In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS8 and Blackstone TL1, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sony and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS8 and Polk TL1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sony SS-CS8 | Polk TL1 |
|---|
| Brand | Sony
Japan · founded 1946 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 0.5" dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) | 2 x 2.5" Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 125-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 145 watts | 10-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 1.84kg / 4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5.75" x 16.93" x 8.66"
146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm | 3-15/16" x 15" x 3-7/16"
101.0 x 381.0 x 88.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sony SS-CS8 and Polk TL1 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* |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Polk TL1 |
| 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 SS-CS8 and Blackstone TL1 are 2-way speakers.
Sony SS-CS8Polk TL1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Polk TL1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.5-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 2.5-inch
|
SS-CS8 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer. On the other hand, the Blackstone TL1 features a 0.5" silk dome Tweeter and 2 x 2.5" Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas Blackstone TL1 has a frequency range of 125-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the SS-CS8 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Blackstone TL1's min frequency of 125Hz.
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
SS-CS8 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Blackstone TL1 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SS-CS8 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Blackstone TL1's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk TL1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS8, 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.
SS-CS8 can handle a max power of 145 watts RMS, whereas Blackstone TL1 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the SS-CS8.
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
SS-CS8 features 5-Way post type posts and Blackstone TL1 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sony SS-CS8's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SS-CS8 and Blackstone TL1 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 Sony SS-CS8's and Polk TL1's external dimensions. Sony SS-CS8 has external dimensions of 146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm (5.75 x 16.93 x 8.66inch) whereas Polk TL1 has external dimensions of 101.0 x 381.0 x 88.0mm (3-15/16 x 15 x 3-7/16inch).
Sony SS-CS8 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 49mm wider, 45mm taller and 132mm deeper than Polk TL1.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Sony SS-CS8 needs about 182% more floor or shelf area. Sony SS-CS8 is 132mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Sony SS-CS8 is 45mm taller.
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 Sony SS-CS8 is approximately 946.0cm2 / 146.6inch2 and base area of the Polk TL1 is approximately 335.3cm2 / 52.0inch2. The SS-CS8 requires 182% more surface area than the Blackstone TL1 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 Sony SS-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Polk TL1 weighs 1.84kg / 4lbs. This makes the SS-CS8 172% heavier than the Blackstone TL1.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS8 and Blackstone TL1'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 TL1?
Here are the items that come with the Blackstone TL1:
- Gloss-black center-channel loudspeaker
- Detachable black cloth grille (attached)
- System Diagram/Warranty sheet
- Template
- Online Product Registration card
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
145 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
2.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
101mm
vs
146mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
335cm2
vs
946cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
79USD
vs
169USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1 |
| Brand |
Sony |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center Channel |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 145 watts |
10-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
125-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
2.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
Dynamic Balance |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.5" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
146.0mm (5.7") |
101.0mm (4") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
381.0mm (15") |
| Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
88.0mm (3.5") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
1.84kg (4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Sony SS-CS8 costs roughly 2.1x what Polk TL1 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 | A | Sony SS-CS8 digs deeper - 55Hz against 125Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Polk TL1 is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk TL1 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (145W vs 125W). |
| Size | depends | Polk TL1 is easier to place; Sony SS-CS8 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Polk TL1 is cheaper - $79 against $169, about 53% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sony SS-CS8 B Polk TL1
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?
Polk TL1 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 125Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk TL1 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Sony SS-CS8 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk TL1 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.