Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Madison, AL on 2/8/2021
0 of 0 found this helpful
Pleasantly surprised.
Crutchfield customer from Dayton, OH on 1/24/2021
My old Advent center channel went kaput and just needed something to replace it. Bought this Polk and it fit perfectly. Very nice clarity difference.
Pros: Exceptional clarity in a nice compact size.
Cons: None.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Exacrly what i expected!
Albert from ORLANDO, FL on 1/19/2021
This is my 1st purchase on Crutchfield and I can't emphasize enough how glad I was to visit the site. The description of the product was great. It helped me narrow down what I was looking for. I had a Linearphase Loudspeaker for my center channel ,which did the job, but after replacing it with the Blackstone TL1 CC the difference is uncanny. I already had 2 of the Blackstone Satellite speakers for my FR and FL speakers and a 8" powered Sub from Polk Audio as well. The sub is a must to accompany the speakers because they don't have a lot of bass. This is a great set up for me.
Pros: Clearer dialogue, warmer sound.
Cons: Can't think of any.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Review
Crutchfield customer from Delray Beach, FL on 1/11/2021
Great sounding speaker! Plugged right in and filled my needed gap between my other small bookshelves! Is actually louder than the others and had to turn that channel volume down quite a bit. Good buy! Perfect for small surround systems and apartment/Condos!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Great sound, compact size
Crutchfield customer from Laguna Hills, CA on 12/28/2020
My system has largish left and right speakers, plus two subwoofers, so I did not feel I needed or wanted a big, super-high performance center. This Polk speaker fit the bill perfectly. It makes television and movie dialogue very clear, which is all I really needed. Plus, I mounted this on the bottom of the TV wall mount so I was concerned about something too heavy.
Pros: compact size lighter weight great voice boost
Cons: Not a lot of bass if you need that
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Murphysboro, IL on 12/19/2020
It looks nice and I like the size. However the sound isn't the greatest.
Pros: Small. Wall mountable.
Cons: Not the best sound.
1 of 1 found this helpful
POLK AUDIO BLACKSTONE TL1
Crutchfield customer from Auburn, NY on 12/17/2020
GREAT LITTLE CENTER SPEAKER. I DID NOT HAVE ROOM FOR A LARGE SOUND BAR AND THIS WORKED OUT GREAT. EASY SET UP WITH BARE SPEAKER WIRE. NO RCA PLUGS REQUIRED. SOUNDS VERY GOOD. AS ALWAYS FAST SHIPPING
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Peoria, AZ on 10/25/2020
Great speaker! Replaced a Cambridge Soundworks center channel speaker that had 2 more speakers but this has the same or better sound in a smaller package. Quick to setup and highly recommended.
Pros: Size, Sound
Cons:
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Green Valley, AZ on 9/15/2020
Very pleased with with the dialog from this center channel. Works great with the two other speakers and fits perfectly in front of TV.
Pros: clarity, size, & price
Cons:
2 of 2 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Houston, TX on 9/15/2020
0 of 2 found this helpful
Polk Center Channel Speaker
Crutchfield customer from Delray Beach, FL on 8/4/2020
Lot of bang for the buck. Great sounding center channel.
Pros: Works as expected
Cons: None
3 of 3 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Katy, TX on 7/15/2020
Wonderful speaker, just right for filling in the precise level missing in surround sound systems.
Pros: Priced right.
Cons:
2 of 3 found this helpful
Improved Clarity Of Voice
Crutchfield customer from Montgomery, AL on 7/5/2020
I am quite pleased with the center speaker. It works well with the other Polk front speakers. It took me a little time to get it balanced with the other speakers, but it quite nicely does the job we wanted, improved clarity of voice.
Pros: Small front print, low cost
Cons: None pop to mind
2 of 2 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Thomas from Fleming Island, FL on 6/11/2020
Blackstone TL1 exceeds my expectations. Fits perfectly under my 65-inch television which sits over my fireplace on my mantle. Sound is great and suits my home theatre system perfectly. A great speaker for the money. I would definitely recommend this item!
Pros: Read my review
Cons: None
1 of 2 found this helpful
Great option for apartment living
Crutchfield customer from CALDWELL, NJ on 5/16/2020
I had just two front speakers attached to my home theater receiver and found myself having to turn the volume up too high in order to hear the dialogue clearly in some movies. Then with the volume that high, when special effects or music would appear, everything just became way too loud. So I decided to add a center channel speaker, and one that was a bit on the smaller size. The TL1 was a good choice. Dialogue is much more apparent and the size fits my setup well.
Pros: Size, looks, clarity
Cons:
7 of 7 found this helpful
great price!
Crutchfield customer from Bayonne, NJ on 5/10/2020
feels like a solid speaker, a little awkward shape.. but voice output is excellent for what i need it for. great price too!
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Center speaker
Crutchfield customer from Modesto, CA on 5/9/2020
Nice looking center channel speaker that compliments my 4k TV and the rock work on the wall. Also easy to wall mount with the slotted key holes on the back.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
James from Seattle, WA on 5/6/2020
Relatively compact and cheap. Good sound for the money and it brings a nice richness and clarity to movie dialogue (main reason for purchase). Gloss black finish on the top does pick up dust and fingerprints so keep that in mind if finishes are a deciding point.
