[Ben77059]

Howdy Y'all,

I've decided it's time to get speakers that match my room.  I have been reading good things about PMC but I have not seen a lot of current info.  My room is 13.5 x 15.5 feet with a 9 foot ceiling.  I have the Bryston 4B sst 2 amp and SP2 pre\processor.  I only listen to 2 channel.

For a while, I had Wilson Audio Sophia (I's) and more recently I have been using Usher CP-8871s.  Needless to say, these are\were too big for my room.  At moderate volumes they (both the Sophias and the Ushers) sound wonderful.  As the volume goes up, especially on bass heavy material, it gets, shall we say, a tad bassy.

I think the PMC might be perfect, but I don't know which model would be best for me.  I'm looking at the twenty.23, twenty.24, GB1i, FB1i and OB1i.  The OB1i might be too much for the room, but I have always liked three-way speakers.  Now there are "Signature" models which seem to be the same except for an updated crossover. 

The Twenty series and the GB1 and FB1 all seem very similar.  Has anyone a\b’d these and if so, could you share your impressions?  Would it be worth it to go for the “Signature” models or would I really hear a difference?

I’m in Houston and there does not seem to be a dealer here, so I will have to buy unheard. Not exactly optimal considering the investment.

I listen to a variety of music including Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Pink Floyd, Al Stewart, etc.  I also the two channel system when watching movies, so it’s nice to have some punch at the low end.  I’ve never been much of a sub guy, so I would like to avoid having to use one.

Thanks a lot for any thoughts.

Ben

[JfTM]

My room is about the same as yours.  I listened to most of the PMCs and while they do have a "house" sound, I really liked the IB1/2s beteer than the OB/FBs.

A pair of EB1i's came up and I was really worried about the room size,  Did a fair bit of looking around http://www.audioaficionado.org/pmc-speakers/ is a good source) and was reassured that there might be some tuning, but they would work.

Bought them and haven't looked back.

[DaveNote]

I run MB2i and have had MB2 and IB2 PMCs. Haven't heard other models. I love the MB2i, and in fact chose them over Wilsons. Bought them sight unseen, and they are superb, especially using Bryston 7BSST2 amps.

Dave

[patrickm]

My room is 13.5 x 14 and I'm running my 4BSST² with OB1i's.  I too listen to a lot of Costello/Floyd/Stewart and they sound superb [but then again, so do Metallica/Alan Parsons/Kraftwerk/Carpenters/Rush/etc].  I'm extremely happy with my current configuration, it sounds "right".   

I had the PMCs with a B100 initially and, while it sounded good, it didn't sound as good as this set up. 

[rahman]

I'd go with the biggest pmc 3-way I could get away with in that room.

[Alpha10]

My room is approx 16x12 feet (low UK ceiling) I run SP3/4BSST2 in to OB1is (with CB6i and TB2i's) and think they are about right for the room, and sound fabulous. However if I had my time over I think I may have tried to go for IB2i's.

Cheers

[Ben77059]

Thanks for all the replies.  I was leaning toward the OB1i but it's tough to pull the trigger without hearing them. 

JfTM, can you explain what you mean by "house sound?"  I thought the Harbeths would be perfect in my room and I bought the C 7 es3 and was not happy at all.  I bought it from Gene Rubin Audio and was able to return it (great guy btw). 

Alpha10, I think it's time to upgrade to the IB2i's.  I can make you a deal on the OB1i's. 

Patrickm, thanks for the comments.  Do you use any room treatments?  I've never been much of a Metallica fan, but I do throw on some Black Sabbath occasionally.  Also listen to Buffett, CSN&Y and John Sebastian.

Thanks again all.

[JfTM]

Hi Ben,

By house sound what I mean is that all PMC speakers sound very similar to each other.  If you like one, you'll probably like them all.

There are differences amongst the models based on the drivers and the cabinet size, but they still have a similar voicing.  That's why PMC owners tend to buy as far up the line as they can afford and fit in their room.  To most people a PB will sound better than an OB which is better than a FB .......

