MONITOR5

by Jay Moore, November 9, 2007

Strengths:

Excellent output. Sounds like larger speakers. Clear bass mids and treble.

Weaknesses:

The bass is a TAD weak compared to most systems with a subwoofer...and you quickly find the limit of the speakers when trying to fill a large room.

Review:

I picked up my pair of Polk M5Jr's at a thrift store...that's right, a thrift store. They were sitting in the back of the place in a pile of untested electronics, whats better is the woman that ran the place told me I could flat out take them (they were way to nice a product to sell in this "dump"), So, I also picked up the Denon PMA-770 vintage class-A sitting with them (donated by the same person?). I brought these home not knowing what to expect. They have replaced my main listening speakers. For about 20 years old, they sound better than any kind of new speakers I could get, they totally made my "audiophile" friends Bose 201 Series II bookshelfs sound like a cheap toy. They're absolutely amazing, the little brother of the Monitor5 with just as much bang. The jr's won't quite fill a large room or theater, however, for like, a den, or a bedroom, or small studio, they do their job better than I could of imagined.

by Bert, October 24, 2005

Strengths:

Bass, mid-range, highs. Durable, overdrive protection.

Weaknesses:

None...well, they are so good, they won't give me a justification to buy a new system.

Review:

I bought my monitor 5's in Japan back in 1986, along with a Pioneer A-717 amp. They have been through numerous moves, uncountable parties and gatherings, movies, CD's, DVD's, you name it. And at 20 years later, they sound just as good as the day I bought them. They are still my primary sound system. To bring them up to the modern age, I even have my iPod hooked up them;-) Even though they are rated up to 125W each, I'm still using them with the A-717, which is rated at 820W (4 X 205W) and never had blown them even with the volume at 1/2 setting. I've even played them at more than 1/2 volume, but the protection cut in after a little over an hour. (Playing at over 1/2 volume is enough to warrant ear plugs anyway.) Over the years, I've been tempted to buy a more modern up to date home audio theatre system, but have yet find one good enough or better to get me to plunk down the cash for it. (The ones that do, are usually out of my price range anyway.) The biggest test that the newer systems have not been able to pass is playing music at low volumes. With my monitor 5's at very low volumes, the bass is still powerful to feel and the frequency responce is so clear that I can still tell the difference between the pluck of a bass cello and the thud of a bass drum or note of bass guitar and tuba. Then there's the mid-range and high frequencies. Absolutely stellar! You got to hear them to believe them. I'm still on the lookout for an eventual new sound system, but until they become affordable, durable, and as good sounding as what I've got, it'll be awhile. Even then, the Monitor 5's have become "family", and will stay that way until they eventually pass. Hey, I might even have them buried;-)

by mark w., July 15, 2006

Strengths:

Bass responce matches the high end extreamly well. The sweetest mid-range available for the money!

Weaknesses:

Cabinet should be made from real rosewood, not a laminet!

Review:

I bought my Monitor-5's back in the summer of 1984. i read all the hi-fi rags (that was before the internet)! It was also still when Hi-Fidelity stereo shops where someting of a allday venture. Not like the Tweeters of today. I remeber going to Bryn Marw stereo for the first time and hearing Jean Michel Jarr's "Oxygen" album played on a pair of Polk Audio SRS_1's. The salesman let me listen to the album 3 times before he asked me if i wanted to by them! The foil- i was 17 and only had a part time job and had about a thousand dollars saved. I told him how much i had and what i could afford. He understood that the next year was my seinor year in high school and, thaht I wanted to go on a summer seinor week and try to by a car. We both understood that my funds were limited. He said to me that i set my sights too high too early. He took me to another sound room and hooked up a pair of monitor-5's. Two hours later, after listening to Pink Floyd, The Allman Brothers, Pattie Smith Band, John Hiatt, Southside Johnny, Jimmie, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and the Beatles, I gave him 600.00 dollars and took my 5's home and hooked them up to my Akki-6500. The sound from these speakers kept me satisfied for 20 years. Over the years i have upgraded my eqipment many times.The one thing that never chanded in 20 years was the 5's! The sound from these speakers is amazing! imaging, timbre, soundstage, seperation and clarity are wothy of speakers at a much higher value. It took me 22 years to upgrade my speakers. I now own a pair of Von Schweikert Research VR3's. Unfortunately, theses speakers are no longer avilable also. Think about that. It took 22 years to find a speaker that would come cloes to or surpass the Monitor-5's outstanding listening expeience. These have been my reference speakers to judge all speakers by. I briefly owned a pair of JM Lab speakers, only to return them after the burn in period a month later due, to lack of bass responce! Thier speakers are made from kevlar! Super stiff, but lacking in personality. I listened to a pair of Phase Audios' speakers that had woofers made out of styrofoam. Talk about a "Getto Cruiser" in Your house. They were so punchy that, you could hear a bass note before it was even played! And that is because, like so many other speakers made today, they incorporate powered sub-woofers in the same cabinet, to make up for lacking bass responce I will never give up my Monitor-5's! I want them in my coffin with me! If you are lucky you will every now and then find them up for sale on ebay or ubid auctions. Jump on them! NOTE**** do not try to listen to crappy ass recordings on thesse speakers (mp3, wma, and so forth.) these types of recordings are so shitty, I wouldn't even listen to them on k-mart headphones on a jet doomed to smack head on into the tops of the himilayian mountains!!!! But then again, if that was your intention, you wouldn't be here reading this. You should also know that, if you ever drive the speakers to hard, you can still get replacment drivers and radiators, crossovers and gaskets for these speakers. Try getting them from someone like Panasonic, Techniqes, Bose, Infinity, Klipsh, Boston Acoustics, AR,Phase Audio, or, Paradigm, Snell! Hell, we stoped making those back when we made them in 1966! Hope this was helpful. MGW

