PSB Speakers Owners thread - Page 119

I have a 11.1 system (with Audyssey DSX Wides and Heights). My left and right fronts are Synchrony One towers, with a Synchrony One center. I wanted the additional speakers to be tonally matched with the One's up front, but thought spending the money on Synchrony One B's for effect speakers would be overkill. After careful thought, I chose Imagine B's for the Wides (very good match, as well as reasonable low frequency extension). I chose Imagine Mini's for the left and right surrounds (I prefer monopoles, and the Mini's have the same tweeter as the Imagine B's, so the sound field is quite uniform). IMO, the Heights are much less important, and the Rear Surrounds are the least important, so I am using small Definitive Technology bookshelf speakers that I already had for these two sets of speakers. Had I not already had the Def Tech's, I would have considered additional Imagine Mini's (which are incredible speakers for the price).

All of my speakers are crossed over at 80 Hz (100 Hz for the Def Tech's) to my subwoofers, so the slightly different low frequency extensions of the Imagine B's and Mini's is not a factor. However, the tonal similarity of the tweeters is extremely important.

Since rear surrounds get such little action, I think Synchrony One B's would be extreme overkill. If you like diffused sound, the Synchrony S is an excellent choice for side surrounds. If you want direct sound, the Imagine B's or Mini's are highly recommended.

Hi Guys,

I just picked up a pair of Image 1B's as my first foray into the loudspeaker world. If I like them and the WAF allows, i'm planning to upgrade. For the time being, however, I'd like to match a center as my setup will be primarily HT/Movie usage. Visually, the 1B's are cherry, and i'd like to match the center veneer as well, but i'm having trouble finding a cherry 8C.

Sonically, would the timbre be off-putting in my setup between an 8C and a C40?

The C40 would be the next in line, and is available at the moment.

any opinions?

Looking at some PSB Image T5. I like the Image T6's as well, but they are quite a price hike from the T5's. Wondering if I will hear a big difference. If I had to go with the T6's, I'd likely put off on getting a center speaker for now.

I'm coming from a Mirage OS3-FS fronts, and the matching center, so I just don't want to go backwards. But these speakers are definitely way anemic for my taste...

If I had to choose between T5's with a matching center channel speaker, and T6's with no center channel, I would choose the T5's. Never underestimate the value of a center channel speaker.

The key questions are:

1. What are your priorities (music or movies?)
2. Are you planning to have subwoofer in the future?

If music is priority, I would prefer Image T6 as a good stereo pair. Lack of center channel for movies is not that critical.

If movies are priority, then you need a subwoofer anyway. Thus T5 will suffice. Center channel will be a nice addition for movies. However, without subwoofer action movies will lose some of their dramatic effects.

Guys i am taking a PSB 200 sub back because it had some minor port noise - I have decided to upgrade while I am at it.

Sub 500 or 300? I was actually quite happy with the 200 besides the port noice but I figured since I was taking it in , I would get something better.

WHat are your opinions? ANyone have the 300 or 500?

Definitely planning on a subwoofer - and movies, movies, movies :-)

I listened to a set and I think they sounded better than the T6's once I threw a subwoofer in there.

Now, and this may be blasphemy in this thread, but what about Monitor Audio? I heard the RX-8's and they sounded amazing - I assume the RX-6's are more on par with the T5's. Just wondering how the two would stack up against each other. Hmmm, choices....sigh.

hey guys any opinions on either sub? 300 vs 500? thanks

1. I did listen to MA Silver series. Those were bookeshelves and they did impress me. Very clear sound. However, some people say that impressive at first, MA Silver series can result in quick listening fatigue due to the specifics of their sound (tweeter). Ti-tweeter in PSBs does seem to be more " human frendly".

2. Where I live (USA), PSB seemed to be less expensive. I also got nice discount on a demo model.

3. After all, you need to make your own choice.

I have an old set of Stratus Silver Speakers that have been in my system for some time. My 7.2 system is a compilation of various speakers I've collected through the years and have decided to upgrade to a dedicated speaker "system". I've read many good things about the Image line and am curious if anyone here has had the opportunity to compare and how well they stack up against the Stratus Silvers since I'm very familiar with their sound. Unfortunately, there are no PSB dealers in my area.

Also, how does the C-5 center integrate with these speakers? Is dialogue well presented? Thanks in advance.

Hi guys, I have been a long time PSB owner/follower for a long time. Started out with the original Alpha ($200/pr) and have progressed throughout the years. For my secondary HT room, I'm looking for a pair of Alpha S Surround speakers - I know they are a few years old and not produced anymore. Just trying to aquire another pair to turn my 5.1 into a 7.1.....

I've checked Audiogon, Ebay, etc.....but am having no luck....

Does anyone have any leads or is willing to sell a pair, let me know......

