[smargo]

About 3 months ago i purchased a polk i-sonic tabletop radio -cd player - dvd player - and it has been relegated to sit with our flat screen tv. Because of its inputs I had the sound coming from the i-sonic in favor of the tv. My wife and i would always comment how it sounded good especially when we watched a tv movie or dvd.

And no big deal - it just sat there - next to the tv - and when i would clean the dishes from the kitchen i would be craving music. so recently i have been playing a couple of cds with the i-sonic while cleaning and doing dishes and realizing just how much into the music i had gotten - no judgements - no critiquing not like when i sit in my main listening digs where i judge and in general am more critical - after all don't i have a right to be when my stuff costs at least 5 grand.

I recently brought it down to my listening room in lieu of the all the so called audiophile approved equipment and turned the thing on to play some cd's and it sounds amazing. It is just as enjoyable as my main stuff and some ways more so than it has a right to. I mean look at the picture of it. http://isonic.polkaudio.com/index.php

It definitely does not image well, no real separation whatsoever. its almost like listening to one speaker. It doesn't have any depth. the thing runs a tad hot. im sure the cd transport and dac are no great shakes, etc etc.

But those built in powered subwoofers,  and the smoothness of the sound and the cohesion are simply amazing for essentially a tabletop radio - albeit a $599 one.

Im just saying i can't belive how f-----g good this thing sounds on cd and dvds - simply for just getting off on listening to music - not for anything it can do that are audiophile qualities unless sound counts for something.

I have the piece on 4 vibrapods on my salamander rack and yea you have to run in the thing for a few days. but the sound is filling up my 18 x 24 room. The room is a touch to big - but for the life of me this thing sounds as good as all the esoteric equipment i have owned.

Its basically a bullshit product with endearing sound - I'm telling you it shouldn't sound this good. For getting off on the sound of music i am astounded with this piece.

I am not a spokesperson for polk and have no relationship whatsoever with them.

Caveat:

This is my 3rd i-sonic - The 1st one wouldn't play dvd's right. it kept skipping even on brand new dvds. So where i bought it from they replaced it. the second time one of the channels didn't work. Polk themselves replaced the unit. this one is working flawless after 2 months.

smargo




 

[Zero]

Smargo,

If you have the chance, spin some top notch acoustic recordings on the I-Sonic. Michael Hedges - "Aerial Boundaries", Alex De Grassi's - "Bolivian Blues". That little table radio can do things in terms of ambiance, that many extremely expensive and highly regarded speakers cannot do. As impressive as the sonics can be in the right circumstances, the bulk of its WOW-factor hides within its video playback. Yes, I'm actually referring to the S-Video output. All I can say is; brace yo'self. That little I-Sonic is a complete freak of nature.

[konut]

Maybe this has something to do with it.
http://isonic.polkaudio.com/soundquality/graph.html

[smargo]

Smargo,

If you really want your mind blown - find some top notch all acoustic recordings  *Michael Hedges -  Aerial Boundaries* ..  *Alex De Grassi - Bolivian Blues* ....  and prepare for some serious shock factor. That little iSonic can do things in terms of ambiance, that many extremely expensive speakers cannot do. In short - the little thing is a freak of nature. But the sound isn't the I-Sonics main strength. It's main strength hides within the video. Yes, I'm referring to the little S video output. All I can say is; brace yo'self.

great - i love michael hedges - and your right i listened to some tuck andress play acoustic guitar and it was unbelievable - i will try the s video output - its amazing the sound of this little thing, when we spend so much money on cables, cd players, power cords, speaker cable, mods, amplifiers. so refreshing to see something really so humble be so great without all of the hocus pocus and mumbo jumbo. i think this little bugger is really refined and sweet with a real high end sound. oops - i must be losing my mind.

smargo

[JLM]

Us single driver "freaks" know that the essence of music is between 80 and 8,000 Hz, the value of a coherent sound source, and the amazing advantages of providing one amp per driver (active speaker design). 

Welcome to our ephiphany.


IME most other speaker designs muck up the music more than help as they attempt to go much beyond that.

[smargo]

Us single driver "freaks" know that the essence of music is between 80 and 8,000 Hz, the value of a coherent sound source, and the amazing advantages of providing one amp per driver (active speaker design). 

Welcome to our ephiphany.


IME most other speaker designs muck up the music more than help as they attempt to go much beyond that.

I agree that other designs muck up the music - and I have also listened to single driver speakers - but nothing i thought was that great. Thats why im amazed at this little thing.

smargo

[Philistine]

I looked at table top units at the end of last year, and all the consumer reviews pointed in the direction of the Polk - looks like you guys are confirming this.

Can you do me a favor?  I have a friend in the UK looking for something like this for the kitchen, and I've looked on the Polk website to check if it's multi-voltage but can't find anything.  If you get he chance I would appreciate it if you could check the AC input and see if its just 110v or its 110-220v.   
Thanks

[hoosier21]

The unit is 110vac - 60hz. One of the things Polk did not think of, 220v.

I love mine, looks good and sounds great.

[Philistine]

Thanks for checking this out, I'll just have to buy one and keep it for myself 

[smargo]

you absolutely won't be dissapointed - give it a good 4 days of playing - although it does sound good out of the box. - many people won't even hear this beauty amongst all the awful sounding stuff out there.

smargo