Sony SSCS3 Tower Speaker Review - Nope

#speakerreview #sonycorespeaker

Today we talk about the Sony Tower in their Core series. Is it good? Not really but please watch the video anyway. Not going to link them here because I think the bookshelves are better.

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[ResinBabes]

I'm surprised that you did not have a better experience! I have both the CS3s and the CS5s. I use them with the CS Subwoofer, SC center channel, and the CS Atmos upshooters. I drive then with the STR DN1080 and get a really nice soundstage!

[tjveith]

Thanks for the review. I purchased the CS5 bookshelf speakers and I couldn't be happier. Great sound, I'm actually blown away by the sound coming out of these things with the Sony 2 channel receiver and an audio-technics turntable. Even my wife has shed a few tears over the amazing sound - hearing some of our favorite vinyl again is extremely nostalgic. Terrific speakers, way better than a pair of polk audio bookshelf speakers I had years ago.

[chriscuthbertson]

The extra volume of midrange and bass frequencies caused by the additional driver makes the tweeters sound quieter at the same volume level. they would need to adjust the crossover to increase the output of the tweeter to balance with the extra output from the mid/bass drivers... I'm guessing they are just using the same crossover in both.

[ramondelgado]

This is soo interesting! I was expecting a glowing review of these being that they should be the bigger, badder sounding sibling of the SSC5 bookshelves. As always, I really enjoy the way you describe things and look forward to more great videos! Still loving the heck out of my SSC5 bookshelves. Every time I turn them on they put a big smile on my face! Happy Holidays!

[ginom]

Thank you for your honesty!!! I had high hopes for these as well. The more I learn, the closer I get to adding a sub to my bookshelves...

[flamehiro]

nice, just ordered 4 of the bookshelf speakers and the sony center speaker to update my 5.1 system. My subwoofer I didn't see a point updating, it going strong and no complaints.

[NeilBlanchard]

Suggestion for a cheap tower speaker to review: Dayton Audio MK442T
They are $240 shipped (last I saw) and there are restocks available for like $110/pr. They have gold plated binding posts, and a "real" (2nd order?) crossover. A pair of 4" paper cone woofers, and a 3/4" soft dome tweeter. Oh, they are a transmission line design.
With two woofers, they will have some vertical comb filtering - at the height right between the 2 woofers, you will hear even dispersion. But above and below this height you will have limited midrange. If done in an MTM (midrange-tweeter-midrange) then it could help the sound by minimizing the floor bounce cancellation.
Bigger speakers are harder to do right. Maybe, the impedance drops because they wired the woofers in parallel? This will tap out the amp, and you'll get anemic bass.

[stopthink]

Subbed! I have the Core towers and the bookshelves and my experience with the towers has been really good. I love them. Granted, I do have them elevated about a foot(I like my tweeters high). Mine sound like the bookshelves but "bigger". More bass, a bit more mids and highs are crisp. I like them a little better than the bookshelves. I do have an 8" sub just to add some low low end but they do fine without it on. I listen at a low to medium volume typically so maybe if you crank them they get sloppy? I've had nothing but excellence so far though. I've had them about a year or so. Sorry your experience was so poor with them!

[kwhite]

I have 4 of the scss5 sony towers raised on 12 inch high pedestals that I build. And I enjoy the sound they give whether it's movies, rock, blues or classical music.

[lightfusegetaway]

It's like The Office of speaker reviews.

[jwalters]

So if you wanted to pair the Sony bookshelves with a pair of floor speakers, what is your preference? I do like the sound of the bookshelves and will be adding a sub, but want to get some floor speakers too! Thx!!Love your videos!

[bridgetune]

SSCS5 are incredible..had them for 90$..best buy ever, 300$ worth of sound.

[quiles]

Thank you. I was searching YouTube for something that I don’t even know what the name is and I found you. Just what I was looking for. Audio equipment videos for the non 1%. I am sitting here watching all your videos and learning. Keep em coming.

[jason]

"Which is really what the T15s are meant for... to be a stand for other speakers." 😂

[TSLstudio]

On the sony website you got the 5.0 SS-CS310CR set-up and the use the bookshelf ones together with a mid one in front and put the towers at the back. While normally you see the big ones in front and the small ones at the back.

[lesnewjr]

Thanks for the video. I have been considering buying these towers, I have not had decent speakers since I was a teen in the 80's. I'm wanting to put together a good home theater with a tight budget. The only thing I have had since I was a kid has been sound bars. In your opinion would these be good for me going from tv speakers to surround? I'm assuming anything is probably better than the little speaker in my TV but I respect your opinion and would be honored to have it. Thanks.

[popularzero]

So I think some of the sound stage and mid-range issue might come down to if you're setting a more aggressive crossover on the low end. I got quite a bit more sound stage after I moved the crossover from 80hz to 50hz. I have the bookshelves as my rears in my setup. That being said I would say for value the Bookshelves are the better speaker overall. I wouldn't return the towers, but if I had to do it over again I'd buy another set of the bookshelves. I do have to say if I didn't have these paired with a subwoofer I wouldn't be as happy. I think that they work well in a home theater setup with a good toe-in and some height adjustment if you have the full set including the subwoofer, but I think you're spot on about the bookshelves being a better overall set of speakers.

[Off-Road]

I have these paired with the center book shelves and the sub woofer paired to the Sony strdn 1080 I have 0 complaints. Could be because I used the calibration mic with the 1080. But I find sound to be amazing

[carlosp]

Thank you very much for making this video about the speakers I was thinking about buying the towers but after watching your video I'm kind of like deciding if I should buy the bookshelf speakers instead. what would you recommend should I buy 2 pairs or one pair my receiver has the option to hook up 2 pairs, Or should I buy just one pair. The bookshelf speakers are on sale right At Best Buy I believe they are $125 the pair Right now for black Friday. I'm kind of building my home theater I have my center speaker and my surround speakers I just need the front. By the way the towers are on sale right now a Best Buy also for a $150 each. What do you recommend one pair or 2 pairs thank you very much in advance and once again thank you for sharing all your knowledge on all these speakers and order stuff that you review thank you again a happy holidays... happy Thanksgiving !!!

[hellraisingvtec]

Thanks for the video. I was thinking about buying the whole CS system after seeing all the reviews for the CS5's