polk XT20 Bookshelf Speakers Owner's Manual

Contents hide

1 Polk XT20 Bookshelf Speakers

2 Technical Assistance or Service

3 Care and Cleaning

4 Listening in 5.1 Surround

5 Specifications

6 Limited 5-Year Warranty

7 Documents / Resources

7.1 References

Polk XT20 Bookshelf Speakers

Expect Great Sound
Thank you for choosing the Polk Monitor XT™ Loudspeakers. This new line is bold, stylish, and quality-built for performance. These high-efficiency speakers feature Polk’s patented Dynamic Balance® tuned drivers and tweeters for clearer highs and a more realistic mid-range. The Polk Monitor XT speakers were designed to sound great and also look great; with the subtle accents, this product can live in any decor. Pure and simple, the Polk Monitor XT speakers are the true definition of “Expect Great Sound.”

Having built our reputation as
“The Speaker Specialists” for more than 45 years, we take pride in our superior sound and build quality, which features many patented and award-winning audio innovations. For the people of Polk, building audio products is not just a job—it’s a passion. And if you’re going to remember one thing, remember this: We live by the truest principle of what audio should deliver—great sound at an affordable price for everyone!

Technical Assistance or Service

If your product was damaged during shipping, please contact the authorized Polk Audio retailer where you purchased your product. For technical support, FAQs, and repair information, visit http://polk.custhelp.com. For a complete list of contact information,
visit https://www.polkaudio.com/contact-us. Support email addresses and phone numbers vary based on the region where you purchased your product.

WARNING: Listen Carefully
Polk Audio loudspeakers are capable of playing at extremely high volume levels, which could cause serious or permanent hearing damage. Polk Audio accepts no liability for hearing loss, bodily injury, or property damage resulting from the misuse of its products. Keep these guidelines in mind and always use good judgment when controlling volume:

Limit prolonged exposure to volume levels that exceed 85 decibels (dB). For more information about safe volume levels, take a look at the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) guidelines at http://www.osha.gov/.

Product Disposal
Certain international, national, and/or local laws and/ or regulations may apply regarding the disposal of this product. For more information, please contact the retailer where you purchased this product or the Polk importer/distributor in your country. More information is also available at www.polkaudio.com or by contacting Polk Audio at 5541 Fermi Court, Carlsbad, California, 92008, USA. Phone: 1-800-377-7655.

This symbol on our electrical products or their packaging indicates that it is prohibited in Europe to discard this product(s) as domestic waste. To ensure that you dispose of the product(s) correctly, please dispose of the product(s) according to local laws and regulations on the disposal of electrical and electronic equipment. In doing so, you are contributing to the retention of natural resources and the promotion of environmental protection by the treatment and disposal of electronic waste.

Care and Cleaning

The only thing you should ever need to do to your speakers is dust them occasionally. Never apply any abrasive or solvent-based cleaner or any harsh detergent. You can clean the grilles with the brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner.

EU Declaration of Conformity
Hereby, Sound United, LLC declares that our product complies with the following EU/EC Directives:

EMC:2014/30/EU

LVD:2014/35/EU
RoHS: 2011/65/EU and amendment Directive (EU) 2015/863

ErP: EC regulation 1275/2008 and its framework directive 2009/125/E, C, including amendment 801/2013
The full text of the Declaration of Conformity is available at the following internet address: https://www.polkaudio.com/ declarations-of-conformity.

Sound United, LLC
5541 Fermi Court
Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
EU Contact:
D&M Europe B.V.
Oude Stadsgracht 1
5611 DD Eindhoven

UKCA Declaration of Conformity
Hereby, Sound United, LLC declares that our product complies with the following UK regulations:

Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016
Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016

The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012

Eco Design for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010
The full text of the UK Declaration of Conformity is available at the following internet address: https://www.polkaudio.com/ declarations-of-conformity.

