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Polk Audio CS1 (black)

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CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
Detailed editors' rating

Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 6 reviews
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Product summary

The good: Full-size center speaker; two 5.25-inch woofers flanking a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter.

The bad 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.

Specifications: Type of speaker: center channel speaker; Dimensions (WxDxH): 18 in x 9.6 in x 7 in; Amplification type: 2-way Passive; See full specs

Price range: $84.96 - $89.99

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Steve Guttenberg
Edited by: David Carnoy
Reviewed on: 12/08/2004
Released on: 07/15/2004

Polk Audio's CS1 center-channel speaker, which retails for $199 and is part of the company's updated Monitor line, doesn't stray too far from the classic box-speaker form. From the side, however, the CS1's wedge-shaped profile is distinctive, and its bright titanium front baffle and curved grille add a 21st-century flair to the design.

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.

See more CNET content tagged:: Polk Audio,; subwoofer,; monitor,; speakers,; TV

User reviews

Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 6 reviews
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4.5 stars

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

"Excellent sound and looks great too!"

by steveny on May 1, 2005

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5.0 stars

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

"Beautiful sound and design!"

by gcook67 on May 31, 2005

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4.5 stars

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

"Allan Hendricks"

by Allan Hendricks on October 9, 2005

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Polk Audio CS1 (black)

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