Pros: Bright dialogue
Cons: Audio connection posts are screw-in only, no banana jacks.
2 of 3 found this helpful
Low profile required
Crutchfield customer from River Vale, NJ on 5/4/2020
Family decided to get new TV. Needed LOW center channel to replace old one. Only one that fits. Sounds perfect. DONE.
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2 of 3 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Athens, GA on 4/29/2020
I bought this center channel as upgrade over my JBL SCS-135 speaker and the difference has been superb. I've been highly impressed with the clarity and range in the TL1. Voices are audible and clear even at a whisper and there is very minimal distortion from concurrent sound effects. My couch is 11.5' from my entertainment console and the sound is immersive from that distance as well as from further distances and different angles. The bass reverberates nicely without overwhelming the other speakers and is a great complement to my Velodyne subwoofer. The compact size and design is also great for my console setup. The speaker height allows for the full tv screen to remain visible. Overall, I'm thrilled with this speaker and would definitely recommend it.
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5 of 5 found this helpful
Awesome
Crutchfield customer from Decatur, IL on 4/1/2020
Great sound. Was replacing a much larger Infinity center channel speaker. Which the girlfriend said was to big for the mantel. I can't hear a decline in sound quality. The dialog is crystal clear.
Pros: Great sound
Cons: None
5 of 5 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Woodstock, GA on 3/24/2020
Inexpensive center channel that sounds good. I am using it on a covered screen porch, so we will see how long it lasts in that environment.
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Alexandria, VA on 2/25/2020
Perfect and affordable for the application
Pros: Easy to install on brakets
Cons:
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polks entry level surpasses expectations
Crutchfield customer from Bedford, VA on 2/24/2020
Fantastic clarity for the price. Crisp highs clear mids and surprisingly with small under 3 inch woofers some lows as well. The keyholes on the back enable wall hanging and that's pretty cool. The plastic housing is identical to tv so perfect match. Very little power required for great sound. Polk know what they are doing
Pros: Sound and looks
Cons: Can't remove grill
5 of 5 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Conshohocken, PA on 2/4/2020
works great for a small room home theater set up
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5 of 5 found this helpful
Felix
Crutchfield customer from Guaynabo, PR on 1/8/2020
Excelente bocina de centro, buen precio y se escucha la voz Clara. Vale lo que cuesta y mucho mas.
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0 of 3 found this helpful
Tulsa
Lara from Tulsa on 12/31/2019
Polk Audio products. They never fail to perform beautifully! Lara C Tulsa
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Staten Island, NY on 12/15/2019
1 of 1 found this helpful
Good dialog speaker.
Crutchfield customer from Yorktown Hts, NY on 8/26/2019
Added to left & right front speakers. Greatly improved dialog and left/right separation.
Pros: Small size, light weight, inexpensive, good for dialog.
Cons: None.
6 of 6 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Madisonville, KY on 7/4/2019
1 of 1 found this helpful
Nice sounding middle channel speaker
Crutchfield customer from Tallahassee, FL on 4/3/2019
great sound from a small footprint speaker. Perfect for sitting on a mantle under a TV.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Shelby Twp, MI on 11/5/2018
0 of 0 found this helpful
Fantastic
James from Bayside, NY on 2/8/2018
Fantastic! And it only weighs 4 lbs!
Pros: Great sound from such a small unit. And a great price!
Cons:
2 of 2 found this helpful
Great in Multimedia System
Crutchfield customer from Issaquah, WA on 1/24/2018
I recently got a receiver for my home office to manage audio from my computer and other sources. I spend a lot of time in that room and also wanted to improve the sound, though the room is small and cluttered and will never have great acoustics. I was looking at upgrading my computer speakers to the TL1 satellite speakers when I came across the TLI center speaker. It is 10' from where I sit to the speakers and almost 60 degrees between my left and right speakers so I decided the center speaker would be the way to go. It dramatically improves the sound with the center channel and fills out the sound from the computer speakers. I'll probably upgrade to the TL1 satellite speakers sometime in the future, but the TL1 center speaker has put me a lot closer to the best sound possible under the conditions at a good price.
Pros: nicely designed
Cons: none
4 of 4 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Tucson, AZ on 1/15/2018
This gets 5 stars because it is such a good value. I have a limited space for a center channel speaker, but I was skeptical about the performance of ome this size. It is clear and crisp and exceeds my expectaions. I have a larger JBL center speaker in another system, so I have a basis of comparison. This is a buy if you have limited space or just don't want to overspend.
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6 of 6 found this helpful
Great Sound
Jim from Ocala, FL on 6/23/2017
For as small a speaker as this is it puts out a lot of sound. You can hear the center channel clearly and understand everything they are saying when watching a movie or TV. Looks great with the grill off or on.
Pros: Fits in very small space
Cons: None
2 of 2 found this helpful
Sound issues
Victor from Okeechobee, FL on 6/20/2017
This is a vast improvement over my previous center channel speaker; however it does sound a little tiney at higher volumes. All in all, it is good value for what you are getting.
Pros: Great price
Cons: Sound issues at higher volumes.
