Customers are positive about the sound quality, price, bass, size, and suitability for home theater use. They describe the sound as great, loud, amazing, and crisp. The price is considered unbeatable and affordable, offering great value for the quality. The bass is praised for its quality and the speakers' ability to be placed anywhere due to the frontal bass port. The size is appreciated for its stability and nostalgic feel. Customers also find them suitable for small to medium home theaters. On the downside, some customers compare them favorably to soundbars, implying that they may not be as good as traditional soundbars.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 1,334 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Bass, Price
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic speakers, my quest is complete!
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
TL;DR: Amazing speakers, definitely recommended! Fantastic service from Best Buy! You need a separate amplifier since these are not self-powered, and they are sold individually (not the pair).
Background: I have a lot of audio equipment; music has always been a key part of my life and my journey with music equipment started when I was merely 5 years old. I've always found fascinating the way that music is converted from any type of media into actual sound through speakers. I've had the opportunity to experience a vast number of speakers in both home and car audio environments.
Quest: Having lived in both houses and apartments, I've always tried to get the best sounding speakers I can have without either breaking the bank or getting out of hand regarding physical space and boundaries. I've always liked my music to be loud and clear, and for it to provide that wow factor every time you listen to your music. It has been hard to find the right balance of quality, power and fidelity.
Opinion: The Sony SS-CS3 tower speaker offers an incredible value for our hard-earned money. It has an outstanding acoustic balance, with crisp highs, defined mids and punchy, deep lows.
It will, of course, not go down to sub-woofer frequencies because, well, that's what a sub-woofer is for, but it will give you a fantastic reproduction of the low-frequencies sounds with a powerful bass level that won't sound distorted or saturated.
The soundstage is amazing, and it has the plus of having a frontal bass port, which allows you to place the speakers close to the walls, in corners, or wherever you may want; your room becomes your playground, you can practically place them anywhere you want or need, and the sound delivered will be amazing.
I use them in my room, with a very simple setup. I have a small LG stereo system that has radio, CD and Bluetooth, and the speakers it came with were not very powerful. I also have a Turntable hooked to the stereo using the Aux input to listen to my vinyl records, both new and old.
I wasn't sure if these speakers would be too much for that small LG stereo, so I bought one first; I hooked it up, and I was blown away by the sound I was getting. I went right back to BestBuy to get the other one, and I couldn't be happier.
My music collection is very wide, with pretty much every genre you could think of. The dynamic range of these speakers really blew me away, because normally some genres are more demanding or unforgiving than others; with these, I have found that all of my records, CDs, and bluetooth streaming sound great.
Three of the music genres that I've found more demanding for speakers due to their dynamic range are hard rock (errr Heavy Metal, Death Metal, Punk Rock), classical music and Jazz. All of these three sound amazing through these speakers.
I'm sure there are some other, more expensive speakers that will sound a little better, and I think that's the key word, a *little* better, but for the price, performance, looks and form factor of these Sony tower speakers, I think my quest is complete.
I can definitely recommend these speakers to those who are looking for that balance of price, looks and performance; I know these are the speakers that have finally given me the perfect music experience I was looking for, and I know they will last for ages (more about this down below).
SHOUT-OUT TO BEST BUY: I found these particular speakers to be available through different vendors, the two most popular being Best Buy and Amazon. With the latter I could get next-day shipping to my door, convenient but not ideal to my particular case because once I make my mind on getting something, the sooner the better. Best Buy had the speakers for me to just go there and pick them up, they even took the boxes out to my car in a designated parking spot, which was fantastic. I just got there, parked, opened my trunk, and bam! the associate was there with the box on a dolly and helped me load the box in my car's trunk. Same thing one hour later when I bought the second speaker, different associate, same fantastic shopping experience!
