PSB (Imagine, Synchrony series) vs. Paradigm's (Signature, Studio series) vs. Tannoy

[scattershot]

So I'll put this out to anyone out there who has heard these speakers.

Does anyone know how

• PSB's Imagine and Synchrony series
Imagine B Bookshelf - PSB Speakers
Synchrony Two B - PSB Speakers
Synchrony One B - PSB Speakers

compare to

•Paradigm's Signature and Studio series
Signature S2 - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.
Studio 20 - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.
Studio 10 - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.

and any similar priced

• Tannoy speakers which I believe would be the Tannoy Definition DC8 Bookshelf:
Tannoy - Residential - Summary


(e.g. which company's speakers in the above price range is known to sound better musically while offering a warm and not bright type of sound?)

Someone I know may have access to PSB, Paradigm, and Tannoy's entire line of speakers and may be able to get me a significant deal on those 3 brands (and only those 3 brands) but I might not be able to hear them beforehand... (E.g. it would be a 'blind' purchase).

I am curious if anyone has a definitive opinion on the PSB, Paradigm, and Tannoys Bookshelfs in the $1000-$1500 MSRP (per pair) range which one's sound the best musically.

(Keeping in mind any low-end bass performance issues / deficiencies doesn't both me because they will be mated with a SVS PB13 Ultra so any bass deficiencies below 80 Hz doesn't concern me).

From what I've found by lurking other threads I think the PSB offers better "bang for buck" then the Paradigms (which are also VERY good) but I am curious as to what others think, and then Tannoy is a bit of a wild-card since I can't seem to find much information on them.

Thanks.

 

[PENG]

I have heard the Older version Paradigm signatures and the newest version Studio 60 and like them. I have only heard the higher end Tannoy towers and they definitely sound live like to me but it does not mean their book shelf models will sound good too. I think the S2 would be a sure bet and the Tannoy, like you said would be a wild card.

 

[scattershot]

Anyone out there hear any of these bad boys?!?

 

[3db]

Anyone out there hear any of these bad boys?!?

Have you auditioned yet? Its all well and good to get opinions but itultimately boils down to you and how you perceive the speakers to sound like. Only your ears, not ours can help you with that. Its time for you to audtion instead of asking our opinions. Trust your ears and fun.

 

[Beatmatcher247]

If it were me, I'd rather wait a year or however long it would take to make the Synchrony Ones a possibility vs. the b's. The Synchrony One B's sounded great but they didn't have nearly as robust sound-staging as the towers but that's to be expected. They also don't stand nearly as well on their own in the LF dept... I would say that it is essential that you supplement the B's with a sub woofer. Whereas with the towers I'd say that its preferred but not at all necessary. I really like them for rear surround duty but wouldn't like them as much for main FLR stereo duty.

If I had to go with something in a bookshelf for main FLR stereo duty I would look at Focal Chorus 807V. Seriously impressive LF with the 7" drivers... my only wish was that they made a tower with those drivers in it but alas they do not. If they had... I may have been more inclined to do a Focal system... but alas I think I would have still settled with the Synchronies as I liked their wider, deeper, and thicker sounding perceived soundstage and off-axis performance better. Definitely worth a listen if you are set on bookshelves.

While some people really liked them, I did not care at all for anything I've heard from Paradigm in the studio or signature series. Do give them a proper listen though, as a lot of people do seem to really enjoy their sound.

 

[Beatmatcher247]

I didn't do a lot of comparing of PSB's bookshelve offerings but their towers ranked in order of preference like this for me:

Synchrony 1> Imagine T > Synchrony 2 > Image T6

 

[GranteedEV]

So I'll put this out to anyone out there who has heard these speakers.

Does anyone know how

• PSB's Imagine and Synchrony series
Imagine B Bookshelf - PSB Speakers
Synchrony Two B - PSB Speakers
Synchrony One B - PSB Speakers

compare to

•Paradigm's Signature and Studio series
Signature S2 - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.
Studio 20 - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.
Studio 10 - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.

and any similar priced

• Tannoy speakers which I believe would be the Tannoy Definition DC8 Bookshelf:
Tannoy - Residential - Summary


(e.g. which company's speakers in the above price range is known to sound better musically while offering a warm and not bright type of sound?)

Someone I know may have access to PSB, Paradigm, and Tannoy's entire line of speakers and may be able to get me a significant deal on those 3 brands (and only those 3 brands) but I might not be able to hear them beforehand... (E.g. it would be a 'blind' purchase).

I am curious if anyone has a definitive opinion on the PSB, Paradigm, and Tannoys Bookshelfs in the $1000-$1500 MSRP (per pair) range which one's sound the best musically.

