In this review, we will be comparing Monitor SE Atom and SS-CS5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Paradigm and Sony.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm SE Atom and Sony SS-CS5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm SE Atom | Sony SS-CS5 |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | Sony
Japan · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Super tweeter | — | 0.75" super tweeter |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene | 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 61-21k Hz | 53-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-100 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.45kg / 12lbs | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-3/4" x 7-1/8" x 10-7/8"
324.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm | 13.1" x 7.0" x 8.6"
335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Paradigm SE Atom and Sony SS-CS5 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* |
Paradigm SE Atom |
Sony SS-CS5 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Monitor SE Atom is a 2-way design whereas the SS-CS5 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Paradigm SE AtomSony SS-CS5
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Paradigm SE Atom |
Sony SS-CS5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Super Tweeter
|
- |
0.75-inch |
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Monitor SE Atom features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the SS-CS5 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 0.75" Supertweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer.
Frequency Response
Monitor SE Atom has a frequency range of 61-21k Hz whereas SS-CS5 has a frequency range of 53-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the SS-CS5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Monitor SE Atom's min frequency of 61Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Monitor SE Atom is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the SS-CS5 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Monitor SE Atom sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the SS-CS5's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Paradigm SE Atom a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS5, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though Monitor SE Atom is rated 15-100 watts and SS-CS5 up to 100 watts.
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
Monitor SE Atom features Post type posts and SS-CS5 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm SE Atom's Post terminals
Sony SS-CS5's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Monitor SE Atom and SS-CS5 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 Paradigm SE Atom's and Sony SS-CS5's external dimensions. Paradigm SE Atom has external dimensions of 324.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm (12-3/4 x 7-1/8 x 10-7/8inch) whereas Sony SS-CS5 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm (13.1 x 7.0 x 8.6inch).
Sony SS-CS5 is 3mm narrower and 57mm less deeper than Paradigm SE Atom but it is also 11mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Paradigm SE Atom and Sony SS-CS5 in scale.
Comparison image of Paradigm SE Atom and Sony SS-CS5 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 Paradigm SE Atom is approximately 501.4cm2 / 77.7inch2 and base area of the Sony SS-CS5 is approximately 391.6cm2 / 60.7inch2. The Monitor SE Atom requires 28% more surface area than the SS-CS5 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Paradigm SE Atom and Sony SS-CS5 on a Media Console
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 Paradigm SE Atom weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs and the Sony SS-CS5 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the Monitor SE Atom 21% heavier than the SS-CS5.
Here is a comparison of how Monitor SE Atom and SS-CS5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Paradigm SE Atom?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Monitor SE Atom:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
324mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Low Frequency Response |
53 Hz
vs
61 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
391cm2
vs
501cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
148USD
vs
300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Monitor SE Atom |
Sony SS-CS5 |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Sony |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-100 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
61-21k Hz |
53-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mineral-filled polypropylene |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
324.0mm (12.8") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
277.0mm (10.9") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Weight |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black,Gloss White |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
n/a |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Paradigm SE Atom costs roughly 2x what Sony SS-CS5 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 | B | Sony SS-CS5 digs deeper - 53Hz against 61Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Paradigm SE Atom is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Paradigm SE Atom is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Sony SS-CS5 is cheaper - $148 against $300, about 51% less; arguably a different class. |
A Paradigm SE Atom B Sony SS-CS5
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?
Paradigm SE Atom is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 103% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Sony SS-CS5 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Paradigm SE Atom appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 61Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Paradigm SE Atom 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.