The Sony STRDH190 may be an entry-level 2 channel stereo receiver but it is one of the most popular receivers that Sony has ever made. It has garnered plenty of accolades and high ratings, not to mention, praises from satisfied owners. At this price point, the STRDH190 sound quality is really good as long you have a pair of matching speakers to partner with this stereo receiver.
There are countless stereo speakers on the market but which ones are best suited for the Sony STRDH190? In order to find out, we will first need to learn more about this stereo receiver. By finding out the Sony STRDH190 strengths, limitations, and sonic characteristics, we will be able to find the right speakers to match with this stereo receiver which we are going to list out later on.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Sony STRDH190
We love how good some of the entry-level Sony electronics are and the Sony STRDH190 is one of them. You can’t tell it is a budget 2 channel receiver from the appearance and it would look nice in most modern homes too. Aesthetically, you should be able to easily match with quite a lot of loudspeakers currently on the market. We are surprised by the amount of power output the Sony STRDH190 has, it is 100 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms but the THD is quite high though. Still, with this amount of power, you can drive quite a lot of loudspeakers including easy-to-drive floor-standing speakers. This widens the choice of potential speakers and we need more data to further filter them out.
The frequency range is between 20Hz-20kHz which is good for an entry-level stereo amp at this price point. The Sony STRDH190 can handle speakers with an impedance of 6-16 Ohms. There is also a Bluetooth receiver, a pretty neat feature if you are planning to stream your music from your mobile devices via Bluetooth connection. It is quite a bummer that the STRDH190 doesn’t have a subwoofer output but at least there is a dedicated phono input. You can also connect your headphones via the front panel. If only there is a high-quality built-in D/A converter but at this point, we are asking for too much.
More Details at Amazon – Sony STRDH190 2-ch Stereo Receiver
The sound quality of the Sony STRDH190 is surprisingly good and exceeded our expectations for a budget stereo receiver. We now understand why it is so popular and highly rated even though it is just an entry-level 2 channel receiver. It could compete with some of the higher-priced stereo amps when it comes to sound quality. For casual listeners, you will definitely have an enjoyable music listening experience but for critical listeners, it will be a different story. The clarity of the Sony STRDH190 is present, delivering crystal clear sound reproduction. Still, the subtle nuances are not as audible and you will really need to crank up the volume.
The music delivery is well-balanced throughout the frequency range with a sizeable and focused soundstage. The stereo imaging is accurate and the timing is equally impressive. The midrange reproduction is detailed and natural sounding. The sonic characteristic is warm enough for vinyl playbacks and does provide a fuller sound when compared to digital music streaming. The low-end performance is tight and well-controlled, can be punchy at times. At high volumes, the background could have been a bit cleaner but we are just nitpicking.
The Sony STRDH190 is certainly one of the very best budget stereos receivers when it comes to sound quality. At this price point, this 2 channel receiver is well worth every penny especially for turntable users looking for a budget amp. We have the information we need, it is time to list out the best speakers to match with the Sony STRDH190. We will not be looking at loudspeakers that cost way more than the STRDH190 and if possible, they should also be under the entry-level category.
Sony STRDH190 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 2 x 100 Watts into 8 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Wireless: Bluetooth Connection
- Inputs: 4 Analog inputs, 1 Phono input
- Outputs: Headphone output, 1 Analog output
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 430mm x 133mm x 284mm (17″ x 5.25″ x 7.25″)
- Weight: 6.7kg (14lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Sony STRDH190
As the Sony STRDH190 does not have a subwoofer output and going for a pair of entry-level floor-standing speakers would be an ideal choice especially if you want more bass performance where budget bookshelf speakers can’t deliver. The Klipsch Reference R-610F will be the floor-standers to go for, with exceptional clarity and efficiency, allowing your Sony STRDH190 to drive them at high volume levels with ease. The dynamics and detailed sound reproduction of the R-610F complement the stereo receiver well. The lively music presentation will be good for most music genres. We will suggest having a listen first as they could sound quite bright to some listeners.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch Reference R-610F
If you prefer warm sounding quality especially when playing back vinyl sources, then the Wharfedale Diamond 220 will be the best speakers to pair with Sony STRDH190. They may be entry-level bookshelf speakers but they have many accolades under their belt. The bass performance is impeccable, it is taut and full-bodied, not to mention, able to hit deep low-end frequency. For such a small speaker, the Wharfedale Diamond 220 sounds powerful and the sound quality is probably the top few at their price range. A worthy speaker for your STRDH190 stereo receiver.
More Details at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 220 Bookshelf Speakers
The Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 is one of the best performing bookshelf speakers at their price range and their affordable pricing makes them even more attractive. These stand-mounters are well-match with the Sony STRDH190 as they are very transparent speakers and the level of details they can reveal is incredible which also complements the stereo receiver. These are lively speakers and well-balanced but they can be bright-sounding as well. It is recommended to have an audition with them first unless you are used to a bright sound system. The bass performance is good for its size and doesn’t linger unnecessarily.
More Information at Amazon – ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers
The Sony SSCS5 is probably the best budget speaker to go with the Sony STRDH190 as firstly their pricing is well within the price range of the stereo receiver and secondly these speakers are made by the same company. This also means they should share similar sonic characteristics, making them a suitable match with one another and should also sound good when played together. These entry-level bookshelf speakers have good and smooth midrange reproduction. They do lack refinement and the bass output is fairly decent. If your budget is tight and you are okay with bright-sounding personality speakers, then you should definitely check the Sony SSCS5 out.
More Information at Amazon – Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speakers
Q Acoustics 3020 is an outstanding pair of bookshelf speakers which has a great sense of timing and smooth music delivery. The Sony STRDH190 has the muscles to drive these speakers and the warm rich sound quality of the 3020 complements the stereo receiver really well. Allowing you to blast the volume without fearing that the overall sound reproduction will be overly cringing. The Q Acoustics 3020 sonic characteristic will be great for vinyl analog sources too. The neutral warm sounding nature of the stand-mounters suits the Sony STRDH190 well and deserves an audition with you.
More Information at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3020 Bookshelf Speaker Pair
There are other entry-level bookshelf speakers to look out for such as the Q Acoustics 3010i which is another award-winning stand-mounter. Klipsch also has a pair of entry-level budget bookshelf speakers and that will be Klipsch R-41M, the asking price of these speakers are really affordable. For more entry-level floor-standing speakers, you can check out Sony SS-CS3 and Polk Audio T50, we will recommend the latter as it is more well-received than the Sony floor-standing speakers. Is quite difficult to find suitable floor-standing speakers to match with the Sony STRDH190 due to their higher costs but if you have the budget and you don’t mind investing more then the Q Acoustics 3050 is a must audition.
More Details at Amazon – Sony SSCS3 3-Way Floor-Standing Speaker
More Details at Amazon – Polk Audio T50
To Sum It Up
It is fortunate for us that there are quite a number of entry-level loudspeakers with such amazing sound quality and at an affordable price like the ones listed here. And we will recommend auditioning at least two of them from the list. Hear them out and if possible do a side-by-side comparison, see if you like what you hear. You can also use them as references when searching for other speaker brands or models.
