In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS3 and A170, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sony and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS3 and JBL Stage A170 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sony SS-CS3 and JBL Stage A170 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sony SS-CS3 and JBL Stage A170 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SS-CS3 is a 3-way design whereas the A170 is a 2-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.
| Driver |
Sony SS-CS3 |
JBL Stage A170 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Super Tweeter
|
0.75-inch |
- |
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.12-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
SS-CS3 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 0.75" Supertweeter and 2 x 5.12" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer . On the other hand, the A170 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
SS-CS3 has a frequency range of 45-50k Hz whereas A170 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the A170 can go slightly deeper then the SS-CS3's min frequency of 45Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SS-CS3 and A170 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SS-CS3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the A170's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A170 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
SS-CS3 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SS-CS3 has a max power handling value of 145 watts RMS , 55 watts less than the A170.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
A170 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SS-CS3 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Sony SS-CS3's and JBL Stage A170's external dimensions. Sony SS-CS3 has external dimensions of 922.0 x 230.0 x 260.0mm ( 36.30 x 9.05 x 10.24inch) whereas JBL Stage A170 has external dimensions of 977.0 x 267.0 x 331.0mm ( 38-7/16 x 10-1/2 x 13inch) .
JBL Stage A170 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 55mm taller and 71mm deeper than Sony SS-CS3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony SS-CS3 and JBL Stage A170 in scale.
Comparison image of Sony SS-CS3 and JBL Stage A170 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 Sony SS-CS3 is approximately 598.0cm2 / 92.7inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A170 is approximately 883.8cm2 / 137.0inch2. The SS-CS3 requires 32% less surface area than the A170 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 Sony SS-CS3 weighs 10.60kg / 23.3lbs and the JBL Stage A170 weighs 14.37kg / 31.6lbs. This makes the A170 36% heavier than the SS-CS3.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS3 and A170's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A170?
Here are the items that come with the A170:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outriggers4 Rubber feet4 Spikes8 Screws2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
40k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
922mm
vs
977mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
598cm2 (230x260mm)
vs
883cm2 (267x331mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
358USD
vs
600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
145 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5.12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Sony SS-CS3 |
JBL Stage A170 |
| Brand |
Sony |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 145 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-50k Hz |
44-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.12" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
922.0mm (36.3") |
977.0mm (38.5") |
| Width |
230.0mm (9.1") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Depth |
260.0mm (10.2") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
10.60kg (23.3lbs) |
14.37kg (31.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |