Polk Audio Monitor 30 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Cherry)

by Polk Audio

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 21 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0009WUE1E
• Item model number: AM3022-A
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,025 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #55 in Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Stereo Components > Speakers > Bookshelf Speakers

Product Description

Color: Cherry

From the Manufacturer

The Polk Audio Monitor 30 2-way Bookshelf Speaker is a quality-built yet affordable, high-performance loudspeaker for music and home theater. The Polk Monitor 30 provides open, spacious and clear audio even when driven by modestly-powered amplifiers and receivers, and is voice matched for lifelike surround-sound environments. This monitor boasts a stylish look that complements today's flat screen technology, with a fashionable cherry finish, and built-in keyhole wall mounting brackets for strong, secure on-wall mounting with no added brackets to buy.

The Polk Monitor 30 utilizes a one-inch silk and polymer-composite dynamic-balance dome tweeter with a powerful neodymium magnet structure that delivers a clear and detailed high frequency response for realistic reproduction of vocals and instruments, as well as a 5.25-inch bi-laminate composite dynamic-balance driver that is lightweight and stiff with good dampening for high efficiency, excellent bass and lower distortion. This unit's non-resonant all-MDF enclosure construction with 0.75-inch-thick baffles ensures cleaner and more lifelike sound quality. The Monitor 30 features crossovers that use Mylar bypass capacitors for more detailed high frequencies, five-way binding-post connectors for more secure hook-up options and bi-wiring and bi-amping flexibility, and magnetic shielding for safe placement on or near TVs and video monitors without causing video distortion. This unit includes a critically-tuned flared port that minimizes port noise for good low-frequency extension with minimal distortion, resulting in natural, full-bodied and rich-bass sound. Built for speed, sound and value, the Polk Monitor 30 is a great introduction to high-performance sound.

Product Description

Back in the 1970's, Polk's Monitor speaker series put Polk Audio on the map. Universally acclaimed by audio critics, the Monitor series became known as an acoustically transparent speaker - a concept that audiophiles search for - with beautifully accurate sound reproduction. Here we are, nearly 2 generations later, and the Monitor is being re-introduced so you can experience this great sound fresh and new. Dual Five-Way Binding Post Connectors, allowing for more secure hook-up options, as well as bi-wiring and bi-amping flexibility Monitor Series speakers are modern living accessories that make a stylish statement in Cherry wood grain finish, with Titanium faces Magnetically shielded for safe placement on or near TVs and video monitors with no risk of video distortion Built-in keyhole wall mounting brackets for strong, secure on-wall mounting with no added brackets to buy. Critically Tuned Flared Port minimizes port noise ( chuffing ) for good low frequency extension with low distortion, resulting in natural, full-bodied sound with rich bass Cabinet Size 11 H x 7 W x 8-3/8 D (27.94cm H x 17.78cm W x 21.27cm D) Mounting Options on-wall with built-iin key hole slot Enclosure Type Vented via rear panel flared port Each speaker weighs 9 pounds 2 Speakers in package for left and right channel stereo or for front or rear channel in home-theater mode Cherry Finish

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good All Purpose Bargain Speaker, May 4, 2009

By 

Under the Influence (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Polk Audio Monitor 30 AM3025-A 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Black) (Electronics)

First, don't be mislead by the price. The Polk Monitor 30 has great potenial and a huge bargain at its close out price (replaced by TSi series which is nearly identical). A bookshelf with depth, both in that it protrudes twelve inches from front to rear when placed on a wall, and, also, provides ample bass for its stature. It matches well with Polk's CS1 or CS10 center channel speaker for surround systems as a front and surround channel, or can be paired with the larger M40 bookshelf, or M50 and M60 towers as a surround speaker. It should be able to outperform most satellite speaker systems, but will stand out prominently from the wall when hung from it's bracket. On opposite end of the hanging bracket, short legs keep the speaker evenly spaced from the wall and allow the rear port to breathe.

Since both Polk's Monitor/TSi bookshelf and center channel speakers provide ample levels of bass (55Hz), it offers more flexibility when used with a subwoofer than small satellite speakers. Subwoofer crossover can be set lower allowing the sub to handle the lower frequencies with more detail. While crossover with a satellite speaker generally should be set no lower than the 120-150Hz area, which is at the uppermost range of most subwoofers, the M30 can easily be adjusted down to the 60-80Hz area. Of course the extra speaker size can take more power and produce more volume than satellites, as well.

