Sony SS-CS8M2 2-Way 3-Driver Center Channel Speaker, 2025 Model

I want to start off by saying that I have quite a bit of experience with speakers in all ranges and have quite a lot of knowledge about speakers and how audio works. And in most speakers, even 300 dollar+ sets, there's a few common issues that usually puts me off as a listener which these speakers have done a great job at avoiding.Typically speakers under $500 have the following issues:Tweeters don't mix well with the loudspeaker in the cabinet and sound like another miss-matched speaker placed ontop of your much better mid/low range speakers.Tweeters are overbearing and sound "washey" or metalic.Sound quality, especially in high frequencies, is greatly reduced when keeping the dust protection panel on.Bass is strong but lacks proper tone.Bass is weak but has gratuitous excursion.Bass has good tone, but relies too much on the addition of a subwoofer or passive resonance speakers resulting in overall lower quality lows/mids.3-way crossover makes it difficult for your amplifier to get a proper read resulting in underwhelming volumesAudio suffers greatly when not placed in the absolute most optimal position which restricts placement or quality.That's a lot of common problems and, even with the good reviews and lots of research, I expected to hear at least one of them.However I can happily say that I am blown away at how well these speakers handle all of these issues. Up close, far away, with a sub, without, placed properly or improperly, used with other speakers or alone these two mini-monsters absolutely crush all of these issues and sound dang good while doing it.I'm very critical when it comes to audio and I'd easily say that I'd have to be ready to dump 600 dollars into anything to consider an upgrade being a big enough jump to be worth it.I have these connected to an Integra Pre-Amp and are powering them with a Crown 1000 amplifier in a very large room (probably 35x30ft) . Off the rip I think 6 Ohms is perfect for this size speaker in a home theater, especially for fronts, but these go above and beyond just making a few right decisions. These clearly had ALL the good design choices... So if your amplifier can do 6 Ohms, then I'd highly recommend these.I'd also like to add that the volume and atmospheric resonance in these are comparable to 8 Ohm 350 watt speakers, so 100 watts is something my power bill is happy to adopt.These barely break a sweat producing loud, high quality, detailed sound and for once I'm not worried about heavy excursion ripping them apart.I will be using these for music at house parties as well as for movies and gaming and so far I've tested them for all three and have yet to be disappointed.Personally I would not recommend these as side speakers as they're a little TOO in your face. I think side and rear are a whole different ball game. That being said, you could definitely order 6 of these and use them as front, surround, and rear surround speakers; you'd just need to calibrate their volumes and equalize them properly.All in all, I'm proud to say I own these and even more proud to tell people what I spent on them. These aren't just great for how much they are, they're great in general. Unless you're willing to spend a lot of money, there's little-to-no audible difference between these and other very high end speakers and I personally recommend getting these speakers if your setup requires bookshelf sized speakers.Final Verdict:8.5/10 for audio quality if we completely ignore price and consider 10 the best sound imaginable.9.7/10 if I factor in price and give in to my bass-head type personality (secretly wishing these had subwoofer level bass).10/10 for anyone who isn't the pickiest SOB in the world and simply wants what 98% of the world would consider to be perfect audio.(ps: When I say the bass on these are very good I am talking about what you would expect for tone and strength coming from a Home Theater speaker. Unless you want to get those huge cabinet speakers you see in actual theaters, you are never going to get subwoofer level bass out of a front channel speaker. You simply aren't meant to, and for good reason. You do not need a sub to hear sub-frequencies with these as they handle bass incredibly well... but please do not think these can replace a woofer. They're called sub-"woofers" because they push air so hard you can feel it. That's not bass, that's an artificial effect)UPDATE:It's been 2 years and still going strong. Now of course I know a lot about the best ways to configure setups and get the most out of my speakers, but everyone who hears how good this system sounds is blown away. Almost everyone is encouraged to get a setup of their own after hearing how good it sounds. These definitely compliment my center channel and other speakers so well. It almost doesn't matter what speakers I mix with these, it just works. I've tried a few different configurations and have been pushing these hard on a weekly basis. Seems like no matter what I throw at these they just work. I also have a particularly dust-happy room; I am pleased to say that these do not have a tendency to pick up dust as I haven't had to clean them even once. Reliability, functionality, audio balance, build quality are all there. I wish I could give these more stars as I don't think people understand just how rare it is to find a speaker like this in this price range. Not usually a Sony fan, but hats off to the engineers in Japan that designed this - you guys deserve a pay raise.

