Help need advice

I was wondering if anyone has heard the PSB image line speakers. I'm thinking about buying the T65's for mains B25's rear and the C60 center. I just sold a pair of Paradigm studio 60's. I loved these speakers, however I have to down grade because of finance issues. I can get the PSB set up for about the same price I paid for the Studio 60's alone. I also love and have owned Ascends 340 across the front and 170's rears. So I know what these speakers are capable of. IMHO I think that a good floor standing speaker will out perform a good bookshelf speakers in all aspects. That's why I'm not going with Ascends again. Any response will be very much appreciated. Thanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qqkltb

I was wondering if anyone has heard the PSB image line speakers. I'm thinking about buying the T65's for mains B25's rear and the C60 center. I just sold a pair of Paradigm studio 60's. I loved these speakers, however I have to down grade because of finance issues. I can get the PSB set up for about the same price I paid for the Studio 60's alone. I also love and have owned Ascends 340 across the front and 170's rears. So I know what these speakers are capable of. IMHO I think that a good floor standing speaker will out perform a good bookshelf speakers in all aspects. That's why I'm not going with Ascends again. Any response will be very much appreciated. Thanks

---

I have been auditioning the B25's and comparing them to the 170's. I will be comparing them to the 340's on Tuesday (when the 340's arrive).

If you are interested in my impressions of the B25's v. 170's, and think that it would be of any use to you, let me know.

cheers.

shane

Yes I'm very interested. Thank you

Of course I must begin by saying I am no expert...

It would almost seem that the Stereophile reviewer was auditioning different PSB's. He praised them for neutrality. I disagree. While I did find them warm and 'enveloping', I also found that same 'warmth' to be it's downfall. It rendered acousical instruments very well... cello, piano, violin, etc., but vocals were as if sung through a tube. The richness of the sound, while extremely inviting and pleasant, was colored and false.

The imaging of the PSB's was phenominal. The soundstage was broad, wide and 3D. It's clarity was wonderful and it's articulation was supurb. I really liked the PSB's... a lot. These are GREAT speakers.

The problem with the 'warmth' and richness, as I said was mostly in the vocals. While they appeared up-front and spatially correct, the 'tube' quality was most disconcerting. It was, at times almost painfully incorrect.

This is in direct opposition to the 170's, which I found to be 'neutral to a fault'... if there can be such a thing. The 170's did not have the same spacial qualities of the PSB, but they rendered the sounds with extreme faithfulness. The over-warmth of the PSB's were replaced here by a thin coolness. the soundstage of the 170's didn't appear as wide and dispersed as the PSB's, nor as 3-dimentional. They (in comparison) came off more planar and directional. I was much more aware of the 170's presence than I was of the PSB's. But not enough to be distracted or annoyed.

Articulation and clarity of the 170's surpassed the PSB's. Their 'transcient' impact was superior, and their imaging, while incredible, was a little less than the PSB's, who's front-firing port might have helped in this regard.

The 170's did nothing wrong. In fact, for every type of music, vocal, percussive sound, whatever, this speaker excelled. I can not say the same for the PSB's. I just can't get past the odd quality of the vocals in order to enjoy the warmth of their richly colored sound.

If all I listened to was classical or jazz instrumentals... and I wanted that resonant warm sound, the PSB's would be the perfect choice. They are wonderful speakers... truly.

But the cool honesty of the 170's won me over.

The reason I am getting the 340's is in hope that they lay somewhere in between these two. I am hoping that the dual cones will impart a greater fullness to the sound that is somewhat lacking in the 170's. If this is true, and I am even more impressed by the 340's than the 170's, then the 170's just might turn out to be my rear-chanel speakers.

One other thing to note. I have recently gotten the SVS PB10-ISD. This fills in the very bottom end of the spectrum nicely, and without it, any bookshelf speaker would seem deficient. I don't know if you intend to get a sub with a set of floor-standers, but you would need one with any of these others. But I'm sure you know that.

As a side note. All the testing and comparing of these two were done without the sub. The speakers were set to 'large', adn the receiver (Denon 3805) was set to Pure Direct, with an optical feed from the CD player. No analog sources were used. SPL levels were checked for balance and uniformity.

I hope this helps...

cheers

shane

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qqkltb

IMHO I think that a good floor standing speaker will out perform a good bookshelf speakers in all aspects.

---

I think it depends on the circumstances, and costs.

Take the CMT-340 for instance, on its own, it does not have the bass extension as say the Studio 60 does....but it is also one third the cost. For mids and highs, I would say the two are at least comparable. Throw in a sub, and that bass advantage goes away.

Now if you make pricing equal, IMO you will not find a floorstander that can compete in overall sound quality with the CMT-340.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shane55

Of course I must begin by saying I am no expert...

---

Shane,

For not being an expert you did one helluva nice job on this comparison. I envy your ability to put your thoughts into words. I think a very able audiophile has joined our ranks!! Welcome!!

Randy

I appreciate the compliment, Randy. Thanks.
Judging things like this is so painfully subjective, sometimes I feel that anything I say, pro or con will inspire a rash of flames. That's one reason for the qualifiers ("...I'm no expert"). ;)

I wish I had the Studio 60's to compare these two (and eventually 3) sets of speakers to. Actually... I just wish I had the Studio 60's :D

While I have heard the 20's, I don't have a pair currently, but remember them as being outstanding speakers. Though my memory gets worse with age, I seem to remember them somewhere between the two reviewed above. A rich-sounding speaker, but not overly so. At some point memory just turns to fantasy...

Anyway, the very best of luck to you in your quest for the perfect sound.

cheers

shane

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qqkltb

IMHO I think that a good floor standing speaker will out perform a good bookshelf speakers in all aspects. That's why I'm not going with Ascends again. Any response will be very much appreciated. Thanks

---

Too many variables for that to stand up. I look for value and bookshelves give me that. In my previous life as an audiophile, I bought only floor standers. I've changed and so have my preferences. Speakers come in all shapes and sizes for a reason.

David

Thanks for the post Shane and others. What about the PSB T65's, have you heard them? I assume your refering to the B25's in your comparison. Surely the T65's are better speakers. The ascends are very very nice speakers and when comparing them to the Studio 60's they do everything equally as well, except the low end and with a subwoofer, I agree they don't miss a beat. I will be visiting the local PSB dealer to hear the T65's within the next few days, I've heard some wonderful things about them. I'll make sure post my thoughts after hearing them. Thank you

How much are the T65's?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qqkltb

What about the PSB T65's, have you heard them? I assume your refering to the B25's in your comparison.

---

I have not heard the T65's (but sure would like to)
Yes, thanks for pointing this out. It was the PSB Image B25's in the comparison.

I had mentioned this in my earlier post, though.:)

cheers

shane

I can get them for $799 a pair plus shipping

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qqkltb

I can get them for $799 a pair plus shipping

---

That's refurbished or b-stock, right?

Yes there are considered B-stock

That must be from DMC-Electronics. The shop is about 30 minutes from me. The owner seems very fair to work with.

I heard the PSB Platinum M2's there....very nice!

Yes that's the place, I'm going to a local dealer to listen to the T65's. If I like them, that' where I'll be buying them. Have you heard the T65's yet?