Sony SS-CS3 3-Way 4-Driver Floor-Standing Speaker - Pair (Black)

I don't write too many reviews esp for the likes of Sony and the other mega-corporations; they appear to be doing fine without any help from me. But I came on Amazon looking for a pair of passive floor-standing speakers and i searched on 3-way speakers first, just to see what was available, before i settled for a pair of Klipsch 2-ways or whatever I could afford for <1200.00 for the pair. I was not expecting to find any 3-ways for that money. When these Sonys came up i was dismissive at first. Sony is a producer of fine audio and video equipment to be sure--I am a fan of their mirrorless cameras and I've had more video equipment from them than any other company. But speakers? No. Definitely not. For some reason Sony never cracked the speaker market. They seem to have been making money mass-producing mediocre speakers for the department store market; packaged stereo "systems" for convenience and lower cost. In a word, they sucked. But these were so cheap and the reviews were so good....I started reading about how in 2014 Sony produced a pair of 40k speakers that rocked the super-high end of the spectrum. Shortly after, seemingly a result of their renewed to audio, they came out with these. I wasn't after a pair of "OK" speakers for under 500, I was after a pair of good ones for under 1200. So i was reluctant at first. but I ordered them, and hooked them up to my 140w/ch Marantz 2 channel power amp, through a vacuum tube preamp. These are excellent speakers. They go all the way up with my fat black Marantz, clear and warm and LOUD. I hear parts of the mix that i never heard before, on albums I know by heart. the mid-range components provide a clean layer of sound and unequivocally, these speakers sound excellent. As good or better than speakers for more than double the price. Bravo, Sony, you did it again. Doesn't seem like anyone knows it, but you broke out of the department store mediocrity with your CS3 3 way Speakers, and they are the best deal I've gotten on new equipment in a while.

I had resisted these for years because of their price point thinking no way can $400 pair of speakers sound as good as everyone says. Everyone includes professional writers and casual listeners. I have a Denon PMA 900 integrated amp, CD player and audio technica turntable. 2 Polk 10 inch subs. I did have 2 Triangle Borea bo3 bookshelf speakers and 2 Sony CS5 dolby Atmos tops. I was just never impressed with the Triangles. They always seemed off, dull or muddy. Listening to Jethro Tull's Stand-up album before and after. Without changing any part of the setep, I swapped out speakers and was immediately blown away by how rich and detailed the sound was. Literally hearing new sounds and subtle parts I didn't know existed. Some of that may be attributed to my poor hearing to begin with, but there's no mistaking the huge improvement. I do recommend adding a sub to assist with the bass performance. By themselves they can generate excellent sound but might not have the low, deep base that some listeners want. Another side note. The CS5s really only come into play with my streaming digital sources, but there is a noticeable difference in the sound. It bounces sounds off ceiling and overhead creating a sort of surround affect. I'm not a audiophile, just explaining what my ears and brain are experiencing. I know that was long winded but felt it was necessary. Bottom line if your looking and on a budget, don't think about it anymore, just get em.

High clarity and sound quality. Rest assured, at this price you’re effectively buying a speaker worth twice what you pay, from the well-established and reliable Sony brand. Highly recommended.

I have quite a few vintage stereo systems with much higher end speakers that definitely deliver more bass,but these Sony’s have such incredible clarity and treble that my older ears were looking for! If you’re not looking to rumble your house down and want great speakers at budget price,don’t hesitate to buy these!

Sound great to me! Replaced my 30 year old column Infinity speakers, end of an era.