Conclusion: I think this is it! I think this is the perfect speaker for my needs. Even if in the future I change my amp or overall setup, these speakers are the ones to have! I love their sound, quality, sturdiness and looks. My quest is complete :D
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi JoeD, Great! We're delighted to hear that you're enjoying your speaker. We appreciate your feedback and thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Good speakers at a great price
|
|
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I recently upgraded my home entertainment system from a 5.1 to a 7.1. I had 6 Paradigms (4 wall mounted, a center and a sub). I did a lot of research, I mean a LOT in order to get the best value for the money. I checked all the big names (Bose, Klipsch, Paradigm, JBL, you name it). Although there are vast differences in prices, excluding unconventional systems) a speaker is a speaker. I've bought many, re.coned, repaired/replaced drivers, replaced surrounds, upgraded crossover networks, horns, subs, everything, The specification sheet will tell you everything about a speaker except how it sounds in a given cabinet. Different speaker configurations require different cabinet configurations. I wanted a tower that was relatively small but had a big sound with rich low end. These filled the bill and then some. At the time I was looking, Best Buy had just put these on sale for $199 apiece. Suffice to say, they sound as good if not better than speakers at 3 times that price. No disappointments here. They sound as good at low volume as they do at higher gain. These cabinets and speakers are very well matched and sound great in the entertainment room. If you can get them at a good price...DO IT! Added bonus...the plants seem to really like the music and are growing nicely!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Size, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great pair for an affordable price.
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
These are the perfect size speakers for my average sized living room. I haven't bought floor speakers in 20+ years. They are much smaller than the older pair, but they sound much better, more resounding base. I think I am old school with the hook up. Connecting wires was a little more work than the old way, but I got it done.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi iJohnny0,
We're glad that these speakers are perfect for your setup. You've purchased a speaker series versatile enough to deliver an unprecedented and real audio experience, with a soundstage so expansive you can feel the energy and passion of the original performance. Prepare to hear vocals come alive with our wide dispersion Super tweeter! Thank you for choosing Sony!
~Ralph
Pros mentioned:
Price, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Sony towers
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have been searching for a surround sound system set up that wasnt gonna break the bank I wanted the klipsch ones but every item compared to sony is double to triple the price I decided to go with sony for the price and I am not disappointed these towers sound great i got the whole sony 7.2 setup surround is amazing and music is great to its the closest to klipsch you gonna get for the price I would recommend for someone who dont have the money to drop on higher end equipment you wont regret it
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Mark,
Fantastic! We are extremely pleased to hear your satisfaction with the exceptional performance and reasonable price of the SS-CS3 Floor-standing Speakers. We are also thrilled that it perfectly works with your 7.2ch setup. You’ve purchased a speaker series versatile enough to deliver an unprecedented and real audio experience, with a soundstage so expansive you can feel the energy and passion of the original performance. Prepare to hear vocals come alive with our wide dispersion Super tweeter!
Thank you very much for the perfect star review and for choosing Sony!
- Romeo
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Used to owning “hand me downs.”
|
|
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
So after owning second hand and hand me downs, I finally decided to let loose of some money and buy a new system. I was originally going to go with Klipsch, but I’m glad I made this choice instead. I enjoy the mids, and highs the speakers produce (The sound fills our space with no problem. We live in a 1400 soft Townhouse). I spent multiple hours with the “burn in”, and there is a great quality of sound that they reproduce.
I purchased four of the towers, a couple bookshelves, and center (I already had a nice subwoofer). I married them up with the Onkyo TX-NR656 (7.2 ch) receiver. As of yesterday I finished off our entertainment area with the Samsung UN65MU8000 television. Everything looks and sounds great!!
I would definitely purchase again, and recommend to a friend.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Home Theater Experience for an Achievable Price
|
|
Posted . Owned for 3 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’d consider myself an average movie watching person that appreciates good sound but I’m not fancy enough to care or understand the details that advanced audiophiles rant and/or rave about. I think most people are like that. I imagine if you’re shopping for Sony Core Series speakers, you’re probably like that too. I’m here to tell you that buying these is a great idea.