(Keeping in mind any low-end bass performance issues / deficiencies doesn't both me because they will be mated with a SVS PB13 Ultra so any bass deficiencies below 80 Hz doesn't concern me).

From what I've found by lurking other threads I think the PSB offers better "bang for buck" then the Paradigms (which are also VERY good) but I am curious as to what others think, and then Tannoy is a bit of a wild-card since I can't seem to find much information on them.

Thanks.

Tannoy is a fine company, more known in professional monitor circles than in the hi fi community. Their use of coincident drivers and controlled directivity crossovers would make them my choice out of the three, although i'm sure the psbs are fine too. I would get the DC8T over the DC8 though.

FWIW (which is little) here is a subjective review of the DC8

http://www.soundstage.com/equipment/tannoy_definition_dc8.htm

The lack of measurements in the review is dissapointing.

The other nice thing about coaxials, is that they are least sensitive to vertical placement, whereas traditional speakers suffer from vertical lobing.

 

[scattershot]

Have you auditioned yet? Its all well and good to get opinions but itultimately boils down to you and how you perceive the speakers to sound like. Only your ears, not ours can help you with that. Its time for you to audtion instead of asking our opinions. Trust your ears and fun.

Unfortunately I won't have a chance to audition them...

Someone I know may have access to PSB, Paradigm, and Tannoy's entire line of speakers and may be able to get me a significant deal on those 3 brands (and only those 3 brands) but I might not be able to hear them beforehand... (E.g. it would be a 'blind' purchase).

I am curious if anyone knowledgeable Audioholic has a definitive opinion on the PSB, Paradigm, and Tannoys Bookshelf’s aforementioned which one's sound the best musically amongst:

• PSB's Imagine and Synchrony series
Imagine B Bookshelf - PSB Speakers
Synchrony Two B - PSB Speakers
Synchrony One B - PSB Speakers


•Paradigm's Signature and Studio series
Signature S2 - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.
Studio 20 - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.
Studio 10 - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.

• Tannoy speakers which I believe would be the Tannoy Definition DC8 Bookshelf:
Tannoy - Residential - Summary

-------------------------------------------
I am really stuck for floor space so I MUST choose bookshelves rather than floorstanding towers BUT I was going to pair said bookshelves with a SVS PB13-Ultra Subwoofer
SVSound - Box Subwoofers

My living room dimensions are:

16.2 Feet Deep (194 inches)
by
10.8 Feet Wide (130 inches)

My listening location will be 10 Feet away (120 inches) from the TV wall.

My main concern is to choose the speaker system amongst them that is warm but more importantly the most musically accurate (particularly in mids and highs)

 

[scattershot]

I didn't do a lot of comparing of PSB's bookshelve offerings but their towers ranked in order of preference like this for me:

Synchrony 1> Imagine T > Synchrony 2 > Image T6

Interesting that you put the Imagine T's ahead of the Synchrony 2.

So I geuss your advocating that if the Synchrony 1's are a little out of my price range, rather than opt for Synchrony 2's I should go for the Imagine T's instead?

 

[scattershot]

Tannoy is a fine company, more known in professional monitor circles than in the hi fi community. Their use of coincident drivers and controlled directivity crossovers would make them my choice out of the three, although i'm sure the psbs are fine too. I would get the DC8T over the DC8 though.

FWIW (which is little) here is a subjective review of the DC8

SoundStage! Equipment Review - Tannoy Definition DC8 Loudspeakers (6/2010)

The lack of measurements in the review is dissapointing.

The other nice thing about coaxials, is that they are least sensitive to vertical placement, whereas traditional speakers suffer from vertical lobing.

You know I've never heard PSB or Paradigm speakers but I have heard these 2 (much lower priced speakers) and I was very impressed for how they sounded in their price range (I would never buy them because I am looking for better sounding speakers, but keeping in mind at their MSRP price range they offer much better sound them most speakers I have heard):

Mercury V1's:
Tannoy - Residential - Summary

DC6:
Tannoy - Residential - Summary


Hoping that there's an audioholic who has heard PSB vs. Tannoy's or PSB vs. Paradigm and can shed some light on their experience...

 

[Beatmatcher247]

Where do you live? Maybe we can find you somewhere a short drive distance away where you can audition them. I'd highly recommend you take our preferences with a grain of salt and hear all of your options for yourself with quality recordings of some material you are very familiar with. You could have (3) people listen to all of the bookshelves you are considering what they prefer and get (3) different answers.

That order of PSB preference is for the towers. I did not do any comparing of their bookshelves lineup.

