What's that you say?
Written: Feb 20 '02 (Updated Nov 14 '02)
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Pros: Good quality and price is low
Cons: none noted
The Bottom Line: Look at it, pick it up, bring it home, try it out. I think you will be satisfied for the low price.
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| dalesky's Full Review: Sony SS-CN495H Center Speaker |
A center channel speaker is designed to deliver much of what you hear regarding the spoken word, while watching a DVD movie with 5.1 channel sound. With that in mind, consider that you need a good full range speaker in this position. True, much of the sound will be voice, but hey, if people are talking, don't you want to clearly hear what they say? Who wants to have Closed Captioning on all the time because the voices aren't clear?
I have a modest system, with a Dolby Digital II/DTS receiver, and 4 floor-standing towers for front and surround sound. I needed a solid center channel speaker, which is to say, a substantial unit that could keep up with medium-sized speakers, and a 12" sub-woofer. I was using a 'regular' bookshelf speaker, but thought it could be improved on.
I was a little leary about spending so little, mostly because I have been conditioned to believe you need to spend a lot to get good sound. I know that's not true, but I had to overcome this belief. I also knew that I could return the speaker if I needed to.
I hooked it up, put some solid rubber feet under it, and placed it right on top of my projection set. I next adjusted all of my speakers using my amplifier controls to compensate for distance and levels. I put a demanding DVD in the player, and really was amazed! The speaker I had been using for center channel was not a full range unit, and this one is. It has 2 5-1/8" speakers and a tweeter, plus it is vented in back. The sound is crystal clear, with no distortion at quite high volume levels. Even if I adjust my receiver to emphasize the center channel, it stays clear and crisp at any level.
I have found that Sony is actually doing an admirable job of making high quality affordable speakers. Witness their 12" sub-woofer, the WFM-40. That sub is getting quite a cult following for it's value/performance ratio.
See reviews, including my own, for that item elsewhere in epinions.
I have always bought my audio/video components based on independent evaluations, not name. Consequently, I have quite a mix of stuff, both for my theater system and my Dolby Digital stereo system in another part of my house. I have also found that quality lasts, and I expect these newest Sony speakers to hold up well.
I mentioned putting little rubber feet under the speaker, and placing it on top of my projection set. I get these feet at a building supply store, and they are called rubber bumpers or some such name. They are useful for putting on drawers in the kitchen also, as they cushion the shock of the drawer hitting the cabinet. In this application they are essential for isolating the speaker somewhat from vibrations that could be passed along to the projection set, or even distorting the sound. They also hold the speaker in place quite well.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $99.00
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Epinions.com ID:
dalesky
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: Murrells Inlet South Carolina
Reviews written: 133
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
Love to cook, explore the Internet, read and watch movies on DVD. Ain't technology Grand?
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