In this review, we will be comparing TSi CS10 and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TSi CS10 and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk TSi CS10 | Polk ES30 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dynamic Balance | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate organic fiber cone | 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 63-24k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-125 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.27kg / 16lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-9/16" x 20-1/16" x 9-15/16"
167.0 x 510.0 x 253.0mm | 7-1/2" x 20-1/16" x 10-5/8"
191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk TSi CS10 and Polk ES30 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* |
Polk TSi CS10 |
Polk ES30 |
| 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 TSi CS10 and ES30 are 2-way speakers.
Polk TSi CS10Polk ES30
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk TSi CS10 |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
TSi CS10 features a 1" silk dome Dynamic Balance Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate organic fiber cone Woofer. On the other hand, the ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
TSi CS10 has a frequency range of 63-24k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the ES30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi CS10's min frequency of 63Hz.
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
TSi CS10 and ES30 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. TSi CS10 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the ES30's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk TSi CS10 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES30, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
TSi CS10 and ES30 have the same power range of 20-125 watts.
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
TSi CS10 features 5-Way post type posts and ES30 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both TSi CS10 and ES30 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Polk ES30 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 Polk TSi CS10's and Polk ES30's external dimensions. Polk TSi CS10 has external dimensions of 167.0 x 510.0 x 253.0mm (6-9/16 x 20-1/16 x 9-15/16inch) whereas Polk ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm (7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch).
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 Polk TSi CS10 is approximately 1290.3cm2 / 200.0inch2 and base area of the Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The TSi CS10 requires 6% less surface area than the ES30 which gives it a small advantage 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 Polk TSi CS10 weighs 7.27kg / 16lbs and the Polk ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the ES30 19% heavier than the TSi CS10.
Here is a comparison of how TSi CS10 and ES30'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 Polk TSi CS10?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of TSi CS10:
- Black center-channel speaker (removable cloth grille)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
What's in the Box of Polk ES30?
Here are the items that come with the ES30:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
167mm
vs
191mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1290cm2
vs
1377cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
119USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Polk Audio TSi CS10 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker (Black) |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-125 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
63-24k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
bi-laminate organic fiber cone |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dynamic Balance |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
167.0mm (6.6") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
510.0mm (20.1") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
253.0mm (10") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
7.27kg (16lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Polk ES30 costs roughly 2.5x what Polk TSi CS10 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk ES30 digs deeper - 55Hz against 63Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Polk TSi CS10 is more sensitive (91dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (125W vs 125W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES30 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Polk TSi CS10 is cheaper - $119 against $299, about 60% less; arguably a different class. |
A Polk TSi CS10 B Polk ES30
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 63Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk TSi CS10 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Polk TSi CS10 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.