Polk Audio Monitor Series CS2 Center Channel Speaker (Single, Black)

by Polk Audio

Product Details

• Item Weight: 16 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 20 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• 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: B0002MPNLC
• Item model number: AM2115-A
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,524 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #42 in Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Stereo Components > Speakers > Center-Channel Speakers

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The name "Monitor" is special to Polk Audio. The original Polk Audio Monitor Series, produced in the mid-1970s, ushered in the modern loudspeaker era by setting the standard for performance and value. The original Monitor Series is the line that made Polk Audio famous with its simple, sturdy construction, clear, accurate sound, powerful bass and superior imaging all at a price that made great sound available to everyone.

The newly reborn Monitor Series is classic Polk: a quality-built, affordable line of high performance loudspeakers for music and home theater. They are highly efficient, so they can be driven by unpretentious receivers, and they are voice matched for lifelike surround sound environments. The Monitor Series boasts a stylish contemporary look, modern titanium faces, and bold stabilizer feet on the tower models. Built for speed, sound quality and value, the Monitor Series is a great introduction to high performance sound.

The CS2 center speaker has been designed to be the perfect match for Monitor Series speakers in multi-channel systems. The CS2 features a high efficiency design to reveal the classic Polk Audio sound (open, spacious and clear) even when driven by modestly-powered amplifiers and receivers.

The 1" (25mm) fabric/polymer composite dynamic balance dome tweeter with powerful neodymium magnet structure delivers clear and detailed high frequency response for realistic reproduction of vocals and instruments. Ultimate flexibility comes via the reversible-design cabinets that can be turned upside down to aim "up" when placed under a video monitor.

Product Description

1" (25mm) Fabric/Polymer Composite Dynamic Balance Dome Tweeter with powerful Neodymium magnet structure

Bi-Laminate Composite Dynamic Balance Drivers are lightweight and stiff with good damping for high efficiency

Non-resonant all-MDF enclosure construction with "-thick baffles

Five-Way Binding Post Connectors for more secure hook-up options, and bi-wiring and bi-amping flexibility

Reversible-design cabinets can be turned upside down to aim up when placed under a video monitor

Magnetic shieldeding for safe placement near TVs with no risk of video distortion

Critically Tuned Flared Port minimizes port noise (chuffing)

2 Woofers - 6-1/2" Diameter (16.51cm)

Woofers have Dynamic Balance Bi-laminate composite cone drivers

1 Tweeter - 1" Diameter (2.54cm)

Tweeter has a Dynamic Balance Silk/polymer composite dome

Overall Frequency Response: 55Hz - 25kHz

Lower -3dB Limit 60Hz

Upper -3dB Limit 24kHz

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very impressed, June 9, 2008

By 

kem (texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polk Audio Monitor Series CS2 Center Channel Speaker (Single, Black) (Electronics)

I recently decided to switch out an existing center channel for a polk because my front speakers are monitor 50s and I wanted the fronts and center to timbre match in order to get the best sound. I was trying to decide between this center and the cs1. Since I will probably upgrade my fronts to the monitor 70s one day I went with the cs2. First off, it is HUGE. As far a footprints go guys this one has a shoe the size of bigfoot. I bought an omnimount center channel shelf and used the shelf to stick it on top of my hdtv. It actually looks o.k. with the shelf but it is rather large guys so be prepared. The second thing I noticed is the sound quality. My previous center speaker was a boston acoustics vrc. Usually I would crank up my receiver to about level 70 (onkyo sr605) and I noticed that anything above that level would put out a greater volume from the center but the sound quality would not be the same as at 70 or below. It was almost like a person yelling at one volume vs yelling at an even louder volume. After switching out the vrc with the cs2 I noticed an immediate difference. Now I can crank my receiver up to almost 80 and the sound is louder but the quality of the sound is more clear and refined. This center is definitely made for higher end receivers and is more than prepared for those times when you want to crank up your home theater and wake the neighbors. I have been using the die hard trilogy in blu-ray as my home theater testing material and after playing the tunnel scene and the apartment shoot-out from live free or die hard I could tell an immediate difference. The cs2 does cost more than the cs1 and I can't really speak for the cs1 since I haven't heard it but if you are willing to fork over the extra dough this speaker most definitely is worth it. My only regret is that I bought the cherry finish model in order to save money. My wife picked out a dark cherry wood color scheme for all of the furniture in our living room and I took a chance on the cherry finish being close enough to match. Turns out the black finish would have been better. Anyway you can't go wrong with this speaker whether cherry or black. Just be ready for its size.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing sound, gigantic size, August 10, 2009

By 

P. Radhakrishnan (Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Polk Audio Monitor Series CS2 Center Channel Speaker (Single, Black) (Electronics)

I got this cs2 to go with 2 polk audio monitor 70's in a home theater setup. Before this I had a yamaha center that was less powerful, but sounded good.

First off, like others have mentioned, the speaker is HUGE. It is worth mentioning again. Take your idea of a large center speaker and then multiply it a few times. Seriously. It actually seems thicker than the floor standing polk 70's. You must check measurements and make sure you have extra clearance in your home theater setup to accommodate. You will need about 8 - 10 inches height in a shelf to be safe, and quite a bit of depth. Trust me on this one and check the size. I had an IKEA benno tv stand with what appeared to be a pretty large shelf and never dreamed a center speaker would be too big for it. It was just 1/2 inch too short. I finally purchased a Z-line Balboa Park TV stand from Target for a decent price just to fit this speaker. Once you set it up, it actually looks pretty good and discrete with the grille.

It sounds silly to spend extra money just to accommodate a center speaker, but I really feel it was worth it. The sound experience watching blurays and playing ps3 games in 5.1 is really amazing. The sound is huge and clear, even at lower volumes. If the speaker is not at ear level, you can place it upside down so the speaker points up at you. This is part of the design of the speaker, and it works incredibly well. Dialogue sounds just like in the theater, and in some cases even better. Amazingly crisp and full of depth. Make sure the front of your center speaker is in line the with front of the front channel speakers and the tv for the best sound.

I'm sure many struggle with the eternal battle of increasing and decreasing volume while watching 5.1 content to hear dialogue vs. loud action scenes. I think this speaker really helps in this regard, simply due to the richness of sound and clarity. I could really hear the difference, because before I got the new tv stand, I went back to the old yamaha after already testing the cs2 -- like night and day. However, nothing will eliminate it completely if you are worried about loud volumes. I realized this the other day watching Harry Potter 6 in the theater. Dialogue in theaters really is much much softer than loud action scenes -- the sound is deliberately mastered that way and the same soundtracks end up on blurays. The CS2 really does, in my opinion, a faithful reproduction that sounds amazing. You will see definitely the benefit vs. smaller center speakers though.

I can't speak to cs2 vs cs1, but these days you can find it online for only a little more than cs1 and from what I have read, it is worth it. If you have monitor 70's, it is definitely worth it, since cs2 is meant to match the same tonal timbre as the monitor 70's. If taken care of well, speakers last for years and years, so the extra $30 or so is not bad.

If you can manage the space issue, I would highly recommend this speaker. It will really take your home theater experience to a new level.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great clear center channel, September 6, 2007

By 

davez82 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polk Audio Monitor Series CS2 Center Channel Speaker (Single, Black) (Electronics)

The size is a little bulky but the sound is great. Dialogue sounds like they are in the room with you. A lot more clearer than the cs1 model, worth the extra money.