Floorstanding loudspeakers — Polk Audio Monitor XT60

The Monitor XT60 is a slim floorstanding speaker in Polk Audio's Monitor XT series, the accessible range that the company designs in Baltimore, Maryland, and launched in 2022. Polk plans the XT family so that towers, stand-mounts, centre speakers and the MXT90 height module can be combined in stereo or surround systems. The XT60 carries Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos certification and is compatible with DTS:X and Auro-3D.

Key specs that matter

The XT60 is built as a two-way speaker with one 25 mm (1 in) Terylene dome tweeter, one 165 mm (6.5 in) Dynamic Balance woofer and two 165 mm (6.5 in) passive radiators. Frequency response extends from 38 Hz to 40 kHz, sensitivity is 86 dB and nominal impedance is 8 ohms. Polk recommends amplification between 25 W and 200 W. The cabinet is 190.5 x 925 x 230.8 mm (W x H x D), with a weight of 9.07 kg.

Engineering and use context

A ceramic motor structure drives the Terylene tweeter, which covers the bandwidth needed for Hi-Res Audio certification. The lightweight polypropylene woofer cone is developed with Polk's Dynamic Balance process to lower distortion, improve linearity and widen dynamic range. Because the woofer and both passive radiators are the same size, the front baffle stays narrow. Bass extension comes from the two passive radiators instead of a port, which avoids port noise at high excursion and reduces sensitivity to nearby walls. Internal bracing in the MDF cabinet works against standing waves and panel resonance. Nickel-plated binding posts and a removable precision-fit grille finish the build. Every Monitor XT model uses tuned components, so the tweeter and cone technology are the same from the towers through to the centre and surround models. The MXT90 height module is made to sit on top of the XT60 and supply Dolby Atmos height channels.

Pairing

Polk designed the XT series to run from standard AV receivers and stereo amplifiers rated for 4 or 8 ohm loads. In a larger living space, choosing an amplifier near Polk's 200 W limit gives the tower more headroom. For home cinema, the XT30 centre and the XT15 or XT20 stand-mounts complete a matched surround layout, and the XT60 can also serve as a side or rear speaker where there is floor space. Polk covers the series with a five-year limited warranty.

Alternatives

Polk's Monitor XT70 is the larger tower in the XT series, intended for bigger rooms.