Polk Audio 2x LSiM703 Bookshelf Loudspeaker, 36Hz-40kHz, Midnight Mahogany

2021-06-24T13:01:55

Smooth rich sound. Works great for my desktop setup listening to Qobuz.

JERRY E.

2020-07-22T18:04:00

These bookshelves can deliver pretty deep bass for the size.

RANDY U.

2020-03-19T20:00:00

It is beyond my non-engineer background how Polk can obtain the sound these "bookshelf" speakers can produce. I am replacing my old PSW 100 sub soon. Pulled these out of the best packaging I have ever seen, love the cloth shroud and thick styro at. al. Next hooked them up to older Sony ES amp and ES disc changer and immediately was so happy I ordered direct and paid half the big box store price. Surprisingly punchy bass and mids for an enclosure, absolutely beautiful midnight black, and crisp highs. My brother bought a pair of Elac towers and these sound better than those. Cannot wait to pair them with a newer sub, not sure which Polk I will purchase, but likely a 10" or 12"(large 25' x 15' great room). Kudos to your engineering team and I await my newest sound experience. Oh! I may need another pair before they are gone and some quality stands so my guest can see what they are hearing!!!

MikeAppState82

Originally posted at

2020-02-12T18:05:40

Admittedly I'm a high-end-audio neophyte, but coming from garage-sale speakers to these, coupled with a capable amp and DAC, I'm consistently stunned. I'm hearing bass lines I'd never heard before, and the timber and resolution that comes from any vocal song I push at it never fails to wow me. Being in a choir myself, I know what it sounds like near and among singers, and I've never heard such fidelity before in my life. I can't speak for other brands at this time, but I certainly have a new-found respect for Polk Audio.

Nick W.

2020-02-10T11:09:49

DIsappointed. Very small soundstage - it doesn't go much farther than the physical cabinets; these speakers do not disappear. Decent center image. I did try several different speaker placements with them (As much as possible, but the sound didn't change much). Bass extension is good. Sound is actually well balanced from top to bottom. Good range for a "bookshelf" speaker. Details are somewhat reclusive though. I've heard of them being described as "polite" and I guess that's what is unappealing to me about them. The sound is kind of laid back overall. Possible that they'd pair better with bright sounding electronics behind them? These are definitely not "bookshelf" speakers but I would refer to them as stand-mount speakers. Mt. Vernon cherry looks lighter in direct sunlight, almost too light for me. The fit and the finish is very good, though, and the cabinets are inert when you rap your knuckles on them. These are quite heavy so not too easy for me to move compared to other "bookshelf" speakers.

Victor P.

2020-02-02T07:08:00

Great speakers, I got a pair of this and each speaker is best thing I ever bought

HAN L.

2020-02-02T07:07:13

This speaker is good and it has exceptional 3-way woofers and tweeter. Beautiful design and quality will make you happy

HAN L.

2020-01-01T15:02:08

let alone the silly sale pricing I see going on to which I was a beneficiary elsewhere. Stereophile's review pretty much nails my feelings on the speaker. I have only listened to them for about 15 hours on the new rig which was built with the Special 40 speakers in mind. It seems a shame that for the mean time they are going back into my closet until I can come up with a use case for them. Main thing to note vs the much pricier Dynaudio is that really, really quiet the LSiM 703 speakers are not as coherent across the frequency range. It is obvious once I put the Special 40s back in place but not problematic. @ reference level (85dB for me per a really old and never calibrated Radio Shack/Realistic sound pressure meter) and beyond when I am milling about the house they keep it together within their scope. Typically, I am listening at a much more subdued level (55dB max) and there are zero complaints concerning the aforementioned. Are they in the same league as Special Forty? Well, no. At MSRP are worthy of a look? Yep. At current pricing? Now we’re getting silly but just to spell it out: Without actually demoing them yourself they are as close to a sure bet as I can personally suggest for > $1000.00/pair. I auditioned a set of KEF LS50 just to hear what all the buzz was about but boxed them up and ate the shipping before the first song stopped playing on the Special Forty s. LS50 s are stunners to be sure but IMO and room acoustics there is NO getting away without a sub, especially I imagine in rooms notably larger than my 16x20 listening area. The Dynaudios were obviously more speaker in every sense of the phrasing upon first note. Both the LSiM 703 and the Special Forty are quite acceptable without a sub… in my application and room. For much smaller rooms, say an office or a computer room setup with a sub I can definitely see where the LS50 would be worth their virtures despite their low end deficiencies as tested in my system. I am a really, really big fan of the LSiM 703 speakers and think to truly upgrade from them all around you will be spending nigh Special Forty neighborhood money… Make sure you do your research and know your ear/brain combo before pulling the trigger but I am not sure how these are going to disappoint a prospective buyer in any way. Certainly, the LSiM 703 are a set of boutique grade speakers you can build up the rest of a system around over time. They resolve well enough to allow you to detect problems with your reproduction chain clearly by ear and by the time one gets the rest of the chain upgraded to the point where they are not sufficient you are definitely shopping in the ? $3k USD range. I do think they still require a sub, particularly if you have a love for hip hop, NiN, or anything that flirts with low frequencies. Most users, I think, wouldn’t notice any deficiency in the output sans sub but they deserve to have that bottom end picked up by a competent sub at some point in your ownership. Equipment used for listening all connections in the system are with XLR interconnects except where noted: Schiit Freya S in passive mode Schiit Yggdrasil A1 USB III via XLR (2) Schiit Vidar in mono mode Schiit Mani Phono Pre Sony PS-X6 with AT VML540ML cart SvS SB16 Ultra subwoofer (via line out from the Freya S, stereo pair run of sub cables) Just so you can discount my opinion, I am the kind of audio enthusiast who believes in the following: The shortest cable runs are the best cabling you can do. Once you get to a certain level of quality, which is pretty cheap, spending money on cables is one of the world’s great, highest echelon mark-up scams. One last note: I had an amp failure that nuked my much beloved, crossover modified Polk LSi 9 speakers. That sad event was the impetus for my picking up a new pre amp and amplifiers. I am a man of limited means but where some people drop loot on vacations or other interests, I put what money I can when the need arises into a decent music and audio experience. That said, the off axis improvement to the the LSiM 703 ring radiator tweeters is phenominal compared to the very narrow range of the the now toasted LSi 9 pair (R.I.P). The off axis performance characteristic of ring radiator tweets in the application of the LSiM 703 is negligible to my ears.

