Revel F52, PSB Synch 1 owners feedback please

[Beatmatcher247]

Ok, house purchased !!!

I've decided on going with PSB Synch 1's in the front, picked them up for $4,000a pair, new in box, and a Synch C for $1600.

Looking to do a Parasound A51 400w x 5 channel at 4 Ohm, 200x5 @ 8 ohm? Any thoughts on my amplifier selection?

Thoughts on preamplifier capable of doing 9.1 with height surrounds that would be budget appropriate and high quality sound processing?

Thoughts on surround speakers? May get a smaller 4-channel amplifier if I elect to go 7.1/9.1... in the future, but to keep my budget in check, I'm going to do 5.1 for a while.

 

[jinjuku]

Ok, house purchased !!!

I've decided on going with PSB Synch 1's in the front, picked them up for $4,000a pair, new in box, and a Synch C for $1600.

Looking to do a Parasound A51 400w x 5 channel at 4 Ohm, 200x5 @ 8 ohm? Any thoughts on my amplifier selection?

Thoughts on preamplifier capable of doing 9.1 with height surrounds that would be budget appropriate and high quality sound processing?

Thoughts on surround speakers? May get a smaller 4-channel amplifier if I elect to go 7.1/9.1... in the future, but to keep my budget in check, I'm going to do 5.1 for a while.

Congrats on the house!

On the Parasound I would say it's a great amp if the price is right. I own Parasound and it's competent. Is it any more or less so than my Adcom, Crown, or NAD C272 (it's our bench amp). No, not really (IMO).

On surround speakers, don't get hung up on them that much if we are talking inwalls. Maybe $90 for some MTM inwalls (per).

I will be driving my Statements with either a Parasound or Crown amp that even New only cost ~$500. And I wouldn't hesitate to say the Statements are a commercial equivalent of a $7-10K 2.0 set of speakers.

 

[InTheIndustry]

Ok, house purchased !!!

I've decided on going with PSB Synch 1's in the front, picked them up for $4,000a pair, new in box, and a Synch C for $1600.

Looking to do a Parasound A51 400w x 5 channel at 4 Ohm, 200x5 @ 8 ohm? Any thoughts on my amplifier selection?

Thoughts on preamplifier capable of doing 9.1 with height surrounds that would be budget appropriate and high quality sound processing?

Thoughts on surround speakers? May get a smaller 4-channel amplifier if I elect to go 7.1/9.1... in the future, but to keep my budget in check, I'm going to do 5.1 for a while.

Great purchase!

Some notes:

- I would not worry about height speakers at the moment. It's a gimmick at this point in time.

- I would use a receiver with preamp outputs for your processing. Most of the Pioneer Elites have preamp outputs (all of them if I recall) so i would look at those. The ones starting at $800 and up have an excellent scaler in them.

- I would use the receiver's amplifier for the surround back channels instead of buying another 2 channel amp.

- As far as what to do for rears is concerned I would absolutely buy the matching PSB Synchrony S to go with your fronts. You purchased some of the finest speakers on the market, so you obviously care about sound quality. The best thing to do is to keep everything in the same speaker family.

- What are you doing for a subwoofer?

Congrats!

 

[Beatmatcher247]

(2) PC13-Ultra DSP

Think i'll need two for that room? I'm kind of thinking so. Or any other suggestions on the subwoofer are welcome. I really don't know that much about them. Seems to be a powerful, and affordable solution.

 

[jinjuku]

Great purchase!


- As far as what to do for rears is concerned I would absolutely buy the matching PSB Synchrony S to go with your fronts. You purchased some of the finest speakers on the market, so you obviously care about sound quality. The best thing to do is to keep everything in the same speaker family.


Congrats!

I have to disagree with you on the surrounds. There just isn't enough information going through them for someone in the middle of movie to actually have the difference in tonality yank them from the immersion.

That money is better spent on being put into the subs. Same with the amp. If that A51 is going to end up running $2500+ I just see that is a poor return on investment. Those PSB's will sound great with any competent amp.

I agree with the receiver suggestion. You could simply run the surrounds off of the receiver amp section. Wouldn't break a sweat.

 

[3db]

Ok, house purchased !!!

I've decided on going with PSB Synch 1's in the front, picked them up for $4,000a pair, new in box, and a Synch C for $1600.

Looking to do a Parasound A51 400w x 5 channel at 4 Ohm, 200x5 @ 8 ohm? Any thoughts on my amplifier selection?

Thoughts on preamplifier capable of doing 9.1 with height surrounds that would be budget appropriate and high quality sound processing?

Thoughts on surround speakers? May get a smaller 4-channel amplifier if I elect to go 7.1/9.1... in the future, but to keep my budget in check, I'm going to do 5.1 for a while.

Congrats on all of your purchases.

 

[Beatmatcher247]

I have to disagree with you on the surrounds. There just isn't enough information going through them for someone in the middle of movie to actually have the difference in tonality yank them from the immersion.

That money is better spent on being put into the subs. Same with the amp. If that A51 is going to end up running $2500+ I just see that is a poor return on investment. Those PSB's will sound great with any competent amp.

I agree with the receiver suggestion. You could simply run the surrounds off of the receiver amp section. Wouldn't break a sweat.

Was thinking of doing some focal bookshelves that I really liked for the rears on stands. They've got impressive bass for their compact size. What's a better return on investment on amplifier? Was thinking Integra 80.2 prepro, plus that A51? I like to rock very hard in 2 ch. mode, and want to definately do seperates. And yah, any feedback I can get on that model of svs would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jinjuku]

Was thinking of doing some focal bookshelves that I really liked for the rears on stands. They've got impressive bass for their compact size. What's a better return on investment on amplifier? Was thinking Integra 80.2 prepro, plus that A51? I like to rock very hard in 2 ch. mode, and want to definately do seperates. And yah, any feedback I can get on that model of svs would be greatly appreciated.

I would look at the Parasound HCA 2205AT for around $700 or the Adcom 5503 for around $400 (3 channel). That A51 at most likely $2500 simply isn't going to sound 3.5 to to 6 times better.

I will let others speak on the SVS.

I think you could do better with some Maelstrom 18's in a 8 cubic foot box sealed (roughly 25.5 X 25.5 X 26.25 inches). Get a cabinet builder to do two boxes with two dado'd window frames, dado the back, corner block up front. Be great for music and HT.

Two 18's would be $990, amp figure about $500, management system about $200. Not sure on the custom cabinets maybe 4/500.

 

[InTheIndustry]

I have to disagree with you on the surrounds. There just isn't enough information going through them for someone in the middle of movie to actually have the difference in tonality yank them from the immersion.

That money is better spent on being put into the subs. Same with the amp. If that A51 is going to end up running $2500+ I just see that is a poor return on investment. Those PSB's will sound great with any competent amp.

I agree with the receiver suggestion. You could simply run the surrounds off of the receiver amp section. Wouldn't break a sweat.

We will just have to agree to disagree on what best is.

There's a lot happening in rear surrounds at this point compared to when surround sound 1st became main stream. Add to that all of the different modes of listening that allow the rear channels to produce sound and I feel that to design the optimal system the rear speakers should be treated better than a footnote.

Add to that the desired volume that the OP is saying he wants to listen at the rear channels will be taxed. So, IMO he needs something that will handle the stress. $90 in-walls will not do so.

Also, looking at the pics he posted, I'm not too sure how in-walls will lay out in there.

If someone is going to buy $5,000 mains they care about the best sound they can get. The best would be to use the Synchrony S as the rear surrounds. To not do so and go to entry level rears would be like buying a Corvette and then going to Goodwill to scrounge around for used tires. You're not getting the performance that you obviously want.

We just did a system using Phase Technology rears that weren't all alike, but their driver materials (tweeter) were the same. Woofers were different and you can't tell at all. I would use these speakers with any of the Phase Technology PC product line as they were designed to be used that way.

At loud volumes, like whentrying to recreate a movie, I think that the most seemless transition from front to back is best. Keeping the speakers in the same family allows that.

Lots of different high quality amps will work. The PSBs will do great with the Parasound New Classic models as well. I had a pair of 1s for demo from our rep and used a Parasound 5125 and they were excellent. I would've kept them accept that the room I do stereo in has a lot of furniture and will not allow me to permanently place them where they would sound best. My room is narrow 12' across and if I were to get a pair I would probably want the Synchrony 2s. Where i would have to put them, the 1s would produce too much bass. Besides that, in my room I liked the Phase Technology PC 9.5 better: http://www.phasetech.com/products.html?product_id=PC-9.5# and the Cherry finish on them goes better with my fireplace.

