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Cheap $88 Sony SS-CS5 Speakers - Awesome

I have been working on refreshing the power supply on my 1979 vintage EAR 509 amps.  Found cracked/bulged caps and wanted be proactive.   Absolutely stunning amps. Lifetime keepers.

Wanted a cheap set of workbench speakers for trialing so I didn't blow my main speakers if made a mistake.  Vintage amp repair/update what a pain with bulged caps/ broken wires, undersized fuses from past owners and non-stock circuit changes.  Shout out to Dan Meinwald and EAR UK for absolutely superb customer support. 

Anyways picked up a cheap set of $88 Sony sale speakers at my local to me ABT electronics.  SS-CS5 3 way bookshelf.  One ebay LX5 speaker i got either blew or had a bad woofer during my testing.  So I needed something. 

What a surprise, the cheap Sony's just sound great.  They don't even break down on bass drum kicks.  Sweet, detailed sound and are just rocking.  They go fairly loud though I don't listen loud.  I am listening through a Linn Axis with Ittok/Sumiko Talisman (superb table, really) EAR 868PL and the vintage EAR 509.   They are on stands 4 feet apart nearfield (cause amp burn in).

The speakers are incredible bargain for what they are.  Enjoying my burn in session immensely. Maybe I found a sleeper. To some of you maybe I didn't.  These are too good for bench test speakers I think.  Might want to give them a try.
linnlp12
reubent
7,257 posts
 

Amazon shipped my Sony's on 12/14 and they were promptly lost by the carrier. Yesterday I requested a replacement order and they are in transit for delivery tomorrow. Should be fun to see what $88 sale speakers sound like. They will be replacing a pair of $39 Radio Shack Presidian speakers that I bought on closeout after reading a similar internet thread years ago. This is for a toy/experimental system in my office.

213runnin
914 posts
 

I’m listening to the Sonys right now, connected to 250 wpc.  Only reasonable volume levels of course!  

reubent
7,257 posts
 

Mine arrived this evening and I have them up and playing now. Too early for any analysis, other than to say they look WAY better than the $88 sale price would indicate...

213runnin
914 posts
 

I prefer the Sony ss-cs5 over the Andrew Jones Pioneer SP BS22.  The Sonys are smoother, have tighter bass and can handle more power.  The speaker terminal cup is also smaller, which means less bass escapes.

Sony really paid attention to the details.

reubent
7,257 posts
 

I've had the cheap $88 Sonys playing for a few hours this morning. Really, very impressive for the money spent. Listening to Radio Paradise and Spotify via my $100 Raspberry Pi/HiFi Berry DAC, Audio Refinement Complete Integrated amp and the Sony speakers. No, it is not as good as my main rig, and it shouldn't be considering the cost disparity. However, it is enjoyable, especially for background music and music discovery via web-radio and Spotify.

So, when they are on sale for $88 on Amazon, pick up a pair if you have a need/use for them. At the current $168 Amazon price, I would pass and just find a pair of good $200-ish dollar used speakers. You can find a pair of used speakers for $200 that would be a significant upgrade from these Sonys IMHO.

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