PSB Speakers Owners thread - Page 82

Would the Sim i.5 be enough?

NAD C375 should do the trick nicely. Of course an M3 would be even nicer

guys just got some t55 and wondering if I should go with the C40 or C60 for center/, opinions???. Thanks

I, too, recently bought the PSB T55s, in my case from Saturday Audio, to serve as front satellites in a 7.1 system. Must say, after much fooling around, fits and starts, trying to get good results from Audessey calibration with my NAD T775 HD A/V receiver, with 2 subwoofers, going back to the 7.1. configuration, with just one subwoofer, has enabled me to get to that sweet spot we're all looking for.

Like you, I waffled between Image C-40 and C-60. I was upgrading from a PSB Alpha C as center, which performed admirably for more than 15 years for me. In short, I opted for this (older series) Image system: C-60 Center (set the crossover at 60Hz; I tried 80 Hz and got muddled movie dialogue), T55s as fronts, Image S50s (bipolars) as surrounds, and left-over 15-year-old PSB Alpha Cs as L & R backs. Anchoring this system: a new HD8 compact PSB subwoofer. I just ran last night the BluRay version of Master and Commander, which has a marvelously challenging soundtrack, recorded in DTS Master. My room is about 18 X 14, and fronts and center are 10 feet away in front. TV is 58" Samsung plasma, used strictly as a monitor. I never turn on internal speakers or use its TV tuner. In short, the sound quality listening to this (very familiar) movie sound track was just incredible. And the lip sync issues I initially encountered trying to fine-tune a two-subwoofer system with the subs on opposite ends of my listening room were gone. I think I've got it after 3 weeks of fooling around with Audessey and subsequent Small/Large and speaker crossover settings in the NAD. Audessey's CTO runs an extremely helpful blog on bass management with home A/V systems on their Web site. I recommend it highly.

Bloviating....To return to your question: Smaller room, go with the C-40; larger room, you won't be disappointed with the C-60, I guarantee. And for price now being offered, this PSB Image system I've put together, when running films at 24 FPS video, and Dolby True HD (or whatever it calls itself) or DTS Master, these "lossless" sound technologies, I just don't have anything else to quibble about. The sound quality is just breathtaking, and the video on a wide screen is a good match.

End of gush.

LOL.. Thanks George , I am also running a NAD 2600a amp and they sound pretty good, I will go for the C60!

In the process of upgrading things. Added the Arcam AVR 600. Wanted to get some input from PSB people who are using the Imagine line. Went and listened to them and liked what I heard. Interested in T-Towers, Center channel and a pair of surrounds. I already have the SVS SB-12 Plus sub. How do you like your PSB speakers for your home theater?

For anyone who has the new Image T5 tower, in your opinion how does this speaker perform with Rock music (e.g. Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd)? For reference, I have a fairly large room (15'x30') with 8' ceilings.

Has anyone else noticed that PSB speakers are for sale on Crutchfield now?

Guys best Amp to pair with my t55??, I tried a NAD c270, but it sounded very warm and the bass was all over , what do you guys think of Rotel and psb/?...

I seriously doubt that the problem was the NAD (unless it was broken). The T55 does have bass that can get rather out of hand. Play with the room placement and treatment before you blame the amp for anything...

I concur 100% behind scientist and here's why.

All amps/receivers are ruler flat in their frequency response curves well beyond the range of hearing whcih means that receivers/amps all sound the same when operated well within their power band.

The biggest interaction occurs between a speaker and teh room that its placed in. If you stick these T55s to close to teh side/back wall or into a corner, then they are going to sound boomy. Get them away from the walls and into the open.

Well thanks. :-)

There are things to consider other than frequency response WRT to amps; how well they interact with the load is the big issue (damping factor, slow rate, etc.) However, there are several reasons I wouldn't expect these to be a real issue either:

1) PSBs aren't a really hard load to drive other than having enough power and the ability to handle the impedance;

2) PSBs are demoed with NAD a lot and in fact one of the dealers here has stated it's his preferred combo;

3) as we've already batted around, the room issues are going to swamp this kind of issue 100 to 1 in significance;

4) the source is also going to swamp this kind if issue, maybe 10 to 1 in significance.

Until you've spent $10,000's nailing everything else in the chain (room in particular) you just shouldn't be worrying about what amp you are using (with the usual caveats). At that point, you're probably not going to be using the PSB Image or Imagine line in any case....

"PSBs are demoed with NAD a lot and in fact one of the dealers here has stated it's his preferred combo"

You do know NAD owns PSB....

I am considering purchasing some PSB speakers but I have a few concerns.

Here are the two systems I am considering;
T45
C40
B15

or

T55
C60
B15


1.) I was leaning toward the T55 as it fits in my budget and I like the 6.5" woofers but several have commented that the T55 is inferior in sound quality to the T45 or T65, any truth to this? I have a fairly large room to fill (20'X22'X14') and think the larger woofers would help.

