Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System (Pair) - Black

Product Information

On the other hand, the R-41Ms will typically cost you a bit more than the Sony SSCS5 speakers. They also have a narrower frequency response than the SSCS5s and might not give you the same level of detail in the highs ( related: Klipsch R-41M Bookshelf Speakers: A Pro Review). ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers

The 0.98-inch soft dome combined with the tweeter and 0.75-inch super tweeter to give you a smooth and extended high-frequency response, allowing for accurate reproduction of vocals and instruments in the treble range. Adequate bass for casual listening The SS-CS5's response looks pretty smooth, especially for the price range. On-axis, it's +/-3.4 dB from 70 hertz to 20 kHz, which is an extremely good result for a speaker at this price. There's a slight boost around 1.1 kHz, which may make voices stand out a bit better. Plus, there's a slight downward tilt in the tonal balance, which means the speaker is unlikely to sound bright or trebly or thin. Averaged on/off-axis response is close to the on-axis response, which is good. This post shows the impact of shorting the resistor in the woofer crossover. Instead of adding and removing the short for every measurement, I used the 2nd speaker from the pair. The 2 speakers don't measure quite identically (though they do image quite well). The major impact of shorting the resistor is to fill in the slight dip in response between 2 kHz and 4 kHz. Originally, the woofer and tweeter don't quite reach each other at the crossover point. Instead of each of them being 6 dB down, they're more like 8 dB down, and thus there's a depression in the frequency response there (even though they match well in phase). Shorting the resistor extends the woofer's response to meet the tweeter's, yet the slope of the woofer's high frequency attenuation is actually increased (which is also a good thing in this case). The tweeter response isn't changed, so there's no concern about decreased power handling. The SS-CS5 is a great budget option and some of my favorite bookshelf speakers in any price range. But here’re a few other options that are worth your consideration. Sony SS-CS5 vs Jamo S 803 Read the full Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2 review Who are the Sony SS-CS5 bookshelf speakers best suited for?I listen to lossless/lossy music codec (ALAC) and it absolutely sounds like the band is in the recording booth and can even catch when the audio engineer punches in VOCAL re-takes! way, 3-driver system: The separate drivers for low, mid, and high frequencies ensure balanced and detailed audio output. What's unusual about this speaker is the super tweeter, of course, but also the foamed mica woofer cone. Seeing this material in a woofer cone is unusual, but it's still light and stiff—just as a woofer cone should be. The Sony SSCS5 bookshelf speaker also has a grille that comes with it. The grille is detachable and you can decide when to put it on the speaker or take it off of it. This grille looks very well on the speaker’s cabinet. Furthermore, it can also make the projected sound more discrete so that you can enjoy and relax with some music. Features

In this post, I've included 2 pictures to highlight the impact of the anti-diffraction frame. Both pictures contain response measurements of the same speaker at 0, 30, and 60 degrees off axis horizontally. One shows the speaker by itself, and the other shows the speaker with the frame added (no crossover modification). The only difference is the frame. It's easy to see that the frame evens out the response significantly between 300 Hz and 3 kHz, while also drastically improving the consistency across horizontal angle in the same frequency region. I didn't have the Pioneer SP-BS22 LR speakers on hand for a direct comparison, but I know that speaker well enough to say this Sony wins on detail. But the SP-BS22 LR has better overall tonal balance. It's also a lot cheaper. But if you crave the utmost in resolution, the SS-CS5 is worth considering.Yes, you can place the SSCS5 speakers on bookshelves or speaker stands, whichever suits your room layout and acoustic preferences. Conclusion: Sony SSCS5 [2023 Review]