Sony SS-CN5000

[nautica250]

Hey guys...I was wondering whether or not to upgrade my center channel speaker..Right now I have a Sony ss-cn107..I would replace it with the Sony ss-cn5000. The other option I have is to wait and replace the 2 front speakers first, I am currently running Sony ss-u4033's in the front which I think sound pretty good.. Just wondering what upgrade would be the most effective..Or if I should wait and purchase a new receiver..I am running a Sony str-k750p right now. I know it's alot in a question but before I spend my hard earned money I just want to see which upgrade I would see the most benefit in..Thanks alot you guys are wonderful..

[MrRoy]

I don't have an answer, but before you buy one, let me know. I am selling one that I have had for a year and I don't use is cause I upgraded. It is in perfect working order.

[nautica250]

Hey Mr. Roy what would you have to have for it??

[MrRoy]

Originally Posted by nautica250

Hey Mr. Roy what would you have to have for it??

Ideally, matching towers. I was using SS-F6000's that are now my surrounds.

[nautica250]

Mr Roy I sent a message to you...What I meant was how much you wanted for your speaker...Sorry I should have clarified

[MrRoy]

PM reply sent.

[callas01]

Nautica, are you establishing a budget to purchase these items? What do you think your budget is?

[nautica250]

Just pulled the trigger on a Sony ss-cn5000 speaker. I think my center souind should improve because the Sony I am using only has one driver in the center and the new one will have two drivers and a 1 inch tweeter..What do you guys think?? Should I have better performance?

[Kryptonic]

It'll probably sound better. Sony makes "ok" speakers, but compared to Polk or other brands, they don't cut it. You would have been better off spending another $40-50 and getting a really good speaker.

[brett_day]

i used to the the 5000 paired with 6000 front towers! I never had any issues with it! I liked it a lot and it served me well while i used it! You will like it, hope you enjoy

[dvs1270]

i have an older 490, which works fine for me. i want to replace my sonys up front but despite sony bashing, i really like them.

[nautica250]

I hope I don't have false hope in this purchase..I am hoping that it will be a night and day difference. I almost figure it will have to be considering that the center channel I have now only has one speaker in the middle...I can't even find out when the center channel i have now (Sony SS-CN107) was manufactured. Anybody have any idea???

[dvs1270]

you should get a sound fullness. the sonys tend to use similar specs from model to model. my books & center are from two different model years. but the stamped info on both drivers is the same, only the color is a little different.

[nautica250]

Just want to say to everyone you have been very helpful and supportive...I appreciate it so much...Maybe one day when I get up to par on everything I can return the favor.

[blacklion]

Hi every one!

My set up is all Sony -
Fronts - SS-F6000
Surrounds - SS-B3000
Center - SS-CN5000
Sub - SA-W2500

Receiver is Pioneer VSX1019AH-K. I have a couple of questions.

1. The SS-B3000s which I'm using for surrounds are kinda in between bookshelves and towers. Presently they are on the floor. Since the audio experts say the surround speakers should be at the ear level, I've toyed with getting stands for them but the wife won't hear it - she detests the look of stands. I'm considering getting SS-F5000s for surrounds and using the SS-B3000 later as fronts in a second room 5:1 set up. On the other hand, the audio experts say 70% or more of movie soundtracks go thru the center and fronts. So I'm wondering if I'll actually get better performance from having towers for surrounds or if its just overkill and a waste of money. The major purpose of getting towers for surrounds is just to bring the speaker up to ear level.

2. Will the SS-B3000 make good fronts?

3. My sub is rated at 100w. I'm thinking of getting the next one in line, the Sony SA-W3000 rated at 180w. Will the extra 80w make much of a difference in the sound?

Thanks for your time and consideration!

[callas01]

Originally Posted by blacklion

Hi every one!

My set up is all Sony -
Fronts - SS-F6000
Surrounds - SS-B3000
Center - SS-CN5000
Sub - SA-W2500

Receiver is Pioneer VSX1019AH-K. I have a couple of questions.

1. The SS-B3000s which I'm using for surrounds are kinda in between bookshelves and towers. Presently they are on the floor. Since the audio experts say the surround speakers should be at the ear level, I've toyed with getting stands for them but the wife won't hear it - she detests the look of stands. I'm considering getting SS-F5000s for surrounds and using the SS-B3000 later as fronts in a second room 5:1 set up. On the other hand, the audio experts say 70% or more of movie soundtracks go thru the center and fronts. So I'm wondering if I'll actually get better performance from having towers for surrounds or if its just overkill and a waste of money. The major purpose of getting towers for surrounds is just to bring the speaker up to ear level.well you need to get them off the floor so that you get better imaging of the surround sound. If you own your house, have you considered in-wall speakers? Proficient or Speakercraft makes nice in-wall speakers. Or would she let you mount Flat Panel Speakers to the wall? http://www.wwstereo.com/ has some Energy FPS speakers on sale and would be a nice way to get thin speakers that are wall mountable.

