thekid

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $135.00

Summary:
I purchased these because I had a very inexpensive Sony set-up in a small 16x18 bedroom (350's and some 150's). This set-up sounded pretty good but the 350's did not lend themselves to sitting on a stand easily and my wife was complaining so I convinced her some floorstanders were the answer. We had a little windfall that I thought I was going to be able to use but events did not allow me to upgrade to some more "serious" equipment. I saw/read some good things about these and figured for $135 bucks why not.

Well I know Sony is not know for speakers but I have to say these things are pretty impressive and for the money compare more than favorably to many bookshelf speakers that cost a little more. They image well, and after some tweaking with the reciever produce pretty decent highs and lows. The bass does not going down to what the specs say but my sub takes care of that anyway. They can't be pushed with too much volume but at normal volumes they do pretty well. I like the binding posts rather than the spring clips one would normally find on a speaker in this price range. As a matter of fact I was impressed enough with these that I went ahead and bought some 750's for ony $20 more

Strengths:
SQ to Dollar ratio is extremely high.
Small footprint for floorstanders, take up less space than bookshelfs on a stand.

Weaknesses:
Not crazy about the black and gray color scheme

jordaaw1

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $135.00 from Tafelberg Furnishers

Summary:
What a bargain!

These tall-boys blows away anything in this price catagory *2. I'm not a huge Sony audio fan, so believe me I am totally unbiased.

I had a set of Mission M32 book-shelf speakers as my reference speakers and took them along to the hi-fi shop to see if I could find something sounding similar at a price I could afford. Tried Bostons, etc. but then saw these standing on the floor. I was sceptical, but the price was spot-on what I wanted to pay. We set them up and compared them to the M32's. Spot-on with a deeper excursion on the bass. Bought a pair there and then. Set them up at home in my basement/home theatre (+-45m sq.) as mains and could not get enough. Went back the next day and got me another 2 pairs to make up the full set of 6 HT speakers. Using it on my Yamaha DSP-AX1 with YST-SW800 Sub. Don't need the sub much. Normally use the Amp on Direct mode and these speakers sound so sweet and smooth, yest with tight and natural bass up to a relatively load volume. Trebble is sweet and natural, not shrill whatsoever. Mids are clean and crisp.

I have been blessed (or cursed) with super critical ears and these are absolutely perfect for my needs and wants.

If you are on a budget - you can't do any better than these, even at double the price. highly, highly recommended.

Strengths:
Nice range and tonal balance.
Not too boomy for a bass reflex - just don't turn the bass up too much.
Slim and easy to carry.
Perfect height for HT
Nice binding posts - standard 4mm banana and bottom clasp.
Not too heavy and easy to carry if you grab one hand just above the binding posts and the other hand at the top-front (bad back)
Small footprint.

Weaknesses:
Well, maybe the colour scheme not to everyone's taste, but he grey fronts blends in quite nicely in most colour schemes.
Could become a bit boomy if you don't have a good amp that can contol/damp the bass - as with all bass-reflex speakers. You can add spikes and this should solve it if you have problems. Mine is standing flat on the carpet.

twillson

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $140.00 from JR electronics

Summary:
In my opinion these are the ideal front speakers in a home theater setup. In a large room you could use these as fronts and as Sats. The cost is less than a good bookshelf with a stand, and these sound so much better: smooth through all frequencies and with much better and tighter bass than I expected. I have an 8" powered sub and it really doesn't add much.

I would recommend this over the 750 and 550 because of the form factor, and over all other options because of the price/performance ratio. I didn't care for the aethetics (grey rather than black grill, etc) at first, but it blents in fairly well. There is no downside. Its a high quality product at an amazing price.

Strengths:
Accuracy, value, quality, form factor, bass handling, doesn't need a stand. Ideal for home theater and multichanel audio in medium to large room.

Weaknesses:
Complete lack of snob appeal. Nether your rocker cousin nor your snobby neighbors will approve of the way they look, the Sony brand or the plastic ("black ash") cabinets. Ignore them and enjoy the fact that you can get lifetime of great sound great sound for less then they would pay for a single concert.

Similar Products Used:
I've listened to everything, but the speakers that these replaced where an obscure brand ("acculab") that went out of business in the 1980s.

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Defshep

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.46 of 5, 13.00 votes

Price Paid:  $160.00 from Rex

Summary:
Sounds great! I use them as fronts in my ht setup. Plenty of bass, I am currently not even using a sub! Highs are clean, lows, well, I just told you! Very impressed with the current line of Sonys. You can usually find these alot cheaper than their big brother 750s.

Strengths:
Clear, full sound. Bass is big and clean without being too "boomy" or distorted. Price.

Weaknesses:
None.