In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS8 and Concerta2 C25, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sony and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS8 and Revel Concerta2 C25 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sony SS-CS8 | Revel Concerta2 C25 |
|---|
| Brand | Sony
Japan · founded 1946 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) | 2 x 5.25" anodized aluminum cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 80Hz- 20kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 145 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 9.09kg / 20lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5.75" x 16.93" x 8.66"
146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm | 7-3/8" x 19-1/2" x 10-3/16"
188.0 x 496.0 x 259.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sony SS-CS8 and Revel Concerta2 C25 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 |
Revel Concerta2 C25 |
| 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 Concerta2 C25 are 2-way speakers.
Sony SS-CS8Revel Concerta2 C25
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 |
Revel Concerta2 C25 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 Concerta2 C25 features a 1" aluminum dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" anodized aluminum cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas Concerta2 C25 has a frequency range of 80Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the SS-CS8 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Concerta2 C25's min frequency of 80Hz.
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 and Concerta2 C25 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SS-CS8 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Concerta2 C25's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Revel Concerta2 C25 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.
SS-CS8 can handle a max power of 145 watts RMS, whereas Concerta2 C25 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the SS-CS8.
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 Concerta2 C25 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sony SS-CS8's Post terminals
Revel Concerta2 C25's 5-Way 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 Revel Concerta2 C25'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 Revel Concerta2 C25 has external dimensions of 188.0 x 496.0 x 259.0mm (7-3/8 x 19-1/2 x 10-3/16inch).
Revel Concerta2 C25 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 66mm wider, 42mm taller and 39mm deeper than Sony SS-CS8.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Revel Concerta2 C25 needs about 36% more floor or shelf area. Revel Concerta2 C25 is 39mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Revel Concerta2 C25 is 42mm taller.
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 Revel Concerta2 C25 is approximately 1284.6cm2 / 199.1inch2. The SS-CS8 requires 26% less surface area than the Concerta2 C25 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-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Revel Concerta2 C25 weighs 9.09kg / 20lbs. This makes the Concerta2 C25 82% heavier than the SS-CS8.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS8 and Concerta2 C25'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 Revel Concerta2 C25?
Here are the items that come with the Concerta2 C25:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Short feet
- 2 Long feet
- Owners Manual
 Max Input Power |
145 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
146mm
vs
188mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
946cm2
vs
1284cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
169USD
vs
825USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Revel Concerta2 C25 |
| Brand |
Sony |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center Channel |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 145 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
80Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
anodized aluminum cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
146.0mm (5.7") |
188.0mm (7.4") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
496.0mm (19.5") |
| Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
9.09kg (20lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| 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 - Revel Concerta2 C25 costs roughly 4.9x 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 | A | Sony SS-CS8 digs deeper - 55Hz against 80Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Revel Concerta2 C25 is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (145W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Sony SS-CS8 is easier to place; Revel Concerta2 C25 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Revel Concerta2 C25 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Sony SS-CS8 is cheaper - $169 against $825, about 80% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sony SS-CS8 B Revel Concerta2 C25
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 80Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Revel Concerta2 C25 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Sony SS-CS8 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.