polk Monitor XT12 12 Inch Powered Subwoofer Owner’s Manual

: June 4, 2024
: polk

Table of Contents

polk Monitor XT12 12 Inch Powered Subwoofer
Expect Great Sound®
Technical Assistance or Service
Care and Cleaning
Safety Precautions
FCC
Positioning Your Subwoofer
Subwoofer Back Panel Controls
Subwoofer Connection Options
Warranty
MXT12 Powered Subwoofer
- Consumer Benefits
- Features
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

polk Monitor XT12 12 Inch Powered Subwoofer

polk-Monitor-XT12-12-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-image

© Copyright 2021 Polk Audio, LLC.
Polk, Polk Audio, Monitor XT, and Monitor XT12 are trademarks of Polk Audio, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Expect Great Sound®

Thank you for choosing the Polk® Monitor XT12™ Subwoofer. The Polk Monitor XT™ speaker line is bold, stylish and quality built for performance. 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://support.polkaudio.com. 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, please review 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 to 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.

Safety Precautions

CAUTION
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER- SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within
the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

Correct disposal of this product. This marking indicates that this product should not be disposed with other household wastes throughout the EU. To prevent possible harm to the
environment or human health from uncontrolled waste disposal, recycle it responsibly to promote the sustainable reuse of material resources. To return your used device, please use the return and collection systems or contact the retailer where the product was purchased. They can take this product for environmental safe recycling.
CAUTION! To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock,
do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and that objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall not be placed on apparatus.
Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with a dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the apparatus.
Place the subwoofer close to your AC power socket for easy plugging and unplugging.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at the plugs, convenience receptacles, and at the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Use only attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart or rack is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over. The subwoofer may tip over, causing serious personal injury or death.
Unplug the apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as when power supply cord or plug is damaged, when liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, when the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
WARNING! The mains plug/appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device. The disconnect device shall remain readily operable.
CAUTION! To completely disconnect this product from the mains, disconnect the plug from the wall socket outlet. The mains plug is used to completely interrupt the power supply to the unit and must be within easy access by the user.
The equipment can be used at a maximum ambient temperature of 95 °F (35 °C).
The product is designed for altitudes up to and including 2000m above sea level.
CAUTION! To completely disconnect this product from the mains, disconnect the plug from the wall socket outlet. The mains plug is used to completely interrupt the power supply to the unit and must be within easy access by the user.
CAUTIONS ON INSTALLATION! For proper heat dispersal, do not install this unit in a confined space such as a bookcase or similar enclosure.
- Amplifier: 0.3 m or more
- Other units: 0.1 m or more
CAUTION! Neutral fusing. After fuse is blown, there is still a risk of electrical shock. Disconnect power cord before service. When replacing, use a fuse with the same current rating (T 2AL 250V).

FCC

IC Information (For Canadian Customers)

CAN ICES-3(B)/NMB-3(B)

FCC Information (For US Customers)

This product generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this product does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the product OFF and ON, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the product into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the local retailer authorized to distribute this type of product or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Notes on Use

Avoid high temperatures.
Allow for sufficient heat dispersion when installed in a rack.
Handle the power cord carefully.
WARNING! Hold the plug when unplugging the cord.
Keep the unit free from moisture, water, and dust.
Unplug the power cord when not using the unit for long periods of time.
Do not obstruct the ventilation holes.
Do not let foreign objects into the unit.
Do not let insecticides, benzene, and thinner come in contact with the unit.
WARNING! Never disassemble or modify the unit in any way.
Ventilation should not be impeded by covering the ventilation openings with items such as newspapers, tablecloths or curtains.
Naked flame sources such as lit candles should not be placed on the unit.
Do not expose the unit to dripping or splashing fluids.
Do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the unit.
WARNING! Do not handle the mains cord with wet hands.
WARNING! When the switch is in the OFF (STANDBY) position, the equipment is not completely switched off from MAINS.
The equipment shall be installed near the power supply so that the power supply is easily accessible.
Do not bend forcedly the plug on the equipment for the connection between the connector and micro USB/USB cable.
CAUTION (for amplifier)! HOT SURFACE.
DO NOT TOUCH.
The rear metal panel over the internal heat
sink may become hot when operating this
product continuously. Do not touch hot areas, especially around the “Hot surface” mark and the rear metal panel.

