Short answer: the Polk T50. It ranks #45 of 56 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $249; the Sony SS-CS3 ranks #47 and costs $450, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Polk T50: Pretty deep bass for the price. The tradeoff: 5dB peak at 1khz, 4dB bright top end from 11khz on up.
What the Sony SS-CS3 gets right: Affordable entry-level floorstanding tower offering solid sensitivity (88.6dB SPL at 2.83V/1m), making it easy to power with standard budget AVRs. The catch: Severe cabinet and driver resonances plague the passband between 100Hz and 600Hz, imparting audible coloration and chesty resonances to male vocals and acoustic instruments.
Buy the Polk T50. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SS-CS3 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 56 floorstanding speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk T50 | Sony SS-CS3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $450.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #45 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #47 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) | 6 ohms nominal |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" bi-laminate paper cone woofers, 1x 1" Terylene dome tweeter + 2x 8" passive bass radiators | 0.75 in. supertweeter, 0.98 in. polyester main tweeter, dual 5.12 in. MRC woofers |
| Weight | 75.4 lbs / 34.2 kg | 25.4 lbs / 11.5 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 86.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) | 88.6dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 9.3"W x 12.5"D (1026.2 x 235.0 x 317.5 mm) | 36.3"H x 9.1"W x 10.2"D (922 x 230 x 260 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator | ported, front |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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- Definitive Technology BP-9020 vs Infinity Reference 253
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- Polk T50 vs Infinity Reference 253
- Polk T50 vs JBL Stage 2 280F
The Two Speakers In Full
Polk T50: $249.00 Amazon
Pros: Pretty deep bass for the price. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is reasonably controlled outside a narrow spike around 250Hz. The reviewer notes performance is “not too bad for a budget speaker” once the two main tonal issues are addressed with EQ.
Cons: 5dB peak at 1khz, 4dB bright top end from 11khz on up. Just okay vertical off axis. Impedance and phase show several resonances between 200Hz-1kHz, with a minimum impedance of 4.2 ohms. Distortion rises substantially at 96dB SPL/1m across the midrange, with repeated peaks between 100Hz-2kHz.
Full Polk T50 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 9.3"W x 12.5"D (1026.2 x 235.0 x 317.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" bi-laminate paper cone woofers, 1x 1" Terylene dome tweeter + 2x 8" passive bass radiators |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 86.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 75.4 lbs / 34.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
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Sony SS-CS3: $450.00 Discontinued
Pros: Affordable entry-level floorstanding tower offering solid sensitivity (88.6dB SPL at 2.83V/1m), making it easy to power with standard budget AVRs. Harmonic distortion remains reasonably low at moderate listening levels (86dB SPL) when high-pass filtered above 80-100Hz with a dedicated subwoofer. Front-ported design allows relatively close placement to front boundaries without excessive port occlusion.
Cons: Severe cabinet and driver resonances plague the passband between 100Hz and 600Hz, imparting audible coloration and chesty resonances to male vocals and acoustic instruments. Irregular frequency response peaks and dips make automated receiver room correction difficult to equalize effectively. Poor low-frequency extension (F3 of 72Hz, F10 of 39Hz) for a floorstander, combined with rapid distortion escalation below 80Hz at higher SPLs (96dB+). Supertweeter driver adds crossover complexity without providing audible high-frequency benefit within the human hearing spectrum. Discontinued.
Full Sony SS-CS3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 36.3"H x 9.1"W x 10.2"D (922 x 230 x 260 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 0.75 in. supertweeter, 0.98 in. polyester main tweeter, dual 5.12 in. MRC woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 88.6dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs / 11.5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons