- Polk Audio
Infobox_Company
company_name = Polk Audio, Inc
company_
company_type = Public
company_slogan = Listen to innovation
foundation =1972
location =Baltimore, Maryland
industry =Speakers ,Consumer electronics
homepage = [http://www.polkaudio.com/ www.PolkAudio.com] |Polk Audio is a designer of high performance audio products best known for their home speakers, said to be "heavy in weight, great in Bass". The company also produces a wide range of other
audio products such asamplifiers and FM tuners. The company is headquartered in Baltimore,Maryland and in 2006, was acquired byDirected Electronics . [Citation
last = Phillips
first = Wes
title = Polk Audio Acquired by Directed Electronics
url=http://www.stereophile.com/news/082706polk/
access-date = 2007-05-05]Background
Polk Audio was founded by Matthew Polk, George Klopfer and Sandy Gross in 1972. Matthew, George and Sandy met each other while attending classes at The
Johns Hopkins University inBaltimore . After graduating in 1971, the team collaborated on producing a sound system for a local bluegrass convention. Matthew designed the speaker system while George built the cabinets. After it was discovered the producers of the convention could not afford to pay for the system, George designed a logo for Polk Audio and attached it to the speakers. Sandy was behind the marketing of Polk Audio and also helped create Polk's worldwide dealer network.After spending a short period of time dabbling in Pro Audio Polk Audio turned its attention to high end home audio. With the release of the first successful model in 1974, the Monitor 7, Polk Audio started to become a recognized name in
audiophile circles. Polk used a two way configuration on the vast majority of its speakers like the popular Monitor 10 and Monitor 12, typically with high performance 6.5" mid/bass drivers with rubber surrounds and passive radiators. The Monitor 12 was quite capable for its day, having bass response to 18hz, a free-air mounted tweeter and 500 watt RMS power handling. Later high-end Polk models used large arrays of these drivers and special cross-connections between channel speakers that would in effect send an out of phase (opposite) signal to the other speaker. This would in theory cancel the sound except for some of on far outside of the primary channel, which gave the illusion of a vast sound stage. The industry went a different direction by putting sound stage enhancement into the electronics, then came surround sound dolby 5.1, leaving the concept behind. Polk has also ventured into automobile speakers. [Citation
last = Polk
first = Matthew
title = Soundstage! Interview with Matthew Polk
url=http://www.soundstage.com/interviews/matthew_polk.htm
access-date = 2008-01-12]ee also
*
IP speaker References
External links
* [http://www.polkaudio.com/ Polk Audio] - official Web site
* [http://isonic.polkaudio.com/ I-Sonic Entertainment System] - Polk Audio HD Radio and Audio System
* [http://www.polksda.com/ PolkSDA.com] - A fan site listing many vintage models
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