Some tend to like the models with the smaller woofers 6.5" in the F/O/PBs vs the 10" in the E/IBs vs the 12" in the MBs but they sound similar to one another; your talking nuance preference.

I personally prefer the larger woofer models and couldn't afford MBs

[BrysTony]

Anyone have any comments about where the Fact 8 fits into the PMC lineup?  Does it have similar voicing?

Tony

[jimdgoulding]

AC member Diamond Dog purchased Fact 8's recently and is over the moon about them.  English audio mag, HiFi+, did a review of them a few issues ago.  You might can see it online, dunno.  Very positive it is.  For my 12x15' room they would be perfect.  If I could afford them, I'd make it a point to audition them somewhere.  Have a look at Devore speakers, too, the Gibbon's Eights and the Nines.  I'd make it a point to audition them, too, and they're less expensive and more efficient.  Art Dudley of Stereophile tested them with a 25wpc tube amp.  Both he and fellow reviewer Jim Austin are very high on them.  The  Fact 8's are one of PMC's top of the line.

[SoundGame]

AC member Diamond Dog purchased Fact 8's recently and is over the moon about them.  English audio mag, HiFi+, did a review of them a few issues ago.  You might can see it online, dunno.  Very positive it is.  For my 12x15' room they would be perfect.  If I could afford them, I'd make it a point to audition them somewhere.  Have a look at Devore speakers, too, the Gibbon's Eights and the Nines.  I'd make it a point to audition them, too, and they're less expensive and more efficient.  Art Dudley of Stereophile tested them with a 25wpc tube amp.  Both he and fellow reviewer Jim Austin are very high on them.  The  Fact 8's are one of PMC's top of the line.

As I understand it, the Fact series is the evolutionary product line for PMC, with improvement made in pursuit of audiophile qualities.

[Vipers]

One things for sure, you won't regret buying PMC, I've had most of the i series over the last 3 years, now I've settled for the MB2i's which are totally stunning, saying that they are up for sale if you are interested, 12 months old I'm hoping to go down the MB2 XBD path.

If I was coming in new to PMC now, I would find it quite difficult, I also work in a HiFi shop so I get to demo PMC and Bryston quite alot and although I'm a big fan of the I's the new Twenty range are truly fantastic speakers, but until there is a 3 way twenty I'd probably still stick with the i series, it is amazing what size speaker you can get away with, I had my MB's originally in a reasonably small room and they sounded excellent but just recently I have moved to a bigger house and it has really helped to clean the bass up.

In the i series I feel the OB1i is the sweet spot in the range as the PB1i is a step up but you get 80% of the performance with the OB's, if you really want to hear what PMC can do though you need to look at the IB2i's as this is where they get serious. As for the Fact8's, they look amazing and have bags of detail but if I'm honest they are not for me, saying that I've demoed them to afew people who were blown away by them, I find the i's just a little fuller and more laid back and just more musical, you really can't go wrong with the i series, shame you can't listen to any of them really, if you ever fancy a trip over to London pop in and I can demo you virtually the whole range

I won't keep rambling on if you'd like more info Ben you may find some useful info here on a thread I started a couple of years ago, hopefully it will help  The link is to the start of page 1 but since then it has grown somewhat.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/speakers/1104013-pmc-owners-thread.html

[BrysTony]

AC member Diamond Dog purchased Fact 8's recently and is over the moon about them.  English audio mag, HiFi+, did a review of them a few issues ago.  You might can see it online, dunno.  Very positive it is.  For my 12x15' room they would be perfect.  If I could afford them, I'd make it a point to audition them somewhere.  Have a look at Devore speakers, too, the Gibbon's Eights and the Nines.  I'd make it a point to audition them, too, and they're less expensive and more efficient.  Art Dudley of Stereophile tested them with a 25wpc tube amp.  Both he and fellow reviewer Jim Austin are very high on them.  The  Fact 8's are one of PMC's top of the line.

Thanks Jim.  I found a thread where DD talks about them and how they differ.  Speaker Upgrade

Tony

[golfugh]

Media Systems, Inc.
5913 Washington Avenue
Houston,
TX 77007
Contact: Donnie Boutwell
Showroom at this location

Ph: 713-426-0900
Fax: 713-426-0924

If still open, from the PMC website

[Diamond Dog]

Thanks Jim.  I found a thread where DD talks about them and how they differ.  Speaker Upgrade

Tony

Ignore that D.D. guy - he's nuts...

I was listening on the weekend to a pair of active DB1's in front of an Esoteric front end and Bryston BP-26 and they were quite impressive for their size in a room a bit bigger than what the OP is describing. Will have a chance to hear the Twenty series floorstanders in the next little while and I'm looking forward to it. My impression is they sort of straddle the space between the i-series and the fact-series both in terms of sound as well as price. Looks aside, in my system and room, the fact 8's have turned out to be perfect for my tastes which is not to say they would suit everyone. They aren't laid-back but they aren't in your face or overly forward either. No plans to change. Can't see going back to i-series now either. I've made two big system changes ( front end and preamp ) since getting the fact 8's and they have more than held their own. My opinion remains unchanged that these are really wonderful speakers that sound great handling pretty much whatever you throw at them.

D.D.

[BrysTony]

Ignore that D.D. guy - he's nuts...

I was listening on the weekend to a pair of active DB1's in front of an Esoteric front end and Bryston BP-26 and they were quite impressive for their size in a room a bit bigger than what the OP is describing. Will have a chance to hear the Twenty series floorstanders in the next little while and I'm looking forward to it. My impression is they sort of straddle the space between the i-series and the fact-series both in terms of sound as well as price. Looks aside, in my system and room, the fact 8's have turned out to be perfect for my tastes which is not to say they would suit everyone. They aren't laid-back but they aren't in your face or overly forward either. No plans to change. Can't see going back to i-series now either. I've made two big system changes ( front end and preamp ) since getting the fact 8's and they have more than held their own. My opinion remains unchanged that these are really wonderful speakers that sound great handling pretty much whatever you throw at them.

D.D.

Good info.  I am definitely going to find somewhere to hear the Fact 8 before I upgrade.

Tony

[Ben77059]

Yes indeed, lots of good info.  Thanks all.  I emailed the local PMC dealers from the PMC website.  One responded that I need to call him and no word from the other.  The OB1i sounds like what I should be looking at but with a daughter at a private university (sic 'em Bears) I am realistically looking at the GB1i or FB1i and used or a demo if at a good price.

Has anyone compared these with similar speakers from Totem, Vienna Acoustics and some of the internet direct sellers?

[SoundGame]

Yes indeed, lots of good info.  Thanks all.  I emailed the local PMC dealers from the PMC website.  One responded that I need to call him and no word from the other.  The OB1i sounds like what I should be looking at but with a daughter at a private university (sic 'em Bears) I am realistically looking at the GB1i or FB1i and used or a demo if at a good price.

Has anyone compared these with similar speakers from Totem, Vienna Acoustics and some of the internet direct sellers?

Totem is a whole different ball of wax.  Their products all have their own signature and none of them are really alike.  Though I would not say the bulk of their models are flat and neutral, some of them have caught my attention.  The Hawk, The Model 1 and the new Element Series are very captivating products but none of them are really PMC.  I wouldn't call Totem laid back in any of their models.

[patrickm]

Patrickm, thanks for the comments.  Do you use any room treatments?  I've never been much of a Metallica fan, but I do throw on some Black Sabbath occasionally.  Also listen to Buffett, CSN&Y and John Sebastian.

This room is in my basement which was recently renovated.  I don't know if I'd call it treatment but I do have Roxul Safe'n'Sound in the all the walls and ceiling.  Nothing else of note, just some pictures and office furniture + my audio rack.   

[tim92gts]

One things for sure, you won't regret buying PMC, I've had most of the i series over the last 3 years, now I've settled for the MB2i's which are totally stunning, saying that they are up for sale if you are interested, 12 months old I'm hoping to go down the MB2 XBD path.

Hi Vipers,
with your experience i'd be really interested to know how you think the MB2 XBD compares with the BB5i without XB3.
Have you had a chance to do a close comparison?
TIA
Tim