Floorstanding
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
MONITOR7
Classic Polk Loudspeaker, with built-in 10
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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 sound 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) |
| Type | drivers |
| Subwoofer | |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Diameter | 10" (25.40cm) |
| Type | sub bass radiator |
Electrical | |
|---|---|
| Total Frequency Response | 25Hz - 25kHz |
| Upper -3dB Limit | 23 kHz |
| Lower -3dB Limit | 40 Hz |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Efficiency | 89 dB |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 20-150 watts per channel |
Amplifier Specs | |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Type | 0 |
Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Dimensions | |
| Height | 24" (60.96cm) |
| Width | 13" (33.02cm) |
| Depth | 10" (25.40cm) |
Shipping | |
|---|---|
| Total Shipping Weight | 33.00 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
14 reviews with an average of 4.5
Write your own reviewby Scott Lowell, September 10, 2012
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Fluid, transparent musicality. Plenty of detail, holographic imaging. Tight and extended bass, especially when mated with a high current amp in a medium room. Revealing and great instrument separation.
Weaknesses:
For the money (even new): NONE. On an absolute scale, they are not quite as revealing as high end monitors costing thousands a pair. I say ALMOST, because much of high end gear is romantically overrated. Polks are a great introduction into high end.
Review:
I found these for $50 on Craigslist, the cabinet was a bit scratched up so I repainted them in gloss black. Taking into perspective how little they cost compared to their true competition, they are overachievers. Comments such as smooth, transparent with boxless sound are 100% true. I am upgrading the crossover caps with dayton metallized film 1% caps. My 7's have the original higher quality (black) Peerless tweeter, not the inferior China-made clear knock off.
by Les Hartsfield, February 9, 2003
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Great imaging; good frequency response at all volume levels.
Weaknesses:
For some, weak bass.
Review:
I've owned a pair of Monitor 7's since 1984 and they still sound great. The imaging is very good. I still use them on an ancillary system in my bonus room/home office. I find the bass to be tight and adequate for my taste. I suspect for many, due to the standard of now using powered subwoofers, may find the bass in the Monitor 7 inadequate. Overall, I felt I got great value when I purchased them and still enjoy them to this day.
by dan johnson, April 6, 2004
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Neutral, extended sound. Very good, smooth bass response. Sounds natural - not phony like many newer speakers.
Weaknesses:
Would have been five stars except for the cheap looking plastic faux-rosewood veneer. It's not any worse than the competition but the looks belie the excellent performance.
Review:
I bought these at a thrift for an impossibly low price and was amazed at how good they sound. They literally put my old speakers to shame.
by mlhm5, August 20, 2010
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Best speaker ever made under $500 each
Weaknesses:
If I wanted more bass, I would get a pair of Monitor 10's.
Review:
Like the '57 Chevy and the '67 Corvette, the 7C is still unmatched. Need I say more?
by Robert Blackshaw, August 13, 2002
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Openess, detail clarity
Weaknesses:
Could use more bass, but then I could have bought the Model 10s for that.
Review:
I bought these Model 7s new when they first were produced. I auditioned the Model 5 and Model 7 and chose the 7s for their open and spacious sound. They will not give you earth shaking bass such as 32 foot organ pipes, but the bass that is there is clean. They are now going on 16 or 17 years old and still playing fine,
by Adam Kosiorek, August 14, 2002
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Good soundstage, accurate mids and highs, enough bass
Weaknesses:
Now the size, but they are not RM2300s... Rather cheap veneer, but they are not Sonus Fabers or Thiels...
Review:
I bought my pair of Monitors 7 in July 1980 (weeks before the Solidarity in Poland!). I had to return to Warsaw at the beginning of August, so I decided to buy 7s, not 10s, because of their dimensions and also the price. Anyway it was good decision. They have worked for 22 years without any problems. The sound is still really great. This year I am buying RM6200 (the similar situation... not RM6600, because of the price)for my HT system.
by Gary Schumacher, July 9, 2004
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Neutral sound, you are not aware of the speakers.
Weaknesses:
Not many, they are not great furnature, but they still sound great hidden in the corners.
Review:
I bought these speakers after spending many weeks of shopping 25 years ago and I am still happy with them.
by WADE BRADLEY, August 2, 2004
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
VERY DETAILED HIGH FREQ. EXTREMELY DIMENSIONAL SPREAD IS AMAZING FOR A NON HORN LOADED CABINET AND OBVIOUSLY, LONG TERM QUALITY!!!!
Weaknesses:
I ONLY SUGGEST YOU LISTEN CLOSELY AND FLATTEN YOU E.Q. TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THESE SPEAKERS!!!
Review:
THESE SPEAKERS ARE AMAZING, I ONLY GAVE THEM 4 STARS BECAUSE OF THE SLIGHT LACKING OF PUNCH ON THE LOWEST FREQUENCIES, BUT LIKE SOMEONE ELSE REVIEWED, I WOULD OF BOUGHT THE LARGER ONES, NONE THE LESS I AM USING A SUB.. THESE SPEAKERS, (AND I WILL MODESTLY SAY I HAVE GOLDEN EARS) HAVE SO MUCH DEPH, THE SOUND IS VERY THREE DIMENSIONAL, MORE THAN SEVERAL HIGH END MAINS I HAVE HAD..YOU SIMPLY MUST HEAR THEM TO BELIEVE YOUR EARS..I BOUGHT THESE USED( HOW COULD ANYONE PART WITH THEM????I DONT KNOW, I AM VERY FAMILIER WITH POLK"S REPUTATION, AS I HAVE PURCHASED THEM BEFORE, AND NOW HAVE ALL POLK, 5.1 SETUP,TAKE MY WORD THESE SPEAKERS HAVE AS FLAT A FREQUENCY RESPONSE AS SOME MONITERS COSTING 5 TIMES AS MUCH..IF THESE ARE OLDER DISCONTINUED MODELS, JUST THINK WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE!!! AND THANK YOU POLK FOR SUPPORTING ALL OF YOUR MODELS, OLD AND NEW, THIS YO ME REFLECT'S PRIDE IN ALL OF YOUR PRODUCTS!!!! KEEP IT UP!!!
by Michael Grodzicki, March 31, 2005
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Clean, airy, open sound. Excellent imaging/soundstage. Sweet midrange. Very durable. After 19 years of hard use, they sound like the day I bought them.
Weaknesses:
They have a distinct "passive radiator" sound, and the 6" drivers strain on very heavy bass. (You should see them MOVE!) A bit lacking in very low bass.
Review:
I bought my Monitor 7s around 1986, and almost 19 years later, they are as great sounding a loudspeaker as the day I bought them. I replaced the 6" drivers drivers once. I think I overdrove them with a 75 watt amp, and caused the voice coils to bottom out, but Polk replaced NC nonetheless. Some older Polk Monitors had fuses on the back of the cabinets to protect the tweeters, but mine have a really cool internal circuit breaker which gradually "shuts down" the signal going to the tweeters. I only did this a few times with my old amp. These speakers now serve as the front mains in my home theater, and I couldn't be happier. They are big by todays standards, but I'm old school - where the size of your gear mattered!
by Telly, September 24, 2005
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Excellent imaging, great dispersion, they sound great on audio and video
Weaknesses:
Lack of DEEP BASS (only the very deep stuff)
Review:
The monitor 7 is a tremendous loudspeaker, it does just about everything you could possibly want a speaker of it's size and price to do. I have always loved the sound of the monitor series speakers since my father purchased a pair of rta 12c's in 1986. The only letdown I can see to the lineup is a lack of DEEP BASS, but isn't that why subwoofers were invented? The imaging and dispersion of my monitor 7's is first rate, and they can take a healthy shot of power from my 125 w/pc NAD power amp, they can easily drive you out of the room and still sound good doing it, with no breakup!! I have monitor 7's for my fronts with a pair of 5jr's in the rear, and at present I have a jbl 10" 150 watt sub handling all the frequency from under 150hz, so it frees up the amount of work my midrange has to handle, allowing better imaging and a lot less distortion. I have heard speakers from B&W and Kef that don't sound any better to my ears, but yet they are easily twice the price or more!! I think the key to most polk speakers I've owned and heard is they love tons of power, the more the better, you can never have too much reserve power!! Since the monitors are not as sensitive as speakers like klipsch you'll need that extra power, but I think while a klipsch will play louder with less amplifier, you give up a lot of your bass at lower listening levels (at least to me) whereas the 7's sound full even when at very low levels. All in all it's a speaker that can do any system justice, provided you mate a descent sub for the bass.
by michael delsignore, February 5, 2006
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
balanced full range of sound. external tweeter fuse. great appearance, with an affordable price.
Weaknesses:
none!
Review:
I bought a pair of monitor 7 loudspeakers in 1984 and they are still running strong today. These are great speakers with lots of range that fills a room quite well. An excellent buy back then, i bought them for $500 a pair. I cranked them then, i crank them now and whats even better, polk still carries replacement drivers today if you blow one. I still power them through the same Onkyo tuner/amp I purchased in 1984, i must say it was a good match. Keep up the great work Polk Audio!
by Kevin, February 15, 2006
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Clean, clean, clean... incredible presence to fill the room.
Weaknesses:
Slightly weak for bass, I find I end up punching up the bass controls a couple db, have a powered sub now so no problem... they love lots of power.
Review:
Bought the Monitor 7's in 1979!!! been driving them for 27 yaers now. They are as crisp and clean as when I bought them. They are now part of our home theater system after I just bought the CS2 and a pair of Monitor 30 for rear surround. Matched system. Listened to JBL and a number of other center channels, side by side... no comparison to Polk. The best speakers.
by Kevin Midghall, December 8, 2007
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
tremendous vocal reproduction
Weaknesses:
None really, other than slightly weak on bass
Review:
I came acroos these beauties at a garage sale 1 year ago. I remembered the Polk Audio name as being quality and took a chance. Interestly, the widow selling the speakers refused to lower her price stating: " My husband loved his sound and i know this is a good deal." i had no idea if they even worked but they do... beautifully. Every summer, theylive in a 'boathouse" that used to be a chapel which in itself is a large speaker. They are brilliant. I agree with the other writers that they are weak on bass, but I'm OK with that as I love vocals. What a find!!!
by Amin Hagar, March 29, 2008
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.Strengths:
Bass is a main strength, I disagree with most other writers, It seems that the speakers must have the right amplifier and receiver to show its real abilities.
Weaknesses:
Short life tweeters, also the tweeters performance is average.
Review:
Neighbors are complaining from the Earthquake feeling they live when I am playing my digital HD music. I bought the speakers new 15 years ago, It was an excellent decision, If I will think to upgrade, I will always have Polk Audio.
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.
MONITOR7 Media
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