4 of 5 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Oakboro, NC on 5/28/2017
1 of 1 found this helpful
Great sound
Kelvin G. from Atmore, AL on 3/14/2017
Speaker sounds GREAT wish I could take the cover off to show them off but not a big problem still love it
Pros: Sleak great sound
Cons: None
1 of 2 found this helpful
Bonita
Enrique from San Juan, PR on 2/19/2017
Buen sonido , bonita apariencia , buen precio. Good sound, nice appearance, good price.
Pros: Luce bien y se escucha major. Looks good and sounds better.
Cons:
0 of 1 found this helpful
Crisp sound
Keenan from Sloatsburg, NY on 2/1/2017
Excellent sound for the price. Subtle clean look.
Pros: Good sound, small package
Cons:
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great little speaker at any price
roy from North Carolina (NC) on 1/29/2017
Outstanding. I had size/space restrictions and only this speaker plus an excellent competitors $240 speaker would fit. The Def Tech speaker is superb, but the Polk is its equal ! I did not mind the $140 change either. This makes my system (all ten speakers) 8 Polk, 2 Infinity. The Polk TL1's strongest point is incredibly clear dialog. I honestly feel the actors are in my home. HIGHLY rec. to any and all!
Pros: eveything
Cons: none that I have found
5 of 5 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
gary from Deerfield Beach, FL on 1/13/2017
Good product for the money. i wasn't expecting great sound...so I'm not disappointed.
Pros: Not bad at all
Cons: non
0 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone
RP from Astoria OR on 9/19/2016
We needed a center speaker for our unit. This is a perfect size and a great price.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from Mission Viejo, CA on 9/6/2016
Great little speaker. I was in need of a center channel that was low profile and this fit the bill. Nice sound for the money.
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2 of 3 found this helpful
Small but mighty
Hb from San Marcos, CA on 7/31/2016
Great quality and size. Sounds great. I had to replace a larger center speaker and performs just as well.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Impressive Speaker
David I from Heathsville, VA on 7/27/2016
The finish on this center speaker is immaculate; and the sound quality is equally impressive. While its strength is more towards the higher frequencies, it complements the weak television sound quality beautifully.
Pros: Beautiful construction and finish. High quality higher end sound.
Cons: Definitely needs to be complemented with lower end frequencies from larger lateral or surround speakers.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Excellent product
Orlando from Hialeah, fl on 7/26/2016
2 of 3 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone
Doris G. from St Petersburg, FL on 4/7/2016
The Blackstone is a slick looking speaker and delivers clear sound. It was easy to install too! The entire process went smoothly from finding it, ordering it, the timely delivery, Installation, and the quality of the product. I'm very pleased with this purchase.
Pros: Ordering, delivery, installation, looks, and quality of sound.
Cons: The only negative I can think of is that the instruction pamphlet was not very clear, but once I figured out how it was to be installed, it was easy. However, I am mechanically inclined. For a lot of men and women, they would not be able to figure it out for themselves.
2 of 5 found this helpful
Wreath middle speaker
JoeF from springdale, AR on 3/6/2016
Great middle speaker. Low profile. Super shipping and quick delivery.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Great sound small package
Drew from phoenix, AZ on 2/20/2016
Prefect for those who still use an old school center channel.
Pros: Great sound. Small. Nice design.
Cons: None
2 of 2 found this helpful
Center speaker
Manny from Round lake, il on 2/7/2016
Amazing sound, nice looking speaker.
Pros: Great sound nice and clear. Goid looking with the shiny black.
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Big Sound on the Big Island
Rick from Hawaii on 12/19/2015
Can't go wrong with this speaker. I was surprised with the difference this speaker made on the overall listening experience of my surround sound system. I was looking to improve the clarity of the center speaker. Not only has the quailty of the dialogue improved, but the right and left sounds are more noticeable. I did not expect that.
Pros: Great price and sound quality. Does not take much space. The black finish matches my Mirage system perfectly.
Cons: Can't think of any cons
3 of 3 found this helpful
Nice little speaker
S from Louisiana on 11/22/2015
New house that had 4 wall speakers already in in a really large Great Room. Got a new 70 inch Sony and low end Sony receiver. Too much echo and disconnected the two rear speaker. Better, but still lacking something. Figured it must need that central speaker. This little speaker did great. Not as good as a pair of young ears but so much better with that sound coming from the TV. Love it!
Pros: Small enough to fit behind my table top mounted TV and project right below the space between the TV & Table top.
Cons: None that I know of
2 of 2 found this helpful
Very pleased
EugeneP from Georgia on 11/17/2015
Great value for the money. Pleased with the sound. Thumbs up!
Pros: A bargain for what it does.
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
Just right!
Todd from Kentucky on 11/15/2015
Got this as a center channel for a medium-sized family room. Room already had built-in front and rear channel speakers, but the TV was offset to the right. This speaker nicely brought the sound focus over to the TV. The sound is great, and the size of the speaker is small enough that it sits nicely on the base of my 52" Samsung.
Pros: Sound quality for size
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Great sound
NDCNTRYBOY from Mandan, ND on 11/9/2015
Sounds like you are there in person. Polk has quality stuff
Pros: Style, price, quality, size....
