Polk Legend Sequence L100 Evaluation: Glowing Clear Sound

Polk Audio Legend Sequence L100 audio system evaluation: Pure readability

MSRP $1,199.00

“Polk Audio’s return to audiophile kind within the Legend L100 is a pleasure to behold.”

Execs

• Clear, speeding element
• Vibrant dynamics
• Sharp, dimensional stereo imaging
• Compelling aesthetic
• Spectacular construct high quality

Cons

• Tweeter spires are delicate
• Midrange somewhat mild for TV and movie

Strong sound for the cash. Cool retro design. An awesome worth.

These are statements you’re more likely to see concerning Polk Audio merchandise of late. What you haven’t heard a lot lately are reviewers extolling Polk audio system for his or her good readability, vibrant dynamics, or diamond-cut stereo imaging. Till now, that’s.

With its new Legend Sequence, Polk goes again to its audiophile roots, crafting a high-end speaker lineup designed to compete with a number of the greatest manufacturers in Hello-Fi. Even the corporate’s most inexpensive effort, the Legend L100 bookshelves, are worthy of celebration. They’re a enjoyable re-introduction to the Polk that was.

Attractive design, however watch your eyes

As talked about, there’s no retro styling or nostalgic callbacks within the Legend L100’s design. As an alternative, you’ll discover a futuristic aesthetic that makes its presence identified even earlier than you unwrap the audio system and discover a warning that reads “Tweeter has a pointed tip and will trigger damage.”

Boy, Polk wasn’t mendacity. The L100’s odd tweeters are one other instance of audacious design in as we speak’s bookshelf audio system, persevering with a pattern set by the likes of KEF’s multi-finned LS50, Definitive Know-how’s shiny D9, and lots of others. Each for the aim of wave steering and outright brashness, audio system have develop into extra enjoyable to look. I’m not upset about that.

“Tweeter has a pointed tip and will trigger damage.”

The L100’s metallic spires attract your eyes in all the best methods, so it’s a disgrace to cowl them with the included acoustic material grills. Nevertheless, their fragility makes them worthy of defending in houses with rambunctious pets, curious toddlers, or a number of foot visitors.

Behind every spike rests the bottom of Polk’s new 1-inch Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter, set above a 5.25-inch Turbine Cone driver. In the back of every speaker is Polk’s acquainted Enhanced Energy Port, which seems to be one thing like a spinning twister spout, and is designed to attract further bass response from the cupboard. It’s a holdover from the budget-priced Signature Sequence — however whereas the plastic elements on the Signature Sequence felt chintzy, they’re sturdy right here.

The identical goes for the stout cupboards, that are lacquered in a stunning piano gloss on the entrance and completed with actual wooden veneer across the sides and high, a mixture that’s paying homage to the satin lapels on a tux. You may also go for a stunning walnut end. Gold binding posts on the rear full the package deal.

By the numbers

Polk’s L100 sport Japan’s wanted Hello-Res Audio badge, with the figures to again it up, together with a frequency response of 43Hz-50kHz, and 57Hz-38kHz with decrease and upper-class limits at -3dB.

The crossover between the tweeter and driver is about at 2.9kHz, and the audio system bear a nominal impedance vary of 3-4 ohms, which means they require some energy to get the very best outcomes. Polk recommends 70 watts per channel (restricted to 160 watts of peak energy). I used Naim’s Uniti Atom stereo receiver to drive them, which lit the audio system up for clear and highly effective sound.

Wow. Simply wow.

I used to be blown away by how the L100 audio system sound out of the field. Dimensional instrumentation, expressive element that digs deep into the wardrobe of your favourite mixes, and impressively accessible dynamics are all pillars on which the sound signature rests comfortably.

Astonishing readability that’s effectively represented throughout a variety of musical genres.

However maybe essentially the most notable ingredient of the L100’s efficiency is their stereo imaging, which is among the many greatest I’ve heard at this value class (and even above). It’s higher even than KEF’s stalwart LS50 Wi-fi audio system, which have concentric tweeters for ultra-clear sound.

The L100’s imaging is brilliantly reduce between the channels for a large and dimensional soundstage, whereas the middle picture is so well-drawn it methods your ears into believing there’s an invisible center-channel speaker. Even after I positioned my head shut between the audio system, middle components like vocals and bass appeared to look proper in entrance of my face. That’s a formidable trick.

The result’s astonishing readability that’s represented throughout a variety of musical genres, from the sleek clicks of Jeff Tweedy’s acoustic guitar or Chris Thile’s mandolin, to silvery candy horns and brass in all the things from Snarky Pet’s Go to Sinatra’s Luck Be a Girl.

There’s a brilliant shade to the higher register that appears to sing when fed an excellent brass band or excessive percussion, leaning in properly to lighter recordings with the pureness of a well-trained finger spinning round a crystal glass.

Whereas that mild contact works effectively for music, I often needed a bit extra physique and richness within the higher midrange which might sound somewhat tight — particularly with TV and cinema content material. On that observe, whereas the audio system do effectively for his or her measurement, I wouldn’t thoughts a bit extra punch within the bass, one thing bookshelves hardly ever do effectively. Those that crave a heavier sound might wish to pair a subwoofer or transfer as much as Polk’s L200.

That mentioned, if you will get down with their lighter taste up high, the L100 rewards you with the type of candy presence, expansive dimension, and palpable element I’ve come to anticipate from solely the best examples at their $1,200 value level, and even above it.

Guarantee

Polk Audio gives a whopping five-year restricted guarantee on the L100, with an added 5 years on high after registration (neither of that are transferrable).

Our Take

Polk Audio’s return to kind within the L100 is a pleasure to behold, and also you’ll have to work exhausting to search out audio system that greatest them relating to audiophile efficiency at a still-approachable value level.

Is there a greater various?

I hesitate to even reply this query as, relating to high-performance audio system, everybody has their favourite taste. For my ears, a mixture of the KEF LS50’s hotter midrange and added glide within the glisten up high retains them as my bookshelves of alternative. That mentioned, Polk’s new L100 merely sound implausible, with a lot to shine on about. For a lot of listeners, they could effectively hit the candy spot as brilliantly as their tight middle picture.

How lengthy will it final?

With wonderful construct high quality and as much as 10 years guarantee, I wouldn’t lose any sleep on this one. That mentioned, as talked about, you’ll wish to deal with these spires within the tweeters with warning.

Do you have to purchase it?

Sure. In case you’re considering of investing in a high quality pair of bookshelves any time quickly, you’ll wish to put Polk’s L100 excessive in your listing.

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