Elac recommends that each B6.2 speaker be paired with a receiver up to 120 watts per channel. That all but ensures it will fill a medium-sized house with crisp, solid sound. Midrange sound hits on all the right notes while higher frequencies add a vibrancy that’s a slam dunk at this price range. Even if you put sound aside, the speakers’ good looks and clean design are reason enough to put them on a bookshelf. The speaker cabinets are attractive and do well to hide fingerprints. On the rear of the cabinet is a five-way binding post that connects easily to speaker cables from satellite speakers or a subwoofer. You can even choose to utilize them as part of a surround sound system thanks to their compatibility with most home theater AV receivers. Overall, the 40-watt Dayton speaker takes up very little space while offering a clear sound and fit in just about any room in the house. The sound comes off nicely balanced without feeling too bassy or too high. Lastly, as a sealed speaker, it’s a little less sensitive to poor placement near walls or corners. Polk suggests pairing these speakers with an AV receiver or amplifier that can push out 200 watts per channel. That means buyers can count on these speakers hitting 100 dB without any distortion. Even without a subwoofer attached, the Polk will cleanly fill a medium-sized room without leaving any gaps in audio coverage. Because of their down-firing ports, they can be placed near or against a wall without any sound reflection. Available in a classic brown walnut veneer, the Polk style is reminiscent of days gone by. The absence of a solid black box helps them stand out from the rest of the floor-standing speaker pack. Installation is a snap with easy one-cut, drop-in setup with “perfect fit” templates that help achieve a vibration-free experience with minimal installation time. The speakers itself feature a pair of 5.25-inch woofers made with a composite polymer cone and rubber sound. There’s also a single tweeter with a silk and polymer cone to round out the sound. And drivers mounted on a flat base allow for easier wall mounting. Once installed, the speakers produce full bass sound with mids and highs that sound crisp and vibrant. Theater Solutions claims each speaker is designed to amplify a full range of tones and they deliver, meaning they can play everything from Beethoven to action movies without skipping a beat. Aesthetically speaking, the frames and grills are paintable to match your decor, so you won’t have to worry about them receiving any unnecessary attention. The low-profile housing protrudes ever so slightly from the wall, making them easily integrable in any room. There’s no need for any mounting hardware and cut out templates are included for accurate sizing. Box vs. ribbon speakers - Most of the stereo speakers in this price range are floorstanding box speakers. If you want a much more convincing soundstage at this price point, and you don’t mind a nonconventional look, consider a set of flat speakers that use an ultra-thin magneplanar film and ribbon driver instead of conventional speakers. Stand-alone vs. home theater - One of the most significant considerations when buying stereo speakers is whether you plan to expand the system into a full home theater with additional speakers at some point. If expansion is in your future, choose stereo speakers that are designed to work with additional speakers in a home theater setup.
