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Wharfedale D300C vs Sony SS-CS8 Comparison

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Wharfedale D300C

Passive Center Channel | 65-20k Hz

Wharfedale D300C
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Sony SS-CS8

Passive Center Channel | 55-25k Hz

Sony SS-CS8
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Wharfedale D300C Wharfedale D300C
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Sony SS-CS8 Sony SS-CS8
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Wharfedale D300C
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Sony SS-CS8
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Wharfedale D300C vs Sony SS-CS8 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing D300C and SS-CS8, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Sony.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale D300C and Sony SS-CS8 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale D300C Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 5" Black woven Kevlar Cone Woofer
  • 65-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-120watts
  • Weight:8.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 190.0" x 20.1" x 9.1"( 190 x 510 x 232mm )

Sony SS-CS8 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer
  • 55-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:up to 145watts
  • Weight:5.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 146.0" x 16.93" x 8.66"( 146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale D300C and Sony SS-CS8 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* Wharfedale D300C Sony SS-CS8
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale D300C and Sony SS-CS8 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

Both D300C and SS-CS8 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Wharfedale D300C Sony SS-CS8
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 5-inch 2 x 4-inch

D300C features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Black woven Kevlar Cone Woofer . On the other hand, the SS-CS8 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer .

Frequency Response

D300C has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the SS-CS8 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the D300C's min frequency of 65Hz.

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 Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

D300C
SS-CS8
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Wharfedale D300C
Sony SS-CS8
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

D300C is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the SS-CS8 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. D300C sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the SS-CS8's is rated at 86 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D300C a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS8, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

D300C
SS-CS8
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.

D300C can handle a max power of 145 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D300C has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 25 watts less than the SS-CS8.

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

D300C features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SS-CS8 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale D300C Terminals
Wharfedale D300C's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Sony SS-CS8Post Terminals
Sony SS-CS8's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

D300C has a bottom firing port whereas SS-CS8 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D300C's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Sony SS-CS8 with its rear-firing port.

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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 Wharfedale D300C's and Sony SS-CS8's external dimensions. Wharfedale D300C has external dimensions of 190 x 510 x 232mm ( 7.8) whereas Sony SS-CS8 has external dimensions of 146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm ( 5.75 x 16.93 x 8.66inch) .

Wharfedale D300C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 80mm wider, 44mm taller and 12mm deeper than Sony SS-CS8.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D300C and Sony SS-CS8 in scale.

Wharfedale D300C vs Sony SS-CS8 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale D300C and Sony SS-CS8 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 Wharfedale D300C is approximately 1183.0cm2 / 183.4inch2 and base area of the Sony SS-CS8 is approximately 946.0cm2 / 146.6inch2. The D300C requires 25% more surface area than the SS-CS8 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 Wharfedale D300C weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs and the Sony SS-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the D300C 60% heavier than the SS-CS8.

Here is a comparison of how D300C and SS-CS8's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Wharfedale D300C
Sony SS-CS8
Min
Average
Max

Reasons to choose Wharfedale D300C over Sony SS-CS8
Sensitivity 89 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 inches vs 4 inches Larger woofer
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

Reasons to choose Sony SS-CS8 over Wharfedale D300C

Max Input Power 145 watts vs 120 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
Low Frequency Response 55 Hz vs 65 Hz Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response 25k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
Height 146mm vs 190mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area 946cm2 vs 1183cm2 Takes less floor space
Price per pair* 169USD vs 179USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Wharfedale D300C vs Sony SS-CS8 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Wharfedale D300C Sony SS-CS8
Brand Wharfedale Sony
Speaker Type Center channel speaker Center Channel
Power Range 25-120 watts up to 145 watts
Sensitivity 89 dB 86 dB
Impedance 8 ohms 6 ohms
Impedance 3.8 ohms n/a
Frequency Response 65-20k Hz 55-25k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 2 2
Woofer Size 5" 4"
Woofer Composition Black woven Kevlar Cone Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC)
Woofer Surround Material Foamed Polyether Rubber
Tweeter Size 1" 1"
Tweeter Type Soft-Dome Soft-Dome
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver No No
Firing Direction bottom rear
Physical Specs
Height 190.0mm (7.5") 146.0mm (5.7")
Width 510.0mm (20.1") 430.0mm (16.9")
Depth 232.0mm (9.1") 220.0mm (8.7")
Weight 8.00kg (17.6lbs) 5.00kg (11lbs)
Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
Finish MDF/Wood-grain vinyl MDF/Wood-veneer
Available Colors Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut Black
Grille Yes Yes
Moisture Resistancy No No
Connections
Biamp Inputs Yes No
Other
Parts Warranty 5 Years 2 years
Labor Warranty 5 Years 2 years

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