$60.00/pair audiophile speakers from Sony?

Danny Tse
Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
edited August 2006 in Speakers
Please, don't laugh yet....

First of all, I have not heard these speakers. Since the speakers in question are essentially the top half of these, I'd think this Sony bookshelf speakers could be a bigger steal than the $50.00 Insignia speakers that's been the talk of the internet in recent weeks.

Sony SS-K30ED for $60.00/pair shipped

I am very tempted despite the fact that I already have a pair of Energy Connoisseur C-3. I mean, after all, I can return the Sony speakers within 30 days and get a refund. Hmmmm....$15.00 more for a 10 year warranty??
Post edited by Danny Tse on
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited July 2006
    Good luck with that. Its all you.
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,586
    edited July 2006
    Hmm.... interesting find Danny.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • Boonaroo
    Boonaroo Posts: 57
    edited July 2006
    I am using one as a center channel right now, and it is a great. I am going to order a pair for the CC link to complete an all Sony ED series speaker, 5.1 Sony ES system.

    I have a pair of towers like the ones in the first "REVIEW" link, accept I have two black cones 'subs.' I am not at home, and I don't know the model #. Mine are biwired.

    About a year ago I spotted them at my local CCity. Waited for about three weeks as they were slowly being marked down. I popped on them when they hit $43.00 each:D . I would have bought 6-7 for a matching HT, but they only had 1 pair. Too bad. I did get the last ssk30ED . Got that one for $24 to use as my center (and yes, it is shielded).

    I have a tendency to believe some of the hype that B&W had their hand in this product line. The styling is impecable, and the sound rivels that of any speaker I have ever paid less than $50 bucks for :) .

    You have my endorsement!!!
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited July 2006
    So, would you buy these for $60 shipped, or pay about $250 or more for a pair of RTi6's????
    Carl

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  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited July 2006
    Again, I have not heard these Sony speakers before.

    However, I have seen them and they are very well-made. Very substantial.

    I just went to my local Circuit City up the street from my workplace....they're all out.
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2006
    Danny Tse wrote:
    I just went to my local Circuit City up the street from my workplace....they're all out.

    Link says they are not available in stores
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited July 2006
    I am in the middle of building a garage, and ordered some R15's from Outpost for $50, and a PSW10 from another member here, so that I will have some tunes when tinkering with cars or bikes.

    The R15's have been on backorder for a couple of weeks now, and I may just cancel them and order these. I would think they should have better sound than the R15's...hmmm.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited July 2006
    I decided to cancel the R15's and order a set of these. What the hell, it's just for the garage. Sony lists the weight as 17lbs. each. It will be interesting to hear how they sound, and see how well they are built.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited July 2006
    Sony has a rare gem, every now and then. Just ordered a pair, wtf, $60, free ship ($4 something tax)

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2006
    This ebay link has pics of the Sony's rear

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-SS-K30ED-Bookshelf-Speakers_W0QQitemZ320005913192QQcmdZViewItem
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,782
    edited July 2006
    So tempting...

    This is an excellent office/computer/garage/test/w/e speaker...

    Cant be THAT bad for 60 a pair.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Boonaroo
    Boonaroo Posts: 57
    edited July 2006
    Frequency response 50Hz - 70kHz :eek:

    Now I know why my ears ring . . . . 70kHz!!!!

    Mine should be in in about 3 days.
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  • charliez
    charliez Posts: 72
    edited July 2006
    I was reading about this line in Sony´s fans site http://www.agoraquest.com/
    Not much information but it´s interesting to know what they think about this line.
    Anyway, I didn´t resist, my order was shipped out. :) Hope to be a good purchase.
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  • kingtut
    kingtut Posts: 813
    edited July 2006
    Please post your impression after receiving them.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited July 2006
    Picking up a pair of the Best Buy Insignia's tonight.

    Why do I get so excited about grunt gear sometimes?
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • ruffjustice
    ruffjustice Posts: 61
    edited July 2006
    sony ugly yellow hops drivers .. 70khz kinda usless for human ears perhaps cat n dogs will love it ! man buy yurself some rt 30 40 50's or my rt 600i 's
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2006
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    Picking up a pair of the Best Buy Insignia's tonight.

    Why do I get so excited about grunt gear sometimes?

    Russ

    Here is a link I found with some tech info about the Insignia speaks. Too bad that the links are dead, but at least the summary is there.

    http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=938711#post938711

    Link below for the actual speaks reviewed:

    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7705307&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03043&id=1138085354138
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • Boonaroo
    Boonaroo Posts: 57
    edited July 2006
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    Picking up a pair of the Best Buy Insignia's tonight.