UK Importer:
UK importer: D&M Audiovisual Ltd
Dale Road, Worthing, West Sussex
BN11 2BH United Kingdom

Adding Adhesive-Backed Rubber Feet
To keep your Polk speakers firmly in place and prevent damage to floors or furniture, it’s a smart idea to attach the included adhesive-backed rubber feet to the bottom of your speaker.

Note

XT15 / XT20 / XT30 / XT35: You must install the rubber feet before using the product.
XT60 / XT70 / XT90: Rubber feet come pre-installed.

How to Connect Your System
To get the best sound quality, it’s important to wire your speakers correctly.

How to Use Binding Post Connectors
Loosen the hex nut and insert bare speaker wire through the hole. Tighten the hex nut down to make the connection.
Note: Do not insert an insulated section of wire into the hole (you will not get a connection).

Basic Speaker Hookup
Make sure that the red (+) and black (-) connectors on your amplifier or receiver connect to the red (+) and black (-) connectors on your speakers. If your speakers sound “thin,” with little bass and little or no center image, odds are that one of the speaker wires is connected backward. Double-check all connections.

Processor Mode for Center Channel Speaker
Note: Set the Center Channel Speaker to “small” in your receiver’s Bass Management Settings. The “bass management” or “speaker configuration” menus of most surround receivers offer the choice of “normal” or “wide” modes for center channel operation. In discrete channel digital processors, these modes are referred to as “small” and “large.” Normal (small) mode filters bass frequencies from the center channel speaker and sends them instead to the front left and right main speakers or to the subwoofer output (LFE) jack. Wide (large) mode sends an unfiltered, full-range signal to the center channel speaker. Use the Small (normal) mode for optimum center (and surround) channel performance and reliability.

Speaker Positioning
To maximize the sound quality of your speaker system— whether you’ve purchased XT15 bookshelf speakers, an XT30 center channel speaker, or XT70 tower speakers—correct placement is everything. Take a look at the following examples and give them a try based on the Polk Monitor XT Series speakers you’ve purchased.
Note: Your Polk Monitor XT Series speakers are compatible with 2.0, 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 7.1, and 9.1 setups (optional subwoofer shown in graphics).

Listening in 5.1 Surround

You can use the Polk Monitor XT Series speakers as rear surround speakers in a Polk Audio home theater system. The ideal rear channel surround speaker placement is on a side wall, slightly behind and above the listening position.

DOLBY ATMOS® 5.1 Configuration
Speaker Placement in Listening Area

Primary Speakers
Front (L/R)
Surround Back (L/R)

Listening in 3.1 System
Get the most realistic stereo image by placing speakers as far apart as the listeners are sitting from them. If room conditions require that you place the speakers farther apart, you may choose to angle the speakers toward the middle to support a more solid center image.

Listening in 5.1 Surround—alternate option
Alternate rear channel surround speaker placement for Polk Monitor XT Series speakers. If you cannot place the rear surrounds on the side walls, position them on the rear wall above the listening position.

DOLBY ATMOS® 5.1.4 Configuration
Speaker Placement in Listening Area

Primary Speakers
Front (L/R)
Surround Back (L/R)

Stackable Height Option
Add XT90 on top of Front (L/R) and Surround Back (L/R)

Listening in 7.1 Surround
Enjoy added depth to your surround sound experience with four rear surround speakers instead of two.

