When it comes to budget speaker options, there are a few models that come to mind and one of them will be the Polk T50. It is a pair of very affordable floor-standing speakers with good sonic performance and sound quality for the money. Getting into the home theater hobby can be quite inexpensive, all thanks to budget loudspeakers such as the Polk T50. Now what you need is a matching receiver to partner with the T50 floor-standers.
To find matching receivers with the right price will take some effort and firstly we need to learn more about the Polk T50 floor-standing speakers. All budget loudspeakers no matter how wonderful they are will have their own strengths and limitations as well as their own sonic characteristics. Once we have learned all this crucial information, we will then start listing out the best receivers which you can go for and match with the Polk T50 speakers, so please do continue to read on.
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Sonic Characteristics and Limitations of Polk T50
For a budget floor-stander, the Polk T50 looks okay and does give us a feeling that it could muster up a powerful and deep bass delivery. We do prefer leaving the speaker grille on as it looks more presentable and eases in nicely into the listening room interiors. At the front of the T50 speaker cabinet, you will see a 1″ (25mm) silk dome tweeter, two 6.5″ (165mm) bass radiators, and a 6.5″ (165mm) dynamic balance mid/woofer. There are no bass ports since they are been replaced by the bass radiators which also means we can place these Polk Audio floor-standers nearer to the walls.
The frequency response of the Polk T50 is really impressive for a speaker at this price point, it is from 38Hz to 24kHz. It seems that the T50 is capable of producing very deep bass frequencies. The nominal impedance is 8 Ohms and the speaker sensitivity is at 90dB which indicates that the Polk T50 speakers are quite easy to drive. The peak power handling is rated 150 Watts and since we will likely be adding in an active subwoofer, we can safely say that most receivers with decent quality will be sufficient enough to drive the T50 loudspeakers. We still need to learn more about the Polk Audio T50 floor-standing speakers’ sonic characteristics though.
More Details at Amazon – Polk Audio T50 Floor Standing Speaker
The Polk T50 speakers can really churn out bass that is tight and powerful, even the deeper bass regions are quite prominently reproduced. There is accuracy to the punch as it doesn’t just go all out for no apparent reason. For a budget speaker, this is an incredible bass performance and you can likely crossover your subwoofer at 60Hz but 80Hz will still be highly recommended. In a stereo system setup, the Polk T50s will be sufficient on their own. The midbass punch is a bit lacking but at this price point, we really can’t complain much.
The upper frequencies are clearly reproduced and the level of clarity is pretty high. The highs and midrange reproduction have plenty of details but the subtleties are not as audible or missing when the movie scenes get busy. For home theater performance, the Polk T50 is good but for music, it is a bit dry and lacks enthusiasm. The neutralness of the T50 speakers is more suited for HT use. Cranking up the volume, the overall sound reproduction can be bright but never sounded shrill or harsh. The stereo imaging of the Polk floor-standers is better than expected with defined separation and able to project a wide soundstage.
The Polk T50 is certainly one of the best budget floor-standing speakers and excels in a home theater environment. If music is more important for you, we would suggest going with another pair of stereo speakers. The very neutral sonic characteristic of the T50 loudspeakers does make them unfussy partners and should match well with most receivers. We gathered enough data and information, it is time for us to start sharing with you a list of the best receivers that you can go for and match them with the Polk Audio T50. The prices of these receivers will be taken into account as well.
