I'm very impressed by this speaker. Good power handling, silky highs and smooth bass. They even come with gold plated binding posts which is unusual for speakers in this price range. Someone told they are made by a well knowned speaker maker for RS, don't know if this is true though.. In any case, for $99 you can't go wrong.

This speaker is in the AudioReviews Hall of Fame and at $99, I just had to go out to the local RadioShack to hear them for myself. They had them on display but not connected to a receiver, of course, but the sales associate was more than willing to connect it for me. My first impression was Wow! these are noticeably a lot clearer and has more bass than my present KLH center speaker. I know KLH isn't no where near top of the line but they cost the same as the CS5 but the CS5 just sound so much better. So I bought the CS5 and connected it to my Aiwa 480 watt receiver. I have Infinity RS3 for front speakers(by far the best of the speakers that I presently own, $250 a pair at audio-direct.com), Infinity QPS1 for surrounds(excellent at $227 a pair at audio-direct.com), and a 10inch KLH subwoofer. I was worried that my new CS5 wouldn't match well with my RS3's which put the KLH center channel speaker to shame, I couldn't even listen to music in Prologic with that KLH center, but the CS5 proved to be a good match, almost as clear as my more expensive RS3. I was going to by a Infinity center channel but I couldn't justify paying $300 for one when the CS5 sound close to or just as good.

For the money,the CS-5 sounds great.The clarity and richness of this speaker can be compared to a much more expensive center channel speaker.While watching 'CON-AIR' I felt like "CYRUS THE VIRUS" was right in front of me.The voices and sound effects became so life-like,it really suprised me. However,I'm not really sure the PRO-LX10's match-up very well,with the CS-5.The audio looses that midrange reproduction when panning to the LX-10's.Thats because you need to fill up the LX-10s with insulation,creating more midrange,tighter bass response and loosing that 'boominess' efect,which everyone comments on. I believe then,that the mid-range reproductin should be about the same in all three speakers when this is done,creating a 'close' to perfect match. (The CS-5 is a great deal for $99.but it should be smaller and wider).

I happened to notice the CS-5 on a routine visit to Radio Shack. When I expressed an interest the all too willing sales people hooked on up and I was impressed. Obviously, Radio Shack is not optimized as an auditioning environment, so I figured I'd see what it sounds like at home. Radion Shack has a liberal no questions asked 30 return period so I figured I had nothing to lose.
In all fairness, I have not listened to alot of center channel speakers. I also watch mostly content with dialog as opposed to sound effects. The sound from this speaker is very clear and full. It also integrates well with my much larger audio intended Infinity 9Kappas. The construction quality, which has sonic benefits in a speaker as well is quite good. I especially appreciate the gold binding posts rather than the spring device found on most low cost speakers. In other words, the CS-5 feels like a higher end product.

At the $99 sale price with a Linaeum ribbon tweeter this speaker offers excellent value. On that basis alone, this is a five star product.

I got this speaker and the paradigm cs350 both at once for an in home audition. I was going for best sound, the $200 dollar differential was not considered. I had two other critical listener friends to compare with. I hooked up the two units with an a/b switch for instint selection. The two sound (voiced) very similiar, and often it was confusing which one was on. The CS5 is hands down one of the best values out there! I really like it in my H/T. The sony es30 I drive it with is a perfect match.
The CS5 goes on sale every once in a while for $99, catch it then.

I called Radio Shack based on all the positive comments in this forum and found that they are closing out the CS-5. Presently, it is priced at $79.95 where you can find them. Won't last long. If you thought it was a bargain at $100, you love it now.

Quite simply, the CS5 is an incredible center channel. I purchansed one on sale for $120 USD to go with my pair of PRO LX5's. I've been very happy with it's performance.
The Optimus folks set this speaker up for more bass/midrange than the LX5's, which is what you want in a center channel. It's such a decent speaker that I could easily see someone using these for left & right mains as well a center. Radio Shack should market it as an LCR.

If your in the market for a center channel, by all means run out and buy a CS5, especially when they're on sale for $99 USD. If you don't like it, just return it in 30 days for a full refund. (You won't be returning it.)

There are $300 and $400 center channels that don't sound nearly as good as this Radio Shack offering. But don't take my word for it. Listen for yourself.

I feel that the CS-5 center channel speaker is excellent! Not wanting to spend a whole lot on center and surrounds (music is 75% of what we do),
the 99.00 I spent on this was within my budget. My mains are NHT
Superones - even though the match is not perfect, it is close enough for
me. The CS-5 is *very* natural sounding and does justice to voices and
sound effects. The sound is also very clean and undistorted (relative to
the source - VHS vs digital). I am driving my CS-5 with an Onkyo TX-SV525
pro-logic receiver with great results. If you are looking for major
"bang for the buck", wait till Radio Shack has them on sale (quite often)
and pick one up - nothing to lose with their liberal 30 day return policy.

I have had my Pro CS5 for about a year now. I agree that it is by far the best value in a center channel speaker, especially at the frequent sale price of $99.
It has the same linaeum monopole tweeter as my LX-4 mains (too bad the Shack discontinued those - anybody got an extra pair they want to part with?) A Paradigm PDR-10 handles the bass. The CS5 is ultra clear on dialog with minimal sibilance. Good binding posts for the speaker wire. I've also tried it with B&W 302's and it was a good match there, too.

This is a very nice center channel speaker for the $100 I paid for it. Ijust installed a whole set of Optimus speakers (PRO-LX10's-fronts, PRO-CS5-
center, PRO-LS1's-surrounds, and an Optimus 10" 100w powered sub) for my
HT in our new home. The speakers are connected to a JVC RX-884-VBK
receiver. For the $580 I have in the total speaker package, I think the
whole system sounds great! The PRO-CS5 and PRO-LX10's image so well, the
sound seems to be coming from all over the room. The sub is a bit too
boomy for my taste, but I can live with it. I really wanted the PRO-LX5's
for surrounds, but I wanted to wall (corner) mount them, and they were
really too big. I know I'm sacraficing sound quality with the PRO-LS1's
but they are so aesthetically pleasing and my wife likes the fact that they
don't stand out.