by Steve T., December 22, 2010

Strengths:

small footprint, real bass response, not overbearing "rap style" but exactly what the musican, and producer wanted you to hear. easily handles 100+ watts

Weaknesses:

should have used real wood cabs, but other than that sound sonically pure for the money spent

Review:

these were my first dealings with polk. my rich Dr. uncle had a set in his den, and can remember as a youngster how well they sounded. when i became an adult with a real job, these were one of my first audio purchases. over 20 yrs, and they still sound amazing, never ever had an issue with them. however knowing there somewhat small footprint, and drivers, never pushed them anywere close to there limits. still use them on a regular basis along with a psw505 in my 2-channel rig. because of there performance, i purchased a set of SDA-2's, the PSW-505, and multiple car speakers, none of which have ever failed or didnt deliver what was advertised.

by Steve Welsh, July 13, 2002

Strengths:

Sweet overall sound stamina ( 16+ Years) Fuses ( (I can't beleive more producers do not include these, I am still on my origonals but it is comforting to know you are protected)

Weaknesses:

Don't do a great job with the Demands of Home Theatre Bass , but Hoe Theatre did not exsist at the time of their design. The cabinets are starting to look like the finish is MAC TAC but at this poin in their life I cannot complain. When I a 17 Speaker years old If I look like I am wrapped in MAC TAC I will be pretty happy.

Review:

16 Years on I bought my monitor 5's almost 17 years ago. They have oulasted 1 receiver, 4 CD players and 2 DVD players. I had moved up to a Yahmaha rxv-995 Soround sound receiever about 2 years ago and I thought the 5's my have met theirrrrr match, They still sounded great but sertain demanding passeger (the plane collision scene in Fight Club)caused such buzzings and rattlings that I was sure that I would be buying some new mains soon. When I had save up enough cash to shop I spoke to a Sales guy at Bay Bloor Radio in toronto and after hearing my room size, gear etc Hsaid I don't need new mains I need a subwoofer. AS this was a lot cheaper than what I was planning to spend on the main speakers any way I decided to try it. Those Guy at Bay Bloor have always efforlessly made the sales people at the Dicount chains look knd of dim and whope they did it again. I now secd all frequencys bellow 150 HRZ to the sub an Everthing sound amazing. I would like to reduce the physical size of my main speakers so I am still shopping around but with the standards that the 5 set sonicaly I think I will be shopping a long time befor I find somthing that will please me.

by Dana, August 8, 2002

Strengths:

Soundstage, Imaging and neutral tone quality.

Weaknesses:

None.

Review:

Finally got back my Monitor 5's after 10yrs. I gave them to my younger brother after stepping up to the RTA 8 @ 11T's. For a bookshelf the Imaging and soundstage are excellent. The tonal quality is a bit on the warm side though this is a polk trademark. Over the years I have bought many polk products all have been excellent except of the S6's of mid 90's vintage.

by D. M. Breimayer, February 22, 2003

Strengths:

Tweeter protection. Quality construction.

Weaknesses:

None, really.

Review:

I've owned a pair of these for 15+ years now, and though I finally blew one of the midranges I am very pleased with thier many years of faithful service. Overall quality is excellent - paired with a decent midrange amp these speakers produce a great soundstage and decent bass for thier size and cost. The anti-clipping feature on the tweeters has saved me numerous times - during loud parties the high frequency cutout is an unmistakable signal to turn things down a bit - and it keeps foolish guests from blowing the boxes. I did this many times, and the speakers were not the worse for it. I finally killed them unplugging my computer from a cheap amp connected to the monitors - apparently the distortion was mostly midrange as one of those drivers blew, but its tweeter survived. I like these speakers so much I'm tempted to search for a replacement driver - but with so many other tasty offerings its time to put my monitor 5's to rest.

by Stephen, February 21, 2004

Strengths:

Thunderous lows and high frequencey respnse. After 17 years they still sound great.

