In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS8 and Apex A40, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sony and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS8 and Monitor Audio Apex A40 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sony SS-CS8 | Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
|---|
| Brand | Sony
Japan · founded 1946 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" gold dome C-CAM |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) | 2 x 5.5" C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 50-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 145 watts | 50-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 6.91kg / 15.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5.75" x 16.93" x 8.66"
146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm | 5-1/2" x 24" x 4-3/4"
140.0 x 610.0 x 121.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sony SS-CS8 and Monitor Audio Apex A40 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-CS8 |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
| 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 SS-CS8 and Apex A40 are 2-way speakers.
Sony SS-CS8Monitor Audio Apex A40
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
SS-CS8 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer. On the other hand, the Apex A40 features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) Woofer.
Frequency Response
SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas Apex A40 has a frequency range of 50-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Apex A40 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SS-CS8's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
SS-CS8 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Apex A40 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SS-CS8 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Apex A40's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Apex A40 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.
Apex A40 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas SS-CS8 has a max power handling value of 145 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the Apex A40.
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
SS-CS8 features 5-Way post type posts and Apex A40 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Sony SS-CS8's and Monitor Audio Apex A40's external dimensions. Sony SS-CS8 has external dimensions of 146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm (5.75 x 16.93 x 8.66inch) whereas Monitor Audio Apex A40 has external dimensions of 140.0 x 610.0 x 121.0mm (5-1/2 x 24 x 4-3/4inch).
Monitor Audio Apex A40 is 6mm shorter and 99mm less deeper than Sony SS-CS8 but it is also 180mm wider.
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-CS8 is approximately 946.0cm2 / 146.6inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Apex A40 is approximately 738.1cm2 / 114.4inch2. The SS-CS8 requires 28% more surface area than the Apex A40 which gives it a small disadvantage 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-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Monitor Audio Apex A40 weighs 6.91kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the Apex A40 38% heavier than the SS-CS8.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS8 and Apex A40'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 Monitor Audio Apex A40?
Here are the items that come with the Apex A40:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille
- Bracket (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Rubber inserts
- Hex-key
- Set Up Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Important Information
- Mounting Template
 Price per pair* |
169USD
vs
1125USD
|
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 |
90 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 |
5.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
140mm
vs
146mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
738cm2
vs
946cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
| Brand |
Sony |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center Channel |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 145 watts |
50-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
50-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
gold dome C-CAM |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
146.0mm (5.7") |
140.0mm (5.5") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
610.0mm (24") |
| Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
121.0mm (4.8") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
6.91kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Monitor Audio Apex A40 costs roughly 6.7x what Sony SS-CS8 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 | Monitor Audio Apex A40 digs deeper - 50Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Monitor Audio Apex A40 is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Monitor Audio Apex A40 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | Monitor Audio Apex A40 takes more power (200W vs 145W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Apex A40 is easier to place; Sony SS-CS8 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Sony SS-CS8 is cheaper - $169 against $1,125, about 85% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sony SS-CS8 B Monitor Audio Apex A40
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?
The usual trade-off: Monitor Audio Apex A40 measures better, Sony SS-CS8 costs about about 6.7x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Sony SS-CS8 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Monitor Audio Apex A40 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.