Sony SS-CS5M2

Sources split, with a large majority hearing a more neutral, better-balanced speaker than the original. Erin's Audio Corner calls it more mellow and suited to listeners who like a neutral sound, Archimago prefers it for its 'more neutral tonal balance', cheapaudioman hears 'a more mature sound', and AV-Obsessed calls the response respectable. Most owners agree. A minority hears it as bright, thin or harsh: one owner went looking for replacements because it was 'too harsh and high', another found it lacking fullness on an Onkyo receiver, and a third heard a 'dialed back' version of the Pioneer SP-BS22.

Agreed by nearly everyone: tight enough, but limited, so plan on a subwoofer. Erin heard a little more weight than the original and measured about 2 dB more at 60 Hz, but says you still need a sub. Archimago puts the −6 dB point near 60 Hz and AV-Obsessed calls it lacking in bass. cheapaudioman found it 'less boosted on the bottom' than the original and added EQ. Owners describe punchy mid-bass without deep extension. A few desk and small-room owners call it full, and one PC owner found the low end 'completely missing' without a sub.

“Not a lot, and you're still going to need a subwoofer, but they do get a little bit further down.”

Erin's Audio Corner (YouTube; vs the original SS-CS5)

“With a small 5" woofer, we can't expect impressive deep bass.”

Archimago's Musings (quasi-anechoic measurement)

“The 'punchy bass' people speak of just that... punchy mid-bass.”

Amazon US verified owner (4★; later added an 8-inch sub)

Generally called clear, with some disagreement about the details. AV-Obsessed measured a fairly even midrange, cheapaudioman says the M2 'pulled up some of that mid-range trough' of the original, and owners praise clear vocals; one called the mids 'completely unveiled' after a Polk XT20. Erin hears both a mild 1–2 dB dip and some forwardness on certain vocals. A few owners disagree: one found voices 'coming from within a cardboard box', and another found the lower range thin.

“Clear, completely unveiled mids and highs that punch and are crisp but not fatiguing.”

External_Blood7824, r/BudgetAudiophile owner (stands, WiiM Pro Plus room correction; replaced Polk XT20)

“The other thing that I noticed about these Sony speakers is that there is some forwardness in the mid-range.”

Erin's Audio Corner (YouTube)

“The issue for me is voices sound distance and like they are coming from within a cardboard box.”

Amazon verified owner (3★, reviewed in Canada)

Sources split, with most hearing a smoother, better-behaved top end than the original. Archimago calls it 'clearly more polite on the top end', cheapaudioman says it 'pulled back that 4 to 6K boost' while keeping a fun top end, and owners describe it as crisp but not fatiguing. Erin agrees it is smoother, but still hears mild sibilance around 3–5 kHz. A minority still hears it as bright: one owner found it too harsh even with the treble turned down, others call it 'a bit bright but correctable', and one Canadian owner calls it bright and likes it that way.

Sources split. Most call it wide and open. Archimago praises a 'palpable soundstage' with width, height and depth at tweeter height, AV-Obsessed found the speakers 'completely disappear' on stands, and owners describe a broad, deep stage. Erin's Audio Corner is the dissent: next to a $3,500 reference speaker it sounds flat, 'a plane' rather than a sphere of sound.

Praised by everyone who mentions it. Archimago heard 'surprisingly precise placement', AV-Obsessed a decent centre image (though no precise layering), and owners describe very good instrument placement and a strong phantom centre. AV-Obsessed rated its imaging similar to the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63's.

“So they do a very good job of disappearing and they give you a decent center image.”

AV-Obsessed (YouTube; stands about 8 ft apart, toed in)

“the fidelity was astonishing especially considering the price.”

armpussay, r/BudgetAudiophile owner (used as a phantom centre)

Generally called clear and detailed for the price. Owners praise its clarity and 'sharp detail', and a Reddit owner found the clarity and accuracy remarkable at the price. Erin says the midrange detail improves noticeably once a subwoofer takes over the bass. AV-Obsessed is more reserved, hearing no precise layering or separation of instruments.

“Clarity and detail are very good.”

Amazon US verified owner (4★)

“They don't give you any kind of precise layering and separation of instruments but what they do very well is completely disappear orally in your room.”

AV-Obsessed (YouTube; 'orally' as auto-captioned, for 'aurally')

Sources split, mostly along test method. AV-Obsessed ran a 95 dB sweep at his listening position with no sign of strain, and owners report no distortion even at high volume in home-theatre use. Erin's Audio Corner found clear limits when it plays full-range: compression and a 'grainy' sound when pushed, with mid-bass punch shrinking as volume rises. He suggests a subwoofer crossover at 80–120 Hz to relieve it. Archimago measured low distortion above 200 Hz at about 93 dB, and notes that small speakers can't match the dynamics of big ones. One Amazon owner returned a pair after one speaker developed a rattle at higher volumes.

Easy to place, with a few rules. The rear port wants a little room: an Amazon owner on a desk says to leave a few inches behind and use proper isolation feet, and a Reddit owner recommends stands pulled 6–12 inches out. cheapaudioman says you can push them against the wall for more bass if you have no sub. Archimago warns against listening well below tweeter height, where the vertical response gets choppy. Sony says not to tilt or lay them sideways. Several owners and Dan's Audio Review find them well suited to near-field desk use.

“Always leave a few inches in back and the bass output will stay controlled and won't get too muddy.”

Amazon US verified owner (5★; computer desk, 2–3 ft away)

“Even if you don't have a sub, you can put them all the way against the wall.”

cheapaudioman (YouTube)

“These speakers are great for near field listening.”

Dan's Audio Review (YouTube)

Easy enough to drive. Erin says a standard AV receiver is fine and a separate power amp would be wasted money, and Archimago measured a 5.6–5.7 ohm minimum, matching Sony's 6-ohm rating. At 87 dB it is no high-sensitivity speaker. One Reddit commenter recommends 100 W or more to make it shine.

“In terms of impedance, these speakers should be just fine on an AVR.”

Erin's Audio Corner (YouTube)

Well made for the price. AV-Obsessed calls the cabinet surprisingly well built, cheapaudioman notes it is heavier than the original with better binding posts, and Erin found added internal bracing that tames the original's resonances. Owners praise the fit and finish. Small caveats: Archimago wants deeper banana-plug insertion on the terminals, Erin notes small drivers and magnets next to the Polk XT20, and one Amazon owner returned a pair after a rattle developed at volume.

“Actually, for being such a cheap speaker, it's a surprisingly well-built feeling cabinet.”

AV-Obsessed (YouTube)

“to me, is that this particular speaker has additional bracing, which helps tame some of the resonant issues”

Erin's Audio Corner (YouTube; teardown)

Sources split, and the price paid decides most of it. At $150–180, Archimago calls it 'excellent value', cheapaudioman says buy it, and owners on Amazon (value mentions 27 positive, none negative on Amazon.ca) and Reddit are delighted. Near the $250–280 list price the verdicts sour: cheapaudioman would 'never' pay MSRP. Erin would pick the Polk XT20 instead, and ASR and Slickdeals regulars point buyers to the Polk ES20 or Neumi BS5. Dan's Audio Review prefers the Jamo S803 at $140.