In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio TSi100 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the TSi CS10 is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TSi100 and Polk TSi CS10 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk TSi100 | Polk TSi CS10 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Organic Fiber | 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate organic fiber cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 61-24k Hz | 63-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.53kg / 10lbs | 7.27kg / 16lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.0" x 7.0" x 10.1"
279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm | 6-9/16" x 20-1/16" x 9-15/16"
167.0 x 510.0 x 253.0mm |
|---|
TSi100 and TSi CS10 are members of Polk Audio's TSi series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Polk TSi100 and Polk TSi CS10 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 TSi100 |
Polk TSi CS10 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 TSi100 and TSi CS10 are 2-way speakers.
Polk TSi100Polk TSi CS10
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 TSi100 |
Polk TSi CS10 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the TSi CS10 features a 1" silk dome Dynamic Balance Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate organic fiber cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz whereas TSi CS10 has a frequency range of 63-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 61Hz, the TSi100 can go slightly deeper then 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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
TSi100 and TSi CS10 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. TSi100 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the TSi CS10's is at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk TSi CS10 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk TSi100, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas TSi100 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the TSi CS10.
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
TSi100 features 5-Way post type posts and TSi CS10 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both TSi100 and TSi CS10 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.
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 TSi100's and Polk TSi CS10's external dimensions. Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm (11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch) whereas 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).
Polk TSi CS10 is 112.4mm shorter and 6mm less deeper than Polk TSi100 but it is also 332.2mm 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 Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2 and base area of the Polk TSi CS10 is approximately 1290.3cm2 / 200.0inch2. The TSi100 requires 64% less surface area than the TSi CS10 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of TSi100:
- 2 Black bookshelf speakers
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Wall-Mount template
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
What's in the Box of Polk TSi CS10?
Here are the items that come with the TSi CS10:
- Black center-channel speaker (removable cloth grille)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure