Best bookshelf speaker under $600. Nothing else comes close to the build quality or the sound stage that this speaker can produce.

None at the time of this review. I should have bought another set at Circuit City when they were on sale at $199 each.

I read every review for this speaker on this site before auditioning the speakers. And to comment on other reviews stating that these speakers have no bass is just a mis-print. They need to get a better receiver or amp.

I auditioned Paradigm's Studio Reference 20's and 40's at $700 and $900, B&W Nautilus 805's at a price of $2,000 and Infinity's as well as a couple of other brands the hi-fi shops had set up as well.

The B&W's were better overall but at $2,000 how could you justify that expense. I couldn't and I bought the Polks new for $199 each at CC, which was an absolute steel for these speakers. The Paradigms just did not have the overall balance that the Polks had. They were harsh and to be honest were not as complete as the Polk's. Don't get me wrong I own Paradigm Studio 100's. The Polk's just plain out performed the others I listened to.

The Polk's were the best at being able to mask their locations when set up in my home theater layout. Which is critical if you are using them as I am with a Yamaha DSP receiver. The Front Effect speakers add so much more detail to AC-3 AND DTS encoded material. I have owned many different types of speakers but if you closed your eye's and stood in front of any other speaker you knew where each speaker was and it was very evident. Compared to the Polk RT55's which had a very nice ability to blend into the total soundstage of my system.

I was very impressed with the clarity of the mid bass and the highs, which were a little bright at first. But with about 150 hours of use on them they are really starting to sound crystal clear, the bass is much more defined now as well. I recommend breaking in these speakers with a 50/50 mix of classical for the high's and some material with some real bass. Techno does wonders for breaking in any set of bass drivers.

My system:

Sony 36" WEGA XBR-250
Yamaha RX-V2095
Pioneer DV-09 DVD
Audio Control Bijou (THX Home Theater EQ) A must have!!!
(Mains)Paradigm Studio Reference 100's Series II
(Front Effects) Polk RT55's
(Center) Polk CS1000
(Rears)Klipsch KSP-S6 surrounds
(Sub) MKII Sunfire 10" Awesome sub can literally crack your drywall joints!

All wired with Kimber Cables. They are truly the best out there!!!

I have noticed that for some reason that when I have tested other speakers on my Yamaha receiver they have sounded better than on some of the High Fi shop's component system's. Thumb's up Yamaha, keep up the good work.

My system is finally complete. Thanks Polk for making a great speaker at a even better value. I can only expect the RTI series to take this speaker to the next level.

Highly recommended.

loud, loud, loud, and loud

real cheapo feet, and manual says nothing about bi-wiring

I have kept my eye on Polk Audio's RT 55 for sometime now, I was waiting for the new models where you can order several different kind of woods. So I knew that Circuit City would be trying to get rid of the older models. Well they were and I purchased them for around 350.00, I think that is pretty good for the quality of speaker.
I hooked them up in my bedroom. They are very heavy and come with these real cheapo feet, tossed them aside. I have them going threw my Polk Audio PSW 120, I was considering putting them in my main audio room, but I still enjoy listening to my Bose 901's,(I have them hanging from the ceiling, and with the help of the Bose Corp. they sound excellent, I promise!) anyway I have the Onkyo TS-DX 989 pushing these puppys and they are extremly loud and powerful and I really do enjoy listening to them. They have alot of base, (cuz they are pushed against the walls.) They sound smooth and effortless. They weigh about 35 pounds, heavy for a bookshelf speaker. Also it would be real neat if Polk Audio would explain the bi-wiring in their manual, I understand the meaning of it, but there are some guys and girls out there in AV land who don't get it. So if some num-nut ex from Polk Audio is reading through all this maze, get it.

Similar Products Used:

none

Very warm, natural sound. Incredible bass extension for a bookshelf speaker. Works well with all types of music.

There are none.

When I first got these speakers, they were replacing a pair of large Infinity speakers with 12" drivers. I was expecting them to be a little light on the bass. Dead wrong. The bass is not as boomy, but I personally do not like a boomy speaker. The bass is tight as a tick on a hound, and very natural and warm. Very smooth midrange and tweeter. Just close your eyes and get lost in the music.

