Polk Audio Reserve R700 Review: Ranked #49 of 139

Last updated: October 6, 2026

The Polk Audio Reserve R700 ranks #49 out of 139 total Large Size Floorstanding Speakers for sound quality. See all Passive Home rankings for every top pick.

Brand: Polk

Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Polk Audio Reserve R700 - ranked #49 of 139 Large Size Floorstanding Speakers · Editor's rating 4.3/5
Check price at Amazon ($2,398 per pair) →

#49 Polk Audio Reserve R700: $2,398 per pair Amazon eBay

Smaller models: the Polk Reserve R600 (ranked lower, estimated 4.2/5), the Polk Reserve R500 (ranked lower, rated 4.2/5) and the Polk Reserve R100 (rated 3.4/5).

Pros: Three-way design with a 1” ring radiator tweeter, 6.5” mid-range, and dual 8” mid-bass drivers in a ported, down-firing cabinet. On-axis frequency response holds within about ±2dB across most of its range, with genuinely deep bass extension (F3 40Hz) reaching into the mid-30s Hz in-room. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70°, giving a strong, enveloping stereo width and stage-extension effect on well-recorded tracks. Good low-level dynamics: solid bass thump at quiet listening volumes without over-accentuation. Strong distortion and compression control through the bass and midrange. Real nominal impedance closer to 4 ohms than the marketed 8 ohms, so with the right amplifier it can be driven hard: a $3,000 two-channel integrated brought out significantly more life than a budget $300 unit could. Excellent value at its roughly $1199/pair, ranking among the reviewer’s top picks under $2,500; outperforms the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-8000F II in bass extension and overall smoothness. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87.5dB.

Cons: Compression in the high frequencies rises sharply between 96dB and 102dB output: a real limitation only at very high volumes (around 100dB at 3 meters), but a clear step down from pricier ($5,000+) towers. Horizontal directivity mismatch around 4-5kHz, where the tweeter flares wider than the midrange, can sound a bit forward, especially noticeable when toed out further into the room; sidewall absorption or curtains help tame it. Harmonic distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 7kHz at 96dB output, possibly contributing to that same forward quality at high volume. Narrow vertical sweet spot (about ±15° from the tweeter axis), typical of non-coaxial tower designs: more of a consideration for multi-row home theater seating than single-row listening. The ring-radiator tweeter narrows noticeably above about 7-8kHz, and toeing the speaker out more than about 20° causes the top end to fall off quickly. Needs at least 2 feet of clearance from the rear wall to avoid boomy, exaggerated bass, since it lacks the bass-shelf tuning some rivals use to allow closer wall placement. Compared to the pricier KEF R5 Meta, has narrower horizontal (and much narrower vertical) directivity, so seating flexibility is more limited.

How it compares: Just above it: Perlisten R7t - $3796 more, 2.5Hz higher bass extension (-3dB). Just below it: PSB Imagine T65 - $1500 more, 2.4Hz lower bass extension (-3dB).

Bass Extension (-10dB)31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner)
DIY KitNo
Dimensions45”H x 12.6”W x 16.9”D (1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3 mm)
Drivers2x 8” polypropylene cone woofers, 1x 6.5” turbine cone midrange, 1x 1” Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter
Impedance4 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Sensitivity87.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner)
Spinorama Preference Score6.38
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub7.83
Weight102.1 lbs (46.3 kg)
Woofer Cabinetported, down-firing
Check current price at Amazon ($1,199.00) →Search eBay for Polk Audio Reserve R700 →

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