Cons: N/A
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great Sound
MikeH from Nevada on 11/5/2015
Bought this speaker to replace an old Sony model I have and WOW. The center channel sound is amazing. Dialogue comes out crisp and clear and really makes a difference with movies with a lot of sound effects while there is dialogue happening at the same time. Highly recommend
Pros: Great Sound Great Price
Cons: A little bigger than I'd like
0 of 0 found this helpful
great sound for small price
GM08 from Florida on 10/23/2015
The Blackstone TL1's were a perfect solution to our new home set up. The sound quality is fantastic and I was up and listening within 30 minutes of opening the box for our 5.1 surround sound system. I customized and got 3 black speakers for our front stand and 2 white speakers for the back that blend into the white crown molding and ceiling where hung. Being able to use my existing banana clips in these speakers was perfect. Crutchfield customer service and Polk's great sound quality are continued winners.
Pros: Sound Looks Small Size Price
Cons:
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk Center Speaker
Bill from South Carolina on 10/22/2015
Nice center speaker for the money. Sounds great. This size center speaker is hard too find. Mounted under 55in Samsung tv.
Pros: great sound........good size..........can be wall mounted
Cons: none
0 of 0 found this helpful
Nice Upgrade to HTB Speaker
Steve from Pottstown,PA on 10/16/2015
I have an old Kenwood home theater in a box system. I really like the receiver and it still works great. About 2 years ago I started systematically replacing the speakers it came with. For the front mains a got some Boston Acoustic Bookshelf speakers. After that a year later I replaced the rear surrounds with the Polk OWM3 Speakers. The sound improved greatly and now I finally replaced the center channel speaker with this. I am on a budget and wasn't looking to spend a lot of money and considering what I am replacing, I kinda figured anything would be an improvement. Boy was I right. This speaker sound fantastic. Dialogue sounds crsiper and much easier to hear. Actually the rear surrounds also seem to have come even more alive! I am loving watching TV and movies again. I am pretty sure I'm stuck with my old Kenwood passive Sub, but if when this receiver ever goes, I'll have some decent speakers ready for the new one. Crutchfield's price was great and free shipping arrived really in a day and a half. Thanks!
Pros: Price, sound and looks.
Cons: Audiophiles may want more. I love it for movies and concert dvd's.
1 of 1 found this helpful
great speaker
kareem from South Carolina on 10/12/2015
this speaker works great with my sony receiver i use banana plugs to connect it to the receiver
Pros: it has great sound it good for the price
Cons: i have no problem with it
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Doug G from Winston Salem, North Carolina on 9/23/2015
I was looking for a compact, reasonably priced center speaker for my home surround sound system. This fit that speaker need perfectly. It fit the small space I had and blends in well with the other components. It provides great clarity and sound with dialogue, etc. The mounting ability if I decide to mount my flatscreen tv on the wall is a real plus. I am very happy to date with this product.
Pros: Size, Sound Quality, Affordable Price and Easy Installation
Cons: None that I can think of
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk audio
Olefella from Statesville, nc on 8/5/2015
Good upgrade to my home theater system
Pros: Loud, nice looking
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Great Center Speaker
Tortuguero from Texas on 5/9/2015
Wanted to add a center channel, mostly for voice, on my five channel Onkyo receiver. Works just fine, and helps center voice dialog, to nearby TV screen. Makes for a much more natural and pleasurable listening experience, when integrated with two pairs of larger, front and rear, overhead speakers. Totally satisfied!
Pros: Convenient size, music and voice quality, price, Ease of installation, Blends in appearance.
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
I'm no audio expert, but great product
walt from California on 4/7/2015
I am no audio expert, but the price, size, and quality are unbeatable.
Pros: Small, affordable
Cons:
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
JayG from Iowa on 4/2/2015
Decent center speaker for the price. Nothing fancy just decent sound for little money
Pros: Low cost
Cons:
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great Speaker...Sweet Sound
TomH from New York on 3/21/2015
Couldn't have asked for a better speaker. I had very limited space, only 15". This fit right in between the legs of my new HD TV. The sound on the TV isn't the best, especially to hear the dialogue. Once I found the TL 1, I new I had to give it a try. I was not disappointed. Sweet sound, and clear voices. I paired this with Polk Audio R1 speakers, and now I'm all set to enjoy my new TV with great sound.
Pros: Small size, but great sound. Good price for a limited budget. Sleek look.
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk audio
Edgar from Puerto Rico on 2/16/2015
Great sound, and looks...affordable quality center channel...Recommended
Pros: Sound detail, looks
Cons: A little too big, but not much...
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk TL1...awesome for its size!!
Don from Indiana on 2/13/2015
Absolutely wonderful beyond words. For a speaker of this size, Blown away with the clarity, We need a small one to fir a certain space. This just fit. It rounded out our 5.1 setup. Have Kliptch Heresy's for ft lf & rt, and Polk 4A's for rear lf & rt. Since I've had Polk b4, I knew the quality and had great expectation that this new one would certainly live up to what I came to expect from Polk....A great center speaker!!
Pros: my review said it all.
Cons: Only thing is small size. However, this is what we needed. So, really no cons here...great speaker!
2 of 2 found this helpful
Polk TL1 center speaker
Bill from Schenectady, NY on 1/31/2015
Great little speaker. Perfect compliment to my vintage Boston A60s and Polk PSW-10.
