Full sound, accurate tweeter. Enough bass to reinforce my main speakers.

Big size has a tendency to draw your eyes away from the screen, but that is a matter of adjustment. Definitely not for smaller TV sets.

I have owned AR products before, so gave this one a chance though I had not heard it in person (through uBid). It replaces a little Atlantic Technology center channel that I had used for years. The AR has a bigger and more accurate sound. I had to turn down the level some to blend better with my DCM front mains, as the AR''s seem very efficient. For the price I got these (the $80.00 included my bid and shipping) I am very happy. One note, this unit was bigger than I expected! It kinda dominates the top of my 35" Toshiba direct view, but it is also a nice looking speaker and black like my set. As for the oft-mentioned break-in period, I don''t believe in all that. I think it is our ears and our psyco-acoustic senses that get broken in, but you have to start with a good speaker, which the AR surely is. The other reviews I read here seemed to miss the mark, this is a terriffic speaker, typical AR quality

Similar Products Used:

Atlantic Technology

built-in swivel stand, sturdy design, nice look, high power handling

none

I bought this speaker to go with my AR 308 HO main speakers. A guy told me about onsale.com so I checked it out. I found this speaker for $69 + shipping, so I decided to go ahead and get it since it was voice-matched to my mains. After I hooked it up, it was definately different from my previous center channel. At first, I didn't think it sounded very impressive, but as I listened to it more I began to like the sound more. Voices do have a depth to them, but the highs don't exactly sparkle. (And by the way, I'm tired of people talking about no bass from center channel speakers...I've heard countless center channels and even tried big main speakers as a center channel and have yet to hear good bass come from one) As far as being voice-matched to my AR mains...I guess it's close, probably closer than a different brand speaker. I think this speaker does have good sensitivity because I had to turn the center channel level down from +4 to +1 because on loud peaks it was sounding too "shrill". Actually, I think if I had a better receiver the highs would sound better and have a better "shine" to them. I have a Sony rated at 120 watts rms to the center, but I think that is overrated. I appreciate the stand on this speaker because right now I only have a 26" TV. That doesn't leave room for a big center channel on the TV and most higher-end center channels are a little big. So if you have a direct view TV, this might be a good speaker for you. You could use this speaker as surrounds since you can wall mount it with it's base. I think this speaker is a good-sounding speaker, especially when you can find it at a cheap price.

Similar Products Used:

Fisher center channel (cheap)

Beautiful design and swirl stand for directional adjustment!!

Flat sound, lack bass

I have bought this unit for 9 months but i am not really happy with it as it sounds flat and shallow sound stage in Dolby digital mode. When i change to 5 channel stereo, it thought it could be better but it doesn't. Infact, i think it ruins the soundstage when I use 5 channel stereo from my Denon receiver.

Does center channel suppose to sound flatter than main or surrond speaker?? It is still sound "o.k." during the conversation in Dolby Digital, but sound flat/mono in music DVD in Dolby Digital mode.

Furthermore, this unit supposes to match with others AR HO series speakers but it doesn't. According to the spec, it is 3 db lower than the AR310 which 95dB for its effiency. But I have to adjust 6dB higher in the center channel when I use AR 310 as my main channel when performing test in speaker level.

However, I love the beautiful and up to date design. Especially the swirl stand that allow me to adjust the angle and position i like.

I haven't heard of the new center channel AR2C or AR4C, hopefully those problem won't be found in those new product!!!

I gave 4 stars for the price but 2 stars for the performance.

Excellent sound, sturdy construction, versatile base.

Was expensive...geting cheap though

Please stop saying that this speaker dosen't have bass...it's not supposed too, that's why it's a tenth the size of the speakers you people are comparing it too...send the bass to your big speakers like you're supposed too.
For those of you looking to purchase this speaker I highly reccomend it. Espically when combined with other HO series front speakers. I find it's sound rich and well matched to that of the 312HO's I have it paired with (after I unhooked the woofers on the 312s!). The base it sits on is also just all sorts of crazy cool:-).
Lastly a speaker dosen't buzz when you play video games because there's something wrong with it...speakers only make noise when they recive current or when they're blown.

Similar Products Used:

Infinity CC1

Is relatively "High Output" for such a tiny speaker enclosure... nice look. Directional qualities are OK.

Tinny vocal reproduction.

Fair deal for its price - perfectly matches with the rest of my strictly AR HO system:

310 HO (2 lefts) in front
208 HO for surrounds

Recommend spending a little more to get some fuller, smoother sounding dialogue. Some say up to 52% of most DVDs comes thru the center channel.

Similar Products Used:

Cambridge Center II

Great sound, very natural

Heavy cabinet

I could not beat the price at Netmarket.com at $73 + $10 S/H
Excellent sound from 80 Hz up, need to use a sub anyway for the rest of the set up. I know anyone will enjoy this item.

I too was disappointed with AR's CS25. I brought it to complement the AR 308's that I have all around and believed the ads about it being 'sound balanced' with the rest of the product line. The sound is flat and I often have difficulty in even understanding the spoken word in viewing movies. I have to turn up the volume setting to just about max to get anything out of it. I should've kept the old cheapie Sony center speaker and saved the money. A disappointment considering how good the rest of AR's line is.

Great speaker for the price. I bought this for about $100 a few months ago and think it's a great value. True, there isn't much base, but it's a center, right??? The clarity is great.

Hi.I just got this Center Channel,Iam using 310's for the Front and 308 for
Rears,INFINITY SUB BU120(SUBWOOFER).All I can Say this Center Speaker is way better than My BOSE model#100,I think it's great Center Channel for the price.
I only paid $94.
My system is connected to Denon 5700 the whole syst sounds Awesome.
For those pple who use this Center speaker with different component than
AR,I would say that's probably was the problem.
I was going to get CC 3infinity,But I wanted to saty with the same HO seres.
I'll this center 5 stars.

Big disappointment for the price and especially from a brand which I've trusted for almost 30 years in designing and manufacturing great speakers.As for the CS25HO, my TV speakers sounded better. When viewing a musical DVD with 5.1, I'd rather switch to 2 channel mode.
A good way to tell the quality of a product is to take it apart, and I did. It all started from an annoying rattle caused by loose objects inside two of the three CS25HOs which I use for the center and surrounds.
Discovery: Chips of plastic (the same material as the housing) were found. The two-piece plastic housing are held together by 6 screws which go right into the plastic. If you've taken a plastic radio apart, you'd know what I mean. When I run my low frequency test tones through the speakers, the seams emit enough air to blow dry my hair. Did AR totally ignore the quality of their products after all these years?