In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS8 and TSi CS10, 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 TSi CS10 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sony SS-CS8 | Polk TSi CS10 |
|---|
| Brand | Sony
Japan · founded 1946 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) | 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate organic fiber cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 63-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 145 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 7.27kg / 16lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5.75" x 16.93" x 8.66"
146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm | 6-9/16" x 20-1/16" x 9-15/16"
167.0 x 510.0 x 253.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sony SS-CS8 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* |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Polk TSi CS10 |
| 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 TSi CS10 are 2-way speakers.
Sony SS-CS8Polk 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 |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Polk TSi CS10 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 TSi CS10 features a 1" silk dome Dynamic Balance Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate organic fiber cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas TSi CS10 has a frequency range of 63-24k 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 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
SS-CS8 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the TSi CS10 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 TSi CS10's is rated at 91 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Polk TSi CS10 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 TSi CS10 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 TSi CS10 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 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 Sony SS-CS8's and Polk TSi CS10'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 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 80mm wider, 21mm taller and 33mm deeper than Sony SS-CS8.
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 TSi CS10 is approximately 1290.3cm2 / 200.0inch2. The SS-CS8 requires 27% less surface area than the TSi CS10 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 Sony SS-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Polk TSi CS10 weighs 7.27kg / 16lbs. This makes the TSi CS10 45% heavier than the SS-CS8.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS8 and TSi CS10'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 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
 Max Input Power |
145 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
146mm
vs
167mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
946cm2
vs
1290cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
119USD
vs
169USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Polk Audio TSi CS10 |
| Brand |
Sony |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center Channel |
Center channel speaker (Black) |
| Power Range |
up to 145 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
63-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
bi-laminate organic fiber cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dynamic Balance |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
146.0mm (5.7") |
167.0mm (6.6") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
253.0mm (10") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
7.27kg (16lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Sony SS-CS8 digs deeper - 55Hz against 63Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Polk TSi CS10 is more sensitive (91dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk TSi CS10 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (145W vs 125W). |
| Size | depends | Sony SS-CS8 is easier to place; Polk TSi CS10 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Polk TSi CS10 is cheaper - $119 against $169, about 30% less. |
A Sony SS-CS8 B Polk TSi CS10
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 TSi CS10 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 63Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk TSi CS10 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Polk TSi CS10 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Sony SS-CS8 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.