Pros: Small size with big sound.
Cons: None so far.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Nice center speake
Me from Massachusetts on 1/19/2015
Good speaker, nice sound, looks good, and after a little tweaking with my Denon 1311Ci, it fits in perfectly with my all Bose twin cube surround setup. couldn't ask for more.
Pros: not too big like most centers I have seen
Cons: None yet
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TM1
jazzyla9 from Alabama on 1/3/2015
I love this speaker! I should have had it a long time ago. It has superb sound and is just the right size for my den set-up. Great price also. Would reccomend to any one.
Pros: None
Cons: Great price,quilty built, great sound and perfect size for one who is looking for a smaller center speaker.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great sound for the money
c_maier from Minneapolis, MN on 12/26/2014
Great quality and sound at a great price. I was very impressed with this center channel and will have to admit I was skeptical as I was replacing a Bose system. It was one of the few I found that was 3+ inches tall.
Pros: Reasonably priced, compact size, great sound..
Cons: none..
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great little speaker
Tommyboy from Tennessee on 12/13/2014
Excellent clarity for dialogue.
Pros: Improves clarity of dialogue Nice low profile to for in below the TV
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
WoW
JPGTI337 from DALLAS,TEXAS on 8/14/2014
Bought this to replace my old tired ancient Phillips center channel speakers, and wow is this thing so much more clear and rich! For the price and quality you can't get any better than this!
Pros: Easy to mount, sound is great and price is a bargain.
Cons:
0 of 0 found this helpful
Another Winner From Polk Audio
Ron D, from Union, NJ on 7/6/2014
I'm using the TL-1 for a "budget" A/V system in a bedroom. The sound much better than expected at this price, with a clear, impressive sound stage. You simply cannot go wrong with Polk Audio.
Pros: Great sound at a great price.
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
Lively Sound for Tired Ears
John C from Gainesville, GA on 5/30/2014
I bought the Polk Blackstone as a last ditch effort to improve my ability to understand dialogue. The speaker is performing beyond my expectations and my enjoyment of mindless pursuits on the tube is greatly enhanced.
Pros: Small size Does not overwhelm the screen as larger speakers might Excellent rendering of dialogue
Cons: None so far, I'm very pleased
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk TL-1
JGC from Atlanta, GA on 3/3/2014
I have been using Polk speakers since 1978 and this is another in their long line of solid value products. I hate to say it, but price was a factor because my last center channel was destroyed by my two year old, so I didn't want to spend a lot (in case I had to do it again!). At the same time, the room is large (26' x 18'), so I needed something to get the job done, and I have been pleasantly surprised at how well the TL-1 handles the requirement! Like others have reported, it's not going to knock you down with it's lows (but it's not supposed to), its mids are solid and the highs are excellent (NOTE: I'm not audio purist by any means, but I've been a television producer for 25 years and know audio post production quite well). I have Polk RC85i in-wall surround speakers and a Polk 505 sub to handle the heavy lifting, so this little center channel does what it's supposed to - reproduce dialogue clearly. Has two screw slots in the back, plus a grooved slot in the back for wiring, that allows it to sit flush if hung against the wall (like I did), and small rubber feet if you want it to sit on a shelf/mantle. I gave it a 4, but in reality I would actually give it a 4.5 for being such a good bang-for-the-buck. It is what it is - a low-cost, solid value product that does what it's supposed to do.
Pros: Great price; small and light; solid Polk construction.
Cons: None so far
3 of 3 found this helpful
Full sound
Bob from Fort Worth, TX. on 2/19/2014
0 of 0 found this helpful
polk
roger from Midvale, UT on 2/19/2014
Great sound and price.love Polk audio
Pros: Great sound and got power
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
exactly what I needed
Added the polk center channel to my setup, now voices are so much cleaner and clearer, perfect and you cannot beat the price.
Pros: styling, sound, price
Cons: did not get it sooner.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk TL1
TJ from Puerto Rico, PR on 1/3/2014
The Polk Center Channel speaker was purchased to complete a surround sound system. It works and sounds great with my receiver.
Pros: Excellent sound. Good looking speaker.
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk center channel speaker
David from Jacksonville, FL on 12/30/2013
The Polk Center Channel speaker was purchased to complete a surround sound system. It works beautifully and sounds great with my Sony receiver.
Pros: Great value and sound.
Cons: None.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Blackstone TL1
Brad from Harbor Springs MI on 12/20/2013
Very nice sound. Crisp and clear.
Pros: Low profile. Good looking speaker.
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Blackston TL1
Steve from Denver on 12/19/2013
For the money, gives great sound. Looks good and does not take up to much space
Pros: Easy to connect
Cons:
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio BlackstoneT TL1
Mark from Jacksonville on 12/18/2013
I had an older 5.1 HarmanKardon receiver that I moved to my office. I was looking for a center channel speaker that would just fill the bill for my purpose. Well it is a great buy. It sits only a few feet from me but it has clarity beyond my expectation considering its cost. Great speaker for a small room
Pros: great clarity for voice, which is what a center channel should have.
Cons: none
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk TL1
Russ from Denmark, WI on 12/14/2013
Big clear sound from a small center speaker.
Pros: Small size looks nice.
Cons: None so far.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Works great!
