Canton Vento vs PSB Synchrony?

[pinchharmonic]

Hi all,

I've come down to these final two speakers and I'm wondering what input everyone has. Anyone heard these? compared them?

It doesn't matter which exact model in each category, just as long as they are the floorstanding ones from teh Vento/Sychrony line.

They are close to the same price, I believe the PSB may be a bit more, but now I want to see if anyone has any input on the sound these two give out.

These will be for a 2-channel setup, audio only. In the future, I may add a sub and some surround, but for now it's strictly for music.

Thanks!

 

[InTheIndustry]

Hi all,

I've come down to these final two speakers and I'm wondering what input everyone has. Anyone heard these? compared them?

It doesn't matter which exact model in each category, just as long as they are the floorstanding ones from teh Vento/Sychrony line.

They are close to the same price, I believe the PSB may be a bit more, but now I want to see if anyone has any input on the sound these two give out.

These will be for a 2-channel setup, audio only. In the future, I may add a sub and some surround, but for now it's strictly for music.

Thanks!

I'm a dealer of both product lines and can give you some insight.

1st - Both brands are excellent yet totally different.

2nd - The models & what they do very much depends on which is "better".

I will tell you that I think the Synchrony One & Two are incredible speakers. They have one downsode that I always caution to thhink of before purchasing.... They are boundry sensative because of the rear ports. Pulling them out from walls is critical to their performance. So, if you can do that you'll get great results with either One or Two.

The Cantons are special as well and more room friendly. However, the Synchrony towers, as long as you can place them & power them properly, are a superior loudspeaker.

Please feel free to search out some of the threads and posts on this forum about both brands. I'm sure you'll find a lot of my posts in there somewhere!

 

[pinchharmonic]

InTheIndustry,

Thanks, you actually suggested them initially for me! How far do the synchrony's need to be from the rear wall?

The only unfortunate thing about the synchronys is visually they aren't that stunning. even the image series looks better to me, and the canton.. need i say more.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

It seems the PSB measures a lot better also.

Cantan Vento Stereophile:

PSB Synchrony Stereophile:

 

[pinchharmonic]

It seems the PSB measures a lot better also.

Cantan Vento Stereophile:

PSB Synchrony Stereophile:

hi,

First tiem I'm reading these diagrams, from my layman point of view, it looks as though the PSB achieves larger (thus more comparable to higher frequency) sound waves in the lower frequency?

anything else to deduce from those charts?

 

[jostenmeat]

hi,

First tiem I'm reading these diagrams, from my layman point of view, it looks as though the PSB achieves larger (thus more comparable to higher frequency) sound waves in the lower frequency?

anything else to deduce from those charts?

For the 2D graph, you would like it flat, not lumpy. Now if it has to be lumpy, one would prefer that the lumpy area is not in the critical midrange area where our voices and instruments lie. The PSB is very flat from 500hz to 1200hz, whereas the other has its very worst jaggedness at this critical area. The PSB tails off or gets lower way up in freq, and this could be a signature of the brand name (considered warmer).

The Canton is flatter down low to its usable freq extension than the PSB, no question, but I'd rather take my compromise down in this area than the opposite.

The 3D graphs can possibly show you how "tight" the sound is (this is just one graph/measurement, and not the whole* picture but still). The Canton obviously suffers ringing so badly just above 100hz, it is literally "off the charts". Now this problem at 131hz does not necessarily have to show itself as some enormous peak; it's that when this frequency is played/excited, it keeps ringing on for a very long time, respectively.

 

[InTheIndustry]

InTheIndustry,

Thanks, you actually suggested them initially for me! How far do the synchrony's need to be from the rear wall?

The only unfortunate thing about the synchronys is visually they aren't that stunning. even the image series looks better to me, and the canton.. need i say more.

- 2 to 4 feet from boundries. Or, use port plugs (NOT optimal, but still yields an incredible speaker). I just sent Beatmatcher a full set of Synchrony Ones for his system and he is pumped. Maybe once he gets them hooked up he'll chime in with his opinions? I'll let him know about the thread

- Have you seen the PSBs in person? They are much more atractive in person than the photos. Canon's in black, white, and silver are beautiful to be sure. But the wood colors in the glossy I do not particularly care for.

It all depends on the look of your room and what you like!

 

[pinchharmonic]

very interesting, thanks for the explanation, it makes more sense now.

To throw another wrench in the whole thing, I just read over at ascendacoustics that their tower is now available for pre-order, at $2000, so this is another possibility.

Also, I realized the price I was seeing for the PSB Synchrony at around $2000 for the pair is far too low, I can't even get it used for that much for a pair so that is my mistake. I should have mentioned the PSB Imagine to fit the price range.

So it comes down to

PSB Imagine $2000 vs the Canton Vento 870DC $2700 vs. the Sierra Towers $2000.

*And since no one really owns the Sierra towers, it's really comparing it to the sound of the Sierra-1 bookshelf since they claim it will be very similar.

What I found from Stereophile for the PSB Imagine

 

[GranteedEV]

Since you're overwhelmed with choices, here's another one

https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=35_425&products_id=8671

here's the off axis measurements

http://www.zaphaudio.com/ZRT-2way-measured-FR-offaxis.gif

 

[Nuance AH]

And here is another option:

http://www.salksound.com/songtower specifications.htm

Are the Stereophile measurements of the Canton's and PSB's anechoic? If not then I wouldn't put too much stock into them. Let your ears decide which sound best.

