Sony SS 9500

A 1970s omni-directional floor speaker with a barrel-shaped walnut cabinet and six full-range drivers for 360° sound.

Overview

The Sony SS-9500 came out around 1970. It's a barrel-shaped speaker with six 10 cm cone-type full-range drivers mounted radially, so the sound goes out non-directionally, a full 360°. The enclosure is walnut with an open-pore finish. It's mechanically strong and keeps unwanted resonance down. Sony designed it to go almost anywhere in a room, and with its dedicated cushion it works as a seat as well as a speaker.

Specifications

Model Rating Method	1-way, 6-speaker floor type
Drivers	6 x 10 cm cone type
Frequency response	50 Hz to 18 kHz
Impedance	6 Ω
Sensitivity	92 dB/W/m
Maximum input power	50W
Dimensions	Height: 600 mm, Diameter: 360–405 mm
Weight	14 kg
Original price	¥34,800 (1970)

Design

The SS-9500 enclosure is a non-directional barrel made of walnut with an open-pore finish. It was also available in tamo. The six full-range drivers are mounted radially and put out sound evenly in all directions. The spherical processing of the cabinet material adds mechanical strength and reduces resonance, which improves sound quality. A dedicated cushion is included, so it can double as a chair.

Context

The SS-9500 shares its design concept with the SS-9300, which has five drivers and a smaller body. The shape and the multi-use idea made it a stylish audio object, and it reflects Sony's experimental approach to home audio in the early 1970s.

Market

A pair of SS-9500 speakers was listed for $1,000 in June 2024. They were in good condition, with modest wear on the walnut finish, and came with the original two-sided red/black cushions.

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