Polk Cs20 VS S35

I currently have a Polk CS20 Center . Would a Polk S35 be an upgrade or downgrade or the same? The rest of my set up are Polk TSi Series.

Thanks!

Comments

  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
    I’d stick with the CS20, as it was designed to match your TSi speakers. It’ll sound a lot better than the S35 because it matches.
    Now, which is better? I don’t know. But, unless your planning to upgrade to the Signature series, I’d stick with the CS20.
  • the form factor of the S35 would help me as the large body of the current CS20 limits what I can do based on the height of my wall mounted TV and the entertainment center itself. I just don't want to downgrade audio quality. From things I see online it sounds like the S35 would be an upgrade but I've been shy to pull the trigger.
  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
    I think that’s the S35 is a better all around speaker, but since the CS20 matches, it’d sound better.
    Now, it wouldn’t be too much of a difference, and if space is a concern, he S35 is probably the way to go. Either will certainly do fine. But if I had to choose one, it’d be the CS20, but I don’t have any space concerns so YMMV.
  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
    Of course, with us being enablers here, we could find some way to tell you that you have to upgrade to the Signatures... then your performance could be maximized all around. ;)
  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    What @mlistens03 is trying to say is that the sound won't be seamless from front left and right to center as the tweeter is different. There will be some localization of sound (you can pick out the center instead of one cohesive image). I say if you need it based on your set up and it would work better space wise just get it and try it. You won't see a high step up in SQ until you get to beefy centers and add some dedicated power.

    You might notice the difference but you might get used to it after a week or so. Buy it, don't like it after a week send it back.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
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  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
    What mlistens03 is trying to say is that the sound won't be seamless from front left and right to center as the tweeter is different. There will be some localization of sound (you can pick out the center instead of one cohesive image). I say if you need it based on your set up and it would work better space wise just get it and try it. You won't see a high step up in SQ until you get to beefy centers and add some dedicated power.

    You might notice the difference but you might get used to it after a week or so. Buy it, don't like it after a week send it back.

    Thank you, you explained it much better than I did. :)
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 27,968
    Timbre matching is over rated. Ymmv
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    VR3 wrote: »
    Timbre matching is over rated. Ymmv

    I've never been nitpicky enough with my HT to care so it's never been an issue for me. I'd say go for it.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 27,968
    I don't think I've ever had a timbre matched ht, maybe when I first started, but quality speakers sound better than 5 matched lower quality speakers.... 😜
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited October 2018
    VR3 wrote: »
    I don't think I've ever had a timbre matched ht, maybe when I first started, but quality speakers sound better than 5 matched lower quality speakers.... 😜

    Agreed. The OP should try the speaker he's thinking about. There's a fair chance he'll like what he hears. Three identical speakers sounds best. I can tell a difference. Even with timbre-matched speakers, traditional horizontal center speakers always sound a little off to me, particularly when playing test tones. However, if the difference is only noticeable then, who cares?
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited October 2018
    I have never had matching speakers, and my system sounds fine to me. My center channel is a big Boston VR-920 speaker that is very clear, and with it being fed by an amplifier, I can hear all the music and dialog.

    I wouldn't change it out for anything except maybe a bigger matching Signature center channel. But since that isn't going to happen I'll keep my Boston speaker.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
  • Gurm42
    Gurm42 Posts: 30
    There is a real difference, having matched speakers. I didn't think so, but I'm a convert to having a matched center. Unless you don't care about a single field of sound. If you don't mind knowing that the center is separate from the sides, then go for it. Or, just if you want to. LOL.
    Home Theater:
    Yamaha RX-V377 AVR
    Polk Monitor 70 Series II (Front)
    Polk Monitor 15C (Center)
    Polk Monitor 40 (Rear)
    Polk PSW-110 (Sub)
    LG 60" Plasma (6650)
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    I've had both, matching center speakers, and different brands. Sometimes it works out for the better with different brands as the center, sometimes not. Depends on how much difference is in that tweeter in the center.

    Most of the time, you can get away with different Polk centers as their tweeters aren't too different....depending on the series anyway. For instance, the LSI centers won't gel well with the RTI or monitor series. Sig series should be ok with RTI, monitor, TSI series. Not a vastly huge difference.

    If you concerns are space, the S65 should work, but I don't see that big of savings in the size department. As for sound, I'd hit the S65 as the better speaker sound wise.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,952
    +1 for mismatched centers, look at both my systems. My first priority is music, so I get the best LR speakers I can afford/find/will fit the space and SAF. Then I see if I can afford and fit the matching center. The answer is often no, I either don't wanna pay that much or it won't fit. So, I try something that is a good center and seems like it might be in the same tonal ballpark, and let calibration do its thing. Usually works out fine...

    Now, if you watch a lot of action movies or play a lot of immersive games, I don't doubt you might notice the difference. But I watch maybe 1-2 movies a month and don't play games, so for TV and netflix the closish matched center is fine for me...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:
    Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra

    Bedroom 2.1
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
  • Gurm42
    Gurm42 Posts: 30
    rooftop59 wrote: »
    +1 for mismatched centers, look at both my systems. My first priority is music, so I get the best LR speakers I can afford/find/will fit the space and SAF. Then I see if I can afford and fit the matching center. The answer is often no, I either don't wanna pay that much or it won't fit. So, I try something that is a good center and seems like it might be in the same tonal ballpark, and let calibration do its thing. Usually works out fine...

    Now, if you watch a lot of action movies or play a lot of immersive games, I don't doubt you might notice the difference. But I watch maybe 1-2 movies a month and don't play games, so for TV and netflix the closish matched center is fine for me...

    I don't disagree. The Home Theater, however, is mostly for ... movies and games. And for that having a matched set of Monitor series (although they are from different gens) is more important to me than it might be to you. For music, I'm still futzing around with my secondary system. Looking for an older H/K head because I like the tone, and then pairing it with some serious 12-15" three-ways.
    Home Theater:
    Yamaha RX-V377 AVR
    Polk Monitor 70 Series II (Front)
    Polk Monitor 15C (Center)
    Polk Monitor 40 (Rear)
    Polk PSW-110 (Sub)
    LG 60" Plasma (6650)
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 27,968
    I think as long as you use common sense, it would be hard to notice the difference.

    I wouldn't pair bose cubes with Polk lsim but brands that lean towards the brighter side or warmer side, etc paired together isn't a bad call
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    S35 will blend well with theTSI line. Use you're AVR calibration to blend it the best.

    I was using a TSX250C with my S60 till I got my CSi-A6. Both blend very good with my S60.
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music