- HK Audio places the POLAR 15 MK2 at the top of its POLAR MK2 series: an active column system whose cabinet houses a 15-inch woofer.
- It serves mobile DJs, bands with drums, and solo artists who want solid bass all night long, up to 130 dB SPL peak.
- Everything plugs directly into it: a 4-channel mixer with two mic/line inputs with phantom power, one instrument input, and an auxiliary RCA or Bluetooth channel.
- The column switches to aluminum, the cabinet gets an M20 thread for a lighting bar, and two POLAR MK2 units can be paired in wireless stereo.
Until now, the POLAR MK2 series from HK Audio included three cabinet sizes: the POLAR 8 MK2, the POLAR 10 MK2, and the POLAR 12 MK2. The large format was missing, the one you bring out when the kick drum needs to be felt in your chest. Here it is.
The HK Audio POLAR 15 MK2 mounts a 15-inch woofer in a larger plywood cabinet and leads the range. The principle remains the same: a sound column that assembles in a few moves, an integrated mixer, accessible controls. The novelty lies in the low-end reserve of the spectrum and a completely redesigned mechanism between the elements. A lighting bar screwed onto the cabinet, a smartphone via Bluetooth, two mics: the whole night fits on one machine.
The system consists of three elements: a bass cabinet, a spacer element, and a mid-high unit. The column slots onto the cabinet, and the whole stands just over 2.13 meters tall.
The box also contains a column bag and a cabinet cover. Transport is planned from the start, with no accessories to add to protect everything between gigs.
Specifications - HK Audio POLAR 15 MK2
| Type | Active column sound system |
|---|---|
| Elements | 1 bass cabinet · 1 spacer element · 1 mid-high unit |
| Bass | 15-inch speaker, plywood cabinet |
| Mid-high | 6 x 3" neodymium magnet speakers · 1" tweeter on constant directivity horn |
| Power | 2000 W peak |
| Max level | 130 dB SPL peak |
| Frequency response (-10 dB) | 35 Hz - 20 kHz |
| Dispersion (H x V) | 120° x 30° |
| Mixer | 4 channels |
| Inputs | 2 x XLR/jack mic/line High impedance instrument Stereo RCA Bluetooth 5.0 TWS |
| Output | XLR mix out |
| DSP | Music, Voice and DJ modes · 3-band EQ, semi-parametric mids · 5 user presets · Delay adjustment |
| USB-C | Charge only (5 V, 0.9 A) |
| Mounting | M20 FlexMount thread |
| Power supply | 100 - 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, IEC connector |
| Dimensions | 451 x 594 x 2136 mm |
| Weight | 38.1 kg |
| Included | Column bag · Cabinet cover |
| Verdict |
Pros
Worth noting
|
What the 15-inch cabinet changes on the POLAR 15 MK2
A 15-inch speaker moves more air, and the cabinet around it has been sized accordingly. HK Audio announces a response down to 35 Hz and a level of 130 dB SPL peak, with 2000 W peak amplification. On a house set or a wedding DJ set, this is the zone where the kick drum and bass line live.
The cabinet is built in wood to resist twisting. A cabinet that does not deform under pressure keeps a clear and defined bass, without trailing. For a band with drums, the electric bass and kick each keep their place, instead of blending into a bass mass.
The "-10 dB" frequency response indicates how far the system goes before the level drops by 10 dB: at 35 Hz, the bass is still audible and useful. The "peak" level measures the peak reached on a brief transient, a kick drum hit for example, not the volume held continuously.
And if the room demands more, the system accepts one or two additional cabinets. HK Audio cites the PORTABLE SUB 115 A and the PORTABLE SUB 118 A to further reinforce the bass when the crowd grows or the dancefloor stretches out.
A column PA that plugs in without an external console
The built-in mixer has four channels. The first two are mic/line inputs on combined XLR/jack connectors, each with its own gain. A switchable phantom power supplies the current condenser mics need to operate.
The third channel is a high-impedance instrument input: you plug a guitar directly in, no direct box needed. The fourth combines the stereo RCA input and Bluetooth audio, for a player, turntable, or intermission playlist. A voice and guitar duo accompanied by a cajon miked up fits on these four channels, no mixing desk needed beside it.
For DJs, a DJ controller connects to the RCA input, and the mic channel remains free for announcements. An XLR mix out sends the mix to a second system or a recorder.
The DSP and its memories
Settings are handled via a Push-to-Edit control (a button you turn and press), an LCD screen, and level indicators. The DSP, the processor that handles the sound internally, offers three modes: Music, Voice, and DJ. The three-band equalizer features semi-parametric mids, which means you choose the frequency you adjust, not just the amount.
The five user presets are best filled before the first gig: one setting for the DJ set, one for speaking, one for the acoustic duo. On the day, you recall the right one with two presses instead of redoing the EQ during soundcheck.
Aluminum column and M20 FlexMount: installing the POLAR 15 MK2
This generation adopts a low-resonance aluminum profile column. A rigid profile vibrates less with the music, and voices as well as instruments remain clear. The mid-high section lines up six 3-inch neodymium magnet speakers and a 1-inch constant directivity horn tweeter.
The mechanical connection between elements has been completely redesigned, with updated connectors. The MultiGrip handles make it easier to grip when loading and setting up.
The M20 FlexMount thread is the most practical addition for everyday use. It accepts, directly on the cabinet, a bar for compact lights or other stage accessories. One less lighting stand next to the system means one less floor footprint and a clearer stage.
Audience coverage and remote monitor
Dispersion reaches 120 degrees horizontally and 30 vertically. The audience spreads widely in front of the column without losing intelligibility on the sides. For a conference or seated audience, the column is used without its spacer element: the sound source drops to ear level.
The delay setting opens another use. Placed at the back of the room, the POLAR 15 MK2 can serve as a remote monitor: the delay slightly postpones its signal so it arrives simultaneously with the main system’s sound, and the audience at the back hears a single sound instead of an echo.
Bluetooth TWS and transport, the daily life of the column system
Bluetooth 5.0 supports TWS (True Wireless Stereo) pairing: two POLAR MK2 systems then broadcast a stereo stream from a smartphone or tablet, with no cable between them. Handy for cocktail background music, with a column on each side of the room.
The USB-C port is only for charging, at 5 V and 0.9 A. It powers a smartphone, tablet, or the receiver of a wireless microphone with a rechargeable battery during the evening.
On the road, the system weighs 38.1 kg and breaks down into three elements, which lightens each trip between vehicle and stage. The supplied column bag and cabinet cover protect everything from transport shocks.
Before choosing your POLAR MK2 size, start with the program you play most often. When the kick drum and bass carry the night, on a DJ set or a band with drums, the 15-inch cabinet of the POLAR 15 MK2 provides the reserve you need. Also consider ceiling height: fully assembled, the system measures 2.136 m.
FAQ - HK Audio POLAR 15 MK2
Does the POLAR 15 MK2 need an additional subwoofer?
No, it already includes a 15-inch woofer cabinet. To further boost the bass, HK Audio plans to add one or two PORTABLE SUB 115 A or 118 A cabinets.
How many microphones can you connect to the POLAR 15 MK2?
Two, on the combined XLR/jack mic/line inputs. Each has its own gain, and a switchable phantom power allows use of condenser microphones.
Can you plug a guitar in directly?
Yes, the third channel is a high-impedance instrument input, which accepts a guitar without a direct box.
Does the POLAR 15 MK2’s Bluetooth work in stereo?
Yes, with TWS pairing, two POLAR MK2 systems broadcast a stereo stream from a smartphone or tablet.
Is the USB-C port used to play music?
No, it is only for charging (5 V, 0.9 A): smartphone, tablet, or wireless microphone receiver.
Can you use it for a conference?
Yes. Without the spacer element, the column drops to ear level for a seated audience, and the DSP’s Voice mode adapts the sound for speech.
15-inch woofer, full mixer, aluminum column, and lighting mount: the POLAR 15 MK2 combines in one machine what a DJ night, a band concert, or a solo gig demands from a column PA. The rest depends on your gigs: a second POLAR MK2 for wireless stereo, or a PORTABLE SUB cabinet for nights when the dancefloor wants more.
