Polk Audio and ‘Military Makeover’ : Bringing big sound—and bigger heart—to a hero’s home

When Polk Audio was invited to participate in Military Makeover with Montel, the mission was simple: Bring world-class sound to a veteran who deserves nothing less. What unfolded in Tucson, Arizona was far more than a tech install. It was a celebration of community, comfort, and the power of audio to turn a house into a home.

A mission with meaning

Military Makeover with Montel, hosted by legendary talk show host and military veteran and advocate Montel Williams, is more than a home renovation show. It’s a heartfelt thank you—a mission-driven series that transforms the homes and lives of veterans and their families in recognition of their service and sacrifice. So when we learned that Air Force veteran Matt Kosto and his wife Virginia were the next recipients, we jumped at the chance to help.

Leading the charge was Polk’s Global Director of Training, Phil Jones, a military veteran himself. “I’m an ex-military guy—ten years active, four years reserve—and I’ve always been a sound guy,” he says. “I was a submarine sonar tech. Sound and the military have been a part of my life since I was 18 years old. Being able to help deliver great sound to a vet—that’s the fun part.”

Making sound personal—room by room

We approached Matt and Virginia’s home like we would any family’s: with intention, flexibility, and a few tricks up our sleeve. The adobe-style house—with its two-foot-thick walls and unconventional layout—presented unique challenges. But Polk’s wide product range, paired with Denon’s HEOS® whole-home wireless streaming platform, made it possible to outfit every key space with seamless, premium sound.

In the living room, a Signature Elite 5.2-channel home theater system brings a night-and-day difference. “There’s no comparison to what we had before,” Matt says. “We’re in an immersive audio environment now and we can enjoy it anytime of day, whatever we’re doing.”

In the office—a space where Matt will be spending a lot of time—compact Signature Elite ES10 speakers, powered by a Denon Home Amp, and an ES8 subwoofer turned a workspace into a creative sanctuary—ideal for a veteran with big dreams and a lot of drive. In the master bedroom, a slim, low-profile Signa S4 sound bar provides immersive Dolby Atmos 3D sound without filling the space with speakers.

That mix of performance and practicality carried through every room. “Great sound doesn’t have to be insanely expensive,” says Jones. “There’s a solution for you, whether you’re space-limited, dealing with weather, or just want something simple.”

Outside, where the couple loves to cook and entertain, we installed weather-resistant Atrium speakers and slipped an Atrium SUB100 subwoofer underneath the deck for discreet but powerful low end. “That thing’s amazing!” says Matt. “You walk out on the deck and you see those little satellite speakers, you’re like, ‘they can’t make that much noise.’ And then you crank up the sub a little bit and your teeth rattle.”

Overcoming obstacles, elevating audio

With Tucson’s intense weather and the home’s unique structure, reliability and adaptability are important. “The house is made of adobe. The walls are two feet thick,” Jones says. “There’s no attic, no traditional wiring paths, so there was no running wires. We had to drill through the wall to wire everything in the backyard. That was probably the biggest challenge of the whole job. But once we got that done, it’s simple—sit there on your phone, play anything in any location, and you know it’s going to work.”

“We do the multi-zone streaming music, so as we’re doing house projects and we’re moving from one side of the house to the other, the music just kind of follows us,” Matt says. “It’s like walking through a concert hall before the concert, and you’re just immersed in the music.”

From reveal day to forever home

“The first thing we’re gonna do is have a kickoff party for everybody who helped with the renovation,” Matt says. “They’ve all decided our place is the party pad,” Virginia adds. “So we’ll be hosting quite a bit, I’m pretty sure.”

The Kosto family’s journey—like so many veteran families—has been marked by resilience, strength, and perseverance in the face of real challenges. This makeover, and the sound systems that came with it, is about more than technology. It’s about giving back peace, comfort, and control.

“Every little piece is something that’s so over the top that we didn’t realize that we needed or wanted until we got it,” says Matt. “We’re truly honored, truly blessed, and we love it. This is definitely our forever home.”

The Kostos’ story was featured in the season 42 premiere of Military Makeover with Montel, which aired on June 13 on Lifetime Television and the Armed Forces Network. Polk's segment is now available for viewing on YouTube

Start your own home makeover

We’re proud to support Military Makeover’s mission and honored to have played a part in Matt and Virginia’s journey. This wasn’t just about wiring a system—it was about creating moments. Moments of joy, calm, celebration, and connection.