Sony SS-M3 Bookshelf Speakers; Japanese brand, Scandinavian Drivers, American Made?
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- Опубликовано: 14 авг 2021
- Items you see me using:
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Club For 5 - Brothers In Arms
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Damian Rice - 9 Crimes
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Tool - Invincible
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Buckethead - Electric Sea - Point Doom
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Hanz Zimmer - Time (Inception)
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Michael Hedges - The 2nd Law
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Patrick O’Hearn - Panning the Sands
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Incubus - Aqueous Transmission
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Regina Spektor - Cover of My Guitar Gently Weeps (Movie Soundtrack Kubo)
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Endless Fields Album; Alive in the Wilderness
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Melody Gardot - Live in Europe - Wayfaring Stranger (Bonus Tracks)
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The System:
Tekton Uruz - Speakers
Eryk S. Concept Performance No. 1 - Stand mount speakers
Unison Research Unico P - Integrated Amp
Peachtree Nova150 - Integrated Amp
Eryk S. Concept PSE Triode Tube Amp
OSD Nero Stream HD - Integrated Amp
NAD C658 Streamer/DAC
Denon DVD3930CI (CD, DVD, SACD Player)
Matrix Element I (Streaming, USB DAC)
Audience Ohno RCA cables
MIT Matrix 18 Speaker Cables
Thank You to intro music provided by
Bensound.com
“Evolution” composed by Ben Tissot
"Rumble" composed by Ben Tissot 
Видеоклипы
Go to Boulder and PS Audio's Octave Records Studio and listen to Gus Skinas' 5.1 Sony Tower system. It's an absolute mind blower. I enjoyed it more than the IRS V System. Shhhh....don't tell Paul....LOL !
Absolutely love this comment!
😆😉
I've had a pair of these since the late 90s - bought them new from the Crutchfield catalog! They sound great and are beautiful as well.
Great review Jason, as always. Love your channel and your esoteric choices for review. Keep up the great work. Thanks.
Much appreciated! There's plenty of B&W reviews out there...I like the less crowded ponds. Thanks for watching David.
I owned those speakers for many years. I agree with you on placement and pairing of amplification. Uncanny sound stage and separation with the right amp. I ended up letting them go for larger speakers that had more bass. Truly a gem and a steal on the used market!
I would love to sample the two larger siblings - the build quality is really impressive for the price they were. Thanks for sharing.
you could have added two subs If the mids and highs are right why not add what is missing and keep what is already good ?
Heard these Sony Ms at friend's house. Host's description of their bass/sound scape presentation is spot on.they are a dialouge, monitor like presentation with limited frequency extreme. The video; however, does display adequate their actual visual presence, particularly on a stand out in the room. A uniquely handsome speaker I feel.
Thank you
Great work, I find these extremely interesting.
Many thanks! One day I need to find the SS-M9
😎cool Sony speakers. I like them nice pickup 💥👍🏼😁
Thank you!
I'm a proud owner of the floor-standing monsters, the Sony SS-M9s. I purchased it from a Sony outlet store in the late 90s. They are very dynamic, go very team, with a polite top end. I primarily use them to listen at mid to higher levels. For the more refined folk acoustic stuff and mid to low levels I listen to my Totem Hawks. But the Sony's are awesome. Went to PS Audio in Boulder pre-COVID and got to hear Gus' Sony SS-M9s ES with the super tweeters and it was life-changing. Gus really recommended I hold on to these rare and in his words - extremely neutral speakers. Let me know if you want to know anything else. I'm wondering what is the best way to get the cross-overs recapped due to their age. They still sound great.
I would completely agree with Mr. Gus. Interesting second choice with the Hawks, I love the Totem sound too. Thank you for posting your experience and use!
Question what is precluding you to think the crossovers are needing recapped? Certainly something you could do, but I’m thinking unless you have something that’s grossly not right I’d leave them alone. The laws of demising returns are in play as these used some of the finest caps out there and they rarely ever fail!