Crutchfield customer from everett, wa on 12/2/2013
Product works great. What makes it nice for me is the size. It's for a small room with limited space and this fits under the monitor but still provides big sound.
Pros: fits in a small space.
Cons:
0 of 0 found this helpful
TL1 Center Speaker
Tim from Charlottesville, VA on 11/5/2013
Great Sound in a small package. I replaced my out of the box surround sound center w/ the TL1. What a difference. We had been having a hard time hearing dialogue, so we would turn it up, then the scene would change and we'd get blown out of the room. Now we can hear everything and don't have to mess w/ the volume. We even keep it set a lower. We used to have the volume set at 21-23 on our dial now we keep it at 17.
Pros: Good sound, small size(relatively), Price
Cons: None
5 of 5 found this helpful
Crystal clear dialogue
Randy from Rocky Hill Ct on 10/28/2013
Paired with a set of Lsi100s bookshelfs this is a perfect match. Movie and television dialogue are very clear. When listening to music it fills out the sound image quite well. Standing only 4in tall, it fits great in front of the flat screen.
Pros: Great for my mid size system with a 10in sub in a mid size room. Looks good too.
Cons: Might be a tad small to use with Lsi floor standing speakers.
0 of 0 found this helpful
polk audio center channel
trashmouth from sonoma, ca. on 10/22/2013
Easy setup right out of the box. It is the perfect size which fits right below my tv. The black color blends well. The sound is phenomenal! It performs well with low or high volume.
Pros: great sound & price
Cons: the black grille itself when dusty will show
1 of 1 found this helpful
Sounds great, looks great.
Bruce from Helena, Mt on 10/19/2013
Great value. Nice sound in a fairly small room. Hot, sleek design nuzzles right up under a TV screen.
Pros: Sound, appearance.
Cons:
1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Blackstone
Greg W from Stokes, NC on 9/22/2013
Great sound and good looks
Pros: Ease of install and quality of sound
Cons: Connections not recessed enough to use banana plugs when wall mounting
0 of 0 found this helpful
POLK ( ONE OF THE BEST )
PATRIOT NY from LONG ISLAND , NY on 8/15/2013
I HAVE A SONY RECEIVER (100 WATTS PER CHANNEL X 2 = TOTAL WATTS 200 ) REAR CHANNEL HAS TWO REG. SPEAKERS 5" WOOFER + 2X4 TWEETER EACH. THE FRONT CHANNEL I HAVE 2 POLK TL1 CENTER SPEAKER . I AM HARD OF HEARING BUT NOW VOCALS ARE MUCH CLEARER. I HAVE MY BASS TURNED DOWN LOW & TREBLE TURNED UP HIGHER. I STILL GET ENOUGH BASS WITH CRISP VOCALS.THE POLK TS1 CENTER IS A GREAT PRODUCT,GREAT PRICE & QUALITY UNIT.THIS IS MY FRIST PURCHASE FROM CRUTCHFIELD & I FELL THEY ARE A FIRST RATE COMPANY . CUST. SERVICE IS EXCELLENT & I WILL PURCHASE FROM THEM AGAIN .( POLK TS1 CENTER SPEAKERS BUY IT / MY ROOM SIZE IS 20 X 15 )
Pros: TRIM / SOUNDS GREAT FOR MED TO SMALL ROOM / QUALITY PRODUCT - MADE WELL / VERY NICE LOOKING / VERY FAIR PRICE
Cons: NO MAGNETIC SHIELDING / NOT A BIG PROBLEM - I HAVE 34" WIDE SCREEN TUBE CRT TV WITH A THIN BOARD UNDER SPEAKER ON TOP OF SET / NEW FLAT SCREEN TV NO PROBLEM
1 of 1 found this helpful
center channel speaker
Big T from Waveland, Ms on 7/15/2013
The speaker produces a high quality sound for the price. Replaced a high end pinnacle center channel with the polk and can not tell the difference between the two.
Pros: price and sound quality
Cons: none
2 of 2 found this helpful
Polk audio Blackstone tl1 center speaker
jerrys from dracut ma. on 6/10/2013
a great sounding speaker....crisp clean sound fits nicely below my Samsung smart tv.does not block any of the tv. Polk audio makes a great center speaker.
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5 of 5 found this helpful
Great sound
K from Virginia on 6/2/2013
Works great. Great sound for small package. I had been waiting to get a center channel that was not going to consume my whole mantel but still keep up with the other speakers and this does it. Its shiny black look blends well with my samsung smart tv.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Crutchfield customer from dover, de on 5/22/2013
1 of 1 found this helpful
Great center channel!
JarrodB from Charleston, WV on 4/19/2013
Awesome speaker for the price.
Pros: Movie dialog is very clear, sleek design
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Much Improves Qualit of Voice
JBRoss from Phoenix, AZ on 3/22/2013
We would have trouble hearing dialogue that was low or portrayed a whisper in the story. Adding this to the system changed that tremendously. Now we hear almost everything and our listening pleasure has been greatly enhanced. This is well worth the money. As an aside, this is a compact unit and it fits nicely under the HDTV without blocking any of the screen. I tried Bose and others, but their models were all a bit larger.
Pros: Delivers improved fidelity with voices and other "center speaker" sounds.
Cons: Some loss of range, but not enough to be too concerend.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL 1 Center Channel Spkr.
Bob from New Jersey on 3/10/2013
Really nice sound and looks great, easy hookup and fast and dependable delivery. Geat job !!
Pros: Sounds great.
Cons: Nothing.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Nice Speaker
Nancy from San Ramon, Ca on 1/31/2013
I bought two of these. I bought one to replace a silver colored Infinity center speaker that did not look good under my new black wall mounted 64" Samsung plasma TV. The sound does not seem to be as crisp as my old speaker but comes in a close second with very good sound quality. The size is perfect, both length and especially the low profile height. The black speaker is barely noticable under the TV. Overall it is a great buy. I bought the other speaker for my sister who has a 50" LCD mounted on its stand that sits on a credenza. Again, the size was perfect...low profile enough to nestle on the stand under the TV and barely noticable as the TV is also black. Another great buy!
Pros: Size, color, sound quality
Cons: Not enough to mention
1 of 1 found this helpful
Perfect for a Home Theater
MaccDuff from Georgia, USA on 1/23/2013
A great center speaker for a home theater setup delivering crisp, clear vocals. I'm hearing sounds from my CDs that I never knew were there!
Pros: Order handled quickly by Crutchfield, packaged well, and at a good price. Even come with a template for wall mounting.
Cons:
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great Value
Jerry S from Texas on 1/21/2013
This center speaker is a great bargain and does a great job. My room is medium sized. this is the first center speaker I've purchased and it really changes the listening of the rest of the speakers for the better.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Smaller than the speaker it replaced
Fohtey from Houston, TX on 1/20/2013
The reason I bought this speaker was to replace the one my daughter repeatedly grabbed and dropped on the floor. That speaker was made in Malaysia and cost $10 and I used it for nearly 20 years. Overall, this new Polk speaker has a smaller sound, is more sensitive and has superior clarity than the one it replaced so it's really ideal for its purpose as a center channel. It's also smaller, has a better speaker wire connectors and easier to secure so my daughter can't pull it down.
Pros: Small size, good sensitivity, good clarity
Cons: Slightly tinny due to smaller size - not really much of a "con".
2 of 3 found this helpful
Polk Audio TL1 Center Channel
J. D. from Arlington Texas on 1/19/2013
Small area to have a center speaker, and this one fits great. Decent sound excpet I still can not hear all of the dialogue without increasing the volume, but then when action scenes come on it is too loud!
Pros: Pretty good quality siound
Cons: Has a boxy sound at low volume levels.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk Center Channel speaker TL1
Rick H from Apollo Beach, Fl on 1/18/2013
My surround sound is in a pretty small room. I didnt need to spend a lot of money for a center channel but I didnt want something that sounded cheap. I also had never owned any Polk products. What a nice surprise! It sounded just fine, and its low profile didnt block my view of the tv. And all for a very reasonable price. Mission accomplished----thank you Polk and Crutchfield!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
TL1
JOHNS from MANTECA, CA on 1/12/2013
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk Audio TL1 Center Channel
GaryG from Pittsburgh, PA on 12/18/2012
The only "low profile" center channel I could find. It is much more aesthetically pleasing than the rather boxy center channel I had before. All in all the audio quality is good, but not great, but i didn't expect it to be based on the size of the unit.
Pros: Good looking center channel. Decent performance. Cost effective
Cons: Nothing worth mentioning.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Pleased Customer from Moriarty, NM on 10/25/2012
Initial rating is very high. The product was delivered quickly and works as expected with quality Polk Audio products. Well worth the money.
Pros: Great center sound for movies.
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
polk audio blackstone tl-1
doug b from martinsville in on 10/16/2012
this center speaker is perfect....sounds great....for the small size..big sound.....i have a onkyo thx receiver 608
Pros: rich full sound
Cons: none
0 of 0 found this helpful
Good for what it does...
Crutchfield customer from Western N.Y. on 10/16/2012
Great sound, good product. Thought about TL-2 but saw this outlet for a few $$ off. sounds good in our new den and kinda glad I didn't get the higher end TL-2. This is plenty for our needs. Music, sports/TV. Movies in the future....when wife picks out furniture. Worth the cost.
Pros: price, and performance for the price!
Cons: none.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk Center Speaker
JoeB from Needham, MA on 8/19/2012
0 of 0 found this helpful
not bad. a little boxy sounding
ps from At the end of the internet... on 7/19/2012
Not a bad speaker. I was a sound engineer for 12 years. I have long since gotten past critical listening environments at home, but I still like decent sound. This speaker is not bad for center channel but is a little boxy, but what to expect from a small plastic box. I have it coupled with a couple in-ceiling Polk 8 in. front left and right. Wanted a little more for center for the TV to make it so I did not have to crank up the ceilings to make it audible. This did a decent job for that. All of this from a newer Onkyo AV receiver with the Audyssey setup. Seemed to all work ok. So I would say not a bad speaker. Might get a couple more for wireless surround which is the next step in the process.
Pros: Small, fits under the front of my Sony 40" without blocking the screen any. Black color makes it become pretty invisible visually. Decent upper mids and high end.
Cons: Little boxy sounding, but not too bad. Guess i was expecting more.
