In fact, it's the clarity and definition of live bass that I singularly fail to hear from almost any loudspeaker. His credits include reissues of nearly two dozen Rolling Stones titles, plus numerous classics from Nat King Cole to Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Sheryl Crow and George Harrison. While I believe those were voiced for theater too, they have more musical limitations than the newer Cores. We've used them in our recording studios and shipped them to trade shows everywhere. Click on thumbnails to view and/or download larger photos of the SS-AR1 Loudspeaker. Waltham, MA 02451 While you'll hear that acoustic bass instruments have LF extension commensurate with their physical size, you won't hear any boom. However, building the entire enclosure from a single type of wood can result in an excessively rigid and hard sound. It needs to be narrow in the region of the tweeter and midrange unit in order to optimize treble dispersion, hence imaging. While clip-on connectors are used to hook up the drive-units, these are subsequently soldered. Skinas is the driving force behind today's premiere DSD recording system, the Sonoma multi-track workstation. But when it comes to audio, Sony bucks the conventional wisdom as much as it does in pretty much everything it does. The treble was generally clean, though there was a narrow band of brightness occasionally apparent at the top of the midrange unit's passband. The speaker’s woofers use a mica-reinforced diaphragm, the upper surface of which is fashioned to deliver supple and faithful sound quality, while the bottom layer is designed to provide a powerful bass response. Wide dispersion super tweeters provide high-quality audio across a wider soundstage, while mica-reinforced woofer cones deliver a deeper low end. This item Sony CS-Series speakers bundle: SSCS3 Floor-Standing Speaker (2), SSCSE Dolby Atmos Enabled Speakers, SACS9 Subwoofer, SSCS8 Center Channel Speaker, and SSCS5 Bookshelf Speaker System Polk Audio PSW10 10" Powered Subwoofer - Power Port Technology, Up to 100 Watts, Big Bass in Compact Design, Easy Setup with Home Theater Systems Black ", When everybody else was going to CDs, Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, went in the opposite direction. I do get not wanting to scare the neighbors, but you still need a competent sub. The new ES natural acoustic speaker systems further the line established the last two years with the introduction of the SS-AR1 and SS-AR2 Loudspeakers. Swindon, Wiltshire A pair of 120w speakers which are a 3 way speaker system with each containing a 16cm woofer cone, a 6.5cm midrange cone and a 1.6cm tweeter dome. This unique choice of woods insures exceptional freedom from unwanted vibrations, as well as a natural, balanced, musically expressive tone.Next: The Build. But you'd expect no less from craftsmen who help build grand pianos.Next: The Design. "They reproduced every nuance from the original recording session. We developed them to recreate, as faithfully as possible, your favorite music – just as it was originally recorded. And even when the recorded ambience was subtle, such as that on the excellent Chesky Mozart Piano Concerto CD from Salzburg (Chesky CD156), the Sonys allowed me to hear into the recorded acoustic in a very satisfying way. The tweeter, a 1" fabric-dome unit, looks rather like the excellent Danish Vifa used in the Joseph Audio RM7si that I reviewed last February; the 5" plastic-cone midrange unit, mounted in its own cylindrical sub-enclosure, looks similar to a Norwegian SEAS unit. Woodridge, IL 60517 This filter features three large air-cored coils, each carefully oriented for minimal magnetic interaction, and three electrolytic capacitors bypassed with small-value plastic-film caps. (215) 725-4080, 2050 West 75th Street I told him I had wasted enough of his time. Definitive Technology Bp. A copper ring optimizes the symmetry of the magnetic field, reducing distortion. This creates two separate enclosures: one for the woofers and one for the midrange/tweeter. So the Sony team reached out to a transducer specialist in Scandinavia. However, it also needs to be wide enough to accommodate one or more woofers capable of moving sufficient air to achieve good bass extension. Completing the picture is an excellent grille made of black material stretched over a wire frame to minimize any acoustic obstruction in the vicinity of the upper-frequency drive-units. It was with some surprise, therefore, that I realized that the bass pumped out by the modest-looking SS-M9 was, if not the closest to live that I've heard from a speaker, then at least up there in the Top Ten. For this reason we selected another, somewhat softer cold-climate wood, Scandinavian birch, for the speaker's side and rear panels. I've come to expect this kind of bass definition from well-designed sealed-box designs; it was a surprise to hear it from a reflex speaker. (510) 558-1000, 2934 Wilshire Blvd. The result is surround sound that envelops you from every angle—even … "We put on our music and every time we listened to the AR1's, I had a greater level of appreciation," Kimber stated. Condition: Technical condition: 10 / 10 Cosmetic condition: 7 / 10 (310) 829-9888, 5835 Avenida Encinas 122 Sign up Bring instant shopping into the picture If approved, a temporary shopping pass that could be up to $1500 in available credit may be issued and sent to your smartphone, allowing you to shop online right away. Sony Unveils High-End Home Speaker – Stewart Wolpin, TWICE, January 2011. If you've been reading my loudspeaker reviews for any length of time, you'll know that I value realistic bass very highly indeed. “Sony’s new $27k/pr SS-AR1 gets my vote. As a former A&R executive for Windham Hill Records and an award-winning recording engineer, Cookie Marenco has worked with the likes of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Max Roach and hundreds of other artists. Like a priceless piano, the SS-AR1 and AR2 Loudspeakers are chiefly crafted out of wood. Nearly a decade ago, she sought to take multi-channel sound to the next level by developing the acclaimed Extended Sound Environment (ESE) surround sound miking system. When you next attend an unamplified classical or jazz concert, listen carefully to the quality of the low frequencies. In Sony's words, they wanted to "produce an extremely accurate, revealing, and uncompromised loudspeaker system [that] was capable of conveying the naturalness, musicality, and effortlessness of a live performance.". "Once a recording artist experiences high resolution audio, they can't go back," says Skinas. Luckily for us, there is at least one SS-3300 owner and he has posted images here! Various other reviewing commitments kept me from doing any serious auditioning of the Sony for about six months. Sony announced the $23,000 ES series 5.1 home theater speaker system which includes the SS-NA2ES floorstander, SS-NA5ES bookshelf, SS-NA8ES center channel and SA-NA9ES subwoofer. The SS-M9 takes quite a lot of break-in, particularly regarding its woofers (a period of 100 hours is mentioned in the well-written handbook). COVID-19. The front baffle is complex, with four separate facets. The dimensions of a speaker cabinet are rarely perfect. I have a line on some transmission line Sony SS-TL6's, which seem to be the rarest of the whole line, with many saying the SS-TL5's being the top of the line since the 6's are almost unheard of, and some even saying the 6's are 5's, but black. Such was the case with Sony's ES SS-M9. The 3-driver bookshelf speakers include a rigid 5.12 in MRC woofer for dynamic bass, along with a 0.98 in tweeter and 0.75 in super-tweeter designed to reproduce High-Resolution Audio tracks. The SS-AR Series Loudspeakers have elicited the enthusiastic support of these high-end audio label owners and luminaries. The M9 deserves a high Class B rating in Stereophile's "Recommended Components. To those who might wish for more bass "boom" I say, "Hi thee to more live concerts." Get an in-depth 3D view of the SS-AR Series from the inside out and visually explore the woodwork, accuracy of build, interior components, drivers and finish. You also know the pleasure of carefully, deliberately selecting an outstanding recording; then listening to it with complete attention. Supported by a compact footprint and up to 100 W input power handling, these speakers truly are … From your listening chair, you can't see any of these extraordinary measures. ... Sony Ss. Sony SS-CS3 tower speakers Sony . Click to discover their impressions of the SS-AR Series. Fabricating precision drivers for the SS-AR1 and AR2 required particular expertise. Conclusion The older SS-F series were more hollow, yet bass was much less controlled. The M9's flaws are minor, outweighed by the things it emphatically does right. I expect the measurements will reveal why this was so. The ES SS-M9EDs were even better, said JA—and, at $16,000/pair, a lot more expensive. Introduced in 1995, it is a floorstanding three-way design that resembles the M7 but features a larger cabinet with twin woofers. The wood for the baffle board comes from Japan's island of Hokkaido where winters are extremely cold, a condition reflected in the tight grain, hardness and rigidity of the indigenous maple. The trees are hand-selected with the assistance of local wood specialists and felled in November, when their growth slows and the grain is at its tightest. He said, 'You really have to hear the Sonys.' CES 2011: Sony Showcases Flagship SS-AR1 Speakers, on Sale this Summer – What HiFi?, January 2011 "– Thomas J. Norton, Home Theater, January 2011, "Driven by Pass electronics and EMM Labs sources, the speakers were dynamic and engaging as all get-out (in Ray Kimber's IsoMike room). Berkeley, CA 94704 2116 Blake St. Explore a wide range of Bluetooth portable speakers from Sony. SS-CS3 Stereo Floor-Standing Speaker Package Experience authentic, full-frequency audio with this versatile three-way coaxial, four-driver speaker system. When this is accurately reproduced, the improved sense of image palpability can be awesome. Shop By Price. Source and control components from EMM Labs, a pair of Pass Labs X330.5 power amps, and Kimber select cabling all worked together to make Ray Kimber’s recordings sound as real as anything I’ve ever heard through a loudspeaker.” We've even turned up the volume to the limits of insanity and they do everything we ask. (760) 438-3773, 899 Main St. $181.45 shipping. ", Conventional wisdom has it that large Japanese corporations are insular. However, the Sony didn't work too well with the tubed Cary amplifier, this residual brightness balance becoming exaggerated to the point of unacceptability. Layton, UT 84040 Working in close collaboration, they produced a four-unit/three-way system that exceeded our high expectations. © 2012 Sony Electronics Inc. All Rights Reserved |, Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights, as real as anything I've heard through a loudspeaker. Introducing a speaker series versatile enough to deliver an unprecedented and real audio experience, and with a soundstage so expansive you can feel the energy and passion of the original performance, all while staying in harmony with your existing living spaces-no special listening room or setup required. Sony SS-CS8 - center channel speaker overview and full product specs on CNET. Other than the prismatic, pyramidal shape of its cabinet, the SS-M9 is somewhat unassuming to look at. Just use a pair as mains, a pair as surrounds and a single as center. And without apparently heroic efforts—just two pairs of 8" woofers. But the twin ports on the Sony's rear do indeed appear to be capable of reinforcing the speaker's low-bass region without muddying up the mid- and upper bass, the differences between the different vibratos I used on different notes on the Test CD 2 Fender tracks being easily discernible. Get the best deals on Sony Vintage Speakers when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. We invite you to audition the SS-AR1 and AR2 Loudspeakers at any one of these specially selected retailers. Sound But when the music had low frequencies present—the deep organ pedals on the Test CD 2 Gerontius excerpt, for example, or the synthesizer bass on Annie Lennox's version of Neil Young's "Don't Let It Bring You Down" (Medusa, Arista 25717-2)—the Sony delivered its full measure. Klipsch Subwoofer 10. Surround Sound Speakers. Much of the low-bass information on classical recordings is hall ambience and noise rather than the sounds of musical instruments. This was only present to a mild extent and didn't get in the way of the music, other than pushing hi-hat cymbal a little forward in the soundstage. (808) 536-4434, 4848 Lemmon Ave., Suite 377 The goal was to combine the sonic advantages of a full-range design with those traditionally associated with a minimonitor: high loudness capability, excellent bass extension, midrange neutrality, and well-defined stereo imaging. The same passion for music motivated us to create the SS-AR1 and AR2 Loudspeakers. Sony SS-M7A - speakers overview and full product specs on CNET. Try as I could, I was never bothered by any coloration in this region—and I tried to be bothered, believe me. Our engineers reached out to a cabinet-making company that provides precision components for musical instruments and asked them to build a prototype. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. In fact, I value it so highly that much of the time I go without, and use minimonitors rather than subject myself to the thickened, "puddingy" boom that many designers of full-range speakers seem to think is "good bass.". Such was the case with Sony's ES SS-M9. In fact, drums in general had excellent definition. All of the drive-units are labeled "Sony." A fantastic set of stereo speakers that give the real world person a taste of what hi-fi is all about. Alan Taffel, The Absolute Sound, January 2011, This will be a contender.– Bose 301 Series Iv. On my bass-definition torture track, Pat Metheny's "Last Train Home" (from Still Life (Talking), Geffen GEFD 24145-2), the repeated eighth notes on the electric bass guitar were as tight as a nut, laying down a solid foundation for the melodic and harmonic changes. The 130 mm midrange driver incorporates an exclusive sliced paper cone. Audio Highlights from CES – Custom Retailer, January 2011. Its interior, however, reveals great attention to detail. It was as if you'd found an inexpensive Gallo White Zinfandel sweeping up all the oenophile accolades at a wine tasting. The SS-AR1 employs a pair of 200 mm woofers while the AR2 uses two 165 mm units. I've always kicked myself for not buying a pair of ES SS-M9s ($3500) when I could have. Somewhat lean- and barren-sounding before the speaker was fully broken-in, the M9's bass had an excellent combination of clearly drawn leading edges and bloom, without any hint of deterioration into boom. "The SS-AR1 brings this high resolution music home. Each sub-enclosure is also vented with a bass reflex port that's been carefully tuned and positioned to mitigate distortion and coloration. $65.00. Philadelphia, PA 19152 In Europe, the company has long had an excellent reputation for producing loudspeakers using local design talent, so I wasn't surprised to see Sony launching a line of American-designed and -made speakers at, Electro-Voice Model Two & Model Six loudspeakers, Piega Premium Wireless 701 wireless loudspeaker system, Wilson Audio Specialties Sasha DAW loudspeaker, Hegeman Model 1 omnidirectional loudspeaker, Analog Corner #290: The Haniwa LP Playback System, Gramophone Dreams #44: Audio-Technica, Goldring, LP Gear phono cartridges, Cambridge Audio CXA81 integrated amplifier, PS Audio Stellar M1200 monoblock power amplifier, Analog Corner # 305: Degritter record cleaner & Aidas Gala Gold LE cartridge, Acoustic Geometry Room treatments (before & after), My current and likely the last home audio setup, Fascinating wiev by Verity Audio Sarastro, Recommended Components: Fall 2020 Edition. - Steven Stone, The Absolute Sound, January 2011. Rapidly joined by the smaller SS-3100 and SS-2800 in 1967, then replaced by the latter two before all got superceded by Sony's high-end ULM series such as the SS-7600 in 1972. Rendering the speaker's balance generally forgiving of recorded HF nasties, this wouldn't be considered too serious a fault by many audiophiles. I did feel, however, that it detracted somewhat from ultimate transparency. So when I heard that Sony would introduce a special new speaker at a "by invitation only" event at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show last January, my interest was piqued. And when pianist Robert Silverman hammers up the keyboard with the "loud" pedal down at the climactic broken F-sharp chord before the closing Andante sostenuto of the Liszt B-minor Piano Sonata (Sonata, Stereophile STPH008-2), the Sonys allow you to hear how physically big and powerful a Steinway actually is.