Polk Audio EX501a

Price Paid:  $40.00

Strengths:
Highs are crisp and clear

Weaknesses:
Speakers distort easily with low frequencies. Using a 125Hz high pass filter, the sound quality is good. The speakers don't seem very loud considering the high sensitivity rating.

Summary:
I bought these speakers and the Polk EX692 for my '93 Honda Accord EX because these are the only thing that did not require installation modifications. I paid $120 for the EX692 speakers and got these at half price. For $180 in the four speakers, the sound is acceptable, but not what I expected. If something else fit my car without requiring special mounting arrangements, I would return them. I am powering them with a 22.5 watt RMS Pioneer DEH-P5200, so I may add an amp to see if the sound quality improves.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer

Year / Model Reviewed:
 In a Volvo 760 Turbo

Strengths:
Crisp, clean sound. Above Average Highs. Nice 5'' size to fit many cars with odd speaker openings.

Weaknesses:
Bass isn't very strong.

Summary:
Paid $80 with all the installation stuff, including speaker wires that weren't needed. I'd reccomend these speakers if you want crisp replacements for your old ones. Don't get these speakers if you expect tons of rich bass or mids though.

Similar Products Used:
Factory Speakers, Blaupunkt 4'' Coaxial 2 ways. Polks are much better!

Year / Model Reviewed:
 1999

Strengths:
Clear crisp sound, but not excessively bright.

Weaknesses:
NO bass whatsoever, and even weak in lower midrange. Sensitivity per watt seems lower than advertised.

Summary:
Make sure you have enough bass coming from elsewhere in the system before getting this speaker. I got it basically because the car has a wierd 5" original slot and didn't want to deal with modifications. The Polks are rated for 92db/1m/w sensivity but I find that hard to believe since I have to turn the fader much to where they are, I doubt the original pioneer speakers had a sensitivity of 94 or more. If I had to do it again I would probably get different speakers with lower extension and better sensitivity but the same clarity and make modifications to fit a more standard 5.25" speaker. I paid around $60 for the pair, so I consider them a decent value despite the above.

Similar Products Used:
There was a stock pioneer in there before, one of which had blown (hence the new speakers) The one that still worked had a fuller lower midrange, but even though it was a 2-way the muddiness of the sound makes the polk sound like crystal by comparison