Weaknesses:

None!

Review:

I have owned my Polk Audio Monitor5 for almost 17 years now and they still deliver stunning sound quaility. Now they aren't my stero speakers though they are my main speakers in my Home Theater system and they work great. Delivering high, highes and low thunderous bass. In the movie "The Italian Job" when the explossion happened when they were steeling the safe the whole room shock because of those speakers becasue I don't have a Subwoofer so it must have been those speakers. I look forward to enjoying many more years of the high quality sound of my Polk Audio Speakers.

by Denise, June 17, 2004

Strengths:

quality of construction

Weaknesses:

none

Review:

14 years and still going strong. No rattles, blown drivers,no problems... great all the way around. I did move them to the back as a result of an upgrade to surround sound last year. RTI 70's are front now and I'm happy as can be with my tsunami of sound. My Polk's have lasted much longer and surely sound better now than most of the rock and rollers I listened to through the years. Thanks Polk!

by Chris, February 4, 2005

Strengths:

Great sound reproduction after many years of firm use.

Weaknesses:

If I had two more that would be great.

Review:

These have been outstanding cones (M5jr's), that have faithfully endured my late teens and now to my late 20's. the clarity and depth are still fab. now i need to find a amp that can last liek these fine transducers. Thanks polk.

by Philip, November 15, 2005

Strengths:

Good matching of low and high frequencies for music

Weaknesses:

None

Review:

I am using Monitor 5 for the past 15 years and it is giving me exceptionally good service

by Roy, December 21, 2005

Strengths:

Rich bass and impressive midrange for its size. Sounds a lot "bigger" than it really is. Overall impressive sound reproduction.

Weaknesses:

The dramatic sound comes a bit- just a bit, on the expence of some accuracy and maybe a bit lacking on the highs. Can't have it all.. also, it wouldn't fit someone who's looking for a "sterile" speaker. This one is a speaker with a very specific charecter.

Review:

Great speaker for it's price. Difficult to find due to it's age, but damn worth the effort. I would have had to pay much MUCH more to get this kind of quality from a new speaker. the sound is dramatic and roaring but not to the point of being inaccurate or "boomy". it has Served me well for quite a while as my stereo/front speaker pair, and gave me many hours of fun listening and watching movies.

by Larry, February 26, 2006

Strengths:

Amazing Bass and midrange Impressive power handling superb imaging

Weaknesses:

none so far

Review:

The Polk Monitor 5 is an amazing speaker for its size. I didn't expect so much bass from such a small enclosure and I had never had much faith in passive radiators. These speakers shattered all my preconcieved notions when I hooked 'em up. Even with a tiny 25wpc amp, these things boot out amazingly loud and accurate music. I was also very surprised with the imaging of these speakers. Great speakers, and if you can pick up a pair I'd say go for it!

by Rich, March 6, 2007

Strengths:

Bass response, nice oak finish

Weaknesses:

Review:

Bought these back in the early 80's and at the time they were a major purchase. Still in use and still love the sound. The idea of getting replacements has not crossed my mind. Speakers made today have no reason to have a good bass response because manurfacturers know that most people will also purchase a subwoofer, so why bother with good bass, unless you are thinking about real high end speakers. I use them as main speakers for music and front speakers in a home theatre set up. I do have a subwoofer, Polk, of course but honestly the subwoofer is not as necessary with these speakers as it is with other speakers I have listened to.

by allan, December 20, 2007

Strengths:

Seamless and non-fatiguing.

Weaknesses:

At loud volumes, bass tends to get flabby.

Review:

I am happy very happy with these speakers. Of other speakers I've had, these speakers have the lasted the longest in my system (over one year). Other speakers I've had include Tyler Acoustics Taylo Reference, Proac D15 and Proac Reference 8, Vandersteen 2CI, Thiel 1.5, Soliloquy 2A3 and 5.0, Altec 604, etc. etc. etc. They sound natural, non-fatiguing, and seamless, although the bass could be tighter at higher volumes. I'm using a Pilot SA-260 amp and SP-210 preamp, and the sound is wonderful. I will not sell these.

by Craig Nelson, October 25, 2010

Strengths:

Overall response, bass, longevity.

Weaknesses:

Impossible to replace

Review:

I built my first "real" stereo system around a pair of Monitor 5's, an Onkyo integrated AMP, and a denon CD player. The CD player died long ago, the Onkyo was replaced with many different home theater receivers (although that Onkyo drives my subwoofer still), but the Polk Monitor 5's still anchor my home theater. My wife recently gave me budget to replace them, so I went around town and listened to a lot of nice speakers - went home and listened to my Monitor 5's again and decided I didn't need new speakers after all. These speakers are over 25 years old and have been through a lot but still sound warm and natural with great bass and really fill the theater room. I dread the day one fails because I won't know how to replace them.