DOLBY ATMOS® 7.1 Configuration
Speaker Placement in Listening Area

Primary Speakers
Front (L/R)
Surround (L/R)
Surround Back (L/R)

DOLBY ATMOS® 7.1.4 Configuration
Speaker Placement in Listening Area

Primary Speakers
Front (L/R)
Surround (L/R)
Surround Back (L/R)

Stackable Height Option
Add XT90 on top of Front (L/R),-
Surround (L/R) and Surround Back (L/R)

Specifications

Monitor XT Bookshelf Speakers Monitor XT Center Channel Speakers
Specifications XT15 XT20 XT30 XT35
Speaker type Standmount (pair) Standmount (pair) Compact Center Channel Center Channel (L/C/R)

Tweeter 1″ Terylene Dome 1″ Terylene Dome 1″ Terylene Dome 1″ Terylene Dome
Mid-range/mid-bass
Woofers 5¼” custom paper 6½” custom paper Two 5¼” custom paper Four 3” custom paper

Passive radiators N/A N/A N/A N/A
Overall frequency response 48 Hz–40 kHz 38 Hz–40 kHz 55 Hz–40 kHz 57 Hz–40 kHz
Frequency response (-3 dB limits) 73 Hz–26 kHz 57 Hz–26 kHz 77 Hz–26 kHz 84 Hz–26 kHz

Recommended amplifier power 30–150 W 30–200 W 30–200 W 25–200 W
Amplifier output compatibility 4Ω / 8Ω 4Ω / 8Ω 4Ω / 8Ω 4Ω / 8Ω
Minimum Impedance (ohms) 4.1Ω 4.3Ω 4.1Ω 4.2Ω

Sensitivity (2.83V/1m) 86 dB 87 dB 89 dB 87 dB

Crossover Frequency
Tweeter/mid-range 2200 Hz 3200 Hz 2500 Hz 2500 Hz
Mid-range/mid-bass

Dimensions and Weight Attributes

Product dimensions (W x H x D)
6.50 x 10.6 x 7.18in
165.1 x 269.2 x 182.4mm

7.50 x 18.0 x 10.99in.
190.5 x 330.0 x 279.3mm
19.9 x 6.50 x 8.13in

482.6 x 165.1 x 206.6mm
24.4 x 4.15 x 5.55in
619.7 x 105.4 x 141.0mm

Greatest overall depth (including grille)
Product weight (each)

Cabinetry

Mid-range enclosure type
Mid-bass/woofer enclosure type
Available finishes: Matte Black Matte Black Matte Black Matte Black

Feet Yes, supplied in box Yes, supplied in box Yes, supplied in box Yes, supplied in box
Wall-mountable? No No No Yes
Binding posts Nickel-plated 5-way binding posts

Nickel-plated 5-way binding posts
Nickel-plated 5-way binding posts
Nickel-plated 5-way

Accessories

Designed for XT90 speaker N/A Yes N/A N/A

Certifications (non-safety and regulatory)

Hi-res certified Yes Yes Yes Yes
Subject to change without notice

Monitor XT Floorstanding Speakers Monitor XT Height Module Speaker

Specifications XT60 XT70 XT90
Speaker type Floorstanding Loudspeaker Floorstanding Loudspeaker Height Module (pair)
Tweeter 1″ Terylene Dome 1″ Terylene Dome N/A

Mid-range/mid-bass
Woofers 6½” custom paper Two 6½” custom paper 4” custom paper
Passive radiators Two 6½” PRs Two 8” PRs N/A

Overall frequency response 38 Hz–40 kHz 35 Hz–40 kHz 94 Hz–22 kHz
Frequency response (-3 dB limits) 43 Hz–26 kHz 41 Hz–26 kHz 164 Hz–17 kHz
Recommended amplifier power 25–200 W 25–200 W 30–100 W

Amplifier output compatibility 4Ω / 8Ω 4Ω / 8Ω 4Ω / 8Ω
Minimum impedance 4.4Ω 4.0Ω 4.3Ω
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m) 86 dB 89 dB 89 dB

Crossover Frequency

Tweeter/mid-range 2200 Hz 2700 Hz 2700 Hz
Mid-range/mid-bass

Dimensions and Weight Attributes

Product dimensions (W x H x D)
7.50 x 36.4 x 9.09in

190.5 x 925.0 x 230.8mm
9.25 x 40.4 x 12.5in.
235 x 1026.6 x 317.9mm

7.50 x 5.64 x 8.38in
190.5 x 143.2 x 212.9mm
Greatest overall depth (including grille)

