Polk Audio Reserve R700
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
93/100
Value for Money
92/100
The Reserve R700 brings neutral, richly detailed sound with room-filling scale, pairing pinpoint imaging with dual 8-inch woofers that deliver authoritative bass into the low 30Hz region. Audioholics praised its exceptional measured accuracy and expansive staging, while Andrew Robinson found its natural mids, airy treble and dynamics unusually complete for the class.
Pros
Exceptionally neutral, accurate tonal balance with clear, natural vocals and lucid separation in dense mixes.
Expansive, precise imaging creates a wide and deep soundstage with stable center focus.
Dual 8-inch woofers provide powerful, controlled bass with useful in-room extension near 30Hz, often reducing the need for a subwoofer.
Heavily braced cabinet and solid metal base support high-output dynamics without sacrificing composure.
Cons
Treble dispersion narrows noticeably above roughly 6-8kHz, so moderate toe-in and a listening position near-axis are important.
High-frequency compression rises at extreme playback levels, making the tweeter less composed than the bass and midrange when pushed very hard.
Large, heavy cabinets need breathing room; placement too close to a wall can make bass sound boomy.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers consistently found the R700 exceptionally neutral, clear and engaging, combining serious full-range scale with precise imaging. Its biggest sonic caveats concern the treble dispersion and composure at the very highest output levels, so careful toe-in and sensible room setup are worthwhile.
Bass
94/100
The dual 8-inch woofers deliver powerful, controlled bass that reviewers say reaches roughly 30Hz in-room; Audioholics found a subwoofer unnecessary for its listening sessions. Andrew Robinson called it among the deepest and most detailed bass he had heard around this price, although Erin notes placement can produce boom if the speakers are poorly positioned.
Mid
94/100
The midrange is widely praised for natural tone, clarity and definition. Robinson describes vocals and instruments as unusually natural, present and detailed, while Audioholics heard clear dialogue and lucid separation even in dense recordings.
Treble
88/100
The ring-radiator tweeter is capable of airy, detailed highs without obvious glare or fatigue, according to Andrew Robinson. However, Erin found the upper range somewhat forward and less accomplished than recent rivals, while measurements from both Erin and Audioholics show noticeably narrowing dispersion high in the treble.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
Imaging is a standout: Audioholics repeatedly describes pinpoint vocal placement, expansive width and depth, and an enveloping presentation. Robinson likewise heard excellent separation and convincing center focus, though reviewers recommend bringing the speakers well into the room and using moderate toe-in for the best results.
Dynamics
91/100
The R700 plays with convincing punch, weight and large-scale drama, remaining balanced as volume rises. Audioholics found it capable of club-like output without audible distress, but Erin measured increased high-frequency compression at the highest output levels.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
93/100
Audioholics praises the heavy, properly braced cabinet, solid metal base and stable stance, rather than treating weight alone as a virtue. Other reviewers also note the neat finish, rigid driver mounting and practical feet, although these are substantial 36kg speakers to move and install.
Value for Money
92/100
At its roughly $2,200-per-pair MSRP, reviewers repeatedly call the R700 a lot of speaker for the money. Erin considers it very good value and hard to beat at that price, with sale pricing around $1,800 making the proposition still more appealing against similarly priced towers.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Speaker Type
- Floorstanding Loudspeaker
- UOM (Sold As)
- Each
- Tweeter
- 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator
- Mid-range/Mid-bass
- 6 ½” Turbine Cone
- Woofers
- Two 8" Polypropylene
- Overall Frequency Response
- 30Hz - 50kHz
- Frequency Response (-3dB limits)
- 38Hz - 38kHz
- Recommended Amplifier Power
- 50 - 300W
- Amplifier Output Compatibility
- 8Ω / 6Ω / 4Ω
- Minimum Impedance (ohms)
- 3.6Ω
- Sensitivity (2.83V/1m)
- 88dB
- Tweeter/Mid-range Crossover Frequency
- 2700Hz
- Mid-range/Mid-bass Crossover Frequency
- 350Hz
- Product Dims W x H x D (Includes width of feet)
- 320.7 x 1143.8 x 428.3mm 12.6 x 45 x 16.9 in
- Product Weight (each)
- 79.1 lbs/35.9 kg
- Shipping Weight
- 94.4 lbs/42.8 kg
- New CRC (Mid-Range Enclosure Type)
- Sealed with CRC
- Mid-Bass / Woofer Enclosure Type
- Floor Firing Power Port with X-Port
- Available Finishes
- Black/Walnut
- Feet
- Spike and Pad
- Wall-Mountable (keyhole slots)
- No
- Binding Posts: Nickel-plated 5-Way
- Dual
- Hi-Res Certified
- Yes
- IMAX Certified
- Yes
- Shipping Dims (WxHxD)
- 550 x 423 x 1250mm (21.6 x 16.7 x 49.2) in
Manufacturer's Description — Polk Audio
Flagship Polk Sound
The Reserve Series incorporates groundbreaking Polk technologies found on our award-winning Legend Series to bring its flagship sound to more people.
Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
The Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter’s distinctive pointed shape guides the dispersion of high frequency sounds around a room. This innovation widens the sweet spot and allows you freedom to enjoy your music and movies wherever you choose to sit.
Turbine Cone Woofer
Our pioneering turbine design delivers a significant increase in cone rigidity without increasing mass. This innovation means the woofer can move with increased accuracy and speed to deliver enhanced sound resolution, enabling you to experience a breathtaking level of detail in your music and movies.
Power Port 2.0
Enjoy the latest version of our patented Power Port technology for louder, cleaner bass and more defined midrange. Now, in addition to smoothing airflow as it exits the cabinet to reduce port noise, Power Port 2.0 integrates X-Port with eigentone filters specifically tuned to eliminate cabinet and port resonances.
Form and function
Exceptional Cabinetry
Reserve’s sleek cabinetry hides a world of audio innovation. Cabinets are carefully cross-braced to best eliminate unwanted interior resonances. Rounded exterior corners help disperse sound broadly around the room with minimal diffraction, creating an open sound stage.
Multidimensional Sound
Optional Height Module
For immersive vertical sound, add compatible Reserve R900 height modules (sold separately). These optional height modules perform beautifully with the latest home theater technologies, including: Dolby Atmos, DTS, DTS:X, DTS:X Virtual, IMAX Enhanced, and Auro-3D.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Polk Audio Reserve R700
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sound Design — online and in-store — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (website)
- Alex Audio Video — in-store — Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria (website)
- All That Audio — in-store — Anaheim, California, United States (website)
- Alpha Audio Pte — online and in-store — Singapore, Singapore (website)
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
- Area Hifi — online and in-store — L'Eixample, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- Audio Advice — online and in-store — Raleigh, North Carolina, United States (website)
and 91 more verified dealers