|
Polk Audio Monitor Series CS1 Center Channel Speaker (Single, Cherry)
|
| Price: |
3 new or used available from $99.00
Average customer review:
Product Description
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 easily 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 CS1 center speaker has been designed to be the perfect match for Monitor Series speakers in multi-channel systems. Driver Complement - Mid/Woofer 2 - 5-1/4 Diameter Dynamic Balance Bi-laminate composite cone drivers, magnetically shielded; Tweeter 1 - 1 Diameter Dynamic Balance Silk/polymer composite dome, magnetically shielded Overall Frequency Response 55 Hz - 25,000Hz Nominal Impedance 8 ohms Recommended Amplifier Power 20 - 125 w/channel Crossover 2.3kHz, second order high and low pass Inputs 5-way binding posts Cabinet Size - 7 H x 18 W x 9-5/8 D Product Weight 13.00 lbs Speaker Warranty - 5 years parts and labor
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #43849 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Cherry
- Brand: Polk Audio
- Model: AM1512-A
Features
- Single high-efficiency center channel speaker with non-resonant MDF construction
- Equipped with dual 5.25-inch lightweight composite cone woofers
- Frequency response: 55 Hz to 25 kHz
- Equipped with one 1-inch fabric/polymer composite dome tweeter
- Includes 5-way binding post connections
Editorial Reviews
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 CS1 center speaker has been designed to be the perfect match for Monitor Series speakers in multi-channel systems. The CS1 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.
Customer Reviews
I didn't read the dimensions carefully...
This center channel is a bit bigger than I had thought it would be because I just imagined a size with the picture they provide, which provided no basis for me in guesstimating the size. Regardless, this thing sounds amazing and is a great deal! Highly recommended.
Speaker impedance
The reason I give this speaker 4 stars is because of the poor specifications in the instructions manual.
When I ordered the CS1 I wasn't sure about its power rarting or impedance. To my surprise, the manual does not mention POWER and only states "compatible" with 8 ohm systems. Well, after sending my amplifier to the "protected stage" (it turned itself off) a couple of times, I decided to verify the impedance and it happens to be a 4 ohm speaker.
Surprised by the result I decided to measure every speaker in my home to find out that all of them were 8 ohm except for my front speakers...again Polk Audio R50s.
I don't understand why Polk Audio does not clearly specify Power and Impedance after all that is what one should look at when buying a speaker.
The speakers sound and look great, but if not careful you can blow your amp.
I decided to keep the CS1 and for that I matched the impedance using a transformer. I works fine and it has not given any more problems, but it was definitely not compatible with my 8 ohm "only" center channel.
I did not catch the R50s right away because my front channels will take 4-8 ohm speakers.
A matching transformer makes the speaker look like an 8 ohm load to the amp. If you have the same problem, do not try to use a resistor connected in series because it will consume about half the power, for example, with a 100 watt center channel, about 50 watts would go to the resistor. You would need a big resistor that can handle that power and that will probably get very hot. Do not use a 4 ohm resistor in series, get a matching transformer instead.
I hope this will help...
Solid product!!!
First off I must rate JR Computers & Electronics;
5 stars there. Ordered this unit on a Wednesday & it arrived via UPS Friday, same week. It was in original factory carton unopened, packed inside a second larger box with still more packing material, safe and sound! I've ordered other items from JR and as always, for an online purchase I barely had time to blink.
Now about the product;
Nice looking wood finish, with the face in silver. (w/o the black grill) Very solid and heavy construction. Certainly does not feel or look cheap. Being a noob to the home theater scene, and by no means an audiophile the price made me nervous because I was assuming that it couldn't be as nice as it is for the price. The sound is just as impressive, sounds great in my low budget setup. Frequency response is good per the specs on both ends, (high and low) and it has a good midrange for voices.
