Polk Audio Atrium 5 Review: Compact Speakers For Your Patio

Oliver Campbell | October 29, 2024

The Polk Audio Atrium 5 is the smaller variant of the popular Atrium 6. For those operating with smaller space availability or limited budget, the Atrium 5 carries the same high quality that you’d expect from the Atrium series but at a slightly more affordable price point and a bit more modest performance.

The tweeter phase cap has a new design that smoothes the frequency response.  A speed-lock mounting system allows for safe installations in difficult home areas.

Polk Audio has a good reputation in how they manufacture their products and is often considered one of the best consumer home speakers manufacturers when it comes to offering value for money.

The bass response on the speaker is powerful and tight without getting in the way of the other tones. The mid-range response is what you’d expect from the Atrium series quality, as are the highs, thanks to the quality tweeter design.

Noteworthy Features:

  • Robust Construction
  • Sealed Speaker
  • Waterproof Cones
  • Convenient Mounting Brackets
  • Lightweight
  • Perfect Sound
  • Dynamic Range
  • Great Sound Response

Polk Audio Atrium Series

If you are in search of a patio speaker that offers reliability and flexibility, the Polk Audio Atrium 5 is a solid choice. Because they are slightly smaller than the rest of the Atrium series, they can be installed in smaller areas where you may have trouble fitting something like the Polk Atrium 6 or Atrium 8.

The Atrium Series was first introduced to the market in 2002 and was made for a mid-range budget. As with most patio speakers, these are very weather-resistant, but we recommend installing patio speakers under some kind of protective eaves.

The Components of the Speaker

The tweeters within these speakers are made up of Anodized Aluminum. Rubber surrounds within this product provide a very smooth, high-end tone. Listeners can hear the highs and the lows clearly – and it provides a very realistic reproduction of audio, particularly for an outdoor speaker. The tweeters have also been designed to have a smooth frequency response, even at the high end.

The Aerated Polypropylene Cones ensure that the quality of the Atrium 5 is in line with industry standards.

The dynamics are extremely balanced. This ensures a great performance as it eliminates the artifacts that often come from the tweeter and the driver. You’ll obtain a very realistic reproduction of sound at any volume level.

The speed lock mounting system on these speakers makes for a smooth and easy installation, regardless of the location. There aren’t as many parts to worry about. All that you have to do is mount the brackets and then click the speakers into place. The aluminum, brass, and stainless steel also prevent rust from ruining the exterior.

The PowerPort Bass Venting on this speaker set is water resistant. You can feel the music when it begins to play; it sounds extremely realistic, which is why it’s great for entertaining guests. Depending on your preference, you can also purchase the Atrium 5 in white or black.

Overall, I find that the Atrium 5 remains a great patio speaker for the casual listener or someone with a limited budget. When paired with a good amplifier, the Atrium series produces some great quality sound.

If you’re looking for volume and have the space to spare, we would recommend going with the larger Atrium 8, though even the Atrium 6 offers slightly improved performance, particularly in the lower end, and is just a bit larger.

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Author: Oliver Campbell

Oliver is an audiophile at heart who has been writing for Outeraudio and other related publications for almost a decade. He loves gadgets, street-cafes, doing a bit of DJing by invitation, and playing the saxophone whenever he has the opportunity.

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Originally Published: August 1, 2022

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