes adding a PSW Series powered subwoofer to extend the system for home theater use. Within such a system the T15 can cover the main stereo pair or the surround positions next to the larger T-Series models.

Alternatives

The Polk Monitor XT15 belongs to a different Polk bookshelf line and is fitted with a 1 inch Terylene dome tweeter and a 5.25 inch bi-laminate paper woofer crossed at 2,200 Hz, in a cabinet that also mounts on a wall via keyhole slots.