But that's why this hobby is fun! Different things are available to do different ways and suit everybody!

 

[InTheIndustry]

Was thinking of doing some focal bookshelves that I really liked for the rears on stands. They've got impressive bass for their compact size. What's a better return on investment on amplifier? Was thinking Integra 80.2 prepro, plus that A51? I like to rock very hard in 2 ch. mode, and want to definately do seperates. And yah, any feedback I can get on that model of svs would be greatly appreciated.

I think a better return on investment would be something from the Parasound New Classic series instead.

As far as your rears go, as I stated, I would match them. At loud volumes will will hear a difference when sound transitions from front stage to back.

 

[GranteedEV]

(2) PC13-Ultra DSP

Think i'll need two for that room? I'm kind of thinking so. Or any other suggestions on the subwoofer are welcome. I really don't know that much about them. Seems to be a powerful, and affordable solution.

PB13Us are beasts but to match such pricey mains you really ought to consider some LMS-R, AV15x, SDX15 mk2 or RLS-15 or Maelstrom/LMS5400 based low tuned subs. Acoustic Elegance or Funkywaves would be able to make you a box for these beast drivers and they'll be more natural sounding, more powerful, and give you flat response into the teens.

 

[Beatmatcher247]

For the subwoofers, having a couple enclosures built and putting some solid, seperate drivers in it sounds like a kewl way to go. I've not even thought about this option really. What do people do for amplifiers on these? Some of the drivers suggested have some pretty insane powering handling abilities. I think two might be ideal in that room. One in the front left corner, and one behind and to the left of the rear sitting area. Some more information on this subwoofer option please.

Can a speaker excell at both extreme low frequency sonic energy output and still be musical? I want to be able to feel my movies with authority but at the same time, I don't want a one-tone droning sound if I turn my sub(s) on with my music. What are the best drivers for low-frequency sonic energy output and musicality? I think I'd feel better about buying a recommended driver for subwoofer duty based on other people's opinions more so than the rest of my speakers.

 

[GranteedEV]

well.. musical is a tough thing to define. If musical is within the domain of time, accuracy, lack of distortion, and transient response, then a great driver in a great box will always be musical. Its low frequency extention is a function of its efficiency. So you may trade 120db capability off 700 watts in exchange for 120db capability off 2000 watts plus 20hz capability.

Now another issue exists. output and punch. some think of musical as a sub that has a lot of attack at drum type frequencies. often they prefer an overemphasis on these frequencies... a 'curve' or 'bass boost' amd consider 'accurate' to be 'dry'. they also like the extreme transient response of air spring loading, which in reality causes ringing and box resonance as well as severely reducing low end efficiency (again contributing to the aformentioned curve).

Personally, I feel a notably large, vented box tuned around 15hz with a wide high air flow vent should have a very nice transient response, a smooth frequency response (although EQ is always necessary because of room effects), deep extention. It would require a low distortion, high output driver like the ones I recommended earlier (with the LMS 5400 being the 'Ultimate', And the LMS-R 15" being its little brother, and the others all being excellent themselves...yes...likely better than the PB13 driver!) WITH lots of amplification (luckily watts are cheap)

iT isnt my ideal way but i would call it very musical first and foremosy, and great for HT second. Others might say it lacks 'attack' or 'punch' but if that's not what the recording calls for I don't want it there.

 

[zumbo]

Seeing as how premium products are being chosen, might I recommend Bryston
for amplification. One of the best amplifier makers out there IMO. 20 year warranty.

http://bryston.com/ampsel.html

 

[3db]

Seeing as how premium products are being chosen, might I recommend Bryston
for amplification. One of the best amplifier makers out there IMO. 20 year warranty.

http://bryston.com/ampsel.html

+1 Zumbo:

I've always maintained if one is going to the higher price amps, Bryston should be the amp of choice. No other manufacturer from the boutique brands such as Krell and Lexicon to the the Denons and Onkyo's offer a warranty as long as this.

