Cheap $88 Sony SS-CS5 Speakers - Awesome

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.

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.

Reubent, agree generally with your take, except I have a somewhat higher opinion of the Sonys.  I’ve had mine for a couple of months and think they opened up over time.  Put 50 hours on them and they will have improved.

Still, they are not perfect and have their limitations.  There is better, and if one has a budget of $300 new, can find better.  But for $170 the Sony’s do more than hold their own.  But tastes differ and certainly ymmv!

@213runnin  - I agree they are good (and getting better as the break-in longer). My point was for $200-ish you can get some great used speakers. For instance, I've purchased a pair of vintage Infinity Qb speakers for under $200 and there is no comparison. I've also recently seen a pair of used Energy Connoisseur c-4 on a nearby Craigslist for $200. Those speakers are from a completely different planet than the Sonys.

Now, if one needs NEW speakers, and their budget tops out at $170, the Sonys would be on the list, for sure. And they are way more compact than either of the speakers I mentioned, so they will work in locations where the others simply will not fit.

Happy listening...

I hear you!  After I posted I swapped in my Totem Acoustic Rainmakers($1200 new) and the difference was jaw dropping.  Now those are real speakers!