Customer Reviews

Polk Audio Monitor 40 AM4022-A 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Cherry)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I got these open box from Circuit City for $100 each ($200 for the pair). I bought a Sony STR-DE197 200W Stereo Amplifier/Receiver for them, and hooked them up to an Advent ASW1200 100W 12" Powered Subwoofer that I bought off Amazon a while back. I'm telling you, these things are absolutely amazing. I run them off my computer with a Creative X-Fi Platinum sound card, and the sound quality and clarity is unmatched. The highs are very rich and crisp, and the mids are very strong. The lows could use some work, but considering they're bookshelf speakers, I really can't complain, and the 12" sub more than compensates. I would recommend these to anyone who's looking for a very solid performing set of speakers.

I am currently using these speakers in a stereo music setup but intend to switch them to a home theater application. They deliver excellent midrange and midbass. I find the soundstage a little lacking and that there is not much "air" in the sound - probably the result of the tweeter rolling off at higher frequencies. Overall it has the characteristic Polk sound which is mellow and not fatiguing. I recommend them heartily to users who are looking for value rather than perfection. They are well built and attractive with decent quality binding posts with the ability to biamp them via a second set of posts.

These speakers were better than i expected. They produce good deep tones that you wouldnt expect out of such a small speaker. Im only running them out of a stereo 200 watt amp and they still sound very good. Also when i hooked them up to the tv the sound was also very good. They were the first Polk speakers ive gotten and would consider more after these.

Paired with a 80watt/channel HarmanKardon 3390 Amp, these speakers deliver an open, detailed sound. Especially impressive is the low freq. extension and punch.

Highly recomennded

Good little speakers for the price.when paired with my Polk Audio self powered sub,they

sound pretty good.Also the cherry speakers look good for not being really cherry wood.

These are the substitute for my beloved Magnepans. The Maggies were just too big for my wife to take anymore, in the whole feng shui kind of thing. She wanted SMALL, and these Polks are that. I used to manage a high end audio store, and I knew of Polks' fanaticism for sound quality. These are acceptable monitor speakers, if you don't expect a realistic sound stage in 3D, as you would get with Maggies. You'll also need a separate sub in order to deliver the lowest two octaves. They are fairly efficient, and get to acceptable sound pressure levels with just a few clean RMS watts. They aren't high school party speakers, but they give clean sound to the discriminating listener who needs a small package.

Ok so i'm not an audiophile....YET. But I am getting there. Lol Ok, so i'm finally getting around to writing a review for this speakers. I got me a pair from newegg.com cause they were on sale and i was immediately blown away by the sound. These speakers replaced my front L & R Sony SS-B3000 speakers, which are actually very good. But a co-worker of mine had been encouraging me to get some better high end speakers for my fronts. I had just upgraded from a puny Sony center channel to the Polk CS10. And my co-worker kept encouraging me to go all Polks for timbre matching sound. Well after weeks of debating whether to drop more money only after a year of upgrading previously, i became somewhat unsatisfied with the sound i was getting and wanted a higher fidelity sound. So i hooked them up and moved the Sony to my Surrounds. I had just gotten Cowboys & Aliens on Blu Ray and was waiting to set up my new speakers before i watched. IMMEDIATELY I could hear a difference in sound quality and depth from the Polks and Sony's. The Polk's just sounded more realistic and spacial. More powerful. More punchy. After upgrading ALL my surround sound equipment(except for subwoofer) within the last year i was still fidgeting with my settings and trying different settings...crossover settings, volume levels, Dynamic Range Control....i still wasnt 100% happy with my sound though. BUT, (and this is a HUGE but) i still had a weak and puny HTIB sony subwoofer that i now realize was inadequate for my system and the sound i was looking for. I finally broke down and got a high quality HSU subwoofer. I had to drop 3 bills for it and was VERY hesistant to spend that much for a sub, but again my co-worker convinced me to invest in a good subwoofer. Man am i glad. Completely changed my sound and complimented my Polks. I now realize that my previous sub was inadequate and my fronts were working too hard in the lower frequency area. Not anymore!!! After installing my new sub and setting the crossover frequencies to 80hz(THX) these speakers sound even more amazing!!!!! They sound louder, clearer, punchier and more vibrant than before! I am now 100% satisfied. I havent gotten a chance to try out any blu rays yet(just installed my sub yesterday) but so far music and Satellite television sounds awesome. Cant wait to hear the audio in Blu Ray movies now. Its going to be sick!!! So if u get these speakers u wont be dissapointed. Just make sure to play around with the settings to how YOU like and make sure u compliment these speakers with a GOOD high quality sub. Hope this review helps. Enjoy these speakers!!!

P.S. i bought these speakers in Dec. and i wanted to let them burn in before i gave a proper review. Burn in is an important factor in sound quality.

My setup:

Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR608 7.2 THX Receiver (love it)

Fronts: Polk Monitor 40 (amazing)

Center: Polk CS10 (BEAST!)

Surrounds: Sony SS-B3000 (dont hate, these are actually very good speakers for price)

Front Heights: Polk T15's

Subwoofer: HSU STF-1 (OMG!!!!!! Freaking ridiculous sub!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I got these from Polk as refurbs, but they look like new.

Comments:

1. they are bigger in person than expected. They replace a pair of the small Dayton speakers.

2. They were initially underwhelming, vs. the Daytons -at low levels, now, playing at higher volume, they are much better, no stress at all with trumpet, drums, piano jazz music. The Daytons sounded great at quiet levels but strained when pushed louder.

3. They are more dynamic, and highs and lows are definitely better (cymbals sound real) vs. the Daytons. Did I say they were bigger? If they are more efficient, it is hard to tell - they're not broken in yet, supposed to need ~100 hrs. (about 2-3 months)

4. They seem a little overwhelming size-wise, yet look high-end. They seem very well made and of high quality materials. The port in rear is used - you need to have a gap of about 4-6" from walls.

Overall - they are great speakers, if you don't mind the size. I keep saying that because prior to buying them I read the reviews here, and only remember one reviewer that mentioned they are kindof big for a small shelf. I did compare the size of my old ones, and said, well just a few inches taller, and several inches deeper - so what? Well they are pretty big, but put out a very big soundstage, and can seemingly handle plenty of power.

V.W.

I have had this speaker pair for about 6 months now. I was able to purchase the Polk Monitor 40 for right at 100 dollars per pair, so great price!

While not real wood, the black speakers have a decent look. It doesn't look high end, but doesn't look "plastic satellite" cheap either.

The 2 5+ inch drivers do a good job of giving range and volume for music and while I have heard it described as bright by some, I feel it has a nice balance of base and high freq sound. I find them to be very good for music. Maybe because of my set up and less than perfect room, these speakers do not seem as good in the home theater area. I also don't have a sub in that set up, so...

Overall, a very good speaker for the money and perfect for a bedroom setup!

I am a fan of Polk speakers and these lived up to my expectations. I was told 30 years ago, when I got my first Polks, that for soft rooms Bose was best and for hard rooms, Polk. I always have had hardwood floors, very little upholstered furniture and minimal other things like drapes that suck up the sound. The Polks are perfect for this. I'm no audiophile but I am very sound sensitive and I like clean sound. These have it and they are beautiful to look at. The image doesn't show this well but the speaker covers curve away from the body of the speaker and are very elegant looking.