In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS3 and R-625FA, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sony and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS3 and Klipsch R-625FA first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sony SS-CS3 and Klipsch R-625FA 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 Klipsch R-625FA 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 R-625FA 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 |
Klipsch R-625FA |
|
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 6.5-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 R-625FA features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
SS-CS3 has a frequency range of 45-50k Hz whereas R-625FA has a frequency range of 38-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the R-625FA can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-625FA which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SS-CS3 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the R-625FA's is rated at 96 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-625FA 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 145 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-625FA has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the SS-CS3.
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
SS-CS3 features Post type posts and R-625FA has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-625FA's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SS-CS3 and R-625FA 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
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 Klipsch R-625FA'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 Klipsch R-625FA has external dimensions of 1021.0 x 239.0 x 426.0mm ( 40-3/16 x 9-3/8 x 16-3/4inch) .
Klipsch R-625FA is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 9mm wider, 99mm taller and 166mm deeper than Sony SS-CS3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony SS-CS3 and Klipsch R-625FA in scale.
Comparison image of Sony SS-CS3 and Klipsch R-625FA 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 Klipsch R-625FA is approximately 1018.1cm2 / 157.8inch2. The SS-CS3 requires 41% less surface area than the R-625FA 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 Klipsch R-625FA weighs 22.20kg / 48.8lbs. This makes the R-625FA 109% heavier than the SS-CS3.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS3 and R-625FA'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 Klipsch R-625FA?
Here are the items that come with the R-625FA:
Floorstanding loudspeaker2 Grilles (installed)2 Feet4 ScrewsQuick Setup GuideImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty InformationLoudspeaker Feet note
 Max Input Power |
145 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
922mm
vs
1021mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
598cm2 (230x260mm)
vs
1018cm2 (239x426mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
358USD
vs
1658USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Built-in 1 x 5.25
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
| General |
Sony SS-CS3 |
Klipsch Reference R-625FA |
| Brand |
Sony |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 145 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-50k Hz |
38-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.12" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
922.0mm (36.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
230.0mm (9.1") |
239.0mm (9.4") |
| Depth |
260.0mm (10.2") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
10.60kg (23.3lbs) |
22.20kg (48.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |