PSB Speakers Owners thread - Page 30

I was just reading up on Stereophile and in their coverage of CES2008, they had an entry about a new line of speakers from PSB named "Imagine." It would appear that the line is right in between the current Image and G-Design lines. They said they would be coming out near Fall 2008 but I was just wondering if anybody has heard anything else about them. Seems like they might have a good product on their hands.

How about the Alpha LR1??? Very good rear speaker.

G-Design is basically Image type speakers with fancier drivers and a nicer finish. Imagine is more like Synchrony with less expensive drivers and a less fancy finish. i think I prefer the idea of Imagine. I'm not a big fan of G-Design. Nice, but obviously not as cool as Synchrony.

That is exactly what I was thinking as I am very fond of the Synchrony's and only a fan of the G-Design's for their movie performance but not for looks or music performance. I was going to pull the trigger on the One B's but now I am thinking about waiting for the Imagine line. So many decisions. Any solid information on a date?

I was told 8 months after CES, so about August at the earliest, but more likely fall.

I would really like to hear anyones opinion of the comparing the Alpha LR1, Alpha B1, Polk FXI 3, and Axiom QS4. Is the Axiom worth the higher price?

Hi -- i'm looking at replacing my rear speakers... I'm eyeing the PSB Alpha LR1 or CLR1 and cannot decide which to go with.. my room is not really that wide... and this will be wall mounted fairly close to the couch on either side.

the width of the room is approximately 9 feet or just over...

Could someone please provide their input on the differences between using the LR1 or CLR1 as the rears?

thanks!!

Dave

CLR1 handles more power, but is otherwise essentially the same. keep in mind it will have a bit more restricted dispersion so should be mounted as close to ear level as possible.

The LR is one of the best sounding little speakers I've heard, but it *is* a little speaker. I recommend dual 8" subs with them and putting them on the front wall so that you can cross over high, like 120Hz or 150Hz. It is so similar to the original NHT SuperZero in many ways, but better and more refined. Really great imaging if you put them on stands with the subs behind them.

I personally would like to see the exact same speaker with a 4.5" midrange.

You refer to putting the LR 1's on the front wall. I was hoping to use them a rear surrounds. In looking at the back of the B1's it seems that mounting them close to flush with the wall would create some sound dispersion problems. How do you recommend wall mounting them? How much if any better will they sound as rears compared to the LR1?

Well, i'm not keen on the rear porting and wall mounting like that. The CLR1 makes sense for power handling and near wall placement. The crossover should still be pretty high though.

So do you think I would be better off using two CLR1's as my rear surrounds? What else do you recommend for rears?

What fronts do you have?

Polk towers and Polk center with a JBL sub. and a Yamaha RX-V663.

Are you looking to make a switch? Don't you want to try to get Polks to match?

On another subject, is the April Stereophile out on news stand yet? i'd love to see the measurements of the Synchrony One.

Don't know if you follow Home Theater mag? Someone pointed me at their Dec. issue on their web site and it has a Synchrony review along with measurements:

Home Theater: PSB Synchrony One measurements

I've no idea how competent their lab might be...

Not sure, though, wow, if they only do about 50Hz, it's the best 50Hz I've heard. And maybe that's the key, doing the midbass better. They are a bit euphonic, I won't deny that, but for those that find that many of their CDs and movies are pretty poorly recorded, these really make the most of a bad to mediocre situation.

I don't have Polks in the rear now and the only rear wall mountable Polk I like is the FXi3's and they run $349 so they are a bit high for me. I've a.ways felt that keeping the same brand was most important with the LCR but not so much with the rears. If I could find some good inexpensive wall brackets for the PSB B1's I'd probably go that route but for now the LR1's or CLR1's look like my best bet. Of course I'm open to suggestions.

Whats the best price on the Image T55? I want them in black so I have to pass on the saturdayaudio special.

Check this sites for good deals on PSB:

www.saturdayaudio.com
www.dmcelectronics.com
www.criticallistener.com

There is a pair on ebay being sold locally in Az for 425 starting or 475 "Buy it Now". Probably don't live anywhere near there, but it's a shot in the dark Otherwise, madcutter is right on. Also check out Yawa. They are apparently authorized and are selling 30% off list. There website seems a little weird, but they have a phone number, so I'd call first. I was about to call them before I found my T45s on Audiogon.

Andy,

LR1's are a great rear speaker performer, you want better go with the B1's, but B1's are probably as good or better than your Polk's. Might be difficult to believe, but review after review says the B1 is one of the best bookshelves around, comparable to bookshelves that are twice or more its price. B1 and LR1 are bookshelves (monopoles), while QS4 is a bipole/dipole. They provide two different sound characteristics, one is more direct (good for music and small to med rooms), the other provides more sound dispersion (good for movies and large rooms). Beware of using dipoles in great rooms, where the sound is dispersed all over and not necessarily towards the viewing area.

Check Stereophile for the B1 review, and here is another in the complete Alpha HT package: http://magazine.playbackmag.net/play...803/?folio=145

I ended up ordering two Mirage Nanosats. I hope I don't regret not getting the LR1's.

I have an onkyo tx-sr805 receiver and
psb c40 for center
psb t55 fronts
psb 10-s for side surrounds
psb s-50's for rear surrounds
kenwood powered subwoofer 12"


please let me know your opinion ,and what you think of my whole setup ..

You need to tell us what your room is like, how big, and whether it has any treatments.

Other than that, I'm not sure how the 10s's compares to the s50's,basically the same as I recall, but I sorta wonder it you've tried swapping the two sets around? The sub's probably the weakest link in the chain, may really depend on your room....

Room Is 18 X13 Tile Floors Wood Cedar Room ,i Could Really Use Some Help With Settings On onkyo 805 Receiver What Are Good Hz And Speaker Levels For This Setup ,,,,,,,,,,,,I use the audysey setup but it puts fr sp at -9 center at -6.5 rear-3 and rear b at -2,5 sub -12 it just doesnt seem correct

What are the actual distances from your listening positions? What's wrong with the sound as it currently is set up? Have you tried setting the speakers up manually? On the Denon 380 a new update was released recently that reportedly helps a lot with Audysey set ups, you may want to check if Onkyo also has an update? You may also wan to read the massive Audysey thread here on AVS for other ideas, the problem is more likely Audysey than your speakers...

Hello everyone. I'm looking to purchase some new speakers and since I've heard the B25's, I'm going with PSB's Image line. I'm looking to get either the T45/55/65 from Saturday Audio or DMC. The only thing is that I am really torn between the 3. I have no way of auditioning them first. I know that evenyually I will get a center, C40/60, and surrounds. Currently, I have a SVS 25-31 and a Marantz SR4001 to power everything. Is the jump from the T45 to 55 or even 65 worth the extra money? Should I go with the T45 and then with the $ left over get the C40? I don't want to even get the urge to upgrade for many years after this next purchase. Anyone have more experience with these? I remember hearing the B15 and the B25's side by side and it was no contest that the B25's sounded better to me....would I get that same effect if I compared the T45 with the T55? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

EDIT: My current room is 16' x 16' with 8' ceilings.....that will probably change within the next 2-3 years so....

Based on your room size I'd say the T65's are overkill, but the T55's would fill it better than the T45's.

It depends on what you want. Will you be watching movies without a center for three months or more because you got the T55's? If so get the T45's and the C40. But if you don't watch many movies then I'd wait.

It won't matter what you buy, you'll get the urge. This is not a hobby it's an addiction.

I had B25's and you're right, much better than the B15's. I've also hear the tower line and while the T55's are more robust sounding than the T45's, the difference is not as big as with the B25's over the B15's.

Hope some of this helps.

Thanks for the help. I am leaning towards the T55's because they are similar drivers in that of the B25...well the same really.