Positioning Your Subwoofer

To maximize the sound quality of your speaker system, correct placement is everything. Your Monitor XT12 subwoofer is compatible with 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 7.1 and 9.1 setups. Placing your subwoofers in the optimal location provides a more dramatic effect on the performance of the bass output.
Listening with One Subwoofer
For a single-subwoofer setup, Polk recommends positioning the subwoofer on either side of and along the same wall as the front speakers. Placing the subwoofer in the middle of the listening area will not provide the most optimal sound and may decrease the amount of bass output you experience. For the best sound and minimal distortion, the subwoofer should be positioned approximately 6 inches from the wall.
Listening with Multiple Subwoofers
When placing multiple subwoofer, choose a location in either corner of the same wall as your front speakers and position the second or multiple subwoofers in an opposite diagonal position as the first subwoofer. Ensure each subwoofer is at least 6 inches from the wall. This will ensure the best listening experience.

Single Subwoofer Setup Multiple Subwoofer Setup

Subwoofer Back Panel Controls

polk-Monitor-XT12-12-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-fig3

1 SPEAKER LEVEL OUTPUT

2          SPEAKER LEVEL INPUT
3          VOLUME CONTROL
4          LOW PASS FILTER
5          LED POWER INDICATOR
6          POWER AUTO/ON AND OFF
7          PHASE CONTROL
8          LINE IN (LFE = WHITE RCA)
9          AC POWER INLET
10      FUSE (T 2AL 250V)

Subwoofer Connection Options

There are three options for connecting an input to your subwoofer: LINE IN, SPEAKER LEVEL IN, and LFE.

LINE IN SETUP

This method is recommended for systems with no LFE/subwoofer output jack, such as 2-channel systems.

1. Power-off the amplifier/receiver and disconnect the subwoofer from the AC socket.
2. Connect standard RCA cables from the front left and right pre-out jacks of the receiver.
3. Connect the subwoofer to an AC power source and turn it on.
4. Set the default volume to the 12 o’clock position.
5. Set the low-pass filter on the subwoofer to the appropriate frequency.

SPEAKER LEVEL IN SETUP
This method is recommended for amplifiers/receivers that do not have LFE/subwoofer or pre-out jacks.
Power-off the amplifier/receiver and disconnect the subwoofer from the AC socket.
Connect standard speaker cables from the speaker output terminals of the amplifier/receiver. Most amplifiers and receiver speaker terminals allow two sets of wires to be connected to one terminal set (one for the main speaker and one for the subwoofer).
IMPORTANT NOTE: One terminal on each channel input is marked with a red band (+) and the other is marked with a black band (–). Make certain that you connect the wire from the red (+) terminal of your amplifier/receiver to the red (+) terminal of the subwoofer and the wire from the black (–) terminal of your amplifier/receiver to the black (–) terminal of the subwoofer. It is essential to connect all speakers in the system to the amplifier in the same way (to the correct polarity.) If you experience poor bass, one or more of the channels may be connected to the incorrect polarity and may need to be rewired. Pay close attention and connect positive to positive and negative to negative on all channels.
Connect the subwoofer to an AC power source and turn it on.
Set the default volume to the 12 o’clock position.
LFE SETUP
Follow the steps in the appropriate section below depending on whether or not you have a Y adapter.

With a Y adapter

Power off the amplifier/receiver and disconnect the subwoofer from the AC socket.
Connect a Y adapter to the RCA input on the amplifier and connect the LFE cable from your receiver to the Y adapter.
Turn the low-pass filter knob on the subwoofer to 160 Hz.
Set the default volume to the 12 o’clock position.
Connect the subwoofer to AC power and turn it on.

Without a Y adapter

Power off the amplifier/receiver and disconnect the subwoofer from the AC socket.
Connect the LFE cable from your receiver to the left white RCA line input.
Turn the low-pass filter knob on the subwoofer to 160 Hz.
Set the default volume to the 12 o’clock position.
Connect the subwoofer to AC power and turn it on.

Monitor XT12 Subwoofer Specifications*

*Subject to change without notice.

Warranty

U.S. and Canada Limited 3-Year Warranty for Electronics and Amplifier/ Limited 5-Year Warranty for the Subwoofer and Cabinet

