PMC Speakers

[Maurice]

I am still in the investigation stage of buying a music/ HT system.

I have read various reviews but have not listened to anything yet.

I am leaning towards an Arcam AVR300, Arcam DV79 and PMC 5.1 speakers, which would be: FB1 fronts, TB2 centre and rears and (if the budget will go that far) TLE1 sub.

Any comments ? What other speakers should I demo ?
Should I use FB1's for the rears as well ?

[Ian J]

Nice speakers that should be demo'd along with the usual suspects from the world of music reproduction.

There is no need to buy a subwoofer from the same manufacturer as it doesn't need to match in any way except aesthetically and I am not sure that I would pay that sort of money for the TLE1 sub with everything else on offer either from SVS or B&W at around that price.

[sticker]

FB1's are great speakers and so are the TB2's not so sure about the TB2 as a centre though. IIRC PMC have a new dedicated centre out.

Regards
John

[Wannabe-THX]

Look at my list below, I had a demo of this setup a while ago, and had to have it.

I will be using a Rel Stampede with it instead of the PMC sub. They sounded so good in a room a little bigger than what they are going to be used in.

Fish

[Maurice]

Thanks for all the responses.

Sticker, have you any info on the PMC dedicated centre ? I couldn't see anything on their website.

One further question. If the cost of a rear speaker (TB2) plus a stand is roughly the same as a floorstander (FB1) is it better to go for the TB2 + stand or the FB1 for the rears ?

[slingshot]

The dedicated center is on the web site it's called the CB6 I think, it's basically on OB1, so I would expect it to be the other side of a 1000 quid (you may want to check though).

I'm off for a demo at the weekend of GB1, FB1, OB1 and a few other speakers (proac and audiovector + whatever else my dealer has to listen too (could be a long afternoon)), so if your still interested I'll let you know what I thought.

I've listened to the GB1 before and thought it was awsome, and at a different time the FB1 and wasn't too impressed (harsh treble) but the new FB1's have the soft dome tweeter off the OB1 so I'm going to give them another try.

Note there's a load of Ex-Demo FB1's around at the moment which I was looking at but they will all be the older metal tweeter.

[slingshot]

While we're on it I went with a mate the other week and compared a AVR300 to a Rotel 1068 + 1075 power amp. The AVR300 was quite impressive, he eventually went for the Rotel but it was very close (and the AVR300 was a bit cheaper).

I think the main reason he went for the Rotel was because it would allow him to upgrade his processor without chucking out the power amp, and the Rotel slightly had the advantage with films. The Rotel was a bit more dynamic, in fact I had to check that the AVR didn't have compression turned on after listening to the Rotel.

Anyway may be worth considering the Rotel for a demo.

Slingshot

[a3rmk]

I had the FB1's as mains and a TB2 as the centre for a while.
If the TB2's would be big enough to use as mains i would go for these all round as the sound would be more even.
Personally i found the FB1's to overpower the centre but in stereo use they were superb, this would also free up more funds toward a better amp!

[slingshot]

Well I've had my demo consisting of GB1, FB1, OB1 and some audivector somethings. I also had a previous demo of Dynaudio contours.

The GB1's were first up and very impressive, amazing bass for the size of speaker, PMC claim about down to 27Hz (better than sub subs), and I believe them. The GB1's were very relaxed and I would recommend anyone with upto 1000 quid to have a listen.

Next FB1's even with the soft dome tweeter they were a lot harsher than the GB1's (no idea why when they use the same tweeter !), but the separation between instruments was a lot better, along with the bass control which seemed better. To be honest I would buy GB1's once I'd listened to the FB1's.

I didn't like the Audivector's, guitar and bass seemed to blur into 1 indestinct instrument, the imaging wasn't really to my liking, the only plus point was the top end and vocals were significantly more relaxed.

Next up OB1's, I was talked into listening to by my girlfriend and mate who were with me in the demo. What can I say other than I've got the demo pair at home listening to now, they really blew me away (and the other 2 away). Seriously if you can't afford 2.5K for speakers don't be tempted to listen to them. We were listening to No Doubt and we could make out the words that we didn't know before. The bass is spot on (OK a bit boomy in my room, maybe bass traps next), all I have to do now is try to find the required money, the only other concern is where will it stop, I'm sure these speakers are so out classing my electronics that I'll probably feel the need to upgrade everything else.

Anyway hope that helps if your considering PMC's. Honestly this side of Wilson Benesch these are the best speakers I've ever heard.

Slingshot.

[Wannabe-THX]

I think the DV79 is up to the task of working with the OB1's, but having not listened to the AVR300, I cannot comment.

Happy to see others using the PMC's.

Fish

[chris]

Originally Posted by slingshot

Well I've had my demo consisting of GB1, FB1, OB1 and some audivector somethings. I also had a previous demo of Dynaudio contours.

The GB1's were first up and very impressive, amazing bass for the size of speaker, PMC claim about down to 27Hz (better than sub subs), and I believe them. The GB1's were very relaxed and I would recommend anyone with upto 1000 quid to have a listen.

Slingshot.

I love the GB1's.......absolutly brilliant speakers.
Would of liked the OB1's but could not go that far.
It's strange how you found them relaxed, as i went from M&K s85's which are quite bright, in your face speakers, with the high's (treble) that i like,to the GB1's, just because they sounded like the s85 but with a lot more bass.
I can deff agree that these go low....infact, in my room anything less than 25hz just dissapears, so i get the same response from my GB1's as i do with my SVS 20-39 for bass, which is what i was looking for in my stereo setup.
i also brought the new TB center speaker, which is a nice little speaker and also goes down to 50hz......looks nice on top of my 51" RPTV and sounds as good as the GB1's but with a bit less bass.........not that it matters, as anything below 60hz in surround sound goes to the sub.
I have the perfect setup now and dont intend to change anything for at least the next 6 years................... i hope.... .

i'd just like to say that i let my s85's go last week and a tear came to my eye when they went........absolutly.....bloody......BRILLIANT speakers.
If you are going out demoing and you find a dealer that does M&K then deff give them a demo, or if you decide not to buy new at the moment, then s85's are the best second hand speaker buy EVER.

cheers.....chris.

[chris]

Sorry........i got the center speaker wrong......
The matching center speaker for the GB1's according to PMC is the DB1M+, which is the one i brought......its the DB1 but has the soft dome tweeter, to match the GB1.

[Maurice]

Slingshot, thanks for the info. 2.5k

[slingshot]

In know 2.5K is a lot of dosh (just keep telling myself it would be a years depreciation if I bought a new car !), I'm hoping if I buy the OB1's they last me a considerable number of years.

Chris my current speakers are 7 year old Rega Jura's which I've always thought were a bit harsh and sibilant at the top end, so that's maybe why I thought the GB1's were relaxing to listen to.

There's no way I'm buying the CB6 centre (it's a bit of a monster anyway), so I thought I'd try and pick up a DB1 or TB2 ex-dem, and maybe find some ex-dem DB1's fo rears. The main point of hanging speakers is to improve stereo performance, and maybe eventually have a 2 channel setup only.

[Maurice]

Slingshot,

The OB1 Spec says that "the recommended Amp power" is "up to 300 Watts"

The Arcam AVR300 receiver is rated at 100 Watts per channel. Does this mean that the receiver and these speakers are incompatible ? Can the receiver be damaged by the speakers ?