2.) My other concern is that my Onkyo RC160 will not have enough power to drive these speakers. Upgrading my receiver is not an option at this time and the RC160 has no provisions for an external amp.

Well more like, they have the same parent company, but yes... The point is, independent of that, there's been ample opportunity for people to figure out whether NAD amps work well with PSBs or not.

The bigger the speakers you get, the less efficient the receiver has to be. I teamed my T65's to a lowly NAD receiver with 50/ch and it performed admirably with no clipping in sight. I scared myself with war of the worlds before the speakers showed any strain (the woofers were oscillating quite a bit).

That being said, if you like the T55's i'm sure you'll like the T65s even more. The bigger cabinet size and the extra woofer just gives that extra umph, and IMO the T65s had a better soundstage. You also get a very efficient speaker to boot.

I used a C40 and not the C60 because i really could not tell the difference. The bigger center might go deeper but any benefit there will be moot when teamed with a sub. My setup was T65s, C40, B15, so i was in a very similar situation to yours.

Hello,

I was on the verge of buying the following:

4 Alpha B1
1 Alpha C1
1 Subsonic 5i
... cables and mounts on a $1,000 budget. My budget has doubled, but needs to include a receiver.

Looking for input on how to get the best bang for the buck (in Canada) for $2,000 if you have nothing but a TV (Pioneer Kuro 5080HD - 720P), a 50/50 preference for music and movies and a 12x12 room. I am looking at buying either the Onkyo 607, Denon 790, or Marantz NR1501, but am not really set on one. Just wondering if I should stay with the Alpha's and one of these receivers, or maybe move up to the Image line and get something less of a receiver. Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated?

Has anyone seen/found Kal Rubinson's review as mentioned in post #2319:


"My experiences with the Imagine T are described here: http://www.stereophile.com/floorloud...t_loudspeaker/ and my report on the Image T6 will appear in the March issue."

Perhaps this is more of a brag post, but I had to write it Just got my speaker stands, which were the last thing I needed to finish my surround sound setup. It was pretty painful waiting when the receiver was sitting there next to the speakers for 2 weeks while I figured out cables, stands, a sub, etc. Then the wife decided we needed a new TV stand too so the center speaker wouldn't be on the floor. Finally connected everything and listened to a scene an action movie - pretty impressive. However, after running Audyssey, I was BLOWN AWAY. Such amazing technology. Everything sounds incredible. Can't believe this is my "budget" speaker setup... Music is absolutely amazing too.

Thanks a lot guys - it took me almost 2 years and a huge sale at Saturday Audio, but I am finally a member of the PSB owners family!

Onkyo 807
2 x T45s
1 x C40
2 x B15s
1 x Energy ESW-V8 [To those living in the subwoofer forum who think everyone needs a 20" sub - this sub is pretty incredible for the size and price ]

Just wondering - I currently have a T5/B15 setup and am looking to get a center channel to finish my 5.1 setup. I know that the C40 would match well, but that speaker is probably too big for my setup that we have right now as it has to sit basically in front of my tv on our tv stand...would the alpha center work in the meantime? Would it be overpowered by the towers? The room isn't huge but is relatively big and this is not a permanent setup but will be until we change homes which may be in the next few years - what do you guys suggest?

I can't speak definitively, on this... However, most people would probably say that matching the 3 front speakers is the most important part. It looks like the Alpha not only has smaller tweeters\\woofers than the C4, but also uses different materials for them. I'd be worried about the sound matching across the front 3 if you use an Alpha C1 instead of the C4.

Any chance you could upgrade your TV stand at the same time?

Where are you located?

Anyone here have the Syncrony 1's? I would like to pair them with side and rear inwalls because of room contraints.
Im not exactly sure which of their inwalls pair well with them. Dipole sides b/c of 2 rows.

Driving with an emotiva xpa-3 and Pio sc-27

Thanks in advance

corladon, I saw the review. It's in the March issue, as he stated, but it's not a standalone product review. Instead, it's in his column.

E-mail PSB support and ask. You can find the link on their web site....

Just did, thanks for the idea.

Is it in the print or web issue? I looked on their web site but couldn't find the article. I found his column on the web site but it hadn't been updated since Jan. If you have a link to it I'd appreciate it.
Thanks.

London. Any ideas would be great.

I've been out of the HT game for awhile but after buying a house and seeing the recent PSB deals I jumped back in again. Picked up: Image T65s (front), S50s (rears) and a C60 (center). Sub is on the list along with everything else.

Steves tv in kitchener sells psb as does 2001. In Toronto Baybloor Radio

I live in Ottawa and buy all of my PSB (audio equipment in general) from Hi-Fi Centre in Whitby.

Always gives fair prices. Web-site isn't great. But if you have a package in mind just call and ask if they could give their best price. Worth a phone call.