Finally Compare My UNICORN Speaker to One 10X the Price!
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- I've finally done it! I compared my favorite $150 Speaker to My favorite $1500 Speaker. Who wins?
Sony SSCS5 amzn.to/47Vrizg (affiliate)
Sonus faber Lumina 2 Amator bit.ly/3Nc5UMC
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I've finally done it! I compared my favorite $150 Speaker to My favorite $1500 Speaker. Who wins?
Sony SSCS5 amzn.to/47Vrizg (affiliate)
Sonus faber Lumina 2 Amator bit.ly/3Nc5UMC
check out my other channel www.youtube.com/@cheapwatchman_official
Intro graphics by johnvilardi.com
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Support the Channel! Shop on Amazon amzn.to/3W8vsgK
Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt
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Amazon Unlimited Music Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9
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I think the Sony's give me 10x the enjoyment knowing I bought these back when they were $80-ish price range. Either way, nobody believes me when I tell them that they are listening to $80-$150 speakers (even with the sub off). They are way better than they are for most people and good enough for some of the "audiophiles" that have come over. If someone knocks them over or blows them up, I'll just get another pair without hesitation.
Exactly! They’re really unbeatable at their price
@@cheapaudioman Unless you're not in the US, in which case we get ripped off at over double the price (Currently £318, which means I have to pay €380 from Amazon... That's about $417, so yeah... I can get better make speakers than the Sony's, for far less than that!)
That is the spirit. Buy cheap and throw away and then buy cheap and throw away etc. 😒
I thing that the better amp you use, the bigger the difference between the cheap and the 10x.
That's the catch n.22
We are hearing the speakers 99% and the amp the rest one if that..!
Whatever entry level amp I have, it will be times better (and expensive) than 150$ speakers!
So that's good for cheap kinda systems..
For the expensive ones, I always tend to buy the most expensive of the speakers I can.. and pair them with x2 x3 cheaper amp...
After all they cant sound better than they are. The amp cant do miracles!
I've tried that with Yamaha as-501 and as2200 on my friends in blind listening... 90% of the time they were undecided as both sounded equally good to them. And I kinda agree 🤷🏼
I kept hearin "sony's fathers"😅
Having just got my RSL 10E Sub and still enjoying my SVS Ultras, I think I will probably not consider either of these for a while, or until a hurricane decides for me!😂😂😂 Thank you so much for your time and efforts sharing your perspectives and this speaker comparison. Stay well, Sir.
be safe, brother
@@cheapaudioman Will be. Thanks.
Love my Amator's. Long term listening makes them well worth the price.
Man, watch the intro of this video and then go and watch one of the first videos posted on this channel. Complete night and day difference 😂
for sure. 4 years and over a thousand videos changes a few things here and there
@@cheapaudioman keep it up! Hopefully we never see depressed sounding audio man again!
I’ve been recommending the SSCS5 to many people.
I A/B’d them with my B&W 706S2 and the Sony hung right in there with them.
During the whole intro I’m saying out loud to the screen, “Dear God, Randy, don’t drop the Sonus speaker!”
sony is actually made in Vietnam not China
If I had $1300 budget for speakers and wanted maximum aural pleasure/$… I would get the Klipsch RP-8000F ii when on sale for about $1000 (Black Friday coming up) and pair that with an RSL Speedwoofer 10Efor $299. This would beat the Lumina Ii. Granted the 8000F’s are towers BUT the setup takes (essentially) takes the same footprint as bookshelves on stands. Subwoofer takes more room of course but point is, there are other “value” options for how you piece speakers together. Towers also not easily movable so would opt for bookshelves if I were at the stage in my life where I might be moving around / staying somewhere short term.
I've just bought a Canton Vento 802 used for 150 Dollar. Sounds fine. 🙂
How would you rate the Sony's against the new ELAC's debut 3? Will you make a video comparing them? Maybe against the debut 2 also?
Gotta audition a pair of those! (The Sonus Fabers, that is.) I do believe you that the Sony's are worth the price, but I'm a believer in just saving up for longer, and getting what you really want. Amortized over the lifespan of the speakers, the extra cost is easily justified.
But I still want to hear the SSCS5, also. Your enthusiasm is infectious.
Exactly
Sonus Faber owner of these specific ones, also own the Sonys. It is an insult to even compare them. I tried to see if the KEF R3 Meta at $2200 would better the Sonus Fabers and even they could not compete. Sonus Faber is legit, best I have heard under 4k.
Not in the U.K.! They are $413 a pair at Amazon
Thanks for sharing Randy. Turned out about what I thought it would have.
In general, it really helps to compare speakers at different volumes. If one speaker performs stronger than another at a certain volume, it’s kind of cutting one off at the knees to not allow that speaker its advantage. I mean, some of us like to rock the eff out from time to time (or all the time)!
You’re good with Fozi guys right? Get two ZA3 amps, balanced cable that splits to two connectors to feed two of those ZAs from a balanced DAC. Adjust volume and use your speaker switcher. It’s hard to judge overall performance in mono. No imagining or soundstage determinations can be made in just mono mode. But you probably know that.
For low low bass I like ELP's Lucky Man. Near the end the synthesiser is low low low. Gut shaking low at volume.
I forgot about that. Thanks!
@@EricRhodeslives U welcome
I still have my Sony's thanks to cheap audio man's review view almost a year and 3/4 now ago. Decided that this is direction I want to go with my listening. I'm thinking a big brother might be the emotivas
I really enjoy my Emotiva B1+ stand mount speakers. Being 4ohm though I have to run them on my bigger amps to get the best sound I can out of them. I have my Emotiva T-Zero+ towers on my NAD 218, 450 wpc @ 4ohm amp and that amp gives them the kick in the pants they needed. Oh so nice the Emotivas can be.
I Bought The Sony on Your Recommendation and They Launch The Barn Loft rather well with a Sony Sub here at Indian Creek Ranch 🌴💦🌵⛩ Southern California High Desert 🤙
„I‘m just pulling stuff out of the ethos“😂
Randy, awesome video!!! These comparison videos are my favorite!!!!! You know i love my Sony SSCS5s, but I've heard these pretty boys at a local boutique shop nearby and they are everything you said. Way more refined.
In EU(Germany) Sony SSCS5 cost 270€ (300$). Why we haven't that 150$ price. But on other side Lumina II cost 1000€(1100$) Roughly that is fight between 300 vs 1000€ speaker.
Tax and import regulations?
Actually you got something wrong! Amators are indeed 1500€!
Lumina II (don't know whats the difference, bcz technically the Amators are Lumina II) can be had for 1100-1200€ depnds how lucky are you..
While the Lumina I can be had for 800€ maybe a little less.
@@nathanclaspell6003In europe we have final price with all taxes including our infamous VAT!
We do not pay separately as in US.
Everything is included in the price, but we also get nett wage where all our dues are automatically subtracted.
I have a pair of CS5's as my bedroom speakers. I agree for 150 bucks, they're good. I would like to upgrade someday when I have some extra cash.
If someone wanted to spend around 3-400 on a pair of speakers which one would you advise for overall sound quality alone?
In the UK the Sonys are £318.72 on Amazon! I’ve recently discovered your channel and love it! ❤
The Sony sscs5 is already on sale for 148 on limited time deal. It wont go lower on prime sale tomorrow. That ship has sailed.
Thanks Randy, Just in time... I've had the Sony's ever since I started watching your channel. They are good but after having some PSB Imagine B's then listening to the Sonys they just sound overall light and outclassed. Good but not great. Listened to the SF Lumina II Amators the other day at the high fi store was TOTALLY Impressed So mush so that I was going to buy. However I found a pair of Lumina II's for $750 + shipping. on EBAY, they arrive on Wed. Looking forward to hearing them in my setup. At the price of 750 not sure I could find a BETTER speaker that provides overall enjoyment that the Lumina does. For me this hobby is about learning and progressing in your own taste. Now that I have the ear for speakers it's hard settle for less when I have learned how maximize components and how they all work together.