2 of 2 found this helpful
A Winner
A Listener from Megalopolis on 7/18/2012
I rolled the dice and won on this one. The Polk TL1 center produces much better dialog than did my old one; not muffled or distorted. Now I don't have to fiddle with the receiver knobs to eke out understandable speech. Also, old center was more expensive and bigger than the Polk TL1, which is a pleasant surprise.
Pros: Reproduces dialog accurately Small size Inexpensive
Cons: None
2 of 2 found this helpful
Great Sound, Small Package
Ralph T. from Bowling Green, OH on 6/29/2012
Replaced all my 25 year old speakers with Polk Audio. The sound from them blows away my old set up. The sound from the center channel is great for such a small package. Great value for the money.
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Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
BEST ONE
Crutchfield customer from PORT ST LUCIE, FL, on 6/17/2012
ONE WORD TO SAY G R E A T
Pros: THE BEST SOUND
Cons: NOW I HAVE TO GET REED OF MY HIGH PRICE SPEAKER
0 of 0 found this helpful
terriffic speaker
Kikomon from Cocoa, Florida on 5/23/2012
I got this TL1 to replace an older Sony speaker that was three times the size of the TL1. I am so glad I did. This speaker's audio imaging is superb and it really balances well with my Yamaha NS1000 main speakers (which I bought about 30 years ago-they are 80+ pound monsters). My audio now is MUCH better. I have mounted it on my Sony 40" Bravia with a Center Stage Bracket CSB-1205-BLK.
Pros: Superb audio imaging - balances well with my main speakers. Quite small in size. Looks like it was made for a Sony Bravia.
Cons: None.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Great little speaker
Frank jr from COLORADO SPRINGS on 5/20/2012
cNeeded a small speaker to fit in front of my tv.Just the right size
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Great sound for a great price!
Midnight from Alsip, Illinois on 3/1/2012
My wife and I finally took plunge and purchased a new 60 inch plasma tv, and stand. The opening on the stand for the center channel was only 4 inches high, so my old center channel which served me very well had to go because it did not look good on top of stand. I called Crutchfield for advice and Dolly suggested the T1. Man what a great crisp sound! (especially now since I'm using an optical connection) It is just a high quality speaker for a great price. No way was I going to spend $1,000.00 for a center channel speaker!
Pros: Sound, price, look (nice shiny black finish), and size!
Cons: None
2 of 2 found this helpful
Great small center channel for flat screens
Crutchfield customer from Placentia, CA on 2/14/2012
I would give 5, but those are hard to come by. Otherwise, I was looking for a small center channel speaker that would fit in a nook for a 70" TV. The larger standard center channel speaker did not fit and so needed to get something with a lower profile. I was skeptical the beginning, but this performed like a champ. Don't expect SUPER sound, but for a good center, it is more than adequate, especially for the $ value.
Pros: Good price for a good low profile speaker.
Cons: A little weak compared to larger center channel models.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Can't beat it
John M from Wisconsin on 2/5/2012
Wasn't a big fan of Polk Audio until now. Great center speaker for the price.
Pros: size, looks, price
Cons: none
0 of 0 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
arrowpilot from Pawleys Island, SC on 10/18/2011
Perfect size to fit center of wall unit for clear dialog sound.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
great for the price
Matthew from Chicago IL on 4/19/2011
This is way better then my generic center speaker I had for years and the price was great for its small size (needed to not obscure my flat screen). LOVE IT!!!!
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Polk Audio Blackstone TL1
Guest from SC on 2/16/2011
This speaker is excellent for the price. I was a little hesitant to buy this as I could not find many reviews online. Not sure how it compares to the TL2 or TL3, but I am extremely satisfied with it. Dialogue from movies and TV shows are crystal clear.
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3 of 3 found this helpful
Great sound in a small package
Jim W from Pace Florida on 2/10/2011
This Polk center channel speaker has been a great addition to my surround system. I had a size requirement for the location the speaker needed to fit within. This speaker has excellent sound performance considering the compact size and economical pricing.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Great sound, compact
GK from Hampton, NJ on 2/8/2011
Placed it on the entertainment cabinet in front of the TV. Nice, compact design, gives plenty of power in our small (12x12) media room.
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1 of 2 found this helpful
Excellent Buy
BobC from Clementon, NJ on 11/8/2010
The Polk Audio Blackstone TL1 is an excellent buy for the price. The sound quality is exceptional for a speaker at this price. It's compact design and mounting holes make it perfect for my wall mounted flat panel TV. If you're looking for great sound at a great price I highly recommend this product.
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4 of 4 found this helpful
Not bad for the buck
Dennis from Bethel, CT on 11/1/2010
I mounted my LED TV to the wall and needed a center speaker with a low profile depth wise. The Polk was the onily thing I could find at a reasonable price and knowing the Polk name I new I would be safe. I had an larger center but it was too bulky, sounded great but the boss said it had to go. The sound quality on the Polk is not equal to the one I had, the old one was twice the cost but the Polk has a very good center channel sound. We are pleased to date. I like that it has the mounting holes on the back so it can be mounted to the wall directly. I also like that it is a shinny black because it is the same as the TV. overall we are happy with the sound and quality.
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7 of 9 found this helpful