I purchased these floorstanding speakers alongside all the other Sony Core Series speakers when they were on sale on Memorial Day to quickly create a budget 5.1.2 Atmos setup for my movie nights. Some speakers were purchased open box, which were cheaper, and put the total 5.1.2 speaker setup cost at $497. I figured at that price point I can’t complain if it sounds subpar, and it wouldn’t financially hurt much to fully replace them down the road with something fancier if I so desired.
However, after having used the setup for around 2 months through countless movies and video games, I am absolutely in love. These are the definition of punching above their weight. Now, again, I’m not fancy enough to tell you the details of how and why these are so great; I could throw around audio terminology all day but you and I both know I would be talking out of my butt. It’s simple: these provide an auditory experience beyond my normal-person needs. My home has become an exciting and engaging movie-viewing hotspot for all friends and family, and that’s what it’s all about.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Tyler, wow! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing experience with our Core Series speakers. We are truly happy to hear you love the superb sound quality of your 5.1.2 speaker setup.
For the SS-CS3 Floor-standing Speaker, you’ve purchased a speaker series versatile enough to deliver an unprecedented and real audio experience, with a soundstage so expansive you can feel the energy and passion of the original performance. Prepare to hear vocals come alive with our wide dispersion Super tweeter!
Thank you so much for your purchase and for choosing Sony!
- Romeo
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great for movies/tv/music!
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Have two of these hooked up to a Sony 790 AV receiver. Work perfectly & sound amazing for the price!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Yahoo, It's great to hear that your SSCS3 speakers are working perfectly and sound amazing with your Sony STR-DH790 AV receiver! The combination of these speakers with the receiver is known to deliver excellent audio quality, especially considering the price point. Thank you for choosing Sony! -Carl
Pros mentioned:
Home theater, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Sony towers
|
|
Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great sound even in the lower frequencies, great for home theater
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi AndrewS, Great! We're glad that you're enjoying the sound of your speakers. We appreciate your feedback and thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Price
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great speakers for the price!
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Full disclosure: I am NOT an "audiophile," nor do I have much experience with stereo systems, home theater equipment, or hi-fi equipment. I purchased these with the Sony STR-DH190 2-channel stereo receiver as a dedicated system to listen to my record player.
I'd been wanting to get a pair of these for a while to match with the receiver, and during Best Buy's holiday sale it was hard to pass everything up at that price.
The speakers feel very solid and not at all cheap (for this price range). Definitely loud and very clear, although not as "thumping" as I would like. But, that could have more to do with either the receiver's capabilities, and/or my turntable's phono pre-amp (AT160-LPX).
Even at the regular non-sale price I would highly recommend these. Perfect for anyone that wants to start building a home theater or stereo system that doesn't break the bank but is much better than powered speakers or a budget all-in-one type of system.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Price, Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Versatile speaker for anything
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I was surprised with the price tag of this floor speaker. The power 145w was a grace. I connected it with my Roland digital piano with 300w Class D amp. The sound was perfect for the budget. I do love the sleek design and sound. Thank you BestBuy. It my my best buy of this year!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi MrKunappe, we're glad you like the sound quality of our product. You’ve purchased a speaker series versatile enough to deliver an unprecedented and real audio experience, with a soundstage so expansive you can feel the energy and passion of the original performance. Prepare to hear vocals come alive with our wide dispersion Super tweeter! Thanks so much for your purchase! ~Earl
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great speaker for the price
|
|
Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Sounds amazing for the price! First time upgrading from a soundbar and I can say I’m very, very happy with the clarity.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi KaelG, We're glad that you like the audio quality of your speakers. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Sony dual Tower speakers
|
|
Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Amazing sound at a perfect price, very happy with this purchase… no need to over spend, Sony does it again!!!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi BrianP, Thanks for sharing your excitement! It's fantastic to hear that your Core Series Dual Tower Speakers delivered amazing sound. We're glad they're living up to your expectations. Thank you for choosing Sony! Enjoy! -Maria
