Polk Audio CSi3 Center Channel Speaker (Single, Black)

by Polk Audio

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 20 x 9.2 x 7 inches ; 17.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 18 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000E6S12
• Item model number: AM3115
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,343 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

CSi Center Channel Speakers easily carry the 50+% of center channel info delivered in multi-channel sources; their upside-down aim-able cabinets give you the ultimate in placement flexibility and sound-tailoring for your high performance home theater system.

Features

• Acoustically inert 3/4" MDF cabinets, finished in Cherry wood or Black Oak veneers. Turn them upside-down to aim them "up" when your placement requires them to be below your TV or video screen (it's a Polk innovation we pioneered back in the 90s!).
• Dynamic Balance polymer composite drivers for smooth wide-range response with low distortion.
• 1" silk dome Dynamic Balance tweeter features a neodymium magnet for clear, detailed highs; heat-sinked for superior heat dissipation, power handling and reliability.
• Butyl rubber surrounds for high performance durability.
• Acoustically inert stamped driver baskets.
• Floating anti-diffraction grilles minimize grille diffraction for spacious, 3-dimensional imaging.
• Magnetic shielding for safe placement near video sources.
• Mylar bypass capacitors in the crossovers extend high frequency response and improve detail and transparency.
• Gold-plated 5-way binding post inputs (with wide holes for large-gauge bare wire connections) for the most secure connections and the most versatile wiring applications.
• Timbre-matched to fit into any Polk Audio home theater or multi-channel music system for a more realistic, more seamless surround sound environment.

Product Description

Center channel speakers easily carry the 50% or more of center channel info delivered in multi-channel sources for home theatre systems. The Polk Audio CSI A3 Center Channel Speaker has an upside down aimable cabinet to give you placement flexibility and finer sound-tailoring for your high performance home theater system. The CSi A3 features the latest generation of Dynamic Balance polymer composite drivers for smooth wide-range response with low distortion as well as a 1-inch silk/polymer dome tweeter to deliver better sound detail. The front panel flared vent port vastly reduces chuffing or port noise. It provides deeper, more powerful, lower distortion bass than other conventional ported or sealed designs can offer. All-MDF construction creates an acoustically inert cabinet. You are assured classic Polk performance in a design that speaks to today's high-end home décor. True performance art.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Polk tradition of unbeatable value reigns on..., June 19, 2007

By 

James Marcano "Film Major" (State College, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polk Audio CSi3 Center Channel Speaker (Single, Black) (Electronics)

Go ahead, find a center channel for the same price that even comes close to the sound of the CSi3. I dare you.

When paired with a good mid-line or better receiver (my own is paired with a Yamaha RX-V557), this speaker will not let you down. During movies and video games, voices are incredibly natural. Between the silk-dome tweeter and the two drivers, this speaker can hit every frequency that human vocal chords are capable of producing; that's important for a center-channel.

Although I generally stick to stereo for most music, unless it's encoded properly for surround, this speaker will also impress during your favourite tunes. Don't expect much in the lower frequencies, but mid and highs-will be as accurate as you can imagine.

Finally, though to me, this is one of those superficial qualities, the case design allows the user to place the center below his or her television, pointed up at the user. This adds another measure of flexibility, although the fact that polk doesn't use this design in their top-line LSiC might point toward how the company really feels about such a speaker arrangement.

All-in-all, you can't go wrong with the CSi3. The average listener will be blown away, and audiophiles will be impressed with such performance at this price point. I know that I certainly am.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Center Speaker!, December 1, 2004

By 

A. Ingoglia - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This center speaker for the price is fantastic. The voices are very crisp and it sounds great with a dts/dolby digital receiver. I love this center speaker makes my surround sound system intense! POLK AUDIO did a great job. I even got the cheap r30 front speakers and it eally added what I was looking for. My neighbors hate them but it is worth it! Ha!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Sound, April 2, 2010

By 

Anthony Lawson (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Polk Audio CSi3 Center Channel Speaker (Single, Black) (Electronics)

PROs: Brilliant sound. Fills out the front sound stage exceptionally well. Vocal clarity is top notch. I have found in my ownership of this speaker (since 2008!) that it is very versatile and pairs with most mid to high end speakers surprisingly well. Construction feels solid and the speaker has a good heft to it without being overly heavy. In addition, the speaker is built with a slope on one side that allows the speaker to be placed below eye level and 'aimed' upwards to compensate. Screw type binding posts give the option to terminate your speaker wiring any way you please, be it with a banana plug, pin, or just bare wire.

CONs: Cat fur sticks to the grill. To be fair, there's no accounting for cats.