Yes...I was finally wanting to upgrade from my used thrift shop Sony CMT cp11 bookshelf tape/cd player with only Bass and Treble eq, at about 30 watts with only two speakers possible. Good little retro unit. I used to have one of the bigger, thicker Sony monster bookshelf 3 or 5 disc changer with those big old speakers with super looking sub woofer dealios. I miss that that system very much. I used to also have some components I got from my dad's old cool system, 2 full size Pioneer speakers that were pretty nice too. I had to let some things go and some things didn't last the test of time. I've had a few thrift stereos that have their own speakers. Issues here and there. Used stuff isn't always a great idea for the savings.I finally had a little saved paired with some early Xmas money and I opted to research pushing my Sony CMT through some better speakers in my price range. I missed feeling the music MORE. More push...more vibe, more of a fulfilling overall wall of sound, spectrum, space, soundstage and all those audiophiliac terms that I am not that familiar with. If it sounds good and I can hear that music wonderfully with some control over it with the source, DSP/EQ...I'm good. I don't crank it to 11 or 9..maybe more like 5 to 8ish these days. So...after much research...and watching many vids from the most awesome reviewer out of many, Randy the Cheap Audio Man...I really narrowed my search down to Cs5's. A pair ..my first ..around Thanksgivingish...73 bucks..GREAT Sale! Had to get that Cs9 subwoofer too.The trio arrived and I pushed it with the Sony CMT...but I felt I wanted a little more of something.Found the Keiid cd player 2 channel 20 watt cd/mp3 cd usb sd card unit...for a damn good dealso I opted to get that one. Got it..retired my old thrift bought Sony CMT cp 11..as I really dug the power and sound and 3 eq offering of the Keiid.Then...hmmm, I wanted to use the other channel, having all 4 surround sound for audio mostly and maybe watching some movies and concerts on dvd and vhs. I ended up getting 2 more on sale...and one more sub for a total of 4 cs5s and 2 cs9s...after of course watching some more reviews on them by Randy the Cheap Audio Man. Hmmm... Great info lead me to make a follow up buy whilst these speakers were on sale which was awesome saving for sure.I then..heard about the Sony 149 priced stereo audio recver via Randy. I had to look into that more. I did. I thought I'd make that buy too. Then...of course..unsure of how long the Keiid would last...as I dug it..but wanted another cd/dvd playing choice as I was running audio and dvd through an old dvd vhs sony unit that might have not been all that great..also a 8 buck buy at the thrift shop..with remote. Worked great..but quality had diminished via vid and sound to my ears. Got the 44 buck Sony HDMI upscale dvd that plays cds. I wanted to keep it all Sony since I had has mostly good luck with Sony over the years...and I felt it would make a great set up to keep it all one brand..all complimenting each other. Knowing very well that there are better speakers, subs, receivers, dvd cd players out there. This seemed to work for my musical needs...which seemed like a BIG upgrade from what I was listening to for the past 5 years.I have 2 speakers Fronts at ear level not that wide of a spread since my room studio isn't that big and I am limited on space. I put the 2 back speakers on the cd bookshelves above or at about 6 to 7 feet up spaced about same as Front speakers. A very nice musical sound box was created..with the two subs below table of where front speakers are spaced about a foot or more apart. Wonderful set up! Light years of where I was with my other bookshelf units..Sony, Aiwa and etc. This set is NICE for the investment ..as opposed to waiting and building a system for more money in time. This is a great sounding system of sound for my collection to be played through and enjoyed with enough power and over all everything I need for where I'm at in life now....hand in hand with awesome savings..I hope all the pieces of this ensemble last a long time... I'll save up and aim a bit higher next time..but this was a pretty wonderful first venture in the audiophile ..build a home audio stereo system that works well with your needs..as opposed to watching tons of reviews and doubting you did the right thing after learning about other awesome productions in that same price range or on sale or close to it.I guess, if you have the budget to expand and have a plentiful variety of speakers, receivers cd transports power amps..components, systems and etc... luck you. We peeps on budgets...find what we dig, need, want..and make it work.cause it works well enough without use needing to upgrade monthly.Rock on...Have a wonderful 2021! Be safe..Be kind.Check out Randy the cheap Audio man and learn..get pointers, advice..info..and make your decision a fun journey like I did. Tell him RiffnWolf or WrathBliss sent you.

I'm thoroughly impressed with the Sony SSCS5 bookshelf speakers - they've completely transformed my listening experience! I've paired them with my Sony STR-DB930 receiver, and the combination is absolutely fantastic. The sound signature is remarkably well-balanced, offering rich, detailed audio that punches well above its price point.What truly stands out is the speaker's ability to deliver solid, controlled bass while maintaining crystal-clear midrange reproduction. Vocals come through with stunning clarity, and the overall soundstage is impressively wide and detailed. Whether I'm listening to music or watching movies, these speakers fill the room with immersive, high-quality sound.These three-way speakers with their three-driver design prove that Sony hasn't forgotten their audio heritage. They handle different genres with ease, from classical to rock, delivering each note with precision and warmth. The build quality is excellent, and the classic design looks elegant in any setting.For anyone looking to step into the world of high-fidelity audio without spending a fortune, these speakers are an absolute no-brainer. They compete with speakers costing twice as much, making them one of the best value-for-money propositions in the audio world. I wholeheartedly recommend the Sony SSCS5 - they're a testament to Sony's commitment to delivering exceptional sound quality at an accessible price point.