Hold up, is that a Lamy Safari at 1:00 ?
It looked like a charcoal one. Couldn't tell if the notebook was a Leuchtturm.
Hmmm. I wonder how much closer the Sonys would be to the Luminas with Neal's speaker mods. I'd love to hear you compare. ( I recall you had a pair of Sonys that have some or all of his mods.)
Looked up the Sony and they're 550 USD in my country, good lord
Australia?
It was a difficult choice when I was deciding on a speaker. I was leaning towards the Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator, but ended up buying the Ascend Accoustic Sierra-LX.
You made the right choice. The Sierra-LX are more linear, have better drive units, better cabinets, and were engineered, designed, and tested on the Klippel NFS.
Thanks again Randy !!!
Curious if you also traded places (e.g. Sony on left vs right).
Are you doing a review of the Outlaw mono-block amp?! 🤤
My new Fluance RT82 arrives this week!
Edifier 1700bts, it's a good option in 2024?
Great video as usual! Would love to see these Fabers vs Buchardt’s P300
This would also cover the front vs rear port on solid bookshelf speakers
Speaker showdown!¡¡!!!!!! My favorite
I own the sous faber lumina 2 . Is the lumina 2 amator a big upgrade from the original lumina 2?
I am watching this video with my Topping D70 Octo to a Fosi Audio ZA3 to Sony SSCS5.
I've been itching to upgrade the sony sscs5 speakers to something like this. I keep going back and forth between the SF and the svs evolution. The biggest hitch is finding a center channel to match. Svs wins in that regard unless im missing something.
The Sony's are said to sound better when you improve the crossover. See this video about it: Wow Finally a UNICORN The $118 Sony SS-CS5
How about comparing the upgraded crossover Sony? Does that make any difference and does your patron still offer the crossover packages? Long time subscriber since almost the beginning. Thanks and love the channel! More Sith Audio, please. FYI, I bought my Sony's when they were $88.
Entertaining video. However, I think the Heco bookies would be another interesting comparison.
Hey check out the new amp I just received from Amazon it js an Inwa amp has BT AND HDMI inputs. I paid $29 and looks nice etc. will tell you my impressions later but so far incredible deal and nice build and has a remote. Again hdmi and by built in wit hub rca optical etc. thanks Mike also years ago back when yo I started I sent email on Dayton Audio HTA. 100 hybrid amp. Back then paid 120 now 275 or more. Gutenberg just did a review. Thanks again Mike
Thanks to you I have that nice Sony ssc55. 😊
Randy, has the Sony SSCS5s made visit to "Dr." Neil Blanchard's operating room? Surely their image could be improved with bit of his surgical expertise. 😉😁
I'm pretty sure that he has a crossover upgrade kit, but it's three times the price as the price of the speakers themselves
Try Kef Cresta 10. 1.2x cheaper and 2.7x better than the Sony´s.
Get a nice pair of IEMs. What do you say? 😅
Fun as usual!
I have the Sonus Faber Lumina II's and they are 10X better than the Sony's. The sony speakers are great for a garbage system. inside, hooked to a real system, they sound like plastic/thin glue board enclosures and inexpensive drivers.
They invoke memories of minisystem speakers of the 1990's.
Not everyone can afford thousands of dollars for a stereo setup. Most of us also don't have dedicated listening or home theater rooms.
my fav $150 dollar speaks are ub5 lol
The Sony's are £250+ over in the uk
Amateur suggestion try Dare by gorillaz for a test track,35hz beat in the background throughout the song, my bargain mission qx2's play it admirably
Thanks for the video but I don't need any more speakers I'm old I can hardly move them have a great day
I really do like the way you approach these difficult value-for-money comparisons. And they are difficult, to say the least. Even with my own money on the question, I don't know how I would improve your approach... Way good man!
... indeed, you have already seen me squeeze the trigger instantly, on the basis of your recommendation.
fyi, I'm tempted to see about your watch channel, too, but I don't dare! Watches are kinda the ultimate gadgets AND with looong history of tech importance to geek out about!🫣 Must. Look. Away...