Polk Audio Atrium 4 Review - What You Need To Know
Introduction
Outdoor speakers are all the rage this summer, especially since the events of 2020 when utilizing outdoor space became a feature in many households. Over the years, one company has consistently led the way in the market. Polk Audio. The Polk Audio Atrium 4 is undoubtedly one of the most popular outdoor speakers you can buy. There’s a reason for this and let’s discuss it in this review. I have owned them for the past six months and couldn’t be happier.
Updates: This Article was Updated in October, 2022 to add pricing information.
Polk Audio Atrium 4 Specification
Orientation - Horizontal & Vertical
Dimensions - Height 21.91cm - Width 14.45cm - Depth16.99cm
Weight - 1.63 kg
Frequency Response - 75 Hz → 25,000 Hz
Impedance - 8 ohms Sensitivity (1 watt @ 1 meter) 89dB
Mounting Type - 180° Speed-Lock with rotating pivot for directing sound
Inputs - Channel
Build Quality and Design
The Atrium 4 is a very understated set of speakers designed not to draw much attention. Most people mount them high in corners or near where a ceiling meets the wall to keep them out of the line of sight. The speakers don’t scream, look at me and instead just look like reasonably regular speakers with grills and bodies.
The integrated mounting bar that runs around the speaker differentiates them from a bookshelf speaker. It’s well made with a hefty chunk of metal and smooth pivots, allowing you to direct your audio. Of course, the speakers can be mounted horizontally or vertically.
I chose to install them in an outdoor seating area and wend with the horizontal mounting style so I could angle the audio towards where we sit. The one gripe I have about this is that the logo is mounted in a vertical position. I wish Polk had forgone a front-facing logo to avoid this.
The mounting bars have a feature Polk calls the speed lock, which is why I bought them. You have to tighten and adjust the speaker direction with many speakers using a screwdriver or wrench. Polk’s system is a large knob that you can loosen and tighten. I found this was one of the easiest methods I have encountered for directing my speakers.
When it comes to the build quality, the speakers are rock solid. Really quite impressive when you consider how cheap you can find them for sale (hint amazon and other retailers regularly sell the Atrium 4 speakers for well under the Polk Websites RRP).
The back is a dense, thick plastic that will be hard-wearing and has been resistant to fading despite one of the speakers being in direct sunlight for half the day. The front is a sturdy metal grille that protects the drivers beneath.
Honestly, build quality is top-notch and probably why Polk backs the Atrium 4 with an outstanding 5-year warranty. It’s not a luxury build, but it’s a ruggedized design meant to take a beating in outdoor environments.
Polk doesn’t claim the speakers are waterproof, instead insisting they are weatherproof, and after many rainy days here in the UK, I have never had an issue.
Polk Atrium 4 - Sound Quality
The speakers are definitely impressed with their performance in the sound quality department. My requirements for an outdoor speaker are undoubtedly different from my HiFi setups inside. For this purpose, I want good bass and low distortion at high volume. Detail retrieval is not a priority outdoors because you have no absolute control over the amount of ambient noise and other environmental factors.
With that said, the Polk delivered the goods in spades. Bumping bass and clean mids were in abundance. The bass, with a surprising ability to deliver sub-bass impact without the presence of a dedicated subwoofer, was a relief. The speed was also good for keeping up on fast tracks and rarely bleeding into the midrange.
Mids are smooth and clear with a tone of warmth over them that makes the music sound great, although not always faithful to the source. I preferred this because a warmer sound in such an environment creates a more intimate environment than cold reference-like signatures.
The highs Polk played really safe. They kept everything subdued and sat back from the mids and highs. There is no sibilance but also no sparkle. If you consider yourself a treble head, I would suggest using a custom EQ setting to bring things forward a touch.
We don't have to look far when we consider pairing the Atrium 4 with a source. These speakers are ridiculously easy to drive, and you certainly don’t have to break the bank to do so. I was initially considering hooking them up to my house’s internal system before I stumbled across a recommendation to use them with this small wireless amplifier from Fosi Audio. It’s a small yet powerful little device, and I love the inbuild sound adjustment pots; it’s not waterproof, though, so this needs to be mounted somewhere dry. I choose to attach it under the armrest of my seat using some 3m dual lock.
Polk Audio Atrium 4 Outdoor Speaker Review Conclusion
I knew these speakers would be what I needed before going into the purchase but what surprised me was how much enjoyment I got from them. Having always just made do with a portable Bluetooth speaker, it’s nice to have something more premium to listen to when outside. In fact, since installing the Atrium 4, I find myself more likely to use my outdoor space. The speakers are excellent, well made, strong sounding, and with a fantastic 5-year warranty backing them up. For the price, I think they are almost unbeatable.
Official Website: www.polkaudio.com/en-us/product/outdoor-speakers/atrium4