For any folks wanting to get into hi-fi and are looking for their first 2.0 2.1 hi-fi system -- I highly, highly recommend being on the lookout for 1990's Sony ES series receivers. They don't even have HDMI so video folks don't want them. Because they aren't pre 1980's vintage heads don't want them, and because they are Sony - no one buys them for their name (unlike similar parasound, NAD, Rotel, etc.)
BUT! they have incredible internal components for stereo playing. If you are on the lookout long-enough you can get them for under $50. I got mine for like $10-20 from two different yard sales. Incredible value!
Good thought Erik; I wouldn't mind hearing a Sony STR-GX10ES with any of the speakers I have on hand.
@@2ChannelListening Yeah - I"ve heard great things about this model -- the ones with the wood panels tend to still sell for a few hundred dollars. A great value still! I got a DA50ES at a thrift store for $25. I personally like the sound better than most other receivers I've owned.
Just missed a chance at buying mm-s7s which the ad on FB brought me to your video to research. I just love the look of these so much.
Also I've tried to make similar videos like this before and they always get flagged for copyright -- how do you do it?
Greetings Erik, I'd love to pick up SS-M7 and eventually the M9's. So you bring up the very reason why I split my reviews from the music demos. There is no way around the copyright material, you just have to accept a non-monetized video. As for my intro music, I have a license through the cloud editing company I use WeVideo. There have been some issues and disputes I've had to submit there as well.
Making video's has to be a passion, otherwise there are way too many roadblocks and negativity out here. I wish you luck.
The M9 seems to have grown into the design/esthetics. Nice review.
I appreciate the different design language. Thank you sir.
Gosh I remember I almost bought the middle version of these Sony's as my very first set. I never could find them again at a decent price after I picked Atlantic technology instead (presumable big mistake). I think they were on Audiogon for $600 a pair.
Oh man, M7's for only $600...gulp!
I can send you a photo if interested of my SS-M9s in my listening room I just don't know how to do that on youtube comments. Really enjoy your channel BTW.
Played this just before bed,
Ha ha, are you saying I put you to sleep...lol.
@@2ChannelListening no i love your channels content
Enjoyed watching your review. I have owned those b4. They sure looked great and weighed a ton. However I was not into their sound. I tried several Amps and different placement. Just no synergy or dynamics. Bass was alright for a small speaker. I suppose the larger versions are magical but I sold them after a month. Too bad so sad.
Pretty much my thoughts. On paper, everything looks good till you get them home...
thanks for watching!
Were these part of the Sony ‘ES’ line from the 90s or were their APM speakers exclusively used in the ES line?
From my research, these were exclusively a one off California designed/made product with Dan Anagnos of Polk Audio. I have found nothing linking these to the ES line from Japan.
Man, I had to go back and look for your channel because of the silly RUclips algorithm.
Thanks for finding me!
My main loudspeakers are from a japanese brand and their drivers are Scandinavian. The TAOC FC3000 CORONET. By the way, I bought them second hand and their sound was incredibly awful. I couldn't believe that such marvels, with the iconic Dynaudio esotar T330D tweeter and uncompressed pulp paper cone midwoofer from ScanSpeak could sound so bad. Obsessive as I am, I finally tuned these loudspeakers to perfection, although this is not a story to tell today and here...
Well, you saved money on the second hand purchase to invest in making said product what you wanted all along. Sounds like a Win to me. Thanks for the post.
@@2ChannelListening when money is short and I don't have 7.000 euros to buy something new similar, I become imaginative.😁
Keeping it interesting and engaged is what its all about.
Your delightful snack talk directed at the cult of the SINAD is poetry, it might take a little while before they write back, they have to analyze, I enjoyed the Sony review as well….
Thank you for watching
Have you read the 1995 of the initial review of the Sony ES SS-M9 from John Atkinson? M3’s and M7’s were never reviewed to my knowledge as they were never considered anything relevant to the M9 except perhaps voicing for home theater packages.
