Polk made a name for itself with HiFi quality but home-affordable loudspeakers. While the latest iteration of their Monitor Series speakers continue to be very popular despite being almost fifteen years old, Polk decided to release the new full range Signature Series of value-tier loudspeakers circa 2016, which includes three tower speakers which vary in size, power and range.
Spec Comparison Table
| Model | S50 | S55 | S60 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker Type | passive, 2 way | (<--same) | (<--same) |
| Nominal Power* | 50 W | 67 W | 100 W |
| Peak Power | 150 W | 200 W | 300 W |
| Impedance | 8 ohm | (<--same) | (<--same) |
| Sensitivity | 89 dB/W/m | 90 dB/W/m | 90 dB/W/m |
| Frequency response range | 33 Hz - 40 kHz | 32 Hz - 40 kHz | 26 Hz - 40 kHz |
| Unit Weight | 32 lb | 44 lb | 50 lb |
| Unit Dimensions (depth x width x height) | 10.9 x 7.5 x 37.4 inches | 12.5 x 11.7 x 41.5 inches | 15.7 x 8.5 x 44.5 inches |
| Warranty (does include Amazon.com purchase) | 5 years | (<--same) | (<--same) |
| Product Manual | click here | (<--same) | (<--same) |
*When nominal/RMS power isn’t specified by manufacturer, we use an approximation of ~30% of the specified peak/dynamic power for comparison purposes.
Review and Discussion
Easily the most apparent feature of the Signature series is the retro futuristic look – while most value tier tower speakers we’ve seen tend to look plain, these feature chrome trim, rounded bezels, visible bolts and washed paneling that comes in so called brown or black walnut. Polk has always pushed slick designs, and while some might find it tacky, we love it, even if merely because it gives people that stylistic option.
Getting down to brass tacks, how do these speakers stack up? Quite well. The power specs are decent for the price, but there are more powerful options for those who prioritize that over aesthetics. That said, while none of these have built in subwoofers, the response floor for all of these comparatively excellent in this price tier. While 50s and 55s might benefit from a subwoofer, the 60s include an additional third mid-bass driver that will suffice for many.
Like just about any other tower speaker, the set up issue is mainly lugging them into place. One design feature that’s particularly nice are the chrome stabilization stands which enhance the retro futuristic aesthetics.
Polk loudspeakers come with a 5 year warranty, which is top of the line, especially in the value-tier category where you’re often lucky to get just 1-2 years of coverage.
Our Take
Aesthetics matters, especially so for floorstanding tower speakers which almost serve as a piece of furniture in the room. Do you like the look of these? Well, it’s hard to go wrong with a Polk loudspeaker, as the affordable/value ratio has been their bread and butter for over 4 decades.
That said, if you don’t care too much about aesthetics and want either maximize value or minimize cost, there might be more appealing choices. Klipsch Reference series tower speakers boast more power and are go for comparable prices, check out our review of them here. Or, if you really want to pay as little as possible, Polk’s older Monitor speakers are inexpensive but still quite decent. Check out our review of the 60s here.
