Polk Atrium 4 review

Our Verdict

Polk Atrium iv set the standard for wired outdoor speakers with a wide, counterbalanced audio for under $200.

For

Big, well-baked soundstage
Rugged
Relatively small size

Tom's Guide Verdict

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

Pros

+
Large, crisp soundstage
+
Rugged
+
Relatively minor size

Polk Atrium four: Specs

Size: eight.6 x six.7 x 5.vii inches
Speakers: iv.five-inch commuter, 0.75-inch tweeter
Weather resistance: ASTM D5894-UV Table salt Fog, Mil Standard 810 Immersion and Mil Standard 883 for salt and corrosion.

When you want wired outdoor speakers to bring audio to your porch or deck, the Polk Atrium 4 are the best mix of sound and size. A pair costs less than $200, and y'all get a broad, total sound. While they don't have much bass, they produce more depression end than other outdoor speakers of like size. The relatively small speakers give yous flexibility in where you place them and won't boss your view. Add information technology all up, and the Atrium four are hard to beat.

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

Our picks for best outdoor speakers
Cheque out the best bluetooth speakers

Polk Atrium 4: Toll and Availability

The Polk Atrium four speakers take been bachelor for a long time — since 2005, according to its Amazon listing. The list price is $199 and they are currently available on Amazon for $169 for the pair.

Polk too makes the Atrium five, which are slightly larger and cost $249 per pair on Amazon, as well every bit the Atrium 6, larger nevertheless, for $349 per pair.

Polk Atrium iv review: Design

The Atrium 4 features a more rounded blueprint than many bookshelf-way speakers; that probable helps contribute to the broad sound they produce. The eight.6 x 6.vii x v.vii-inch units are smaller than many outdoor wired speakers, besides. Within, the speakers have a 4.5-inch driver and 0.75-inch tweeter. Available in black or white, the hard plastic case has a perforated grill to permit sound out, and await to exist able to withstand some abuse.

Polk Atrium 4 review — (Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

The speakers come with a swivel mount for hanging, and yous can move them 180 degrees. You tin can also remove the mount if you want to place them on a table or stand.

Polk Atrium four review: Functioning

The Atrium 4s evangelize a wide, balanced sound that should make most people happy in an outdoor setting. Vocals are clear, and instruments audio warm and realistic. The bass won't shake the walls, but yous can even so detect the groove.

Billie Eilish's singing was full and easy to hear even in a higher place the bombastic guitars and keyboards on "Happier Than E'er." The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" sounded large and full, from his singing to the instruments — though the thumping drums lacked a bit of oomph. The acoustic guitars on Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Again" were well-baked and warm.

The Atrium 4 tin get impressively loud. At 95 decibels the audio was a scrap harsh only not distorted. They sounded more balanced nether xc decibels.

Polk Atrium iv review: Ruggedness

Polk says the Atrium four are "all-weather outdoor certified." Well-nigh speakers use IP ratings for ruggedness, just Polk lists a unlike fix of certifications: ASTM D5894-UV Salt Fog, Mil Standard 810 Immersion and Mil Standard 883 for common salt and corrosion. That all means these speakers should handle the elements well. Polk does say that they will last longer if yous place them where they volition receive less exposure to the elements.

Polk Atrium 4 review: Setup

Since the Atrium 4 aren't powered, you lot'll need 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 manner to provide ability to outdoor speakers.

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

The Atrium four are designed to be mounted vertically or horizontally. To mount the speaker, spiral the subclass to a wall, then attach the speaker by screwing the bracket knobs to both ends of the speaker. In that location's a hole in the subclass to thread the speaker wire through. Y'all can then adjust the angle of the speaker for the all-time sound in your space.

Polk Atrium four 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 proficient sound for a relatively small-scale speaker, and the modest size allows you options in where you lot place them. They're built to last and withstand the elements.

If you don't desire to spend $169 on a pair of outdoor speakers, the Yamaha NS-AW150W sound nearly equally proficient 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. Simply for the price, the Atrium 4 can't be beat.

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