Polk Audio AM6510-A Hampden review: Buyer, beware!!! Stay away from these speakers! 1

Buyer, beware! All positive reviews across the internet and Amazon specifically have been written either by Polk employees, or by people who have never heard a decent speakers.

First of all, I would like to mention about my previous experience and kind of sound I prefer. For the last 3 years, searching for a perfect sound, I bought in different office locations and apartments Bowers & Wilkins MM-1, Bose Companion 20, Companion 5 2.1 multimedia system and the latest one I got, by the advice of the audio store salesman and a fried of mine, was Focal XS Satellite Speaker system. I'm not looking for a big bass, as it can be produced by almost all expensive PC speakers (I am not a musician, so I might be mistaken), unlike the clarity and the stage of the sound.

While digging the net, I came across Polk Audio AM6510-A Hampden speakers. The reviews were very good. I liked the design, and some reviews from the net, so I decided to buy them.

I will not be discussing the packaging and quality of the speakers, no problems with that. But... when I connected them to my PC, I couldn't believe my ears. No words to describe how bad was the sound. I put Focals next to Polks and was switching between them; the difference was like earth and sky. Polk sounded even worse than my old $50 Logitech speakers. No clarity, no high frequencies, just some cheap bubbling.

So my only advice, stay far away from these speakers. No wonder that these speakers were discontinued.

As to my opinion on the the comparison of Bowers & Wilkins, Bose and Focals.

Bose - for those who listens music on higher volumes. They will fill your room with sound, but the clarity is the lowest from all above.

Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 - very-very nice speakers, but for those who prefer to listen music on low volumes. Lack of bass on higher volumes. Pros: size, clarity of the sound. No sound stage. You can find the rest of the cons, such as heating and similar on other websites. But you will definitely enjoy the sound they produce.

Focal XS Satellite - are the winners. Again, there are small cons, but the sound is just the best. You get the scene, the clarity, bass response, you will hear the new sounds from the music you've listened hundred times before.

I will upload a comparision video to YouTube when I get a chance.

Polk - died for me as a brand. I will never look on any of their products again.

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