Thanks,
Chris

http://new.audiogon.com/listings/445491

Here's a listing for a pair of White Alpha S's that just ended maybe 2 days ago on Audiogon. You might send the seller a message to see if they're available despite the listing having ended. worth a shot?

OK, no response....... let me re-phrase my question. I have a pair of Stratus Silvers that due to an unfortunate circumstance are now seeing duty again as the mains for my 7.2 system. The B&Ws that they replaced are no longer in service so I have a few choices to make here. Mind you that the center speaker is also a matching B&W and I'm already noticing timbre mismatch problems.

So here's my choices as I see them;

1) keep the Stratus Silvers as my mains and try to locate a matching Stratus C6 center. This is my preference as I have rediscovered why I bought these in the first place........ they sound pretty darned nice.

2) keep the Stratus Silvers and purchase a new center from either the Image or Imagine line. If I do that will I still encounter timbre matching problems taking into account that even though they are from the same manufacturer, they are completely different(?) lines.

3) Move the Stratus Silvers to surround duty and aquire new PSB mains and center. This is why I inquired as to how the Image line sounds next to the Stratus Silvers. The Stratus line was pretty darned good in their day and I'm not so sure that technology has improved notably to where the Image line competes but since I don't have a PSB distributor nearby, I have to depend on those in the know who have heard both.

Thanks in advance for any help you can share.

P.S. anyone got a Stratus C6 center in good shape they're not using that you'd like to sell?

Hi Guys

Just picked up a set of Image T6's, C5 and B5's for surrounds. I have a powered Definitive Technology Supercube II for a sub. I currently have a Denon AVR890 which is rated to deliver up to 105 Watts per channel (7 channels). Is that enough to drive them without any risk of blowing anything on the psb's. I do like to play my movies loud from time to time. Just looking for some friendly advice. Was contemplating moving up to an Onkyo tx-nr809 or Pioneer Elite.

Any thoughts on what I should set the crossover frequencies for these speakers both in the front, center and rears? Thanks

Mike

I think you will be happy with the 809.
135 W/Ch, 8 ohms, 20 Hz20 kHz, 0.08, 2 channels driven

Great thanks guys..

Any thoughts to suggested crossovers for the T6's, c5 and b5's in that system?????

Audyssey is setting the crossover at 40 Hz for fronts and center and 60 Hz for the rears!!! HELP!!!

That is how I would set them anyhow. Audyssey did a good job.

I am just trying to make sense of the whole frequency response as per PSB for on axis for the T6's - 45-20,000 Hz, C5 - 65-20,000 Hz, and B5 - 70-20,000 Hz. Wouldn't a crossover of 40 Hz be far too low for the T6's and C5 given their frequency responses? B5's should be in the 80 Hz range for a crossover??

I know VERY little about this kind of stuff and am looking for advice or best suggestions.

Since you are setting up a crossover, this means you have one or more subs in your system. Subs are more capable of handling low frequencies than most satellite speakers, so you will get better performance by allocating more of the bass to the sub(s). I would raise the crossovers to 80 Hz all around and give it a listening test.

That would be their +/- 1 1/2dB point. Their +/- 3dB point that most people go by is 32Hz for the T6's, 55Hz for the B5's and 50Hz for the C5.



No, not at all. I have used and/or use image T5's, B5's C5, and Imagine B's with a 60Hz crossover on all of them with good results. The T6 with its larger drivers and with its bass driver crossover of 500Hz should do better with bass that any of the other PSB's I have just mentioned. A 40 or 50Hz crossover on a T6 should be fine.

In my opinion, going higher like 80Hz is a waste of good speaker and you may as well brought small satellite type speakers.

And the counter argument is that you would be wasting a good sub, which is designed to handle the low frequencies, and probably does a better job at it, regardless of how good you think the main speakers are.

True in a way, but then the counter argument to that again, is that if a sub doesn't need to produce higher frequencies, then it can do a better job of the lower frequencies.

But the main reason I didn't like an 80Hz crossover on all of my speakers, is that the soundstage isn't as dynamic with more of the bass being mono.

Yeah, I agree with that especially when watching concert blus. I set the xover for all speakers @ 60. It just makes for a "fuller" sound in my cave.

Of course, YMMV

I happen to like listening to 2ch music over all 5.1 speakers for the extra wide 3D soundstage. I notice the 60 to 80Hz difference quite readily.

If I was using 80Hz x-over, then I may as well just of brought B4's... because that's exactly how any of my speakers sounded with the subs off when they were on 80Hz x-over.

Any main or surround speakers I buy will need a -3dB point of at least 60Hz in order to keep a dynamic soundstage.

Thanks guys...that reassures me about what Audyssey is doing with its auto calibration. I will return the settings to 40 Hz for the main T6's and 60 Hz for the center C5 and rear B5's.

Thanks! Checked out the link - seller was offering white Alpha S's but I need black.

Will wait......