Paradigm S6v3/Revel F52/PSB Synchrony One

[Ironman129]

These are my 3 finalists for my front towers. I've been able to find deals that I can get a pair on any of them for under $4k. I am looking for towers that aren't too picking about placement and have a wide soundstage, so if there are more than 1 or 2 people there they don't all have to sit in one spot to enjoy the music. I am also looking for quality music reproduction at low levels. While it is fun for shake the windows every once in a while, majority of the time it will be at lower volume with a glass of wine.

50/50 music and movies. Eventually will be included in a 5.2 or 7.2 setup, but for right now starting out with my front towers. If anyone has compared these or can speak on their differences I appreciate the input. Also how much stock should I put in to awards and reviews i.e. Sound & Vision, Home Theater Mag. If one has more awards does that mean it's a better speaker?

On a side note there has been a lot of discussion on the GoldenEar Triton Two and the Philharmonic 3s. While costing considerably less, I don't just want to throw money away for bragging rights. I prefer the looks of the top 3 the most, but if the sound is there, then that's what's most important.

Thanks in advance for the help

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm going to vote for the Revel F52.

Revel F52 For Sale | AudiogoN

 

[3db]

These are my 3 finalists for my front towers. I've been able to find deals that I can get a pair on any of them for under $4k. I am looking for towers that aren't too picking about placement and have a wide soundstage, so if there are more than 1 or 2 people there they don't all have to sit in one spot to enjoy the music. I am also looking for quality music reproduction at low levels. While it is fun for shake the windows every once in a while, majority of the time it will be at lower volume with a glass of wine.

50/50 music and movies. Eventually will be included in a 5.2 or 7.2 setup, but for right now starting out with my front towers. If anyone has compared these or can speak on their differences I appreciate the input. Also how much stock should I put in to awards and reviews i.e. Sound & Vision, Home Theater Mag. If one has more awards does that mean it's a better speaker?

On a side note there has been a lot of discussion on the GoldenEar Triton Two and the Philharmonic 3s. While costing considerably less, I don't just want to throw money away for bragging rights. I prefer the looks of the top 3 the most, but if the sound is there, then that's what's most important.

Thanks in advance for the help

I'm a huge PSB fan but I'm not going to tell you, get the PSBs. Instead, I think you audition all three of them very carefully with source material you know intimately such as your favorite CD or vinyl record.

What I would do is to take a pad of paper with you, write down the make and
model of each speaker you audition and what you liked and disliked about the
speakers you were auditioning. Was the bass tight and deep or was it boomy and loose sounding? Were the mids life like or were they hollow or just too pronounced? Was the treble irritating and harsh or were they dark and not revealing or were they smooththat made you want to listen for more? How was the imaging?

Keep track of what amp or receiver is powering the speakers you're auditioning. Try to get a receiver/amp that closest resembles what you have or want to get. It just reduces another variable when auditioning speakers.

One thing to keep note off. When auditioning speakers, make sure the volume levels are matched between the different speaker pairs because the louder speaker pair will always sound better. Listen to levels that you think you would listen to most of the time because that's how you are going to be using them most of the time.

You'll naturally end up with the PSB's How's that for subliminal push?

 

[GranteedEV]

I suspect the Revels sound the best, but truth is, I think they're ugggglyy

The PSBs thus, would have an edge over them.

but if it were me, I'd get the Phil 2s.

 

[billy p]

I suspect the Revels sound the best, but truth is, I think they're ugggglyy

The PSBs thus, would have an edge over them.

but if it were me, I'd get the Phil 2s.

and you actually fine the phils to be attractive....

They could sound like an angle playing the harp but I'd never put those in my living space...

 

[Warpdrv]

and you actually fine the phils to be attractive....

They could sound like an angle playing the harp but I'd never put those in my living space...

I would love to to hear/see an angle playing a harp

 

[Ironman129]

I suspect the Revels sound the best, but truth is, I think they're ugggglyy

Of the three I think the Revels look the worst. With the Synchrony having a rear port versus the the 'digms having a front port will that make much of a difference?

 

[3db]

Of the three I think the Revels look the worst. With the Synchrony having a rear port versus the the 'digms having a front port will that make much of a difference?

A front ported speaker will allow you to place them closer to the wall than a rear ported design but I think that is academic. Both speakers will need to be pulled away from the walls at such a distance that the porting affect against the rear wall will be null.

 

[Docks]

+1 For the Paradigms, they are more accurate, better a cabinet (looks and resonance), less thd and have the fantastic Be tweeter.
F52's dig the deepest (but at high thd).
SoundStage network has measurements done in a common chamber in Canada if you wish to look at these measurements.
That said they are all fantastic speakers.

 

[cschang]

+1 For the Paradigms, they are more accurate, better a cabinet (looks and resonance), less thd and have the fantastic Be tweeter.
F52's dig the deepest (but at high thd).
SoundStage network has measurements done in a common chamber in Canada if you wish to look at these measurements.
That said they are all fantastic speakers.