The M3’s and M7’s were simply slapped together to make the line complete. I’m not saying they’re bad by any means, they were just pretty much largely ignored.
Dan Anagnos essentially had nothing to with the M3’s or M7’s even though they largely borrowed from the M9’s conceptually. His claim to fame was ONLY on the M9’s.
Thus in reviewing the M9’s their claim to fame was comparing then them to Wilson WATT PUPPIES for performance at Vandersteen prices at that time. As the WATT puppies were quite the statement at that time also.
The M7’s did receive an upgraded tweeter in the late 90’s and if I were you I’d grab updated that version to review which was essentially the same tweeter the M9 used. Originally the M3’s and M7’s shared the same tweeter.
There was also an M9-ED version with a super tweeter upgrade.
I own a pair of M3’s and other bookshelf speakers since they were new and I will say this one is my favorite.
Your setup and room
is critical and your source components especially pre amplification and amplification must have plenty of clean headroom or these will fall flat on their face.
I have read a fair amount of reviews of Sony's top models including the M9-ED. I have been trying to get my hands on a "Clean" pair of M7's ever since this review and unfortunately no one keeps factory packaging or is within driving distance. Some day it will happen.
I agree, the 84 db efficiency of these M3's is for real, they need a powerful amp to prompt them, however, they are entertaining for what they are and when they were made. Better crossover parts could really help them step up in my opinion.
I appreciate you watching and commenting, thank you!
@@2ChannelListening I might also add from your description. It might be time recap those crossovers because you have no idea of there use or environmental conditions of use after all these years of use. Though their design and implementation are questioned as far as the crossover goes, it was a minimalist design and application and get them out the door type of situation and make some money. But this type of crossover was predominantly a minimization of bookshelf loudspeakers of the era. Of course are definitely not built to the same standards as the M9’s, they should be performing better than what you heard through them. I’ve had mine since they were new and can factually say this is not how they should be sounding. They should be smooth open and have huge 3 dimensional soundstage. But at the same time they will not make a bad recording sound excellent either. These will also let you know if ailing equipment lies in the system that isn’t up to standard. The M7’s are of a similar build just with bass extension. I’d really like to see you grab a pair of M9’s if you truly want an uncompromising presentation. It’s just a thought. 👍👍
@@Channel-cm7yc as you said, these were the budget version of the MM series. It is not that they were bad, they were average over all. They had a spaciousness to them, yet the bass was disappointing. Regarding ancillary gear, if other speakers outperform on the same gear, one doesn't blame the gear as being inferior - that's $5000 connected to that Sony. The Philharmonic BMR's sounded amazing on that same gear. So there is that.
Now, trying to find a excellent pair of M9's, with shipping cartons - oh boy that's a pricey proposition. More than I can commit at present time.
I appreciate your comments and suggestions. Thank you.
All talking no testing!
That's in another video.
… I’m only a minute in and I’m waiting to find out if I messed up not buying these that came up on fb marketplace a few months ago…
There will be plenty of other chances.
I can’t get enough of you poking fun of these ASR guys.
Someone has to handle the dirty work :-)
What is ASR? 🤔
Adding a sub is nuclear science if you ask me. ( AND I KNOW what I'm doing )
Indeed
Adding 2 alleviates this complexity by a ton. 😁
@@imnguyen6658 haha
Tuner amps, jamboxes, walkmen, camcorders. Ive never known sony as anything else...
I think MiniDisc/Walkman, Playstation, TV's. I'm well aware that the make everything including high end audio (at times) it's just not on the radar. Their current entry level speakers are supposed to be decent.
Don't forget Betamax and Minidisc! Lol...
Stick with spicas tc 60....vintage!
Thanks for the tip
To learn more about the spicas tc 50s Go to G.R. research under spicas an it should come up,..I m a former spica owner an I swear there imagning is second to none! Move over kef ha-ha they aint got nothing on these babies! Just approach with caution getting them used there crossover are kind of delicate..,I nevar had that problem)
M3s are nice but need subs, however M7s are much better sounding speakers all around.