Similar Products Used:

Infinity, Cerwin Vega, Acoustic Research.

Decent bass, great treble, nice price

Bass isn't very full

Not bad for a bookshelf speaker. Def. blows away similarly priced models. Good value

Awesome imaging. Very detailed highs that aren't overly bright.

Lacks serious low end bass due to its small cabnet.

I had originally planned to have my Polk RT400s as my front speakers, but when I heard the RT55s, I couldn't resist. Polk's trilaminate tweeter is awesome. They have very nice stereo imaging that makes me check to see if my center channel is on. The midrange and midbass also add to the speaker's performance. The midrange is very detailed and did not distort even at excessive volumes. The midbass was also very tight, giving an added edge to low drum beats, like the ones in Hotel California on The Eagles' Hell Frezees Over DVD. And the fact that these speakers can be bi-amplified is just icing on the cake. I own a Denon 1700 reciever that does posses the ability to bi-amplify. After I bi-amplified my speakers, they were louder and the soundstage and stereo imaging got even more phenomenal. These speakers are my all time home theater speaker. There is nothing that they cannot do with a sub.

Similar Products Used:

Infinity SM-185, Polk RT400,and KEF 104/2

Simply the best bang for the buck in "bookshelf" speakers today. Awesome imaging!

None at this price point.

After spending considerable time and energy looking for new loudspeakers of lesser size, I settled on the RT55i's. What a choice! I thought they sounded great at Circus City (ha!), but wait till you get'em home....nice!

The very reasonable price tag of the 55's belies the real virtue of this extremely solid speaker. They play w/ great definition, clearity, imaging, and VERY loud w/o distoration. I just wish I would have bought them a month ago and moved on w/ my life!!!

Bottom line: You will have to spend a lot more money to significantly improve on these speakers.

CP

Similar Products Used:

Energy, Polk 6600, Infinity, Bose

Seriously speaking, well-defined clean highs, very smooth and natural midrange and deep bass are qualities of the RT-55s which are truly understated.

Really, there are no weaknesses for the value and price.

It should be made clear that this set of speakers will not disappoint anyone looking for speakers in this price/quality range (approx. $500). Ability to biwire with these speakers is a definite plus. Combining these speakers with a high current amplier such as Denon is a very good idea. Currently I have a Denon AVR-2700 hooked up to the RT-55's and the amount of bass is incredible. Nonbelievers can use the Braveheart soundtrack, track 14, as a test. Of course, adding a sub will put bass lovers in heaven. Also the speakers can get extremely loud (more than enough to disturb the neighbors as i have already done several times) without any audible distortion whatsoever. Bottom line: I can say that these speakers are one of the best speakers in their price/quality range without any hesitation whatsoever.

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Infinity, Energy

Price/Performance

True mid-range

I have been using them for a while now. For some unknown reason they started sounding real good after 3 months of use! Bi-wire these puppies for sure!!! I am very pleased with them. Of course, you should use speaker stands with them, or put them in a bookshelf *ahem* (bookshelf may not be a very good idea, hehehe!).

Use "original" monster cable AT LEAST. Do not buy that 12/14/16 gauge crap! (I am assuming that you have a good receiver/amp)

Nothing can be rated 5/5, but to do justice with the current ratings...

Similar Products Used:

DCM, Infinity and etc

Great pair of speakers! Good volume for a small to medium size room. Highs are crisp, lows are a bit lacking (you can't expect thunderous bass from a 6.5" woofer). The cabinet is very well built, nice and sturdy. However, does anyone else noticed the messy glue job and scratches on the cone? Hmmm, other than that, these babies sound awesome when biwired!

I just thought Id throw my 2 cents in about these speakers. Ive had them for a few months and was not overwhelmed with the sound. They always sounded flat with music no matter what I did. I have a full Polk surround system (SW350 sub woofer). I then started reading about Bi-wiring (something not gone into detail in the manual) and decided to give it a shot. I was blown away. The stereo imaging is awesome and the midrange came to life. After months of thinking my 10 year old Pioneers sounded better im totally impressed with the RT55's. If you buy these BI-WIRE THEM. You wont be disapointed.