In this review, we will be comparing R-25C and SS-CS8, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and Sony.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Reference R-25C and Sony SS-CS8 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch Reference R-25C | Sony SS-CS8 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Sony
Japan · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Tractrix Horn | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Copper spun | 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 82-24K Hz | 55-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 98 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | up to 145 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.70kg / 14.7lbs | 5.00kg / 11lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.25" x 18.75" x 7.25"
184 x 476 x 184mm | 5.75" x 16.93" x 8.66"
146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch Reference R-25C 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* |
Klipsch Reference R-25C |
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.
Drivers
Both R-25C and SS-CS8 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch Reference R-25CSony 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 |
Klipsch Reference R-25C |
Sony SS-CS8 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 4-inch
|
R-25C features a " LTS (Linear Travel Suspension) aluminum diaphragm Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Copper spun Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800 Hz. 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
R-25C has a frequency range of 82-24K Hz whereas SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the SS-CS8 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-25C's min frequency of 82Hz.
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
R-25C is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the SS-CS8 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R-25C sensitivity is rated at 98 dB and the SS-CS8's is rated at 86 dB. This 12 dB difference makes the Klipsch Reference R-25C 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.
SS-CS8 can handle a max power of 145 watts RMS, whereas R-25C has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the SS-CS8.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R-25C features Post type posts and SS-CS8 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch Reference R-25C's Binding post terminals
Sony SS-CS8's Post terminals
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 Klipsch Reference R-25C's and Sony SS-CS8's external dimensions. Klipsch Reference R-25C has external dimensions of 184 x 476 x 184mm (7.25 x 18.75 x 7.25-inch) 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 46mm narrower and 38mm shorter than Klipsch Reference R-25C but it is also 36mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch Reference R-25C and Sony SS-CS8 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch Reference R-25C and Sony SS-CS8 Size and External Dimensions
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 Klipsch Reference R-25C is approximately 876.0cm2 / 135.8inch2 and base area of the Sony SS-CS8 is approximately 946.0cm2 / 146.6inch2. The R-25C requires 7% less surface area than the SS-CS8 which gives it a small advantage 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 Klipsch Reference R-25C weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs and the Sony SS-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the R-25C 34% heavier than the SS-CS8.
Here is a comparison of how R-25C and SS-CS8's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch Reference R-25C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-25C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
876cm2
vs
946cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
129USD
vs
169USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
145 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
82 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
146mm
vs
184mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-25C |
Sony SS-CS8 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Sony |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center Channel |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
up to 145 watts |
| Sensitivity |
98 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
82-24K Hz |
55-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Copper spun |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
184.0mm (7.2") |
146.0mm (5.7") |
| Width |
476.0mm (18.7") |
430.0mm (16.9") |
| Depth |
184.0mm (7.2") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Weight |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Polymer Veneer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
A generation apart: Klipsch Reference R-25C is the newer design, against a 2014 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Sony SS-CS8 digs deeper - 55Hz against 82Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch Reference R-25C is more sensitive (98dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch Reference R-25C is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | Sony SS-CS8 takes more power (145W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | A | Klipsch Reference R-25C is cheaper - $129 against $169, about 24% less. |
A Klipsch Reference R-25C B Sony SS-CS8
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 82Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch Reference R-25C much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch Reference R-25C is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.