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Sony SS-CS3 vs Klipsch R-625FA Comparison

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Sony SS-CS3

Passive Floor-standing | 45-50k Hz

Sony SS-CS3
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Klipsch R-625FA

Passive Floor-standing | 38-21k Hz

Klipsch Reference R-625FA
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Sony SS-CS3 Sony SS-CS3
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Klipsch R-625FA Klipsch R-625FA
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Sony SS-CS3
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Klipsch R-625FA
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Sony SS-CS3 vs Klipsch R-625FA Speaker Comparison

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.

Sony SS-CS3 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 0.75" Super Tweeter
  • 2 x 5.12" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer
  • 45-50k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:up to 145watts
  • Weight:10.60kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 922.0" x 9.05" x 10.24"( 922.0 x 230.0 x 260.0mm )

Klipsch R-625FA Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
  • 38-21k Hz Frequency Response
  • 96 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 100watts
  • Weight:22.20kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1021.0" x 9-3/8" x 16-3/4"( 1021.0 x 239.0 x 426.0mm )

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:

Listening Environment* Sony SS-CS3 Klipsch R-625FA
Near-field Bad Poor
Small Room Poor Average
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Good Poor
Very Large Room Poor 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.)

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.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


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

SS-CS3
R-625FA
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Sony SS-CS3
Klipsch R-625FA
Min
Average
Max

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

SS-CS3
R-625FA
Min
Average
Max

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 Terminals
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.

Sony SS-CS3 vs Klipsch R-625FA Size Comparison - Front View
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
Sony SS-CS3
Klipsch R-625FA
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Klipsch R-625FA?

Here are the items that come with the R-625FA:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • 2 Grilles (installed)
  • 2 Feet
  • 4 Screws
  • Quick Setup Guide
  • Important Safety Instructions
  • Warranty Information
  • Loudspeaker Feet note

  • Reasons to choose Sony SS-CS3 over Klipsch Reference R-625FA
    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 vs 1018cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 358USD vs 1658USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Klipsch Reference R-625FA over Sony SS-CS3

    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
    Sony SS-CS3 vs Klipsch R-625FA Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    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

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