Polk Audio CS1 (black)
Starting at: $88.99
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Steve Guttenberg
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
The good: Full-size center speaker; two 5.25-inch woofers flanking a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter.
The bad: It might be too large for some tastes.
The bottom line: This full-size center-channel speaker sounds good with both movies and music and blends well with Polk's other Monitor Series speakers.
With a pair of larger than average 5.25-inch composite woofers matched with a 1-inch silk/polymer-composite dome tweeter, the CS1 definitely counts as a full-size center speaker. It measures an ample 7 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 9.6 inches deep; ... Expand full review
With a pair of larger than average 5.25-inch composite woofers matched with a 1-inch silk/polymer-composite dome tweeter, the CS1 definitely counts as a full-size center speaker. It measures an ample 7 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 9.6 inches deep; it weighs 13 pounds. The nonresonant 0.75-inch-thick MDF (medium-density fiberboard) cabinet construction is nice and solid, and the internal crossover uses high-quality parts. The heavy-duty, five-way binding posts cheerfully accept banana jacks, bare wire, or spade connectors.
Like the rest of the Monitor Series, the CS1 is available in faux-cherry or black veneers. Flat-panel TV owners should be aware that the CS1 isn't designed for wall mounting; it can either sit on top of your TV or on a shelf under the set.
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Ex-movie theater projectionist Steve Guttenberg has also worked as a high-end audio salesman, and as a record producer. Steve currently reviews audio products for CNET and works as a freelance writer for Home Theater, Inner Fidelity, Tone Audio, and Stereophile. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET.
User Reviews
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Most Helpful User Review
stars 4 of 4 users found this review helpful
"Excellent sound and looks great too!" By steveny
Pros Inexpensive center channel speaker.
Cons Faux cherry veneer but it still looks very good
Summary I added this speaker ($200) to my other Polk monitors (40's on the front & 30's surround w/PS 10 sub-woofer driven with the entry level Sony digital receiver). Total cost was about $900 not counting wires, stands etc. (Sub was free). For the money you won't ... Expand full review
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Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Speaker type: Center channel speaker
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Amplification Type: 2-way - Passive
