My search is over. I auditioned in my home three speakers: Martin Logan Aerius, Energy AS3+2's, and the Polk RT20P's. All speakers fit the $2000 range, but the Polks were simply sensational. The high frequencies were simply liquid, especially on women's voices and the midrange was just as superb. The ML's were too twitchy on room placement and electronics, and the Energy's simply lacked the overall presentation that the Polk's offered. However, the Polk's lacked the seamless integration of the bass that I was really interested in. It seemed that the bass just wasn't integrating as smoothly as the rest of the system. Overall though, their revealing presentation of source material, which I demand, and simply outstanding sound were irresistable for my tastes (rock, jazz, and some classical) Do as I did, and audition them in your house. You'll be simply awed by the overall package the the Polk's offer.

I'm a beginner in the field of high end audio and have just started to get into it from searching for the right speaker to purchase. I have to admit thatthough I'm not anywhere near an audiophile, I can tell performance differences
between speakers. From listening to various speaker demos, the RT20's definitely
stand out, especially with the powerful bass which makes the sound so much more
dramatic. But after discovering the price of $1000 each, I've decided to try mail order to bring down the price. The result after calling several companies for the best possible prices is a purchase of the new RT2000p's for only $1299
a PAIR, and about $80 for sh/handling. That's a saving of $700 and no tax! I strongly recommends purchasing from mail order and even more strongly the RT2000p's. It's a lot of speaker for the price whether for home theater or for
music listening. There is so much bass that when cranked up with the appropriate
CD, the walls will shake, the floor will tremble, various objects in the house
will rattle, and the ears will beg you for mercy! Although I've had them for only over a month, I still get excited hitting the power switch.

Great Music & Home Theater Speakers

8" Sub Woofers have all needed to be replaced over the last 5 years,

I have always loved Polk Audio Speakers and I really have enjoyed these speakers but I am disappointed that I have had to replace all the 8" sub-woofers over the last 5 years and I never cranked on them. I have decided to send all my bass and LFE to another sub-woofer and leave these built-in woofers at a low power settings so as not to stress them so that they last.

Well, It's taken me a while, but I have to respond to RE Brownfield's review of May 17, 1997. He's wrong. In October of 1997, I purchased a pair of RT-16's and hooked them up to the Jolida 302A. As a signal source, I chose my cable company's digital feed of the "Music Choice" network (which is decoded through a top of the line Jerrold tuner).
In an 18'x12' room with sheetrock walls, asbestos-based tile, above an open space (the garage), and a minumum of furniture. . . I experienced a wonderful and clean sound that was far more pleasing in the mid to high end that, in all honesty, sounded better than my 21 year old setup of JBL L-100's and the Pioneer SA-1000 system that had many a friend oogling for years and years.

BUT. . . the Polk Audio 16's just couldn't "push" the low end like the JBL's. So, I went out and purchased the RT-20P's, with the next step up in the Jolida line, the 502A (3055's instead of EL34's. . . 10 more watts RMS per channel than the 302A).

Now, the amplifier change can really be considered negligable. However, for someone to state "save your money, buy the RT-16's instead of the RT-20P's, just didn't give a "REAL" listen. I can honestly say that I have a hard time going back to the former system. . . It's relegated to my home office for background music. When I want to listen to MUSIC, the choice is definately the RT20P's.

One final note. . . I wound up choosing to switch amplifiers. . .ie. . . the RT20P's are driven by the Jolida 302A (EL34's), because I send a line signal to the sub-woofer section of the RT-20P's (which have its own 100 watt discrete componentry. . .bi-polar transitors). The mids and highs are what's important here, so the "European sounding" EL34's are perfect for the what is basically an RT12 (6 1/2" mid, tri-laminate tweeter- - -completely isolated from the sub-woofer section). Although 40 watts/channel is probably a bare minimum, I am satisified with the Jolida sound. I have grown older, and I no longer need to demonstrate that I have the coolest sounding system to my friends and neighbors. Except maybe on a beautiful spring day when my business has been good for the day!

I couldn't turn down the deal in the Crutchfield winter 1998 supplemental catalog on my RT20p speakers. Their regular price was supposed to have been $1999.00, and I got a pair from their "outlet" (returns) for $1085, including only $5.95 for handling and freight (not a bad shipping price for the 150 lb total package.) I'm in the process of assembling a home theater, and have yet to buy a decent new receiver, so I'm powering them with a Kenwood KA-7100 stereo amp, circa 1979, with 60 watts per channel. Power doesn't really matter, though, because I live in a tiny apartment. After buying some 12-gauge speaker wire at Radio Shack, I set everything up and was ready to go. I'll investigate bi-amping and bi-wiring them later. The tweeter response is crystalline, and the midrange is tight. I've been playing the speakers lately with the internal amps turned off, to heighten the enjoyment once I move to a bigger place, and they still sound excellent, with surprising mid-bass response from the 6 1/2 inch drivers. But when the amps are on, watch out, Freddy. The subwoofers have adjustable output, and you have to twiddle with several settings to get it right. I like a lot of bass, so a 1:00-2:00 level is great; anything more and TV sources sound boomy. Bass notwithstanding, my 'show-off' recording has been "Careless Whisper" -- wham! Hello Mr. Sax! And I don't spare the fugues.
If I had been prepared to spend $2000 for a pair of speakers, I might have opted for some 4-way Eosones, but otherwise, I couldn't have bought a decent powered sub (much less two) plus higher-freq-drivers for the price I got the RT20p's. I *really* can't wait to turn them up, before and after I get a new amp/receiver.

I home auditioned the RT-2000P's against Boston Acoustic VR970's and psb Stratus Gold i's. These were all possible replacements for my old KEF C-75's. I was immediately rather appalled at the lack of high end definition with the RT's compared to the Uni-Q tweeters of the KEF's. However as I listened more, I
think this was due to the added definition and presense the midrange of the RT's brings to the picture. However, when playing rock I find the upper midrange (snare drum etc.) to be too brash and un-natural sounding with the RT's. I did find the Polks play piano music pretty well though. However the overall sound of the Polks was just not to my liking. They do have pretty incredible bass though, but the loss of high end definition compared to the KEF's meant I returned them. I'm still listening to the B.A.'s and the psb's. Have another week to decide on these two. My final thought on the Polks RT's is that they are not for the serious music listener, but would work well for the serious home theater enthusiast due to the bass response of the built in sub-woofers.

You people have GOT to be kidding...right? My main beef is they are not a good value. If you haven't bought your speakers yet...keep on shopping.
I've heard these speakers a lot, and while they are ok...they are not 1st class (or anywhere near) in their price range.

Only a diehard polk afficiando would want these in their listening room. I'd strongly reccommend you audition these side by side with other brands in the same price range, and you won't purchase these.

I have owned about every pair of Polks. I started with the S-10s. Those where great speakers for starters but did not have the response of high and lows. I then went to the RT 12s. Those were excellant speakers for my starting home theater. Great bass and mid range. I then traded those in for the RT 20p. I never had a greater response from a Polk speaker. I thought those were the greatest. Incredible bass and crystal tweeters. You cant beat a better speaker with 2 8" woofers with 100 watts pushing just those 2 speakers. Unless you did what I did and upgraded again to the 2000p's. Oh boy if you want to wake up the neighborhood , these are the ones. I had an even swape for better and more powerful speakers after a year of usage of the 20p's. 200 watts going to the woofers. Plus they handle 400 watts. Thats 600 watts of pure speaker. If you have the money, I highly recommend these. I am Polk for life.

I use the RT20s in a home theater with Polk surrounds and Center. The RT20s are very crisp but have a little too much emphasis on the upper midrange. Lots of bass but I get uneven reponse in my room unless I move them way out from the wall. They are a better Home theater speaker than music spaeaker

Rt-20's: save your money! Side/side w/RT16 -- The added cost of the 20's over the 16's does not justify a purchase. While the is a slight improvement in bass from the RT20, not much other difference. The RT20 is to have Signiture Reference tweeter-technology; but there is not much difference-- actually, not much tweeter improvement over Polk RT3!