 

[scattershot]

Even if someone hasn't heard a comparison between the PSB, Paradigm's, and Tannoys at the beginning of this thread, some general impressions of the PSB Imagine and Synchrony series would be appreciated (along with similar thoughts on the Paradigm's Signature S2 and Studio 10/20 series and Tannoy Definition DC8 series...)

Specifically, how much better are PSB's Synchrony vs. Imagine Series, and Paradigms Signature S2 vs. Studio 10/20 series. (E.g. is it worth the extra money to go to the higher models or are the Imagine Series and Studio 10 or 20 series have most of the sound quality?)

Thanks

 

[scattershot]

Where do you live? Maybe we can find you somewhere a short drive distance away where you can audition them. I'd highly recommend you take our preferences with a grain of salt and hear all of your options for yourself with quality recordings of some material you are very familiar with. You could have (3) people listen to all of the bookshelves you are considering what they prefer and get (3) different answers.

That order of PSB preference is for the towers. I did not do any comparing of their bookshelves lineup.

Ultimately I think I'm going to have to drive into Vancouver (BC) to give it an audition and find some places that have them on display ... but whether someone has the PSB and Paradigm's on display I doubt they would have both ... and the Tannoy's DC8 I'd be surprised if anyone had them on display in Vancouver...

 

[3db]

Ultimately I think I'm going to have to drive into Vancouver (BC) to give it an audition and find some places that have them on display ... but whether someone has the PSB and Paradigm's on display I doubt they would have both ... and the Tannoy's DC8 I'd be surprised if anyone had them on display in Vancouver...

Your best approach would be to visit each site and get a list of dealers nearest you, probably in the greater Vancouver area. A little planning on your part will save you a ton of time/fustration.

 

[Beatmatcher247]

A little planning goes a long ways with auditioning. I've found that this is especially true when checking out equipment at smaller outfits that do not have a lot of employees. If you call a few days ahead and let them know what you all plan on auditioning, it is a much better experience. It lets them know you are a serious potential customer and that you respect that their time is as important as yours is. I find the customer service to be much better that way and the process to be a lot less rushed and more efficient.

When looking for a new vehicle, furniture, or whatever I always call ahead if I want to not be rushed and carefully evaluate my options. If I just show up to look at something, I don't expect them to go very far out of their way.

Where I auditioned my PSBs they couldn't get me good pricing at all on the PSBS, but I went ahead ordered my preamplifer and disc player from them as a thank you for providing me a quality audition session.



*****************
PSB Synchrony vs. Imagine: As far as the towers go, the Imagines sounded every bit as neutral as the Synchrony 1's did to my ears. They seemed to not have nearly as robust of a perceived sound-stage as the Synchrony 1s. The synchronys sounded like guitar notes hung in the air much thicker, wider, and deeper. They just seemed to fill the air more in all directions with a bigger sound. Don't get me wrong the Imagine Ts perceived sound-stage and imaging sounded great but the Synchrony's was just that much more glorious.

They both seemed very close as far as accuracy goes. I'm a passionate listener, obviously not an expert, but that's my opinion on what I liked better about the Synchrony 1s. Do please audition.

 

[scattershot]

Your best approach would be to visit each site and get a list of dealers nearest you, probably in the greater Vancouver area. A little planning on your part will save you a ton of time/fustration.

I'll try that and see if anyone nearby has them on display to test with my reference material.

I will definitely try the PSB speakers ... but hoping that some feedback from others on this thread can help me eliminate (or include) the Paradigm and Tannoy speakers in that comparison.

 

[scattershot]

*****************
PSB Synchrony vs. Imagine: As far as the towers go, the Imagines sounded every bit as neutral as the Synchrony 1's did to my ears. They seemed to not have nearly as robust of a perceived sound-stage as the Synchrony 1s. The synchronys sounded like guitar notes hung in the air much thicker, wider, and deeper. They just seemed to fill the air more in all directions with a bigger sound. Don't get me wrong the Imagine Ts perceived sound-stage and imaging sounded great but the Synchrony's was just that much more glorious.

They both seemed very close as far as accuracy goes. I'm a passionate listener, obviously not an expert, but that's my opinion on what I liked better about the Synchrony 1s. Do please audition.

Thanks for the PSB Image vs. Synchrony feedback, that is helpful.

 

[Beatmatcher247]

Synchrony Vs. Imagine... image are definitely a tier town from the imagine line.
Don't get bamboozled by the confusing naming scheme.

 

[scattershot]

Whoops sorry meant Imagine line (wouldn't go lower-end then the imagine line).