Short answer: the Audio First Fidelia. It ranks #1 of 179 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.8/5); the Sony SS-CS5 M2 ranks #93 (rated 3.2/5).
The case for the Sony SS-CS5 M2: Budget three way bookshelf speakers with a better braced cabinet and an easy load for a standard receiver. The catch: Mild sibilance in the 3-5kHz range stands out on S and T sounds in vocals.
The Audio First Fidelia is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. An excellent medium bookshelf speaker, a compact kit with remarkably accurate sound and good bass for its size at a great value. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 3dB, against 80Hz for the Sony SS-CS5 M2. The tradeoff: Kit assembly required; lower sensitivity (~83-85 dB vs. typical 85 dB average) demands adequate amplifier power.
Buy the Audio First Fidelia. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sony SS-CS5 M2.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Budget three way bookshelf speakers with a better braced cabinet and an easy load for a standard receiver.
An excellent medium bookshelf speaker, a compact kit with remarkably accurate sound and good bass for its size at a great value.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SS-CS5 M2 | Audio First Fidelia | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $278.00 per pair | £950 per pair for the flatpack kit (assembly required) |
| Ranked | #93 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #1 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 13.2”H x 7”W x 8.7”D (335 x 178 x 220 mm) | 11.8”H x 7.1”W x 11.7”D (300 x 180 x 297.6 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 82.5dB | 84dB |
| Drivers | 5.12” woofer, 0.98 in tweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter | 5” ceramic-aluminum cone woofer, 1” ceramic-aluminum tweeter |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) each | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| DIY Kit | No | Yes |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1560Hz |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 6.45 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 8.46 |
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