Roderick I.

2019-12-30T19:00:00

I have Def Tech, Acoustic Research, Klipsch, Sonance, Elac, Yamaha (all the top end models of each brand), and these speakers "SMOKE" them all! Was hesitant as I bought some low end POLK for my son to play around with, took a chance on these versus SONUS FABER, and couldn't be happier. Truly a beautiful peace of sonic engineering.

SeanM

Originally posted at

2019-12-23T09:08:29

Let me first preface my review by saying this is the most expensive piece of audio equipment I have ever regularly used. My second and third being a decent 5.1 home theater kit at my parents place and a set of Sony WH-1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones. The Polk speakers sound markedly better than my 5.1 system and give the subwoofer a run for its money when on the floor. Just comparing the stereo speakers, the Polk make what I can only describe as a wall of sound that, when sitting in the correct place, envelops you more immersively than any other speakers I use. The Polk sound better in every way. Comparing the Polk to my headphones is interesting because the two emphasise different parts of music. The biggest place where the Polk win is in reproducing distinct sounds. Where the headphones mix deep sounds, the Polk makes it clear the difference between a rumbling roll of base and a less pronounced beat of a drum. I like both in different ways, but the Polk win in clarity and separation.

Bryce N.

2019-12-16T07:10:05

Great speaker

Charles S.

2019-12-12T10:23:55

My first speakers ever at the age of 16 were polk audios. Back then I didn't have alot of money and just wanted some cheap towers that got the job done. Fast Forward through many brands of high end audio speakers and components and I was looking for a new set of book shelf speakers. Well I bought these on sale without hearing them just based on the reviews and I will also say that these 2 speakers blew me away. I have them paired with an Anthem MRX 510 with 100 watts per channel and they really drive them well. Sure I could always use double the power but for my needs these get extremely loud. The bass response is tight and vocals really shine. I love the true 3-way design Polk has used here and I actually got rid of my subwoofer and just use these speakers. I didn't think I'd ever go back to Polk Audio but the LSiM series really made me glad I did. Great job Polk Audio.

JonnyHiFi

2019-12-10T07:35:40

Amazing sound quality!

Jason L.

2019-12-08T15:20:10

Excellent sound great build quality.

Charles S.

2019-12-08T10:02:38

I have literally bought these speakers 4 or 5 times when they go on sale. I love them but I keep thinking I can get something better for the money. You cant. I am in for the long haul this time. They are so smooth and laid back while still being incredibly detailed and clear. I am also a bit of a woodworker and the craftsmanship is what takes the cake for me. Unbelievable value on these speakers!

Joshua G.

2019-12-03T14:04:46

Phenomenal speakers. Definitely the clearest most emersive sound I've experienced. Excellent response throughout the range, no bright spots, big full bass even at low volume. Heavy, sturdy and well built cabinets. Look great and the finish is perfect.

joel h.

