Speakers have clean upper midbass to treble without the nasties that characterize and plague most budget speakers. Basically, there is sufficient detail without nasties.

It doesn't have the suberb detail that more expensive speakers have; it also has a mid bass boom that may be partly due to my bedroom acoustics. The speakers should also come with 5-way binding posts.

The speakers I use have seen a huge downwards shift in price and size. A previous main speakers, which I bought in 89, was the huge Acoustat Spectra 11 electrostatic speaker at $1000. A few years ago, I "downgraded" to a B&W 601S2 at $450. I further downgraded to a Audio Axiom M2Ti at $179 (discontinued special). I recently bought an open box Polk RT15i for fun as it was cheap. As you can see there is a trend -- I am on the hunt for the perfect cheap speaker. I like speakers that are very detailed but yet accurate, smooth, and clean with clear accurate treble and tight bass. I don't need deep and powerful bass. Having read the reviews from Stereophile and being able to pick up an open box special that had some cosmetic damage real cheap, I said to myself, "Why not?" The speakers came without boxes and minor cosmetic damage but without any damage to my wallet at $60 (if I remember correctly). I could not use it in my living room because the speakers did not have bananas so I used it in my bedroom in place of a pair of Wharfedale Diamonds 7. The sound is clean and smooth with sufficient detail but not analytic. The treble is clear but I have heard better. The Optimus LX5 has one of the cleanest treble in a budget speaker, but unfortunately, the rest of the sound is mediocre. The main problem with the Polk is the mid-bass boom that I hear, but I suspect it is partly a function of my bedroom. This speaker is decent, especially for the budget price I paid. It is not perfect and I have not found my perfect speaker yet -- a mini-monitor with perfect mid-bass to higher treble that will clearly beat every price-is-no-object speaker system in every parameter (except maximum volume) from upper midbass to higher treble but costing under $300 max (preferably under $100). I guess I will have to keep looking.

Similar Products Used:

Acoustat Spectra 11, Sonus Faber Concertina, B&W CDM1, B&W 601S2, Audio Axiom M2Ti, Radio Shack Optimus LX5, Klipsch KSB2.1, Wharfadale Diamond 7.

Great range. Fills up a small to medium sized room with decent amplification.

Get them on sale for $80 a pair and put 'em with a decent sub and you can't find any weaknesses.

This review is also for the R15, not the Ri15. I first heard these when I was helping a friend get into HT. I couldn't believe the sound from these inexpensive little speakers. Full and rich (with a sub), with midrange detail and decent, but not fatiguing highs. He ended up getting two as surrounds. When I saw them on sale for $40 a pop I let him know ( he was lokking for two more for his new 7.1 setup). Regretting I had not bought a pair I put in a couple bids on Ebay. After they all failed I lucked out and found the same sale at Circuit City-$80 a pair. As I was using mine for mains in the secondary system in the basement I put them on stands, ans they just got better. Good soundstage, decent separation (for $40 speakers), but the dynamic range on these bad boys is the impressive bit. I'm using these these with an eight year old passive sub (dual 6.25" drivers) and I can't imagine what they would be like with an active sub! I've listened to everything from Creed to Sade, Miles Davis, and John Lee Hooker. These things work the whole range beautifully. They lack compared to the Infinity IL30's and IL100s sub in my main system, but at 7% of the price this is definately one of the best bargins out there.

Similar Products Used:

Polk Monitor 6 Series 2 satellites and sub. Polk M3 surrounds. Polk cs200 center.

Price. Bass. Tweeter.

Midrange is a little cloudy.

This review is for the r15, not the r15i. I caught these on sale at CC for $80. Regular price $140. They are worth the money. I got these to replace some KLH 911b's In comparison the polks have deeper bass, better imaging, and a better midrange. I also think that the tweeter is very clear. I have my treble set flat. Highs are detailed, but not overly bright. I can only imagine how these will sound once I get some stands for them.

Similar Products Used:

KLH 911B

Good system, need more fuller sound but it might be that im playing mp3''s.

none found, hope it last!

i hooked the the speakers up to my kenwood receiver, I bought this as open box, and i think they are good. I play music from my mp3 so i dont think im getting the best sound from my computer. But overall they are nice speakers. I read the reviews and am glad i got them. I havent pushed them but they play low sounds very low. They dont have too much bass, which is good for apartments. I had a polk bookshelf speakers about 15 years ago, and they were awesome. So i know these would be good.

