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A salty bead of sweat trickles down your cheek and runs into the corner of your mouth. You tighten your hand on your machete and hack through the next swath of jungle foliage. All around you hear the buzz of insects, the distant chattering of monkeys. You are close, now. You can feel it. This is actually quite remarkable, given that you are presently nestled in the soft, fat arms of your recliner. But it is easy to get caught up in the moment with a home theater speaker system like the Blackstone TL1600 from Polk Audio. The 5.1 package includes four small satellite speakers, a center-channel speaker and a subwoofer that work together to create immersive surround sound. Polk Audio really delivers by putting an emphasis on design and craftsmanship. For superior audio performance and excellent design, this home theater speaker system is our TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award winner.
Unlike certain competitors, Polk Audio is very upfront about the stats and capabilities of their systems. That's because they have nothing to hide, and this surround sound system is no exception. Here's a quick look at the specs:
- Frequency range: 40-22,000 Hz
- Power range: 10-125 watts
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Sensitivity: 89 dB
- Crossover range: 80-160 Hz
Bass fanatics may feel somewhat underwhelmed by the 40-22,000 Hz, but the subwoofer redeems itself with an exceptionally well-blended sound. You won't think about how low the subwoofer can go when you are watching a good movie. You won't even remember the subwoofer is there. And that is exactly how a subwoofer should be in order to maximize immersion. On the other side of the coin, these home theater speakers can tweet with clarity and precision.
You wouldn't tramp through the jungle armed with a butter knife. You need something sharp but strong, something with finesse. The folks at Polk Audio will send you out well equipped for anything you may encounter. Like a well-balanced blade, the Blackstone is the product of careful engineering and design. It reflects a level of attention and expertise that big-name electronics manufacturers simply cannot provide.
Each satellite speaker sports a 0.5" silk dome tweeter and a larger 2.5" midrange driver with an injection-molded diaphragm, in keeping with Polk's pledge to quality (cheaper home theater systems may use paper or other materials that can be damaged by humidity). To improve clarity and imaging, Polk has implemented what they call "Time Lens Technology." This configuration claims to align sound waves from the tweeter and mid-range speakers to reach your ear at the same time. All of this is tucked away inside glossy black enclosures molded from a high-density resin that resists vibration. An opening in the back, known as a rear port, allows the speakers blend better with the subwoofer. Despite their small stature, these speakers have a nice hefty feel to them. They certainly won't tip over unbidden.
The center speaker has all the features of the satellites, along with the welcome addition of another mid-range driver. Naturally, the extra driver makes the speaker larger over all, but that is actually a good thing in this case. The center channel plays an essential role in the 5.1 home theater configuration, and the extra speaker is much needed. It bears the responsibility of projecting all the spoken dialogue and on-screen action. The center channel is the kingpin of the whole system and brings together the video image on screen with all the surround sound speakers. For an optimal audio experience, it should sit directly under the TV, facing the viewer.
To fulfill your bass needs, this home theater speaker system comes with a 12.5" by 14" by 13.4" powered subwoofer with an 8" down-firing driver. Unlike the satellite and center channel speakers, the subwoofer has no magnetic shielding, so don't place it too close to your television. Subwoofers typically sound best on the floor, at least six inches from the wall, so this should not cause any real problems.
After all that research and engineering, somehow the manufacturers still found a way to make the Blackstone TL1600 a beautiful home theater speaker system. It's small. It's stylish. If the Spouse Approval Factor has barred you from getting the hi-fi surround sound system you have been craving, this package just might be your chance.
These speakers sound great. In our sound test, we found them to produce the clearest, crunchiest sound of any system in the same price range. Like any other 5.1 home theater speaker set, this system probably isn't ideal for large rooms, but in a mid-sized to small room you can expect fantastic quality with a great sound stage. All the technological innovations seem to deliver exactly what they claim; great imaging, tonality and consistency. These speakers may even have you wondering if the sounds are actually real. Get used to looking back over your shoulder.
If you have a palette for hi-fi audio, we fully expect you will find the sound quality every bit as scintillating as we did. If you are looking for a great entry-level home theater speaker set, this system is an excellent bet.