2019-11-29T11:11:06

These speakers are heavy! Sound fantastic for the money as they are now discontinued heavily If you can still get them go for it.... Check out all of the reviews on youtube. You won't be sorry with this purchase. Unit was double boxed and showed up in pristine condition.

DAVID F.

2019-11-29T06:06:36

Absolutely amazing speakers. I was floored by how much better these sounded than my paradigms.

Jack M.

2019-11-27T08:11:48

I was looking for a pair of high end bookshelf speakers to replace my andrew jones pioneer fs52 towers as my front L/R in my 7.1 hometheater for a few months before buying these. I enjoyed the FS52s for a time but they lacked true high end performance especially in music. I spent time looking at options from klipsch (RP 600M), KEF Q350s and SVS ultras but came across these speakers on sale for 450 a pair. After doing my research I felt like I should at least give these a try and I have not been disappointed. Honestly they have breathtaking sound. They have an excellent high end and midrange but lack significant bass presence.The lack of bass could be that I am running them on a budget AV receiver that only outputs 100 watts per channel or it could be that I'm used to a dedicated subwoofer. Either way it doesnt matter because I have them crossed over at 60 Hz and I let my SVS PB2000 take over the low end. With a sub I think it would be hard to find a better speaker for the price.

Mitchell H.

2019-11-26T16:49:11

Love these speakers. And for $ a pai....i bought two pairs. And three pairs of the 702's for when i do my 9.2.4 system.

steven t.

2019-11-26T11:56:06

I think these speakers live up to the positive reviews and the sale price is great. I bought them not knowing if I would like them or not and they have impressed me. I was looking into higher end speakers to replace my front left and right speakers(Pioneer FS52s) so I could get a better experience listening to music in 2 channel stereo mode. These are really fantastic even on my budget 7.1 amplifier outputting only 100 watt per channel. They seem to lack a strong bass presence so I have them crossed over at 60 hz and let my powerful svs pb2000 sub take over the low end. These things have amazing detail and depth. I’ll have music playing in the background while working and sometimes they just catch my attention with whatever they are playing because they sound so good. The only low notes would be the bass (but that could be my amp) and the sound stage and imaging isn’t as expansive as I was hoping for. They look really classy but not 100% on the build quality because one of the speakers seemed to have glue strands still on the tweeter and midrange driver. I really want to find one of the matching centers lsim 704c or preferably the 706c but adorama seems to be sold out of them and it will likely be harder and harder to find one. 4 stars because of the glue being left on one of the speakers. Would give 5/5 for sound quality.

MITCHELL H.

2019-11-26T10:40:36

I have been tinkering with DYI audio and vintage speaker collecting forever.I had a chance to experience relatively new tech designed by pros with top shelf components and now I have a solid reference to compare and enjoy.They are first rate in my book. Well worth the highly discounted investment.

TERRY S.

2019-11-26T08:16:00

So far these have been great and only getting better. Would highly recommend, especially when on sale.

COLIN T.

2019-11-26T08:07:20

These speakers are above average. They’re built like a tank . Not just high volume sounds good low volume sounds amazing. The tone of the sound is noticeable and makes your ears happy. If you are reading my review just go ahead and buy them .

FREDERICK C.

2019-11-20T07:13:40

Wonderful speakers!! Absolutely beautiful physically and sound-wise. They took a couple of weeks to break in, which I've never really believed in though. They smoothed out and the bass increased. Wonderfully detailed sound excellent imaging. These are the biggest bookshelf speakers I have ever seen also.

Matthew C.

2019-11-18T09:17:03

I really like the sound and it is well balanced.

AMIT R.

2019-11-17T09:27:58

These high quality 3-way bookshelves from Polk Audio are outstanding! The build and finish (I have the Mt. Vernon Cherry) are first class. The sound is full, balanced, and detailed without being fatiguing. I'm using these in a 2-channel vinyl set-up including a Marantz PM8006 and Pioneer PLX-1000 turntable with Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge and I'm in "analog bliss". I have approximately 40-50 hours on these and I can tell they are beginning to really open up, as most well designed speakers take a little break in period. They sound great right out of the box, but have patience and they will reward you with even more refined sonics. These speakers were competitave at their initial release price point, but are unbelievable at the closeout price. Buy them and enjoy!

NEIL G.

2019-11-15T07:26:05

Bought with a set of 707’s, 706 center, and 702’s for HT. Very happy with their sound. Excellent purchase.

Andy I.

2019-11-14T12:06:23

Really nice speakers and got them at a great price. I also got the 706c center to match with them. Very clear sounding, love them. I have experience with Klipsch and also other Polk speakers such as owm3 and atrium4. Compared to all these the LSiM have great bass as they can go down below 40Hz

Amol D.

2019-11-14T09:11:06

It looks amazing, and sounds amazing. A little too big for my tastes though.

HYUN B.