Where are the SoundStage measurements for these particular speakers? The only one I see is the PSB Synchrony One.

 

[Docks]

There is directories you may have to dig through.
Theres one called "speakers" and another that I forget the name of.

The S8’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +0.97/–1.90 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
Paradigm Reference Signature S8 Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

The F52's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.44/–2.37 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
Revel Performa F52 Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

The Synchrony One's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.18/–2.24 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
PSB Synchrony One Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

The 803D's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.90/–3.68 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
B&W 803D Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater


There are some results (HT mag) which captures the 803d and the S8 v3. (The S6 will be the same but with less LF response).
In my eyes the B&W 803D is out of the question considering price and over 3db swing.
Another note is that you will want a sub for any of the speakers above as their THD gets higher during the LF, in fact a sub is welcome in ANY setup.

 

[cschang]

There is directories you may have to dig through.
Theres one called "speakers" and another that I forget the name of.

The S8’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +0.97/–1.90 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
Paradigm Reference Signature S8 Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

The F52's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.44/–2.37 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
Revel Performa F52 Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

The Synchrony One's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.18/–2.24 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
PSB Synchrony One Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

The 803D's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.90/–3.68 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
B&W 803D Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater


There are some results (HT mag) which captures the 803d and the S8 v3. (The S6 will be the same but with less LF response).
In my eyes the B&W 803D is out of the question considering price and over 3db swing.
Another note is that you will want a sub for any of the speakers above as their THD gets higher during the LF, in fact a sub is welcome in ANY setup.

Can you post links to the SoundStage measurements? Those would be more useful than these from HTMag.

 

[3db]

+1 For the Paradigms, they are more accurate, better a cabinet (looks and resonance), less thd and have the fantastic Be tweeter.
F52's dig the deepest (but at high thd).
SoundStage network has measurements done in a common chamber in Canada if you wish to look at these measurements.
That said they are all fantastic speakers.

How did you determine the Paradiigms have the better cabinets? Just curious

 

[PENG]

Can you post links to the SoundStage measurements? Those would be more useful than these from HTMag.

Try this:

Welcome to www.SoundStageAV.com

 

[cschang]

Try this:

Welcome to www.SoundStageAV.com

Yes...I know where to find their library. I know the site well.


But not all the speakers being discussed have measurements there. Do you see them?

 

[billy p]

Yes...I know where to find their library. I know the site well.


But not all the speakers being discussed have measurements there. Do you see them?

Agreed...only the PSB are offically documented...of course, if one is basing his or hers opinion on similar tested product results would only be an exaggeration ...IMO.

PS: I also stumble upon their review of the Sierra 1 going back a few years...I hadn't read that prior...pretty solid review..Imo. Fwiw...I was trying to GTG with another member whom owns some S2's but it didn't plan out....to bad.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

PSB Synchrony One:
SoundStage! Measurements - PSB Synchrony One Loudspeakers (7/2008)

Paradigm S8:
SoundStage! Measurements - Paradigm Reference Signature S8 Loudspeakers (9/2004)

Soundstage does not have the Revel F52, but has F12 measurements:
SoundStage! Measurements - Revel Concerta F12 Loudspeakers (3/2006)

http://soundstageav.com/speakermeasurements.html

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

On paper they all look pretty darn great. If you look hard enough, I'm sure you will see some differences, but I don't think the differences are significant.

So it comes down to actual audition and aesthetics.

Since you think the F52 is the ugliest, eliminate it from the list.

Do you also find the Philharmonic 3 speakers ugly? Just personal taste. We are all different. But I like the Philharmonic 3s a lot.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

THIEL CS2.4:

SoundStage! Measurements - Thiel Audio CS2.4 Loudspeakers (11/2003)

 

[3db]

There is directories you may have to dig through.
Theres one called "speakers" and another that I forget the name of.

The S8’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +0.97/–1.90 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
Paradigm Reference Signature S8 Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

The F52's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.44/–2.37 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
Revel Performa F52 Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

The Synchrony One's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.18/–2.24 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
PSB Synchrony One Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

The 803D's listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.90/–3.68 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.
B&W 803D Speaker System HT Labs Measures | Home Theater


There are some results (HT mag) which captures the 803d and the S8 v3. (The S6 will be the same but with less LF response).
In my eyes the B&W 803D is out of the question considering price and over 3db swing.
Another note is that you will want a sub for any of the speakers above as their THD gets higher during the LF, in fact a sub is welcome in ANY setup.

According to soundstage measurements, the S8s have more distortion than the Synchronies. The PSBs only distort between 50 and 125 Hz where as the Digms distort at between 50 and 75 Hz, again centered around 200Hz, 750Hz, and 5Khz. I think that the Digms may throw a wider sound stage based on their off axes frequency response. To me there is no clean winner between these two speakers. Its a preference thing