However, for front channel use the Monitor has limitations. For mid size rooms the Monitor 30 is a bit small as a front channel and noticeably lacking in bass detail no matter what the room dimension. There are bookshelfs that use larger mid/woofer drivers or at least two 5 inch drivers (and one tweeter) that can produce quite a bit more detail and volume in the lower frequencies. However, you'll have to spend at least $300 for such a pair that match the clarity and quality design of the Monitor 30. The other option is to purchase the Monitors for $100 and spend an additional $100-200 on a subwoofer to have even greater range than the larger bookshelfs.

I use four Monitor 30's as surround and rear channels in a fairly spacious room (16x24 & vaulted ceiling) with Polk Monitor 60 towers and CS1 in the front. Though the 30's are much closer to the listener than the fronts, the levels must be adjusted a couple of decibels higher to make surround effects really come out. In fairness, the front channels employ eight 5.25" drivers versus only two to four drivers depending on 5.1 or 7.1 soundtrack. While listening to music, I prefer using Dolby ProLogicIIx (7.1 surround), rather than two channel stereo. Since the Monitor 30's match so seamlessly with the other speakers, the soundstage is opened up and less volume is needed.

Again, don't let the price fool you. There are many steeply priced speakers using same size drivers that will only marginally outperform and sometimes underperform the Monitor 30. The Dynaudio 52SE for example, costing around $1,000, when tested by Audioholics produced great lower bass until it bottomed out due to lack of internal bracing and overall driver design. When given time to break-in, matched appropriately with other speakers, and tuned with the latest A/V Receivers, the 30 can be a very solid performer.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great bookshelves, November 14, 2007

By 

LoveMyToys (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polk Audio Monitor 30 AM3025-A 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Black) (Electronics)

I have had the Monitor 30's for almost a year now and am incredibly impressed. Great bang for the buck (paid $140 on sale at CC). I am using these as fronts in my 7.1 surround set up, with Polk M10's as the surrounds and a Pioneer VSX-1018 avr and Sony 40S2010 LCD. I am still using a crappy jvc htib 60watt powered sub, but am planning on treating myself to a Avs123 X-sub for Christmas. :) Anyway, I am here to talk about the Polk M30. My set up is for a 15'x17'den. That's a fairly small room and I have a wife that agitated with overpowering sound (yeah, my love for audio equipment does not always over well). Although I would have loved to go for a floorstanding speaker, I agreed to stick to bookshelf size to keep my wife happy. The M30 certainly fit the bill. They have a clean, accurate sound with excellent highs and mids. The sound is linear and smooth, with a warm tone. If you like a brighter sounding speaker, these probably aren't for you and you might be better off with the Infinity Beta series. As far as bass goes, on my radio shack SLP, they drop as low as 50hz, which is pretty decent compared to most of the bookshelves I have heard and better than the specs indicate. Still, these speakers, by themselves don't produce enough bass depth for stand alone duty. You will need a decent sub that can make up for what the M30's lack and, given the m30 range, setting the crossover on the amp at 80 is the way to go with these babies.

These speakers are designed for a tonal match with all other speakers in the monitor line and the M10's are perfect for satellite duty. I would recommend spending a little extra for the Polk CS1 center over the CSM (returned it). As for a sub to match, CNET likes the match between the Polk PWS10 with the Monitor 30s (used in their test). I auditioned the PSW10 and felt it was lacking umph. I preferred the sound of the Velodyne VX-10 or Dayton 120 (although I am going to take the advice my audiofile friends and go for the Avs123 sub-x for $200).

The bottomline, the Monitor 30 is a high quality bookshelf speaker for a fair price. If you're a hardcore audiofile looking for paradigm and definitive bookshelves, the M30 isn't going to work for you. However, if you're looking for a nice sounding speaker but don't want to spend $800, these are ideal. Certainly, they blow away anything from sony, pioneer, yamaha and Bose etc.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for the price, but only recommended if space is an issue., January 8, 2008

By 

Andrew Bergholtz (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Polk Audio Monitor 30 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Cherry) (Electronics)

I bought these speakers to compliment a new flat-panel TV in our living room, I chose the Monitor 30's because of their compact size along with Polk's good reputation for sound quality. They are fine little speakers, but are noticeably lacking in mid-range sound, even when accompanied by a sub (they are currently hooked up with a Polk PSW-10 sub). They offer great highs and the sub combination obviously supplies plenty of bass, but the lack of mids is distracting. My Athena AS-B2's sound WORLDS better and can be had for the same price elsewhere online. The Athenas are larger than the Polks but the sound is much, much richer and more versatile overall. Bottom line, the Monitor 30's are decent if you can find a good deal and if you need to save space.

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