In this review, we will be comparing AE107 MII and SS-CS8, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Acoustic Energy and Sony.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE107 Mark II and Sony SS-CS8 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE107 Mark II | Sony SS-CS8 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome with waveguide | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.2" paper cone | 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55Hz - 26kHz | 55-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 175 watts | up to 145 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.60kg / 10.1lbs | 5.00kg / 11lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.9" x 15" x 9.8"
175.0 x 380.0 x 250.0mm | 5.75" x 16.93" x 8.66"
146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE107 Mark II and Sony SS-CS8 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
AE107 Mark II |
Sony SS-CS8 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both AE107 MII and SS-CS8 are 2-way speakers.
AE107 Mark IISony SS-CS8
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
AE107 Mark II |
Sony SS-CS8 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
2 x 4-inch
|
AE107 MII features a 1" fabric soft dome with waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.2" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the SS-CS8 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer.
Frequency Response
AE107 MII has a frequency range of 55Hz - 26kHz whereas SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE107 MII and SS-CS8 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AE107 MII sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the SS-CS8's is at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the AE107 Mark II a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS8, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
AE107 MII can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas SS-CS8 has a max power handling value of 145 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the AE107 MII.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AE107 MII and SS-CS8 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE107 Mark II's and Sony SS-CS8's external dimensions. AE107 Mark II has external dimensions of 175.0 x 380.0 x 250.0mm (6.9 x 15 x 9.8inch) whereas Sony SS-CS8 has external dimensions of 146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm (5.75 x 16.93 x 8.66inch).
Sony SS-CS8 is 29mm shorter and 30mm less deeper than AE107 Mark II but it is also 50mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the AE107 Mark II is approximately 950.0cm2 / 147.3inch2 and base area of the Sony SS-CS8 is approximately 946.0cm2 / 146.6inch2. The AE107 MII requires 0% more surface area than the SS-CS8 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The AE107 Mark II weighs 4.60kg / 10.1lbs and the Sony SS-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the SS-CS8 9% heavier than the AE107 MII.
Here is a comparison of how AE107 MII and SS-CS8's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
 Max Input Power |
175 watts
vs
145 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.2 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
146mm
vs
175mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
946cm2
vs
950cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
169USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE107 Mark II |
Sony SS-CS8 |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Sony |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center Channel |
| Power Range |
up to 175 watts |
up to 145 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55Hz - 26kHz |
55-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.2" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome with waveguide |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
175.0mm (6.9") |
146.0mm (5.7") |
| Width |
380.0mm (15") |
430.0mm (16.9") |
| Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Weight |
4.60kg (10.1lbs) |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Satin Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 years |
These sit in different price classes - AE107 Mark II costs roughly 2.4x what Sony SS-CS8 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (55Hz vs 55Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
AE107 Mark II is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (175W vs 145W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price |
B |
Sony SS-CS8 is cheaper - $169 against $399, about 58% less; arguably a different class. |
A AE107 Mark II
B Sony SS-CS8
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
AE107 Mark II is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 58% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Sony SS-CS8 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the AE107 Mark II appeals to you. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, AE107 Mark II is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $230 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.