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great sound
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Excellent price quality ratio. impressive sound on a budget speaker. You can’t believe 5 inch woofer deliver this amount of bass. Highs are very detailed and vivid. Enough power handling for small to medium rooms.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Sounds amazing
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great sound. Nice and loud. Looks great next to our entertainment center. Will be buying the subwoofer and center speaker next
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi DecoyRoy, We're glad that you are enjoying the audio quality. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Yet Another "Stealth" Sleeper from Sony
|
|
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
So, let's see: after what seems like too long a time seemingly ignoring the music-first audio market, Sony came back swinging for the fences a few years back, first at the nosebleed high end of the market (remember those $44k "reference" loudspeakers?) among other cool-and-crazy hi-end gear, largely to prove that they still know how to do it. Then, they followed up with audio components at the very opposite end of the market, including a certain bottom-of-the-line receiver (STR-DH190) that took nearly everyone by surprise, including me: I went out and bought one, a bit skeptical that something that inexpensive could be at all special; trust me, It Is. Which brings me to the SS-CS3 floor-standing loudspeaker. I recommended these speakers to a friend who was looking to upgrade from an ancient "home-theatre-in-a-box" system (also from Sony), after raving to him about how good the STR-DH190 was: he ended up buying the receiver, speakers *and* Sony's PS-LX310BT turntable, and when I heard the whole setup for the first time, I was so amazed I wanted a pair; my wife, who was also listening at the time, surprisingly agreed(!), and greenlighted their purchase. Suffice it to say, just like the STR-DH10 receiver, this speaker punches way above its weight, with a good balance of clarity (midrange/vocals in particular) and low-end weight in a relatively compact package. Highly recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi amateriat, Thanks for sharing your experience with your new SS-CS3 Floor standing Speakers. You’ve purchased a speaker series versatile enough to deliver an unprecedented and real audio experience, with a soundstage so expansive you can feel the energy and passion of the original performance. Prepare to hear vocals come alive with our wide dispersion Super tweeter! Thanks so much for your purchase! -Carl
Pros mentioned:
Price
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great with Atmos Speakers
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Originally planned on purchasing the SSCS5 bookshelf speakers, after hearing the SSCS3’s I decided to just pay the additional cost, I purchased the Dolby Atmos speakers from Sony and the mounts work well for top placement on the SSCS3.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Brian,
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience with your new SS-CS3 Floor standing Speakers. You’ve purchased a speaker series versatile enough to deliver an unprecedented and real audio experience, with a soundstage so expansive you can feel the energy and passion of the original performance. Prepare to hear vocals come alive with our wide dispersion Super tweeter! Thanks so much for your purchase!
Regards, David
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Quality
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The neighbors know when we’re watching a action filled movie. The sound that comes from these speakers will have you jumping out of your seat! Great Buy.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great sounding speakers
|
|
Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great sounding speakers, great look as well and the price was out of this world got them on sale. I bought the Sony receiver as well, a perfect match for my entertainment enjoyment.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Speakers
|
|
Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Amazing sound quality, looks good and affordable cost
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi JonathanL, Awesome! We're glad that you are enjoying the audio quality. Thank you for choosing Sony. Erin
Pros mentioned:
Sound quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Pillars. Remember they are sold separately
|
|
Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
They sound amazing I need to set up my living room correctly as they are only adjusted closely. But they are good. They are built nicely and with the flat top the atmos speakers fit nice and snug on top.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .
Hi Shineato,
Thanks for sharing your experience with your new SS-CS3 Floor standing Speakers. You’ve purchased a speaker series versatile enough to deliver an unprecedented and real audio experience, with a soundstage so expansive you can feel the energy and passion of the original performance. Prepare to hear vocals come alive with our wide dispersion Super tweeter! Thanks so much for your purchase!