Please help decide- PSB T6 or KEF Q700/Q900 or B&W

[emtuzas]

Hi guys,

I currently own Klipsch RF-82 with Yamaha RX-A810 receiver, they seem to be a bit bright... They sound very nice for movies, and even some music genres - like house for instance. However, compared to PSB T6 i tested - they sounded way softer and nicer to my ears, highs not as harsh at all, live music, jazz, and acoustic and others sounded better I think.

I have nowhere to check out KEF Q700 or KEF Q900, read good stuff about it.
I know you guys cant tell me which one to buy, cause it depends on my own preference and ears, but how would you describe KEF's sound, compared to PSB or even my Klipschs.

Thank you!

 

[Soccerkid830]

If you live remotely close to the upper peninsula of Michigan, you're welcome to listen to my KEF Q900's. I have the matching Q600 center as well. It's quite a haul though unless you live in Northern Wisconsin/Minnesota though...

 

[emtuzas]

Shoot, I wish i did... But I'm probably 350+ miles away from that area...
How do they sound though? Would you be able to compare them to any of the speakers i mentioned, Klipsch RF-82 or PSB T6?

 

[Soccerkid830]

I haven't heard the Klipsch's or the PSB's, so I couldn't give you a good comparison between the three.

I enjoy them quite a bit though. I run the towers full range because I do not have a sub in my apartment due to neighbor/landlord issues. They seem to be adequate in the low end for the listening I do. I'm rarely running above 70 dB though from about 15 feet away. Whatever that means to you, I like how they sound though. Here and there I'll watch a movie and crank them up a bit more. This past weekend I watched Expendables 2 and they seemed to handle the explosions and gunshots very well.

They look real nice too. I am the type of person to leave the drivers exposed, and they look great without any grilles on.

 

[monkish54]

I would go with the T6. I'm a huge KEF fan, and an even bigger fan of coaxial drivers, but the Q900 has some design flaws, IMO.

Personally, I would go with these over the Q900/Image T6.

 

[3db]

I would go with the T6. I'm a huge KEF fan, and an even bigger fan of coaxial drivers, but the Q900 has some design flaws, IMO.

Personally, I would go with these over the Q900/Image T6.

except that these are not towers which appears what the OP is looking for.

 

[monkish54]

except that these are not towers which appears what the OP is looking for.

He didn't say he was looking specifically for towers.

 

[emtuzas]

sorry for the confusion, yes i would be looking for towers only, 2-channel
setup, mainly for music.

I tried PSB T6, the dealer actually let me take them home and try with my own equipment. And i did love its warm sound, especially with some jazz and acoustic music. However, when I tried some more electronic/modern music, with more synthetic sound, they seemed to lack something compared to the klipsch rf-82 i have, maybe the soundstage was totally different. Im pretty new at this stuff so i couldnt figure out exactly what PSB T6 lacked... And now I'm confused, should i buy T6s or should i try something else, even a bit more expensive, because I would be listening to wider selection of genres...

Thanks for your help guys, I really appreciate it.

 

[monkish54]

sorry for the confusion, yes i would be looking for towers only, 2-channel
setup, mainly for music.

Ok, now he did. My bad.

I tried PSB T6, the dealer actually let me take them home and try with my own equipment. And i did love its warm sound, especially with some jazz and acoustic music. However, when I tried some more electronic/modern music, with more synthetic sound, they seemed to lack something compared to the klipsch rf-82 i have, maybe the soundstage was totally different. Im pretty new at this stuff so i couldnt figure out exactly what PSB T6 lacked... And now I'm confused, should i buy T6s or should i try something else, even a bit more expensive, because I would be listening to wider selection of genres...

What is your Zip code, my friend?

 

[emtuzas]

I live in chicago proper, zip code is 60559

 

[emtuzas]

I am also thinking to stop by tonight and try out PSB Imagine T, side by side compare them with PSB T6... how different those two would sound.

 

[monkish54]

Are these places reasonable distances:

Blue Smoke Entertainment Systems
Address
112 Bentley Ct., Deerfield, IL
Telephone 847-977-0220
Web Blue Smoke Entertainment Systems, LLC
Product
Blade
Reference Series
Distance:
26.17 miles / 42.12 km

Bear Audio Video
888 N. LaFox Street Suite 1
South Elgin, Illinois 60177
TEL : +1 847 343 7507
Contact : Marc Bear

THE BIG PICTURE MEDIA SYSTEMS
1229 W. MADISON ST STE S
CHICAGO, IL 60607
312-315-0611
DISTANCE: 17.75mi
CATEGORY: Reference Displaying Dealer (Ultima2 Series)

 

[emtuzas]

Are these places reasonable distances:

Blue Smoke Entertainment Systems
Address
112 Bentley Ct., Deerfield, IL
Telephone 847-977-0220
Web Blue Smoke Entertainment Systems, LLC
Product
Blade
Reference Series
Distance:
26.17 miles / 42.12 km

Bear Audio Video
888 N. LaFox Street Suite 1
South Elgin, Illinois 60177
TEL : +1 847 343 7507
Contact : Marc Bear

THE BIG PICTURE MEDIA SYSTEMS
1229 W. MADISON ST STE S
CHICAGO, IL 60607
312-315-0611
DISTANCE: 17.75mi
CATEGORY: Reference Displaying Dealer (Ultima2 Series)

Yes, these locations are not too far, for the weekend
Ill try to call and see if i can set something up with KEF's, if they have Q900 that is.