Similar Products Used:

Polk bookshelf 15 years ago.

Price, Sound, size, looks.

None yet, maybe a LITTLE flat.

These look really nice and sound excellent. I turned down my front speakers all the way and cranked it up with these (I'm using these as my surround speakers) and they sounded amazing! Really nice quality sounds and even had a little bass. I highly reccommend these as surround speakers and I'm sure the RTi35's or even the RTi25's could be used as front speakers. I AM VERY PLEASED with these speakers. I think I paid $89 each.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha

clarity, look, hi highs

none so far

GREAT surround speaker. The mounting bracket on the back is perfectly designed so that those heavy polk's can be wall-mounted with ease.One of the smaller polk surrounds but as big as most peoples bookshelfs.

Similar Products Used:

basic sony

Excellent sound for price. Great cherry finish and styling. Strong rich highs/mids.

None for speaker of the size and price.

I purchased these speakers and a cheap Kenwood VR-305 reciever to hook up to my computer because I moved it away from my home theatre. I figured that this was the next best thing because I wanted good sound, didn't want to pay alot and also didn't want the cheap sound from computer style speakers.
I headed over to The Good Guys and looked around. Found the cheapest somewhat decent reciever. Kenwood VR-305. 80w X 5. 6 channel input & Sub out for upgrading. I have the Soundblaster Live Mp3+ so I could add another set of speakers for the EAX sound. I figured it would do the job for my computer.
Then I looked for speakers. Saw the cheap-o Bose, knew I didnt want to bother with them. Saw the look alike Linn Teikens or whatever made by Boston. Wasn't interested at $699.
Then I saw the Polk Audio RT15i. Saw the nice cherry finish. Saw the price, $199/pair. Asked the the sales rep to hear them. Sounded good. Purchased them.
I've had the RT3's for about 3-4 years and still very very pleased with them and their sound. I figured these would be good.

They sound great for music. A small sub would make it sound even better, but for the price of $350 after tax for the setup. I am extremely please with the sound and looks.

Similar Products Used:

Polk RT3, Inifnity RS-1

Price; lots of punch for a small speaker, especially at high volume

No magnetic shielding

I got these speakers open box for $49 a piece, after waiting for a while before they went on sale. They were going into my little college dorm room, so I needed a speaker that wasn't going to take up too much space. They pack a lot of punch for such a small speaker, with decent bass, and they don't distort at very high volume.

I listen to lots of pop music and R&B, and these speakers have a very warm, rounded sound, which seems to fit my listening preferences nicely. I tend to prefer a soft, warm sound over crisp, bright tones anyway.

The only other problem I had with them was that they aren't video shielded, and the only space I had for them was near my computer monitor. However, this shouldn't be a problem if you're using them as surrounds or as stereo speakers in a small room.

I ended up trading in these speakers (despite their bargain price) a few weeks later to upgrade to the RT35s for only $50 more than what I paid for the RT15s. The 35s went on clearance ($150/pair at CC) since right around now, Polk is replacing their old model RT series speakers with a new RTi series.

Overall, a great value at this price, even though I got an even better deal for my RT35s, which I am in love with right now.

Other stuff my poor college budget can afford-
Sherwood RVD-7090R Receiver
Technics SL-PD8 CD Player

Similar Products Used:

Polk RT25, RT35, considered Infinity RS2/RS3, Energy, Klipsch

Great price, nice highs and lows for a small speaker. Fills a small room great!

none

Set these speakers up with my Harman/Kardon HK6200 Integrated Amplifier and Teac Graphic EQ in my bedroom.
Wow, without getting technical you can't beat these speakers for the price and size. I plan to use them for my surround speakers on my theater system

Similar Products Used:

infinity RS3

Great value - Excellent imaging - Clear, open and detailed
sound.

Limited bass response - not bad however considering the size of the mid-woofer.

I am using these for the rear channels of a home theater system. I have also used them for the front channels along with a Polk PSW 140 subwoofer. They sound excellent. I don't know anything around that can compete with them at a similar price. After listening to Bose AM5 and AM3 systems for my home theater system, these were a real eye-opener. I didn't realize how much I had been missing. Great value.

Similar Products Used:

Bose AM5, AM3