Polk Audio RT7 Floorstanding Speakers
Polk Audio RT7 Floorstanding Speakers
USER REVIEWS
[Sep 14, 2009]
rooftop59
Audio Enthusiast
Just a quick review to say that these speakers are still an incredible value. They pop up on ebay fairly regularly and usually go for under 200 bucks shipped! As others have said, the bass response is incredible for bookshelf speakers (though they are very large bookshelf speakers!), and the imaging is smooth with a deep and wide soundstage. For true full-frequency response, you do need a sub as others have mentioned, but the low frequency response of these speakers make them very easy to blend with a sub. The also look very cool on a nice pair of stands with the grills off, but because of the size, vinyl woodgrain enclosure, and plain big-box appearance, they score pretty low on the WAF (my wife is a musician so while she appreciates the way they sound, she says I have to put them away when we sell our house because they are that ugly. Oh well...) In short, it would be very hard to get a pair of speakers that sound this good for the used price. |
[Dec 21, 2005]
johnrockets
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Imaging, detail, clarity,
Weakness:
None that I can think of. This review is to follow up on a review I wrote for these speakers yeears ago. I gave them a 2 rating because I described a rattleing woofer. As I have grown and evolved in this hobby I realize that this was most likely becuase of the amp I was using and the insane volumes I would play at without a sub(probably alot of clipping). I am in the process of replacing the bad woofer, and have been able to revisit these old speakers w/ much better source and amplification hardware over the recent past. I can almost say I like the sound of these better than newer polk offerings like the rti38. The RT7's seem to be a bit more open/detailed in the highs, and a bit more bloomy in the mid-bass. The rti38's a tad more laid back and tame(not a bad thing). Excellent speakers, some of the best I have heard/owned. Similar Products Used: Boston, Paradigm, Ascend, other Polks. |
[Sep 25, 2003]
croseiv
Audio Enthusiast
STRENGTHS: Excellent soundstage reproduction. Very good bass response, and smooth overall frequency response. REVIEW: Let me begin by saying that I have owned these speakers for about 7 years now, so I have listened to alot of music (classical, jazz, rock/pop) and watched numerous DVD's using them. I auditioned them before purchasing and was very pleased with their sound espicially the bass output (test song was Madonna's Vogue). Over the past couple of years I have been gradually upgrading my equipment to take advantage of the home theater experience. Recently, I upgraded my home theater receiver to an Onkyo TX-SR600. Wow! The Polk RT7 speakers really do a good job as my front theater speakers with the receiver (80W/ch.) My favorite music is classical. The RT7 speakers perform excellently as far as giving a realistic sound stage and ambience. I will never forget attending the Magic Flute opera with my wife and listening to the overture. We have listened to the overture at home numerous times. Immediately, I recalled how accurately the Polks had reproduced the ambience and sound stage. I looked at my wife and commented to her about it, and she agreed! That in itself says alot about these speakers. Oh yeah, the song Vogue really thumps on the bottom end with these speakers. I am constantly surprised by the bass these speakers can put out, and I enjoy watching the woofers move to produce the lower frequncies. I recently coupled these boogers with a PSW650 sub (Polk Audio), and the result has been astonishing. I would say this system will easily compete with much more expensive products. The sub pushes the lower response to 25hz for an overall frequency response of 26 kHz-25Hz for a total cost of about one grand (counting what I originally paid for the RT7s). Count yourself lucky if you can find someone willing to part with theirs. I for one am not ready to say good bye to mine yet. They have improved with age. |
[Jan 02, 2003]
kirkwitz
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Excellent midrange and highs, better than many at much higher prices.
Weakness:
A bit weak on the bass, but what do you want from a bookshelf speaker? These are a great value. I think they should be paired with a powered sub, and when you compare the total cost of the RT7s and a sub, there is nothing that sounds as good for the price. |
[Jan 22, 2000]
Alfredo
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Everything mentioned below.
Weakness:
none These speakers are the real deal! There's no way a $300 pair should sound this good. Voices, subtleties, imaging are all there. I've used them with a Yammy RXV 992, DSPA1, Adcom GFA 7500 amp fed from the DSPA1, Adcom GFP 750 preamp feeding two Marantz MA500's. Same result, they shine in every set up. CD sources were a Yammy CDC 765, and an Adcom GCD 700. I currently have these speakers set up in my wife's system consisting of an Onkyo TX 8410 stereo receiver( This receiver puts out approx. 100 watts x 2, and it has a selective tone button that augments the midbass region around 10 HZ, a gentleman in a previous review stated that the bass can bottom out too easily. No way, I think maybe the amp section in this reviewer's set up was the cause of this, but then again, who am I to judge right.), Yamaha CDC 765, Audioquest Ruby interconnect, and Kimber Kable 4 TC. Get the best possible speaker wire your budget can afford, you will be surprided to see how much richer , full soundidng, and smoother your system will be. Any hint of brightness I had when I was using Monster 12 gauge is now completely gone. Similar Products Used: Polk RT 55's, RT 3000, various other Boston models. Infinity RS, and OVRT models, Paradigm Studio models |
[Feb 05, 2001]
Troy
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Outstanding sound and clarity
Weakness:
None I recieved these as a gift from a friend to use as fronts for my HT (a work in progress) and must say that these are one of the best sounding speakers that I have ever heard. Also, my first girlfriend and wife not withstanding, probably the greatest gift I have ever recieved Similar Products Used: Many over the years..... |
[May 10, 2001]
Sean Coleman
Audiophile
Strength:
Imaging,Bass extension,Power Handling,Detail
Weakness:
Treble could be a little bit better I have had these speakers for a while now and am still very pleased with them. I am running them with a Sony STRDA 50 ES Reciever and it is a very good combination. For a long time I couldn't figure out why my system sounded better than all of my friends systems. But I finally realized that it was the RT7'S that separated their systems from mine they just sound great on what ever I feed them. I listen to Jazz, R&B and Rap and they do the job just fine from Coltrane to Badu to Jay-Z. On the Home Theater side of things they really shine paired with the Polk CS350LS Center, RT5'S for surround duty and a Definitive Technology Pro Sub 100. I just upgraded my speaker cables from Monster MCX 2's to AudioQuest Bedrocks and it is like having a brand new pair of speakers. If you can find a pair around pick them up you won't be disapointed. |
[May 18, 2000]
Edmond
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Clear sound and good bass. Best bang for the buck. I really enjoy the way this bookshelf speaker sound. I don't really expect a lot from bookshelf speakes but the more I listen to it the more I enjoy it. |
[Nov 24, 1999]
Watchtower
Audiophile
Strength:
Extremely well balanced sound
Weakness:
None The Polk RT7 are absolutely "OUTSTANDING". Far superior to NHT, JBL, Infinity...etc. The RT7's are extremly clean, superbly balanced and the sound always seems to come from "around" the speakers and not from inside of them. In other-words, they have superb depth which is a very rare find in a speaker. And to find superb depth from a speaker in this price range is indeed a VERY, VERY rare find. |
[Sep 15, 1999]
GR
an Audio Enthusiast
I already have a pair of RT 55s and like Jeff Gerast, decided to get a pair because of the reviews printed here. I paid $300. for a used pair that arrived in new condition. In opening the box, I was first taken by the unimpressiveness of the speaker. It's not ugly or anything (certainly not as attractive as the RT 55s), I guess I was just expecting more. I picked these up for a basement system more for music but for theater also. |