Bookshelf
This product is a vintage Polk model and is not available for sale, but it may still be available in some stores as a closeout or used product. The following text is taken from the original sales brochure for this product and does not reflect current availability. If you happen to have any question or concerns about this product, or any other Polk Audio product, feel free to contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-377-7655 Monday - Friday, 9am - 5:30pm EST
MONITOR4.5
Classic Polk 2-Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker
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The Original, Second Generation Monitor Loudspeakers
"Our advice is not to buy speakers until you've heard the Polks." -- Musician Magazine
It's 1972. The first hand-held calculator costs $395. Mariner 9 sends back pictures from Mars. Nixon goes to China. The Beetle outsells the Model T. THE GODFATHER is released in theaters. "The Price is Right" premieres on TV. "School's Out" wins a Grammy. And Matthew Polk and George Klopfer, fresh out of Johns Hopkins with too much physics and mechanical engineering knowledge for their own good, develop the Monitor 7 Loudspeaker and change the way people think about home audio.
The original Monitor Series raised the bar for home audio sound quality, with 3-dimensional sound that went beyond the speaker box itself. They were highly efficient, and sounded great even on the modest electronics of the time (yet they were able to handle a tremendous amount of power if you had it). They used Bass Radiator Technology, tuned to produce deep, musical bass, giving them a totally realistic, fully dynamic soundstage. And best of all, they were surprisingly reasonably priced. Audiogram Magazine gushed, "we were so impressed we could not believe the prices...they're simply a steal."
So it was with great fanfare that two decades later Polk Audio reintroduced the "Monitor" moniker with the Monitor Series 2. Seven new models, from the compact Monitor 4 to the awesome Monitor 12, all updated the original with a variety of sizes, power outputs and performance levels to match any environment or budget.
"Vastly superior to the competition in their price range." - Musician Magazine
"May well be the best high performance speaker value on the market today." - Off The Record
"This speaker is a real find!" - Audio Alternatives
MONITOR Series 2, circa 1990
Featuring the fluid-cooled SL2500 Tweeter
- Surprisingly open, "boxless," "three-dimensional" sound from a traditional loudspeaker.
- Tuned for flat frequency response, for extended listening pleasure with no fatigue.
- The ability to reproduce difficult transients, for crisp, lifelike clarity.
- Exceptionally deep, tight bass, the kind you can feel as well as hear.
- Wide, realistic dispersion of high- and mid-frequencies, for perfect sound in any listening position.
- SL2500 Tweeter design (Monitor 4.6, 5jr+, 5, 7, 10 and 12): A highly refined, technically advanced high frequency driver. Fluid-cooled with an exotic ULV (ultra-low viscocity) magnetic fluid, this tweeter effortlessly exceeds "normal" listening levels with no loss of performance or reliability. The use of the SL2500 Tweeter gives these Monitor Speakers a dramatic dynamic range, totally unique for speakers in this price range.
- SL1500 Hemispherical Tweeter (Monitor 4): A 1" soft dome driver that delivers superb definition and smooth extended response.
- Larger, internally-braced enclosures, bigger than the previous generation of Monitors, tuned for the deepest possible bookshelf speaker bass response, making them the biggest sounding bookshelf speakers ever. Larger models are capable of filling even the largest spaces with deep, musical bass energy.
- High efficiency, so they sound great even with modest electronics, as well as the ability to handle significant amounts of power, if you got it.
- Reasonably priced high performance audio; they only sound expensive.
- Built to last a lifetime. (And, indeed, Monitor Series 2 Loudspeakers regularly turn up at yard sales and in attics, sounding just as spectacular as they did right out of the box.)
Driver Complement | |
|---|---|
| Tweeter | |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Diameter | 1" (2.54cm) |
| Type | Polk SL2500 dome tweeter |
| Midrange | |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Diameter | 6 1/2" (16.51cm) |
Electrical | |
|---|---|
| Total Frequency Response | 30Hz - 25kHz |
| Upper -3dB Limit | 23 kHz |
| Lower -3dB Limit | 48 Hz |
| Efficiency | 90 dB |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 20-100 watts per channel |
Amplifier Specs | |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Type | 0 |
Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Dimensions | |
| Height | 17" (43.18cm) |
| Width | 8 1/2" (21.59cm) |
| Depth | 10" (25.40cm) |
Shipping | |
|---|---|
| Total Shipping Weight | 34.00 pounds |
Specifications, dimensions and features subject to change without notice. For more information call us at 1-800-377-7655 (USA and Canada). Outside of North America call +1 (410) 358-3600.
Customer Reviews
3 reviews with an average of 4.5
Write your own reviewby lars, December 27, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
jou can play very loud,they still clear.
Weaknesses:
none.but if you use them to watch movies,you may nede a subwoofer
Review:
j have 2 of those speakers,konekted to an accuphase e-202. they may are smaal,but they sound great! many new expensive speakers cant match the clear sound (j have tryed several known marks.) exuse my bad english,j am from norway. lars
by Tyrion, April 13, 2009
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Excellent Mid's and highs, Ritch Imaging, The sweet spot is impressively wide.
Weaknesses:
Not RTiA3 but comprobale to Monitor 40's. Bass is not terrible, but you can't do much better for the price
Review:
Got these from my Grandmother when she moved Very Impressed. Well worth money even if you find a used pair on E-bay. Drivers are still easy to replace and upgrade. If you want bass, get two small subwoofers and run them dual.
by Shahab, December 18, 2010
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Wide and detailed sound stage, easy to drive and a very clean sound.
Weaknesses:
Bass or lack there of. Needs to be paired with a sub-woofer. These can make for excellent surrounds in a HT setup.
Review:
I bought these speakers for $12 from Salvation Army. They were worth every penny and more. I am really big on value and I have bought some great vintage speakers at thrift stores. On to the speaker. These speakers are amazing really when you consider their size and price, not just my used price but the price they used to retail for 149.95, although in today's, 2010, dollars that is $251.03. They sound much better than any speaker I have ever heard in the same price range, including Polk's current low end line up. The biggest strength of this speaker is its staging, its wide and detailed. Play back a well mastered recording and you'll be able to close your eyes and tell just where the singer is and where the keyboard is. They produce a very detailed sound, very clean and pleasing. I liked these so much I used them as my front mains, with a sub woofer of course. That brings me to these speakers one weakness, which is bass reproduction. They are totally lacking the ability to do anything really below 150Hz, regardless of what the specs say. Play a track like K.C. and the Sunshine Band's "I'm Your Boogie Man" on these without a sub and that bass line won't thump like its supposed to, the song just sounds empty. Pair these speakers with a sub though and that problem is gone. Other noted about these speakers, they came in two colors, ported cabinets made from a high density particle board with either a black ash or a walnut veneer. Spring clip connectors and inside acoustic wadding. In conclusion these are amazing speakers if you can find them. They can get loud and don't need a lot of wattage to drive them, even a 45WPC amp will drive them just fine. While they can be hard to find they can usually be had for a steal when you do find them. They still show up on ebay, although you may have to play with your search terms. Generally "polk audio monitor series 2" will get you some good results, they go for anywhere from $30 and up.
Vintage Product
This product is considered a "Recent" or "Vintage" Polk Audio model. It is not a part of our current product lineup. It may still be available in some stores as a "close out" or "used" product. Information provided here about this product may not reflect current realities and does not imply availability. If you happen to have a question or concern about this product, contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-377-7655 M-F 9am - 5:30pm EST. Chances are we remember it.
MONITOR4.5 Media
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