Product weight (each)

Cabinetry

Mid-range enclosure type

Mid-bass/woofer enclosure type
Available finished:s Matte Black Matte Black Matte Black
Feet Rubber pads Rubber pads Rubber pads

Wall-mountable? No No Yes
Binding posts Nickel-plated 5-way
binding posts

Nickel-plated 5-way
binding posts
Nickel-plated 5-w

Accessories

Designed for XT90 speaker Yes Yes N/A

Certifications (non-safety and regulatory)

Hi-res certified Yes Yes No
Subject to change without notice.

Limited 5-Year Warranty

Polk Audio, LLC (hereinafter “Polk” or “Polk Audio”) provides this limited warranty for the original retail purchaser only. This warranty will terminate automatically before it is stated expiration if the original retail purchaser sells or transfers the Product to any other party.

Polk Audio warrants to the original retail purchaser only that the loudspeaker(s), passive crossover component(s), and enclosure (“Product”) will be free from defects in material and workmanship for five (5) years from the date ofthe original retail purchase from a Polk Audio Authorized Dealer. To allow Polk to offer the best possible warranty service, please register your new Product online at www.polkaudio.com/ registration or call Polk customer service at 800-377-7655 in the USA and Canada within ten (10) days of the date of the purchase. Be sure to keep your original purchase receipt.

Defective Products must be shipped, together with proof of purchase, prepaid and insured to the Polk Authorized Dealer from whom you purchased the Product or to the Factory at 5541 Fermi Court; Carlsbad, CA 92008. Products must be shipped in the original shipping container or its equivalent; in any case t, the risk of loss or damage in transit is to be borne by you. If upon examination at the factory or Polk Authorized Deal, it is determined that the unit was defective in materials or workmanship at any time during this warranty period, Polk or the Polk Authorized Dealer will, at its option, repair or replace this Product at no additional charge, except as set forth below.

All replaced parts, and Products become the property of Polk. Products replaced or repaired under this warranty will be returned to you within a reasonable time, freight prepaid. This warranty does not include service or parts to repair damage caused by accident, disaster, misuse, abuse, negligence, inadequate packing or shipping procedures, commercial use, voltage inputs over the rated maximum of the unit, the cosmetic appearance of cabinetry not directly attributable to defect in materials or workmanship, or service, repair, or modification of the Product which has not been authorized or approved by Polk.

This warranty shall terminate if purchased from an unauthorized dealer or if any of the serial numbers on the product have been removed, tampered with, or defaced. This warranty is instead of all other expressed warranties. If this product is defective in materials or workmanship as warranted above, your sole remedy shall be repair or replacement as provided above. In no event will Polk Audio be liable to you for any incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the Product, even if Polk Audio or a Polk.

The authorized Dealer has been advised of the possibility of such damages or for any claim by any other party. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the above limitation and exclusion may not apply to you. All implied warranties on this Product are limited to the duration of this expressed warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you also may have other rights that vary from state to state.

This warranty applies only to Products purchased in Canada, the United States of America, its possessions, and U.S. and NATO armed forces exchanges. Please see the warranty guide specific to Polk Products purchased in countries or territories not
referenced herein.

Sound United, LLC
5541 Fermi Court
Carlsbad, CA 92008 USA
www.polkaudio.com
HBP4584-B

EU Contact:
D&M Europe B.V.
Oude Stadsgracht 1
5611 DD Eindhoven

UK Importer
D&M Audiovisual Ltd.
Dale Road, Worthing, West Sussex
BN11 2BH United Kingdom

Documents / Resources

polk XT20 Bookshelf Speakers [pdf] Owner's Manual
XT20, XT20 Bookshelf Speakers, Bookshelf Speakers, Speakers

polk XT20 Bookshelf Speakers Owner’s Manual