In this review, we will be comparing CS-9040 and ES35, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Definitive Technology and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive CS-9040 and Polk ES35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive CS-9040 | Polk ES35 |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4.5" BDSS | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-40k Hz | 66-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-200 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.09kg / 20lbs | 6.36kg / 14lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6" x 20-13/16" x 12"
153.0 x 529.0 x 305.0mm | 4-3/16" x 24-7/16" x 6-1/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive CS-9040 and Polk ES35 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Definitive CS-9040 |
Polk ES35 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both CS-9040 and ES35 are 2-way speakers.
Definitive CS-9040Polk ES35
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive CS-9040 |
Polk ES35 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
6 x 3-inch
|
CS-9040 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" BDSS Woofer. On the other hand, the ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
CS-9040 has a frequency range of 50-40k Hz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the CS-9040 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES35's min frequency of 66Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
CS-9040 and ES35 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
CS-9040 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas ES35 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the CS-9040.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
CS-9040 features 5-Way post type posts and ES35 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Polk ES35 Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Definitive CS-9040's and Polk ES35's external dimensions. Definitive CS-9040 has external dimensions of 153.0 x 529.0 x 305.0mm (6 x 20-13/16 x 12inch) whereas Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch).
Polk ES35 is 46mm shorter and 151mm less deeper than Definitive CS-9040 but it is also 92mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Definitive CS-9040 is approximately 1613.5cm2 / 250.1inch2 and base area of the Polk ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The CS-9040 requires 69% more surface area than the ES35 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Definitive CS-9040 weighs 9.09kg / 20lbs and the Polk ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the CS-9040 43% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how CS-9040 and ES35's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Definitive CS-9040?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CS-9040:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Owners Manual
- What Obsession Sounds Like card
What's in the Box of Polk ES35?
Here are the items that come with the ES35:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
4.5 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
upward firing one 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
|
Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
107mm
vs
153mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
956cm2
vs
1613cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
549USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology CS-9040 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-200 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-40k Hz |
66-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
BDSS |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
153.0mm (6") |
107.0mm (4.2") |
| Width |
529.0mm (20.8") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
154.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
9.09kg (20lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Polk ES35 is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Definitive CS-9040 digs deeper - 50Hz against 66Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Definitive CS-9040 takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES35 is easier to place; Definitive CS-9040 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Price | B | Polk ES35 is cheaper - $399 against $549, about 27% less. |
A Definitive CS-9040 B Polk ES35
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Definitive CS-9040 measures better, Polk ES35 costs about about 38% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 66Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk ES35 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Definitive CS-9040 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk ES35 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.