Hello iM. So you have had the opportunity to own the M7's and M3's back to back? I'm still looking for a good pair of M7's in the Pac NW. I have a feeling that speaker is a real sweet spot many could be satisfied for quite sometime with. How long have you had your pair? Any glaring issues with the M7's?
Thank you.
@@2ChannelListening I still have both pairs but M3s are mains because the m7s require more space to shine. Out of all the.countless pairs of speakers I’ve owned, the M7s have to be my all time favorite. The driver and crossover network blend together seamlessly to produce sound without any noticeable humps or gaps in the frequency response. These M7s can get you that 3D holographic soundstage without drawing any attention to the speakers, and is quite quite good at doing speaker disappearing act. It was necessary for me to use Tube amplification to achieve the 3D soundstage. The m7s have the same soft dome tweeter weaknesses as other speakers utilizing soft dome and also will not give you those extended highs of ribbons or metal domes HF drives . Lastly, the M7s needs space to really sing. I’ve lost track of time, but I’d guess having own these speakers for 8yrs.
Very well explained, thank you iM. What tube amplifier did you use? Unfortunately I couldn't use my 12 watt Red King for the M3's, I couldn't sustain 85db of playback without serious strain. Makes me think the M3 must be even less sensitive than the 85db spec. All other stand mounts I've been able to run with that tube amp. I appreciate your feedback, thank you.
@@2ChannelListening Right, those M3’s are terribly inefficient, and I doubt any amount of amplifier budget will get them to be on par with the M7s. This is partly why I think they must be complimented with subs. Idk what the sensitivity is on the M7s, but the Cary SLI-80 ran them with ease as well as any other amps I’ve used to drive it. I hope you find a pair soon, as I’d like to hear your impressions on them. GL, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
@@imnguyen6658 Thank you, Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!
I've got the M7's from new. They're still in mint condition and SONY lost money on every pair sold. They were only sold in the USA and possibly in Europe. They were never sold in Japan. The speakers, the whole M-line is mechanically time-aligned. You should really stop calling these speakers a Japanese speaker by a Japanese brand as they were intended to be sold in the USA. At the time the SONY ES line was above mid-fi but not quite top shelf hi-fi. BTW, Fxxk ASR. The guys there have little comprehension of sound, they only know measurements. Our ears are indeed analog devices.
Great points and I appreciate your candor K. Question, what does the title of this video say? Sony is a Japanese brand no matter how you dice it, however, I do acknowledge the M line was developed in the US. So do you still listen to the M7 full time, or are they kind of sitting in collectors status (and factory stands)? Thank you for watching and posting.
The SSM9’s were the ones engineered to compete with Wilson’s WATT puppies at the time. I’ve heard both and that’s not inaccurate statement!
@12:18Gosh those crossovers look cheap as fuuuu...
Have you seen some of the B&W parts...look at the (then) $3,500 Alta IO's I tested...really changes ones perspective on where the money goes. At least Sony was using really good drivers and a damn solid cabinet.
@@2ChannelListening not sure he knows what he’s talking about, but I digress. Cabinet design dictates so many things as far as required filtering & crossover points etc etc.. NHT also minimized the use of comb filtering etc etc in the 90’s to reduce ill effects of such that are used by putting things in the signal path that don’t need to be there with their Focused Geometry series and Ken Canter sold a hell of a lot of those speakers which in the used market have an equal cult following. I still own a pair of NHT 1.3a’s and as good as those can be my M3’s will make them sit down and check themselves. Reducing things you don’t need gets you closer to the music. As far as these crossovers go the caps are still well within spec after 25 + years of service. I’ve pound amplification is paramount and both speaker systems that have respond very well with Parasound’s Halo line and they play like they’ve played before after all these years and equipment changes that I’ve made.
@@Channel-cm7yc NHT is a sleepy company, terrific little monitors at a great price from them. Thank you for your input! Good front end matching with these M3 are crucial to extracting the best they can offer.
ASR 👎
They serve their purpose.