    Why do I get so excited about grunt gear sometimes?

    So RuSsMaN . . . sounds like you might be puttin together a 'grunt gear' soundoff.

    I think we would be honored to hear your impressions!!!

    Boonaroo
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited July 2006
    Ok, not much to report so far. I have the pair of Insignia's hooked up and breaking in, and FedEx just delivered the Sony's.

    First off, the Sony speakers came in 2 boxes, and are at least TWICE the size of the Insignia. They are HUGE, almost RT55 huge. The box that BOTH Insignia came in, is the size of the box ONE of the Sony speakers came in.

    Both have nice insulated binding posts, and a good weight to them. Both look really good. Fit and finish is good enough for the snottiest of living rooms.

    So far, the Insignia aren't blowing me away, but they aren't annoying me either. I'll get the Sony's hooked up, and after I've got at least 40 hours on both pairs, I'll get them hooked up for a shootout on the reference gear - and start a new thread.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • charliez
    charliez Posts: 72
    edited July 2006
    I will
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  • mopedbob
    mopedbob Posts: 12
    edited July 2006
    thanks
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited July 2006
    Price has gone up to $66.48.
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  • adam2434
    adam2434 Posts: 995
    edited July 2006
    Also interested in your impressions on the Sony and Insignia speakers (and also wondering how they'd stack up against R15s, which can also be had for around $50).

    I'm planning to set-up and give my kid sister a modest system for her new apartment. Right now she has a JBL iPod donut-looking thingy. I found a little refurbed Onkyo 50 watt/ch receiver online for $70. May let her borrow my R30s or look into the bookshelves above. She's not an audiophile at all, so the Onk and speakers above would be a major step up for her.
    5.1 and 2.0 ch Basement Media Room: Outlaw 975/Emotiva DC-1/Rotel RB-1582 MKII/Rotel RB-1552/Audiosource Amp 3/Polk LS90, CS400i, FX500i/Outlaw X-12, LFM-1/JVD DLA-HD250/Da-Lite 100" HCCV/Sony ES BDP/Sonos Connect. DC-1/RB-1582 MKII/Sonos Connect also feed Polk 7C in garage or Dayton IO655 on patio.
    2.1 ch Basement Gym: Denon AVR-2807/Klipsch Forte I or NHT SB2/JBL SUB 550P x 2/Chromecast Audio.
    2.0 ch Living Room: Rotel RX-1052/Emotiva DC-1/Klipsch RF-7 III/Sony ES BDP/LG 65" LED.
    2.0 ch Semi-portable: Klipsch Powergate/NHT SB3/Chromecast Audio.
    Kitchen: Sonos Play5.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited August 2006
    Also interested in your impressions on the Sony and Insignia speakers (and also wondering how they'd stack up against R15s, which can also be had for around $50).

    Just got my Sony's today, I have only had them playing for about two hours, and I can tell you straight out of the box, they blow away the R15's, especially at higher volumes, where the R15's start to sound very congested. They do require a bit more power to play at the same level though.

    The only other bookshelfs I have on hand to compare them to are the RTi28's, and I prefer the RTi's to the Sony's. There is less bass with the Sony's, even though their drivers and enclosures are much bigger, although this may improve with break-in.

    The first thing I did was open one up to see how they were built. The guys over on the Sony forum linked above, were claiming they have cast baskets, but they dont, although they do have a very large magnet structure for a driver of this size. I was surprised to see a real crossover. Never saw that in a Sony speaker before. No electolytics either, Mylar caps.

    Are they giant killer's? No, but I ordered them for my garage, and they will do very well for that application, much better than I expected. And the cabinets alone are worth $60 IMO.
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  • kingtut
    kingtut Posts: 813
    edited August 2006
    WilliamM2, can you post the Sony's interior pictures? Any bracing inside?
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited August 2006
    I didn't take any pics, forgot all about it.

    There is no internal bracing, but with the shape of the cabinet, it's probably not neccesary. The cabinet is sealed very well along all seams. The tweeter is sealed on the back, nothing really to see there, There is some dense accoustic foam in the top two thirds of the cabinet, and across the top of the cabinet. Crossover is also at the top of the cabinet.
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  • kingtut
    kingtut Posts: 813
    edited August 2006
    Thanks for the info.
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