Polk Atrium 4 review

Our Verdict

Polk Atrium 4 set the standard for wired outdoor speakers with a wide, balanced sound for under $200.

For

• Large, crisp soundstage
• Rugged
• Relatively modest size

Tom's Guide Verdict

Polk Atrium 4 set up the standard for wired outdoor speakers with a broad, balanced sound for under $200.

Pros

• +

  Large, crisp soundstage

• +

  Rugged

• +

  Relatively minor size

Polk Atrium four: Specs

Size: 8.6 ten half dozen.7 x 5.7 inches
Speakers: 4.v-inch commuter, 0.75-inch tweeter
Conditions resistance: ASTM D5894-UV Table salt Fog, Mil Standard 810 Immersion and Mil Standard 883 for common salt and corrosion.

When you want wired outdoor speakers to bring sound to your porch or deck, the Polk Atrium 4 are the all-time mix of audio and size. A pair costs less than $200, and you go a wide, full sound. While they don't accept much bass, they produce more depression finish than other outdoor speakers of like size. The relatively small speakers give you flexibility in where yous place them and won't dominate your view. Add together it all up, and the Atrium 4 are hard to crush.

Read on for our full review of the Polk Atrium iv.

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Polk Atrium four: Price and Availability

The Polk Atrium 4 speakers accept been available for a long fourth dimension — since 2005, according to its Amazon listing. The list toll is $199 and they are currently bachelor on Amazon for $169 for the pair.

Polk also makes the Atrium 5, which are slightly larger and cost $249 per pair on Amazon, also every bit the Atrium 6, larger still, for $349 per pair.

Polk Atrium 4 review: Design

The Atrium 4 features a more rounded blueprint than many bookshelf-style speakers; that likely helps contribute to the wide sound they produce. The 8.6 x 6.7 x v.7-inch units are smaller than many outdoor wired speakers, likewise. Inside, the speakers have a 4.five-inch driver and 0.75-inch tweeter. Available in black or white, the hard plastic case has a perforated grill to let audio out, and look to be able to withstand some corruption.

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

The speakers come with a hinge mountain for hanging, and you can motility them 180 degrees. Yous tin can also remove the mount if you want to place them on a table or stand.

Polk Atrium iv review: Operation

The Atrium 4s deliver a wide, balanced sound that should make most people happy in an outdoor setting. Vocals are articulate, and instruments sound warm and realistic. The bass won't milkshake the walls, but you can still notice the groove.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Billie Eilish'south singing was total and easy to hear fifty-fifty above the bombastic guitars and keyboards on "Happier Than Always." The Weeknd'due south "Blinding Lights" sounded big and full, from his singing to the instruments — though the thumping drums lacked a chip of oomph. The acoustic guitars on Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Dorsum Again" were crisp and warm.

The Atrium 4 tin can get impressively loud. At 95 decibels the sound was a bit harsh but non distorted. They sounded more balanced nether ninety decibels.

Polk Atrium iv review: Ruggedness

Polk says the Atrium 4 are "all-weather outdoor certified." Near speakers apply IP ratings for ruggedness, just Polk lists a dissimilar set of certifications: ASTM D5894-UV Salt Fog, Mil Standard 810 Immersion and Mil Standard 883 for salt and corrosion. That all ways these speakers should handle the elements well. Polk does say that they will final longer if yous place them where they will receive less exposure to the elements.

Polk Atrium 4 review: Setup

Since the Atrium 4 aren't powered, you'll demand a receiver or amp to drive the audio, connected to the speakers with wires. A home theater receiver with a separate zone is a common way to provide power to outdoor speakers.

(Image credit: Polk Audio)

On the back are terminals for speaker wires, which are easy to access. However, the Atrium 4 doesn't back up banana plugs.

(Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

The Atrium 4 are designed to be mounted vertically or horizontally. To mount the speaker, screw the bracket to a wall, then attach the speaker past screwing the bracket knobs to both ends of the speaker. In that location'due south a hole in the subclass to thread the speaker wire through. You can then conform the angle of the speaker for the best sound in your space.

Polk Atrium 4 review: Verdict

If you want wired speakers to bring sound to your outdoor space, the Polk Atrium 4 are an excellent choice. They produce very adept sound for a relatively small-scale speaker, and the modest size allows you options in where you place them. They're built to terminal and withstand the elements.

If you don't want to spend $169 on a pair of outdoor speakers, the Yamaha NS-AW150W sound nearly every bit good and only cost about $100. They are slightly bigger, though. And if price and size are no issue, the Klipsch AW-650 volition produce better bass. But for the cost, the Atrium 4 can't be trounce.

Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Tom's Guide. He's written near music and engineering science for more than 20 years for a raft of publications including Wired, Men's Journal, PC World and Macworld. When he'due south not reviewing speakers, he'due south probably listening to one anyway.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/polk-atrium-4

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