Yes most audio goes through the front 3 speakers. Let me ask you this too. Are you planning on keeping the Sony speakers or will those be upgraded in the not to distant future? If so lets consider what those speakers may be and then you could look at getting perhaps the surrounds now, so that you don't have to double dip.

As far as towers for surrounds, the best system if you could have it done correctly would be 5, 6 or 7 indentical speakers. So towers would be fine, you just don't want to have your couch blocking their path to the center of the sound field. Tweeters more importantly.

2. Will the SS-B3000 make good fronts?
Yes they could. I do find that Sony speakers when they have the 8" driver tend to be too boomy and it muddles the all important Mid-range detail. But for a bedroom setup, or small setup in another room, they could do you OK. However again, if you are planning on ever upgrading from the Sonys, why start with them?
3. My sub is rated at 100w. I'm thinking of getting the next one in line, the Sony SA-W3000 rated at 180w. Will the extra 80w make much of a difference in the sound?
I think the w3000 was way too boomy sounding. Once I got my Acoustic Audio sub, I noticed that the Sony was not accurate at all. The AA is not the most accurate sub in the world either, but is was tighter and faster which makes for better low end bass. I could tell once I parted with the sony that the detail in my Energys was outstanding and not being covered up by the boom of the sub anymore. I would suggest that you look at different subs. Try Premier Acoustics, Energy S8.3 or ESW-V8,
Thanks for your time and consideration!

Look at my comments in Red, I don't want you to think that I don't like Sony Products, I love them, and I used to own their F5000s, CN5000, and B1000 and W3000, I still have a pair of B1000s for backup use or a bedroom setup, but I really think there are better speakers that you can purchase. I do feel that if you are going to buy new speakers why not start transitioning out of the Sonys and into a better more accurate speaker? Upgrading speakers can be costly, I know, however if you take advantage of specials and discontinued items, as I did, you will get a much better system, and it won't be so expensive, plus slowly upgrading allows you to invest your funds into better equipment over time. Just My Opinion.

Let me know if I can help with anything else.

[MrRoy]

Originally Posted by callas01

Look at my comments in Red, I don't want you to think that I don't like Sony Products, I love them, and I used to own their F5000s, CN5000, and B1000 and W3000, I still have a pair of B1000s for backup use or a bedroom setup, but I really think there are better speakers that you can purchase. I do feel that if you are going to buy new speakers why not start transitioning out of the Sonys and into a better more accurate speaker? Upgrading speakers can be costly, I know, however if you take advantage of specials and discontinued items, as I did, you will get a much better system, and it won't be so expensive, plus slowly upgrading allows you to invest your funds into better equipment over time. Just My Opinion.

Let me know if I can help with anything else.

This is what I did. I purchased new Polk's (Monitor 60's and a CS1) and moved my towers to surround. (I got them from NewEgg, and they were discounted since the TSI line is Polk's current models.) Moving the towers to surrounds works since the money I could get for the speakers wouldn't cover speaker stands and Polk bookshelves.

BTW...the sound difference between the Polk's and Sony's is incredible. I did a side-by-side on my mains this weekend and the Polk's pounced all over the Sony's. The clarity difference is night and day. Plus, what I have been noticing is, at 7ft from the sound stage, the Monitor 60's do such a good job with sound coverage, when Dish goes from 5.1 to stereo, it doesn't sound like the audio is coming from r/l. it just sounds like the audio is coming from in front of me.

[blacklion]

Thanks everyone for the kind suggestions. I'm researching the options you suggest. I'm not really planning to do major upgrades this year but I'll certainly consider transitioning gradually by getting new front towers and a sub first, the moving the Sony towers to surrounds and eventually retire them. But this will most likely start towards the end of the year as the economy improves

Regarding the sub, is there a substantial difference soundwise between a 10' and a 12' sub? if I have it right, the bigger the cone, the more air the sub can displace and thus more deep low bass sound? Also, does wattage count for much with subs?

As you can guess, I'm no audiophile and I'm not ready to invest several thousand dollars in speakers and subs. My maximum budget would be no more than $800-1200.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by blacklion

Thanks everyone for the kind suggestions. I'm researching the options you suggest. I'm not really planning to do major upgrades this year but I'll certainly consider transitioning gradually by getting new front towers and a sub first, the moving the Sony towers to surrounds and eventually retire them. But this will most likely start towards the end of the year as the economy improves

Regarding the sub, is there a substantial difference soundwise between a 10' and a 12' sub? if I have it right, the bigger the cone, the more air the sub can displace and thus more deep low bass sound? Also, does wattage count for much with subs?

As you can guess, I'm no audiophile and I'm not ready to invest several thousand dollars in speakers and subs. My maximum budget would be no more than $800-1200.

That is a decent budget to start with, How much do you plan to invest right now? $200?

[MrRoy]

Originally Posted by callas01

That is a decent budget to start with, How much do you plan to invest right now? $200?

+1. You can get some good stuff with that kind of a budget.