Polk T50 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2-Way Bass Reflex (Bass Radiators)
- Drive Units: 1″ (25mm) silk dome tweeter, two 6.5″ (165mm) bass radiators, 6.5″ (165mm) dynamic balance mid/woofer
- Frequency Response: 38Hz–24kHz
- Peak Power Handling: 150 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 8-6 Ohms
- Sensitivity (1 watt @ 1 meter): 90dB
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 235mm x 927mm x 222mm | 9.3″ x 36.5″ x 8.8″
- Weight: 9.3kg (20.4lbs)
Best Receivers to match with Polk T50
The Yamaha TSR-700 will be one of the best receivers to match with Polk T50 floor-standing speakers. It is a 7.1 channel AV receiver with 2 mono subwoofer outputs and is able to process 4K video signals. You will need to wait for future updates for 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through capabilities. The sonic characteristics of the Yamaha TSR-700 are quite similar to the Polk T50 speakers but introduce more transparency and details into the overall sound reproduction. The bass performance of the TSR-700 is amazing too. This Yamaha AV receiver can sound quite bright but never reach a level of harshness.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha TSR-700 AV Receiver
The Denon AVR-S750H is modestly priced and one of the best receivers to pair with your Polk T50 speakers. The 7.2 channel 4K UHD AVR has a power output of 110 Watts per channel into 6 Ohms (with 2 channels driven), more than enough to drive the Polk T50 floor-standing speakers. The neutral sounding with a hint of warmth sound reproduction matches well with the floor-standers too. Providing a fuller sound quality and slightly meatier mid-bass performance. The Audyssey room correction technology helps to optimize and improve the sound quality of the Polk T50 in any given home theater room.
More Details at Amazon – Denon AVR-S750H Receiver
The Sony STRDH590 is another AV receiver that should fit most listeners’ budgets with its modest price point. The bright and clean sound reproduction with impactful low-end oomph of the STRDH590 would provide an exciting home movie experience. The clarity of this 5.2 channel 4K AVR will help improve the audibility of the subtle details. The Sony STRDH590 excels in home theater performance which makes it a suitable match with the Polk Audio T50 floor-standers. When the volume is cranked up, the overall sound reproduction may be overly bright to some listeners and we would suggest hearing them out before making a decision.
More Details at Amazon – Sony STRDH590 Home Theater Receiver
If you are looking for a stereo receiver and have a tight budget, the Onkyo TX-8220 will be an excellent choice to go for. It is a highly-rated stereo receiver with a plethora of features such as Bluetooth connectivity, moving magnet phono, and more. The Onkyo TX-8220’s rated power output of 100 Watts into 6 Ohms (1 channel driven, Peak) is sufficient to drive the Polk T50 and you might want to connect an active sub via the dedicated subwoofer output. Another notable feature will be the Direct Mode which widens the receiver’s frequency response, producing a more detailed and cleaner music presentation.
More Details at Amazon – Onkyo TX-8220 Stereo Receiver
For a 2 channel stereo network receiver with the capability of processing 4K UHD 60Hz videos, the Denon DRA-800H will be a fantastic choice to pair with the Polk T50 loudspeakers. The Denon receiver supports HDR10, HLG, and BT.2020, delivering crisp and beautiful home cinematic visuals. You can also connect up to 2 active subwoofers to further improve the overall bass performance. The neutrality of the Denon DRA-800H matches really well with the Polk T50 speakers, the low-end performance of the T50 also complements the stereo network receiver. Just to nitpick, it would be nicer if it is a little more affordable though.
More Details at Amazon – Denon DRA-800H Stereo Network Receiver
For AV receivers that have a bit more musicality than others, we would recommend checking out Marantz AVRs. The Marantz house sound delivers a warm and smooth sound reproduction with musical refinements. They are no slouch when it comes to home theater performance too. The Marantz SR6014 will be worth your time to check them out. If you prefer an AV receiver with 8K UHD video processing capability, the Marantz SR6015 will be an ideal choice to have a look at. For 8K Denon AV receivers, you can start with AVR-X2700H. Both Marantz and Denon AV receivers have the Audyssey feature where you can calibrate and optimize your Polk T50 speakers to sound better in your listening room.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz 4K UHD AV Receiver SR6014
More Details at Amazon – Marantz SR6015 8K AV Receiver with 3D Audio
To Sum It Up
The Polk T50 is an affordable pair of floor-standing speakers and still provides tons of value to its users especially for home theater use. The listed receivers are some of the best on the market and are well-matched with the Polk T50 speakers. It is highly recommended to hear them out by arranging an audition. Have a listen and see if you like what you hear from these exceptional receivers.