Polk Audio, LLC (hereinafter “Polk” or “Polk Audio”) provides this limited warranty to the original retail purchaser only. This warranty will terminate automatically prior to its 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 subwoofer and cabinet (“Product”) will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of five (5) years, and the electronics and amplifier for a period of three (3) years from the date of original retail purchase from an authorized Polk Audio Dealer.
To allow Polk to offer the best possible warranty service, please register your new Product online. To register, please visit support.polkaudio.com and click Register a Product, or call Polk Customer Service at 1-800-377-7655 in the USA and Canada within ten (10) days of the date of original purchase.
Defective Products must be shipped as designated by Polk, together with proof of purchase, prepaid and insured to either the Polk Authorized Dealer from whom you purchased the Product, or to a location designated by Polk. When returning products for warranty repair, you will be required to provide an original receipt or bill of sale, identifying you as the original purchaser and identifying the purchase was made through a Polk Authorized Dealer. Products must be shipped in the original shipping container or its equivalent; in any case, the risk of loss or damage in transit is to be borne by you. If upon examination by Polk or Polk Authorized Dealer it is determined that the unit was defective in materials or workmanship at any time during this limited 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. If you have questions about warranty coverage or the warranty return process, please visit support.polkaudio.com and click Warranty. To contact Polk Customer Service from the United States or Canada, call
1-800-377-7655.
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 in excess of the rated maximum of the unit, 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 number on the Product has been removed, tampered with or defaced.
This warranty is applicable to all of the U.S. and Canada, except Quebec, and is in lieu of all other expressed or implied 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 Authorized Dealer have been advised of the possibility of such damages, or for any claim by any other party. Except as provided in this limited warranty, and to the maximum extent permitted by law, Polk is not responsible for direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages resulting from breach of warranty or condition or under other legal theory, including but not limited to, loss of revenue, profits, business, opportunity, goodwill, reputation, compromise or corruption of data, or any indirect or consequential loss of damage. Some states or provinces do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or 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 or provinces do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty (or condition) lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you also may have other rights which vary from state to state or province to province, as applicable. Residents of Quebec are governed by that province’s consumer protection legislation.
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
EU Contact:
Sound United Europe
a Division of D&M Europe B.V. Beemdstraat 11, 5653 MA Eindhoven The Netherlands
UK Importer:
D&M Audiovisual Ltd.
Cells 1 & 2 Kopshop, 6 Old London Road Kingston Upon Thames
KT2 6QF UK

MXT12 Powered Subwoofer

12″ High Performance, 100W Powered Subwoofer

Monitor XT12 provides Polk’s loud, low, effortless bass so you can enjoy movies, music and gaming with more impact and excitement. Easily integrated into any home theater or music listening environment, and featuring new woofer, amplifier and cabinet designs—the affordably priced MXT12 fulfills the Polk promise of great sound for all.

SPECIFICATIONS

(W) 16″ x (H) 16.4″ x (D) 17.9″

Weight| 39lbs/17.7kg

Consumer Benefits

Polk’s Legendary Effortless Bass
A big 12” Dynamically Balanced woofer in a ported cabinet, powered by a clean and ultra-efficient 100W Class A/B amplifier delivers bass almost to the edge of human hearing—down to 24Hz—adding more punch and impact to your favorite music, movies and video games.

Built to Withstand the Rumble
When you want bass this loud and this low, a subwoofer needs more than a great woofer and powerful amplifier to make it seem effortless. Monitor XT12 is housed within a rigid, low-resonance cabinet to provide clean, loud bass and its specially designed, removable grille minimizes sonic interference.

Easy Setup and Customizable Bass
Featuring line level (RCA), nickel-plated speaker connectors, and LFE inputs Monitor XT12 is compatible with both the latest Dolby Atmos and DTS:X enabled AV receivers and vintage components alike. And with control over phase, crossover, polarity and volume, you can tune the MXT12s performance to your room, system and listening style.

The Evolution of a Hi-Fi Classic, Now for Home Theaters
With a history going back to 1974, the Monitor XT12 is the subwoofer for the next generation of Polk’s critically acclaimed Monitor line of speakers. Loud, low and with effortless bass, the MXT12 will improve the sound and impact of anything you’re listening to.

Features

Add Polk’s Legendary, Effortless Bass to Your Music, Movies, TV and Video Games
Long-Throw, High Excursion 12” Dynamic Balanced Woofer for Deep Impact with Low Distortion
Powerful and Efficient 100W Class A/B Amplifier for Loud, Clean, and Responsive Performance
Smooth Low Frequency Extension Down to 24hz, Perfect for Bass Heavy Music and Movie Action
Fine Tune to Your System with Volume, Consistently Variable Crossover (80–160Hz) and Phase Polarity (0/180) Control
Critically Braced, Low-Resonance MDF Cabinet & Removable, Precision-Fit Grille for Pure Sound
Timbre-Matched with Polk Monitor XT Series, but a Perfect Subwoofer for Any System
Add a Second MXT12 Subwoofer for Even More Bass and Smoother Low Frequencies
Polk Patented Quality Backed by Five Years Woofer, Three Years Amplifier Limited Warranty

Polk Audio is a DEI Holdings, Inc. Company. Polk Audio, Polk, are registered trademarks of Polk Audio, LLC. / Dolby, Dolby Audio, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. / DTS, Digital Surround, and the DTS logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of DTS, Inc. in the United States and other countries.. / © 2021 DTS, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. / Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners