Polk i-Sonic Entertainment System
Polk I-Sonic Entertainment System
Sound Buys Product Review By Don Lindich
Polk Audio’s I-Sonic is the latest and most ambitious entry into the burgeoning premium table radio category, started by the Bose Wave Radio years ago and now occupied with competitors from Cambridge SoundWorks and Boston Acoustics, among others. Other than being a compact system with a disc player, the I-Sonic shares little in common with them. The I-Sonic’s feature set and performance stand out dramatically, albeit at a higher price than its competitors.
The I-Sonic is a compact system about 15 inches wide, ten inches deep and five inches high. It’s a very attractive piece of industrial design, and with a few less buttons it would almost pass off as a Bang & Olufsen product. A remote control is included and a row of buttons across the top navigate through the menus, with the functionality of the buttons changing according to the feature you are using. Labels appear on the LCD screen beneath the buttons, making navigation through menus logical, quick and easy. Internal speakers in the front and rear of the unit provide a mix of direct and reflected sound to the listener. An input allows you to connect your cable or satellite box for enjoying the I-Sonic’s fine sound with television programming.
Features is where the I-Sonic starts to pull away from the competition. Most competitors have a CD player. The I-Sonic has a DVD player which plays DVDs, MP3 Discs, Video & Picture CDs, allowing it to serve as a complete entertainment system when paired with a televsion. Unfortunately, the DVD player is not progressive scan nor does it have a digital output, which means HDTV users won’t get the last bit of picture quality out of their sets, and the I-Sonic does not have a simulated surround mode such as those offered by units such as the Soundmatters MAINstage. More on this later.
Radio fans will enjoy AM/FM Radio, XM Satellite Radio (with a subscription), and HD Radio. A port is provided for connecting your iPod, as is a headphone jack for personal listening. Dual alarms round out the impressive feature set- the best in the industry.
Performance in this niche means sound quality- why else would one pay $300 or more for what in most cases amounts to an alarm clock with a radio and CD player? In this regard, the I-Sonic delivers beyond expectations. High quality speakers, clean amplification and advanced digital sound processing delivers sound that is neutral, clear, and exceptionally sweet. During the review period I used the I-Sonic as my alarm clock and more than once I thought to myself as I was waking, “waking up isn’t so bad when you are waking to music that beautiful-sounding.” It got my days off to a good start! DVDs played on the I-Sonic revealed nuances I had not heard on some more expensive home theater systems, and having XM and HD Radio gave one extra pleasure as well as the satisfaction of knowing you were enjoying the best product of its type on the market. The easy menu system and buttons made changing features and functions pleasant, not an exercise in frustration so often found in small electronics.
Criticisms are few. My review sample had some trouble reading scratched DVDs that played well on some stand-alone players. Polk suspects this problem was specific to my unit and is exchanging it so I can verify that it was an isolated incident. A surround option would be nice for those using their I-Sonic with a televison, as well as progressive scan from the DVD player. Finally, a less expensive Radio/CD version would be nice for those who want to enjoy the I-Sonic’s great sound without the other features. For now, Polk wanted the undisputed top spot in the market, and they clearly achieved it.
The Polk Audio I-Sonic currently sells for $549 after a $50 rebate. Compared to the $499 Bose, it is an an extremely easy call to spend the extra $50 to get the I-Sonic’s superior sound, a DVD player, HD Radio, and XM Satellite Radio. You can see the I-Sonic at http://www.polkaudio.com or isonic.polkaudio.com.
