New Products

Looking ahead to the rapidly approaching 2021 holiday season, Polk Audio today introduced not one but two full-line home theater speaker series.

The upscale Signature Elite Series (opening photo), which sits below the flagship Legend and Reserve series, is an update of the Signature Series Polk introduced in 2016. The lineup comprises eight models, including a $249/pair surround/height module for adding an overhead dimension with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks. Prices top out at $1,098/pair for a floorstanding tower model.

Moving down a couple notches on the price scale, the more pedestrian looking Monitor XT Series (shown below) is the latest evolution of the more budget-friendly Monitor Series and it, too, features eight models, including a dedicated height module that sells for $149/pair and a powered subwoofer. Prices go up to $598/pair for the top floorstander.

In addition to the surround/height modules, both series include two bookshelf models, two center-channel speakers, and two (Monitor XT) or three (Signature Elite) towers. Instead of a third floorstanding speaker, the Monitor XT series offers the powered subwoofer.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the models in each series, from most to least expensive.

Signature Elite Series, available in black, white-washed, or walnut:
• ES60 tower - $1,098/pair
• ES55 tower - $898/pair
• ES50 tower - $698/pair
• ES20 bookshelf - $399/pair
• ES35 slim center channel - $399
• ES30 center channel - $299
• ES15 compact bookshelf - $299/pair
• ES10 surround/height module - $249/pair

Monitor XT Series, available in only in black:
• XT70 tower - $598/pair
• XT60 tower - $398/pair
• XT12 powered subwoofer - $299
• XT20 bookshelf - $249/pair
• XT35 slim center channel- $249
• XT30 center channel - $149
• XT15 bookshelf - $149/pair
• XT90 height module - $149/pair

The XT12 powered subwoofer is rated down to 24Hz and mates a 12-inch woofer with a 100-watt Class AB amplifier and adjustable crossover.

Both series are covered by a five-year limited warranty and feature timbre-matched models with “dynamic balance” polypropylene woofers — customized and mica-fortied in the Signature Elite models — and dome tweeters made of a synthetic polyester fiber known as Terylene. Grilles are removable in both lineups and attach magnetically in Signature Elite models.

The Signature Elite series also boasts Polk’s patented Power Port technology, implemented as a down-firing port in the tower models, a refined crossover network, increased sensitivity ratings, and super-sturdy Medite MDF enclosures with improved internal bracing to reduce unwanted resonances. In addition to eliminating turbulence, which can mar bass performance, the Power Port design delivers 3dB more output than conventional ported designs, according to Polk.

For more information on the Signature Elite Series, visit polkaudio.com. For more on the Monitor XT Series here.