Founded in 1972 by Matthew Polk, George Klopfer, and Sandy Gross while attending Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Polk Audio began with just $200 capital in an unheated garage. Named after Polk for pronunciation ease, the trio aimed to combine European clarity with American bass power. Operating from a ramshackle 18th-century mansion on Notre Dame Lane nicknamed 'The Addams Family house,' they achieved breakthrough success with the Monitor 7 (1974), earning their first $1 million within a year. Sandy Gross built worldwide distribution by driving cross-country in his Volvo wagon, while the company relocated to Dickeyville in 1975. Today, Polk Audio maintains Baltimore roots with their ARAD (Audio and Acoustics Research and Development) center in Owings Mills, continuing 50+ years of engineering excellence. From garage startup to global speaker manufacturer, Polk Audio represents American entrepreneurial spirit and acoustic innovation.