Polk Audio CS245 Center Channel Speaker – 19lbs!

$126.00

Two 5.25-inch Dynamic Balance mid/bass drivers flanking a 1-inch dome, all video-shielded, with a cascaded second-order crossover at 2 kHz and 900 Hz to keep voices open. 90 dB, 8 ohms, 10 to 180 watts, 52 Hz to 26 kHz. Five-way binding posts, black finish, 16.75 inches wide and 19 lbs. Very good cosmetic condition.

1 in stock

Description

Impressive Polk Audio CS245 Center Channel Speaker – 19lbs! Black Finish

The Polk Audio CS245 is a classic, shielded center channel designed to deliver clear, intelligible dialogue and a solid front soundstage in home theater systems. This example is in very good condition, finished in black with a clean, understated look that pairs well with many Polk towers and bookshelves from the same era.

Behind the grille, the CS245 uses a proven 3-driver layout with dual 5¼” Dynamic Balance mid/bass drivers flanking a 1″ Dynamic Balance dome tweeter, all video-shielded for flexibility in placement near displays. The carefully voiced crossover uses cascaded second-order filters to keep the midrange open and natural, so voices sound anchored, articulate, and easy to follow even at lower volumes.

With an 8 ohm impedance, 90 dB efficiency, and recommended amplification from 10–180 watts, the CS245 is an easy load for most AV receivers while still capable of handling dynamic movie soundtracks. Overall frequency response of 52–26 kHz (55–25 kHz within ±3 dB) ensures full coverage of the dialogue band, handing off deep bass to your mains or subwoofer where appropriate. 5-way binding posts on the rear accept bare wire, spades, or banana plugs for flexible hookup.

Key Specifications (Polk Audio CS245, all drivers shielded):

Driver complement: 2 × 5¼” (133 mm) Dynamic Balance mid/bass drivers; 1 × 1″ (25 mm) Dynamic Balance dome tweeter

Overall frequency response: 52 Hz – 26 kHz

-3 dB limits: 55 Hz – 25 kHz

Crossover topology:
– 2nd order low-pass filter cascaded at 2 kHz and 900 Hz
– 2nd order high-pass filter at 2 kHz

Nominal impedance: 8 ohms

Recommended amplification: 10 – 180 watts

Efficiency (1 W, 1 m): 90 dB

Inputs: 5-way binding posts

Finish: Black

Dimensions (H × W × D): 6⅜” × 16¾” × 9¼” (16.3 × 42.5 × 23.5 cm)

Weight: 19 lbs (8.6 kg)

Cosmetic condition:
This CS245 is in very good cosmetic condition, with only light signs of use on the black finish and no major nicks, chips, or deep scratches. The grille, drivers, and binding posts are clean and intact, and everything has been tested to confirm proper operation.

A solid, well-built Polk center channel that remains an excellent way to improve dialogue clarity and complete a classic Polk surround setup without drawing unnecessary attention to itself.

Backed by Radique Audio’s 90-day warranty and our perpetual trade-back policy, you can purchase with confidence.

$126.00
Additional information
Weight21 lbs
Dimensions13.25 × 20.75 × 10.4 in
About brand
Polk Audio at Radique
New Polk Audio, too, quoted direct from the Canadian distributor:
We service Polk, too. Bring us your own Polk speakers and subwoofers for repair, servicing or restoration (speakers up to 80 lbs each), with a 90-day warranty on the work. See our Audio Service page

Polk Audio began in Baltimore in 1972, founded by Matthew Polk, George Klopfer and Sandy Gross. Its SDA speakers of the 1980s used a cable between the left and right speakers to widen the stereo image. We carry Polk towers, bookshelf speakers, centre channels and subwoofers. We've had more than 180 Polk listings so far, covering more than 80 different models. Every used Polk here is inspected, tested and serviced as required, then photographed in-house and covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Looking for new Polk? We also quote new Polk Audio direct from the Canadian distributor, with free shipping within Canada: request a quote below. Don't see the model you want? Tell us on First Dibs and we'll email you when one arrives.

Our five best-selling Polk models so far: the RTi10 towers, the PSW10 and PSW125 subwoofers, the RTi4 bookshelf speakers and the CSi3 centre.

The Polk story, 1972 to today

Matthew Polk, George Klopfer and Sandy Gross, graduates of Johns Hopkins, founded Polk Audio in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1972. The Monitor 7 of 1974 was their first model to succeed, and the Monitor 10 followed in 1976.

SDA. In 1984 Polk introduced SDA (Stereo Dimensional Array). A cable between the left and right speakers lets each one cancel the sound that crosses over to the wrong ear, for a wider stereo image.

Growth. Polk went public in 1986 and moved to new premises in Baltimore. It began moving manufacturing to Tijuana, Mexico, in 1988, and by 2012 Stereophile reported that Polk designed in the US and built in China.

New owners. Directed Electronics agreed to buy Polk in 2006. Polk later became part of Sound United, Masimo bought Sound United in 2022, and in September 2025 HARMAN, a Samsung company, completed its purchase of Sound United. The 2018 Legend series brought SDA back.

Which Polk is which?

Monitor (1970s to early 1990s): the Monitor 4, 5, 7, 10 and 12, with A, B and C revisions.

SDA (1984 to about 1991): the SDA-1 and SDA-2 families, CRS, SRS and the later "TL" models.

RTA (1979 to 1992): towers such as the RTA 11t, with two woofers and two passive radiators.

RT and RTi (2001 onward): Polk's lower-priced lines. Our best-selling RTi10 towers and RTi4 bookshelf speakers come from here.

CSi centres and PSW subwoofers: the CSi3 centre and the PSW10 and PSW125 subwoofers are among the Polks we sell most.

LSi (about 2001 to 2010) and LSiM (2011): Polk's flagship lines of that decade, followed by Signature (2016), Legend (2018) and Reserve (2021).

Buying used Polk: what to check

SDA cable. SDA speakers need the interconnect cable between them for the SDA effect, and early SDA models need a common-ground amplifier. Make sure the cable comes with the pair.

Tweeters. Owners report that some SL3000 tweeters on the 1989 to 1991 SDA TL models leaked their ferrofluid and failed, and that Monitor-series pairs may carry mismatched factory or replacement tweeters. Check that every tweeter plays.

Surrounds. Some early Polks used foam surrounds, which rot with age; later models such as the RTA 11t and LSiM use rubber. Press gently on each woofer surround.

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.