Why are Polk Audio speakers "cheap but high quality"? Attractiveness found in the new introductory machine "Monitor XT"

Polk Audio's speakers, which have re-landed in Japan in 2021, have been well received by audiophiles in Japan. A series of attention that will further accelerate the momentum has appeared. This is the cheapest "Monitor XT" series in the company's speaker lineup.

The "Monitor XT" series comes out from Polk Audio When I experienced the actual machine, I was surprised by three major points: the low price, the richness of the lineup, and the good sound quality. I listen to quite a few speakers throughout the year, but I don't think there are many models that surpass the Monitor XT in terms of cost performance. This time, we interviewed two people, Mr. Frank Stearns (hereafter, Mr. Stearns) and Mr. Michael Greco (hereafter, Mr. Greco), who are the central figures of Polk Audio. Focusing on the Monitor XT series, we asked about the current Polk Audio brand, the product development process, the secrets of sound creation, and why the company is so strong in entry-level speakers. Also, in the second half, I will report the audition of Monitor XT, so please check it out as well. Audio critic Mr. Hijikata reviewed the Monitor XT Low price / rich lineup / high-quality sound triple threat Before starting the interview, I delved into the three points that surprised me about the Monitor XT. Let's keep Price first. The "RESERVE" series, which appeared in conjunction with the re-landing in Japan, and the sibling "Signature Elite" series, which was subsequently released, were also affordable speakers, but this series belongs to the lower range. Especially this Monitor XT is quite cheap among Japanese high-fidelity audio speakers. The lineup is also abundant, and you can choose from two types of bookshelf speakers: "MXT15" (27,500 yen / pair, tax included below) and "MXT20" (38,500 yen / pair). In addition, there are two types of floor standing types, "MXT60" (33,000 yen / 1 unit) and "MXT70" (49,500 yen / 1 unit), which are also quite inexpensive. In addition to the lineup of all 9 models in the "Monitor XT" series, the center speakers "MXT30" (27,500 yen / unit) and "MXT35" (38,500 yen / unit) that can be used for multi-channel applications. A total of 9 models such as the height module speaker "MXT90" (27,500 yen / pair) for immersive audio such as Dolby Atmos, subwoofer "MXT12" (49,500 yen / unit), "PSW10" (38,500 yen / unit). prepared. And finally, and most importantly, the Monitor XT has a solid sound quality that exceeds my expectations. In other words, it is a speaker that is not "cheap or bad".