To nip ADT guy in the bud with his spec sheet cut n pastes, some of the specs may be better on some amps then a Bryston but the Bryston specs are well beyond the point of being inaudable so its a rather pointless exercise bringing out the specs at this point. The arguemnt becomes academic at best. However warranties are never academic and there is something to be said for peace of mind know your amp is covered for essential one's life time of use.

 

[jinjuku]

For the subwoofers, having a couple enclosures built and putting some solid, seperate drivers in it sounds like a kewl way to go. I've not even thought about this option really. What do people do for amplifiers on these? Some of the drivers suggested have some pretty insane powering handling abilities. I think two might be ideal in that room. One in the front left corner, and one behind and to the left of the rear sitting area. Some more information on this subwoofer option please.

Can a speaker excell at both extreme low frequency sonic energy output and still be musical? I want to be able to feel my movies with authority but at the same time, I don't want a one-tone droning sound if I turn my sub(s) on with my music. What are the best drivers for low-frequency sonic energy output and musicality? I think I'd feel better about buying a recommended driver for subwoofer duty based on other people's opinions more so than the rest of my speakers.

Part of the overall sound of a sub is also do to it's enclosure. I prefer sealed subs for it's natural rolloff, no need for a sub sonic filter. The ability to EQ a quality driver and have it behave as I choose. Plus I am not limited too much on enclosure side.

I will trade output for a bit more accuracy. All alignments of subs can perform however so I don't want to paint with too wide a brush.

Yes the TC Sounds drivers are awesome. But I don't think Kevin Haskins subs over at DIYCable.com (his Exodus line up) plays 2nd seat to TC Sounds.

BTW I run two TC Sounds 12" subs (in my sig).

 

[jinjuku]

+1 Zumbo:

I've always maintained if one is going to the higher price amps, Bryston should be the amp of choice. No other manufacturer from the boutique brands such as Krell and Lexicon to the the Denons and Onkyo's offer a warranty as long as this.

To nip ADT guy in the bud with his spec sheet cut n pastes, some of the specs may be better on some amps then a Bryston but the Bryston specs are well beyond the point of being inaudable so its a rather pointless exercise bringing out the specs at this point. The arguemnt becomes academic at best. However warranties are never academic and there is something to be said for peace of mind know your amp is covered for essential one's life time of use.

IMO while their warranty is nice, it's also over rated. I have amps that came with a 3 year warranty that are still running strong 10, 15, and now 32 years after they were produced. In other words I think it is a gimmick (a really nice gimmick with real value as it protects the resale value).

The OP should search AVS for 'Grinning ear to ear'. This is a thread about the Crown XLS 402 (a/b/c/d varients). There are people that are replacing their mulit-$K 'audiophile' amps including one or two that liked it better than their Brytson 3B's. For the money saved, you can pick up another amp in 10 years if that Crown (built for commercial installations) fails in the home.

 

[3db]

IMO while their warranty is nice, it's also over rated. I have amps that came with a 3 year warranty that are still running strong 10, 15, and now 32 years after they were produced. In other words I think it is a gimmick (a really nice gimmick with real value as it protects the resale value).
.

Where's the gimmick in resale value? Secondaly amps have been known to fail and Bryston have eevn repaired free of charge amps that have run out of warranty. I'd rather have the gimmick and a company that stands behind their producst verses one that bails out on you after the warranty period has run out.

Audiphiles that prefer the sound of one amp over another from a sonics perspective are a dime a dozen.

 

[jinjuku]

Where's the gimmick in resale value? Secondaly amps have been known to fail and Bryston have eevn repaired free of charge amps that have run out of warranty. I'd rather have the gimmick and a company that stands behind their producst verses one that bails out on you after the warranty period has run out.

Audiphiles that prefer the sound of one amp over another from a sonics perspective are a dime a dozen.

Not knocking that the resale value holds up vs it's like large $$ ticket competition like Lexi, Pass Labs, etc...

What does a new flag ship Bryston cost?

 

[GranteedEV]

I'd rather have the gimmick and a company that stands behind their producst verses one that bails out on you after the warranty period has run out.

I dunno... if I'm paying 800 for one... and 5000 for the other... and they perform the same... then I think I'd rather just get the 800 dollar one and buy it five times over.