Randy of The Cheap Audio Man moved his CSS Criton 1TD-X out of the house after reviewing it because, he said, "it's just not a fair fight" against his other speakers. CSS sells its speakers as kits. It designs the drivers, cabinet and crossover, and the owner glues the box, solders the crossover on a printed board and picks the finish. The drivers are where CSS puts its effort. In most drivers the magnet's grip on the voice coil weakens as the coil moves far from its resting point, and the cone stops following the music exactly. CSS says its patented tweeter motor keeps that grip steady over a wider range, so the sound stays clean. Srboljub Stojanovic of iiWi Reviews found the 1TD-X went as deep on its own as his KEF LS50 and REL subwoofer together, with highs that were "calm and laid-back." CSS suits listeners who want full-range sound from a modest box and like a weekend project.

The Torii is the easy first build. Matt Coykendall found its panels go together only one way and its crossover board labels every part, so a pair can be built in a day. He calls them little bass monsters and wants them a couple of feet from the wall in a small or medium room. The 1TD-X, which CSS calls its best seller, is the sweet spot. Give it a strong amplifier. Randy suggests 50 watts or more and plenty of space from the walls. Each Criton comes with a Standard crossover or a Superior one with better parts, and Randy notes that a 1TD owner can add the upgraded tweeter and crossover later, so you can start small. For a bigger room, Thomas of Thomas & Stereo heard the 2TD-X tower as smooth and warm, and found it scaled up with better electronics. Michael Laurance of Positive Feedback had the flagship 3TD-X toed in within 10 minutes.

CSS was founded by Bob Reimer, whose drivers, the company says, earned a devoted following among DIY speaker builders. Its workshop and listening room are in Plymouth, Michigan, and its first stated rule is "Measured, not marketed." CSS sent the 3TD-X to Audio Science Review, where Amir measured it on a Klippel near-field scanner and called it "the best KIT speaker I have tested." Laurance first heard the 3TD-X at AXPONA and spent more time in the CSS room than in any other that weekend. Zero Fidelity reports that the Typhon, the first flagship-level speaker from CSS, came out of two years of design work by Jay Lee, who reviews hifi on YouTube, with CSS providing resources and help. Steve Huff of HiFi Huff found it needed no subwoofer. Thomas of Thomas & Stereo heard from a CSS customer who built his speakers with his children to show them they could get good quality by building it themselves. CSS told Thomas that this customer sometimes preferred them, with a subwoofer, to his Wilson Sabrinas.