Sony SRS-X9 review

On first glance, reviewers describe the SRS-X9 as "understated" with its "pedestrian" rectangular shape but closer inspection reveals it as a premium and solidly built device. AV Forums calls its appearance "pure class" due to the black glass top, removable metal grille and brushed metal sides. The combination of metal and glass does make the SRS-X9 fairly hefty at 4.6kg. But critics have no problem with the weight considering how solidly constructed it is.

More important than the design, of course, is the sound quality. The SRS-X9 utilizes a seven speaker design with five at the front and two tweeters on the top. This is mean to create a larger sound field. The woofer is located behind the grille with bass radiators on either side and the mid-range driver on the left and right of the bass. Critics note that the location and organization of these speakers allow the SRS-X9 to fill a room with music despite its relatively small size. They add that the sound itself was great as it provided a great sense of scale and rich, full-bodied tones. It especially shines at lower frequencies as What HiFi states, "…[it reaches] really deep into any bassline without ever compromising on precision and detail." But reviewers don't consider it to be too bass heavy. In fact, they consider it to be fairly well balanced across the board except for the occasional brightness to the treble when the volume is cranked up. They do add that the harsh edge to the treble is much more noticeable on compressed audio file formats than on high-res.

Reviewers have no problem recommending the Sony SRS-X9, especially for audiophiles. Digital Trends states, "…[it] is a tour de force of elegant style and high-performance sound, but it will cost you."