PSB Speakers Owners thread - Page 81

A more-or-less equilateral triangle should work ok, with two caveats: 1) the speakers can be towed in, and 2) they are not too close to the side walls. Untreated side wall reflections will likely create more problems than the separation, so see if you can figure out where you primary reflection points with regard to your setup and ensure that they do not reflect back at the seating position.

Quick question...

Are the T1's just glorified monitors? Or do they provide a significant upgrade over using B1's in the front?

I'm looking to get a pair of towers, but my wife is putting more pressure than normal to be budget conscious. I can get a pair of T1's for $375.00 CAD or a paid of T5's for $750.00 CAD.

Will I be happy with the T1's. The rest of my set includes 2 LR1's, 2 B1's, CLR1 and Subseries 1.

Thanks!

I'm currently running:

Infinity RS5's (Front)
Infinity CC-3 (Center)
Infinity RS2000.3's (Surrounds)
SVS PB12-ISD/2

Powered by a Denon AVR-4310CI. I was thinking about purchasing a new PSB system from SaturdayAudio or AudioAdvisor that consists of:

T65's (Front) (or T45's)
C60 (Center) (or a C40)
S50 (Surrounds)

Anyone like to chime in on whether this would be a worthwhile upgrade?


Thanks!

First time posting, long time lurker.

I am in the process of deciding on some speakers. Right now I am being offered the following for $1,000:

4 Alpha B1
1 Alpha C1
1 Subsonic 5i

To me it sounds like a good deal and sounds amazing, but am wondering if I should push the budget up a bit for the Image series. Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly welcomed.

I've actually had experience with both speakers. I've had both the T65s with the C40 as well as the RS5 with the CC 1, 2 and 3. I have to say that the CC3 is very hard to beat in that price range and it is still a remarkable value even today. To be honest though, the RS5's aren't great speakers. For a hundred bucks they're a great value, I sold my pair couple weeks ago for this much (had a big dent). But in terms of an upgrade, I think you'll appreciate the T65s or the T45s if you get them for a good price, they're a great value.

For the surround duty, I don't believe you need newer surround speakers. I used B15s for a while with my Infinity Compositions PFR (Similar tweeter to the RS5), and I didn't notice anything amiss. You could either use your 2000.3 as surrounds or even your RS5 as surrounds as I did. The RS5's are actually better surrounds than the B15s were. I cannot say whether the S50s are a significant upgrade because I've never had the chance to have them in my home. But if you appreciate bipolar or dipolar surrounds, then by all means.

I'd suggest taking a look at DMC-Electronics, they're based in California and that's where I purchased my PSBs. They're closer to you so you might save on shipping. Don't be shy to call in, David is a great guy to work with.

Need more info: what size room? How much music vs. HT? What type of listening habits (loud / soft, classical / rock, etc.)

Sorry about that. The room is tiny, 12 x 12, but this system will be moved to a larger room down the road. I will be using it about 50/50 for music and HT. As for habits, they range across the board from classical to heavy rock listened to at moderate, but never loud levels. Thanks for the help.

aboroth00,

Thanks for the response. Have you by chance heard the new Image series also? If those are an upgrade from the previous Image series, I could keep the surrounds the same as you suggested and spend a similar amount for just the fronts(T6 or T5) & center(C5).

Thanks Again!

For your current room you would probably be fine with the Alphas, however, I'm not sure $1k is all of that good deal for them, you may want to check around.... If' you're buying for the future I'd go for the Image line, ideally for the new version, but you can get some good deals on the oder version at the moment!

I hate to be that guy who re-posts, but can anyone share their opinion on the T1's?!

Thanks for the help. I will scout around for some deals. There isn't much selection in Canada online and only a handful of retailers nearby. It would be nice to go with the Image line, but there isn't a set around to listen to either.

If I were you I'd replace the RS5's with a pair of Infinity Overture 2's or 3's. Can be had used these days for peanuts and would make a really good upgrade to what you have. I love PSB but don't see a huge improvement from what you have now to what you list. But this is JMO. Now if I was starting from scratch I'd do it differently but given what you have now, search around for those Overtures.

Just noticed these: http://cgi.ebay.com/Infinity-Composi...item2a0560ed2e

Where are you in Canada? I used to live in Toronto, and of course, that's where PSB is head quartered....

What amp brand goes well with PSB t55?, I can get a hold of a NAD 2700, or should I look at a different brand?. thanks!

Seconded. That's where I got my PSB's. Of course for me it helps that I can drive there...

I did some digging and found a place nearby me, I'm in London, Target HiFi. They seem pretty knowledgable over the phone, so I will be heading there with some test music and movies. Pretty excited to be ditching my Polk towers and stepping into a new setup. Cheers.

If you use the dealer locator on the PSB web site you should find at least 3 dealers in your area (including the one you mention):

PSB Dealers

corksens,

I'm sorry I can't give you any experienced advice on the T1's but I can say this: if the T5's are even an outside possibility - get them. I recently got mine and I'm sure that they're markedly better than the T1's. They're awesome.

If you're gonna upgrade your speakers, it's wise to get the absolute best speakers you can afford. That is the greatest bang for the buck in terms of improving your sound (room treatments go a long way,too, and some argue that they are even greater bang for the buck).

In addition, I've found speaker upgrades to be the most challenging from a budget-discussion-with-the-wife perspective, too. Once you get this new pair, whichever pair you get, it'll be a tough campaign to upgrade them again anytime soon. You'll probably be stuck with whatever you get for a loooong time.

Get the T5's, even if you have to wait a bit. You'll be glad you did.

Plus you know that if you didn't, you'd always be wondering...

Just be aware that what you are calling "a new PSB system" is not really "new" in terms of model generation. The models you listed have been discontinued in favor of a new series that have better looks and performance. Show your wife a picture of the old Image models and the new Image models and ask her which ones she thinks look nicer. She'll pick the new ones which is then your license to buy the better sounding speakers.

The only thing is that there are some really good deals going now on the previous generation series. No question the new models are much better looking and the wife agrees, the question is do they sound ~$500 better? aboroth00 and Lhasa-lover have also auggested just replacing the Infinity RS5's I have now with a set of Infinity Overture's and I'd be good to go for really cheap......

Decisions, Decisions...........

I hear ya, decisions decisions. You should try and look for some deals on craigslist in your local area, so you could audition them. If you love them, and they're cheap, no reason to go and buy more expensive PSBs. They're good speakers, but I doubt they're gonna wow you over their night and day comparison to the Overtures. I would attest that they're in the same league as speakers, while one might edge out the other, it boils down to personal preferences.

However, one thing to really consider is that the overture towers have a rear firing woofer, and that the PSBs are front firing and have front ports which give you a more flexible placement. Now if you don't have the room to leave some space behind the speakers, I would suggest you lean toward the PSBs. But if you can find a GREAT deal on the overture, that you cannot pass up, you shouldn't pass it up for something unseen or unheard that's in the same league IMO.

Plus you can use your center speaker, the CC3, while you'd need a new center for the PSBs.

If all you need is decent transportation, you can buy last year's model car. If all you need is decent sound, you can get the older generation for a deal. Just as long as you are OK knowing that it doesn't sound or look as good as the new series and that the resale value (if you ever decide to sell them) will be much less.

Hi all,
Any good integrated amp recommendations in the $1-2K, 700-1500 Euro, 600-1400 GBP for the Imagine T? Responses please only from those who have at least heard Imagine setups...
Thanks!

Tubes or solid?

Either, though my gut tells me solid state suits them better, they can be a bit warm on their own. Kal Rubinson tested them with Bryston - and probably that kind of amplification suits them well.... out of my price range tho...
Here is my experience:
Old Denon 60W integrated: gets shrill at medium volumes, not enough power
Abrahamsen (70W into 8 ohm): a bit too warm, also a bit underpowered, not as much as the Denon of course.
Unico P (hybrid amp): another warm amp.... not as good with the Imagines as Abrahamsen

My gut tells me these speakers need to be spanked by a more powerful amp, curious what others think, and what they liked with the Imagine Ts.
Tnx!

I haven't had any experience with the Imagines yet, but I grew up with PSB (literally in my back yard) and have had a lot of experience with them over the years (owned at least 4 different lines and have listened to most of the older lines). I own a Bryston 4B which I originally got to power my Stratus Golds. I now run them with a Denon 3808 which does just as well, except perhaps at volume levels I no longer dare run as long as the rest of the family is in the house... PSB originally used the Bryston as their reference amps (I've got some trade show stories to tell about that...), but I've heard they've switched (NAD perhaps?).

I've also run the Stratus Golds with a Michaleson and Austin (class A tube amp). Nice warm sound, very seductive, but personally, I get tired of the added 2nd harmonics over time; just doesn't seem quite real to me.

Overall, PSBs are generally not that difficult to drive. Their efficiencies are not as high as some lines in particular on the Imagines, and the load can be a little low for some amps, but we're not talking electrostatics here! If I was you, I'd probably not purchase anything until I had the Imagines in house and gave them spin. Positioning and room treatments are going to be the biggest issue in getting them to sound right. If you nail that, you may find you can live with your current amplification.

I have the Silveri- with a Denon 3803. 5.1 set up
It does play the speakers. However, adding in a 2ch pro-amp 250 wpc [ $300] make these speakers sound a whole lot better. At all levels.
db

Simaudio is nice for the job, if you want a solid int. Umm, if you do want to look into tubes, Rogue audio is one of the more obscure brands.