Sony ss-505av (1986)
A compact, magnetically shielded bookshelf speaker system built for AV use, with solid construction and a balanced, midrange-focused sound.
Overview
The Sony SS-505AV is a 2-way bookshelf speaker released in 1986 as part of Sony's "AV" series. It was priced as a budget option for home audio and video setups. The magnetic shielding means it can sit near a CRT television without causing interference. It has a 12 cm cone woofer and a 2.5 cm soft dome tweeter in a bass-reflex MDF cabinet, with detachable grilles and gold-plated binding posts.
Specifications
| Product type | 2-way bookshelf speaker system, anti-magnetic type |
| Driver complement | 2-way, 2-speaker system |
| Woofer size | 12 cm cone type |
| Tweeter type | 2.5 cm soft dome type |
| Frequency response | 50 Hz to 20000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 90dB/W/m |
| Maximum instantaneous input level | 150W |
| Rated input level / Power handling | 50W |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Crossover frequency | 3kHz |
| Cabinet type | Bass-reflex |
| External dimensions | Width 255 x Height 150 x Depth 225 mm |
| Weight | 4.3kg |
| Cabinet material | MDF |
| Grille | Detachable |
| Binding posts | Gold-plated |
Design
The SS-505AV is a magnetically shielded 2-way design made for AV use. The woofer is a 12 cm cone, paired with a Dynaport horn to help the bass. The tweeter is a 2.5 cm soft dome, angled at 60° to spread the sound better. The cabinet is MDF, and the gold-plated binding posts give reliable connections.
Context
The SS-505AV belongs to Sony's "AV" speaker series and was positioned as a budget model with solid construction and balanced sound for its class. Sony intended it for small rooms or as surround speakers in a home theater setup.
Market
The SS-505AV typically sells for $50 - $100 per pair on the used market. The foam surrounds on the woofer tend to deteriorate with age and may need replacing. The general assessment is decent sound for the price: balanced, with a slight midrange emphasis and smooth treble, but limited deep bass.
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