The Monitor Series brings classic Polk Audio sound and quality to the masses at affordable prices, and we recently got our hands on a full home theater setup to evaluate. Our system consisted of a pair of Monitor 60 towers, a pair of Monitor 30 bookshelf speakers for the rear surround satellites, a CS2 center channel and a PSW125 powered subwoofer. All of these speakers are sold separately, and they are all readily available at major retailers throughout the United States.

The Monitor Series is anchored by a pair of Monitor 60 towers, which stand over 3 feet high and weigh 31 pounds each. Each slender tower contains three woofers that measure 5-1/4 inches in diameter. The white Bi-Laminate Composite Dynamic Balance Drivers provide a low-distortion, tight bass. A titanium-colored 1-inch Fabric/Polymer Composite Dynamic Balance Dome Tweeter rounds out the high-end duties. The Monitor 60 also includes a front-firing bass port.

The Monitor 30 bookshelf speakers are well suited for surround-sound duties. Each Monitor 30 contains a 1-inch cloth dome tweeter and a 5-1/4-inch Bi-Laminate Composite Dynamic Balance driver. The tweeter is mounted underneath the woofer, and there is a tuned bass port on the rear. Both the Monitor 30 and 60 speakers sport high-quality, five-way binding posts that allow bi-wiring and bi-amping.

The CS2 center-channel speaker weighs in at 17 pounds and measures over 21 inches in width. It has a 1-inch cloth dome tweeter and a pair of Bi-Laminate Composite Dynamic Balance drivers. It also has a tuned bass port on the rear. As is the case with the Monitor 60 and 30, a titanium faceplate beneath the black cloth grill gives the traditionally styled CS2 a modern feel.

At the heart of the PSW125 subwoofer is a 150-watt internal amplifier driving a 12-inch Dynamic Balance composite woofer. The driver is mounted on the front panel and is complemented by a downward-firing port. The rear panel provides line- and speaker-level inputs, as well as an adjustable low-pass crossover, phase switch and volume control. The PSW125 also has automatic on/off circuitry that powers the unit up when it senses a signal.

While we loved the overall look and build of the Monitor Series, the cherry vinyl laminate was of poor quality and looked cheap up close. However, once we started listening to multichannel music and movies, we realized that the finish was just about our only complaint. The system is highly efficient, and you will have no problem powering it with an entry-level home theater receiver. The voice-matched speakers provided excellent tonal balance throughout our listening tests, and dialogue in movies was crisp and clear. The PSW125 provided plenty of rumble during action sequences, and it rounded out the bottom end nicely in musical selections.

Polk Audio has produced quality loudspeakers for years, and the Monitor Series comes at a price point that will be attractive to many consumers. If you find yourself in a big-box store purchasing a new plasma or LCD TV, the Polk Audio Monitor Series would be a perfect compliment.

The Monitor 60 towers have an MSRP of $649.95 per pair, while the CS2 center channel has a suggested price of $349.95. The Monitor 30 satellites are a suggested $239.95 per pair, and the PSW125 subwoofer has an MSRP of $399.95.


Pros:  Excellent sound quality for the money, affordable and impressive system
Cons:  Cherry laminate looks and feels cheap

Warranty
3 years, subwoofer amplifier; 5 years, speakers