The Monitor 60 tower speakers continue Polk Audio's tradition of producing quality products at relatively affordable prices. Like the other members of the widely available Monitor Series, the Monitor 60 speakers provide sturdy construction and consistent quality for both music and home theater applications.

Our Monitor 60 review pair came with black grills and a cherry wood grain finish, although they are also available in a black finish. Removing the fragile plastic-framed fabric grills reveals a modern titanium faceplate boasting three woofers, each measuring 5-1/4 inches in diameter. The white Bi-Laminate Composite Dynamic Balance drivers provide a tight, low-distortion bass, and their efficiency allows them to be easily driven by modestly powered (and priced) receivers. The speakers have a front-firing Critically Tuned Flared bass port. The titanium-colored 1-inch Fabric/Polymer Composite Dynamic Balance Dome tweeter rounds out the high-end duties.

Each of the tall, slender Monitor 60 speakers weighs 31 pounds. Four silver-plastic stabilizer feet keep each tower steady on carpet and hard floors, but the feet look a bit cheap and detract from the overall appearance of an otherwise beautiful cabinet. The speakers can be bi-amped, as each tower has a pair of five-way binding posts.

Polk Audio speakers have always sounded great, and the Monitor 60's were no exception. In our listening tests, they were very consistent through a range of musical styles. Pop and country music was full and rich across the soundstage, with no imaging problems whatsoever. Bass was tight and punchy, although at times we felt that the low end was missing some oomph. The dome tweeter performed well too, providing plenty of tasty highs and a pleasing tonal timbre, especially when listening to classical music.

The Monitor 60's were as comfortable anchoring movie soundtracks as they were playing symphony performances. They were quite adept at handling massive explosions in action movies, as well as soaring musical scores as the credits rolled. Dialogue was crisp and clear. The Polks felt right at home regardless of what we threw at them.

Great sound and smart value personify these speakers. We can easily recommend the Monitor 60's if you are looking to add affordable tower speakers to your system. These attractive, well-built speakers are efficient and sound great in most any environment. You should have no problem finding the Polk Audio Monitor 60 speakers at your local retailer, quite possibly at a discounted price, and we are confident you will enjoy them in your stereo or home theater system.

The MSRP of $649.95 is per pair.


Pros:  Excellent value, quality build, consistently strong performance
Cons:  Plastic feet detract from overall good looks, bass is adequate but not able to really shake the floor

Warranty
5 years