 

[monkish54]

Yes, these locations are not too far, for the weekend
Ill try to call and see if i can set something up with KEF's, if they have Q900 that is.

They wont have the Q900 (other dealers in your area will...I'll link you to that in a few.)

Here is what I did, and I am VERY happy I did so. I listened to MANY speakers before purchasing my Phil 2. I listened to speakers in all sorts of price ranges. 2K-200K. Whatever I could listen to, I did.

The dealers I linked you to have the best of the best in the audio world.

The KEF Blade http://www.kef.com/html/us/showroom/flagship_hi-fi_series/blade/overview/
TAD CR1/R1
Revel Salon 2 http://www.revelspeakers.com/Products/Details/42

If I were you, I'd listen to tons of different genres on the Salon 2, KEF Blade, and TAD R1/CR1 (or just one of them). If they please you more than the PSB (discount the amount of bass on all the speakers. Just listen for imaging, soundstage, and tonality/realism) we'll be able to recommend speakers that sound fairly similar, but not as much bass.

Plus, if you like demoing, it'll be very fun!

 

[monkish54]

Avant Systems
8014 45th Street, Lyons, IL
Telephone 708-447-6752
Product
C Series
Outdoor Series
Q Series
Subwoofers
Wireless
Distance:
10.81 miles / 17.4 km

They should have the Q900.

 

[emtuzas]

They wont have the Q900 (other dealers in your area will...I'll link you to that in a few.)

Here is what I did, and I am VERY happy I did so. I listened to MANY speakers before purchasing my Phil 2. I listened to speakers in all sorts of price ranges. 2K-200K. Whatever I could listen to, I did.

The dealers I linked you to have the best of the best in the audio world.

The KEF Blade
TAD CR1/R1
Revel Salon 2

If I were you, I'd listen to tons of different genres on the Salon 2, KEF Blade, and TAD R1/CR1 (or just one of them). If they please you more than the PSB (discount the bass on all the speakers. Just listen for imaging, soundstage, and tonality/realism) we'll be able to recommend speakers that sound fairly similar, but not as much bass.

Plus, if you like demoing, it'll be very fun!

Awesome, thanks a lot bud! I will take my time and try to do that as much as i can!

 

[monkish54]

Awesome, thanks a lot bud! I will take my time and try to do that as much as i can!

No problem. Make sure to call first (I called one store and they didn't answer). Sometimes the websites are wrong. For instance, Bear audio (the TAD dealer) appears to sell pro stuff. That's not what you want. However, the same dealer that sells the Blade (the top one) also has the TAD CR1. That is a stroke of luck. I would pay to hear them together.

 

[monkish54]

I called the Revel dealer and they don't carry the Salon 2.

These guys sell the Revel Studio 2:

SYNTHESIS AUDIO/VIDEO
2853 N. LINCOLN
CHICAGO, IL 60657
PHONE: 773-472-7200
20.23mi
Reference Displaying Dealer (Ultima2 Series)
Lexicon Mark Levinson

The Studio 2 instead of the Salon 2 is fine.

 

[GranteedEV]

sorry for the confusion, yes i would be looking for towers only, 2-channel
setup, mainly for music.

I tried PSB T6, the dealer actually let me take them home and try with my own equipment. And i did love its warm sound, especially with some jazz and acoustic music. However, when I tried some more electronic/modern music, with more synthetic sound, they seemed to lack something compared to the klipsch rf-82 i have, maybe the soundstage was totally different. Im pretty new at this stuff so i couldnt figure out exactly what PSB T6 lacked... And now I'm confused, should i buy T6s or should i try something else, even a bit more expensive, because I would be listening to wider selection of genres...

Thanks for your help guys, I really appreciate it.

The Klipsch have elevated midbass and exaggerated treble, and the horn loaded compression tweeter is probably more resilient when abused by synthetic sounds.

I would try auditioning more neutral horn speakers to get a feel for what you like. JTR, Seaton Sound, Danley, Pi Speakers come to mind as they`re all midwest based brands. There`s also Gedlee in Michigan.

Just remember - sometimes bad recordings won`t sound good on good speakers. That doesn`t mean you should blame the speakers though.

 

[zieglj01]

I tried PSB T6, the dealer actually let me take them home and try with my own equipment. And i did love its warm sound, especially with some jazz and acoustic music. However, when I tried some more electronic/modern music, with more synthetic sound, they seemed to lack something compared to the klipsch rf-82 i have, maybe the soundstage was totally different. Im pretty new at this stuff so i couldnt figure out exactly what PSB T6 lacked... And now I'm confused, should i buy T6s or should i try something else, even a bit more expensive, because I would be listening to wider selection of genres...

Maybe it is a precise central image - the PSB tends to be more wide
than central to me. I am not a real Klipsch fan - however, they tend
to have a good central image. When you go out and explore, go and
check out some Focal speakers.