I've heard the Ascend Towers; a friend of mine currently owns the only pair. We plan to have another GTG with them in 9 days, comparing them to the Salk SongTower RT's, Salk HT2-TL's and hopefully the Paradigm Sig 8's. It should be a blast!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Is this the Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 Tower?

 

[templemaners]

Yup, that's the Ascend tower.

 

[pinchharmonic]

And here is another option:

http://www.salksound.com/songtower specifications.htm

Are the Stereophile measurements of the Canton's and PSB's anechoic? If not then I wouldn't put too much stock into them. Let your ears decide which sound best.

I've heard the Ascend Towers; a friend of mine currently owns the only pair. We plan to have another GTG with them in 9 days, comparing them to the Salk SongTower RT's, Salk HT2-TL's and hopefully the Paradigm Sig 8's. It should be a blast!

I had to look up anechoic =). Meaning were those done in a echo-free room? I'm not entirely sure, but I guess what you're suggesting is that my room is definitely not going to be anechoic so those may not apply?

What'd you think of the Ascend Towers? What color were they?

 

[pinchharmonic]

Is this the Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 Tower?

Hi Yes that is,

They actually have several blacks, a sand, 3 different types of glossy black with the glossiest being called piano black which is an extra $700!

can't tell which one that is, but those look great from that angle. My only gripe is that being all black is a bit boring, I would have preferred a slightly different color cone, or brackets around the cones being metal, etc.

Did you get to hear that? any thoughts?

 

[InTheIndustry]

very interesting, thanks for the explanation, it makes more sense now.

To throw another wrench in the whole thing, I just read over at ascendacoustics that their tower is now available for pre-order, at $2000, so this is another possibility.

Also, I realized the price I was seeing for the PSB Synchrony at around $2000 for the pair is far too low, I can't even get it used for that much for a pair so that is my mistake. I should have mentioned the PSB Imagine to fit the price range.

So it comes down to

PSB Imagine $2000 vs the Canton Vento 870DC $2700 vs. the Sierra Towers $2000.

*And since no one really owns the Sierra towers, it's really comparing it to the sound of the Sierra-1 bookshelf since they claim it will be very similar.

What I found from Stereophile for the PSB Imagine

All three are excellent speakers that are done by respected manufacturers.

In the price range you're looking at I would hands down, no questions asked point you at a different manufacturer than what you have listed. I'm a dealer of PSB & Canton as well as what I'm about to recomend and have a strong point of reference on these brands.

For towers in the $2K - $3K range I would do the Phase Technology PC 9.5 (MSRP $3500). These can be purchased from a strong dealer in the $2500 range. It is an incredible speaker that I would rank right up there with the PSB Synchrony One Towers, only they're easier to place. Here's a link: http://www.phasetech.com/products.html?product_id=PC-9.5#

I have written on Phase Tech in several threads. Feel free to look up my comments on them! The bookshelf models recently were reviewed in Home Theater Mag and got the highest marks possible. The product is lights out incredible and from a manufacturer who has as well regarded a history in speakers as any company on the planet.

The pics don't do the speaker justice & while the gloss black is gorgeous, the cherry is just as good.

If you really are wanting to narrow it down to Canton or PSB, I would tell you to look at the Canton Chrono SL 590DC over the Vento 870. It's also $3500/pr MSRP and can be had around $2700. http://www.canton.de/en/hifi/chronosl/produkt/chronosl590dc.htm . Canton is a unique brand with a very solid philosophy. The only MAJOR difference between model lines is the grade of cabinet construction. Drivers are all the same as is the goal of the design. As you go up in the lines the difference in sound becomes minimal.

Which do I prefer given the info you've put forth? The Phase Tech PC 9.5 is the superior speaker.

 

[walter duque]

Which do I prefer given the info you've put forth? The Phase Tech PC 9.5 is the superior speaker.

[/QUOTE]
Phase Tech are best speakers I have ever auditioned in that price range, and they (to me) just can't be beat. I did audition the Synch Ones and to me they are not even close to the Phase Techs. For the price I think they are the best speakers on the market. The sound kind of reminds me of the real Kef's with the flat piston drivers.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Are there any measurements of the Phase Technology speakers on Soundstage, Home Theater Magazine, Stereophile, Audioholics?

 

[GranteedEV]

Are there any measurements of the Phase Technology speakers on Soundstage, Home Theater Magazine, Stereophile, Audioholics?

Well I googled it

Here's the polar of the PC80 -

The waterfall is slightly questionable:

Don't know why such an overhang in the upper midrange is showing up...? Still this is a budget speaker. Also, their DARTS speakers use digital active crossovers, which i'm a big fan of.

 

[pinchharmonic]

InTheIndustry,

i've requested information about a dealer for phase techs, the pictures sure do not do it justice since the video linked on the same PC page makes the speaker look tons better.

By Strong dealer you mean a dealer that does a lot of volume so that they could get a discount from a particular manufacturer?

I read somewhere else that these speakers can be bright if using the wrong amp, what would your suggestion be?

 

[InTheIndustry]

Are there any measurements of the Phase Technology speakers on Soundstage, Home Theater Magazine, Stereophile, Audioholics?

Well I googled it

Here's the polar of the PC80 -

The waterfall is slightly questionable:

Don't know why such an overhang in the upper midrange is showing up...? Still this is a budget speaker. Also, their DARTS speakers use digital active crossovers, which i'm a big fan of.

Here is a review of the PC-1.5 bookshelf monitor that was recently done by Home Theater Mag. While this isn't an exact match for the much larger towers I think that you can get a general idea about things like the tonal quality of the line and general impressions.

Hope you like the read: http://www.hometheater.com/compactspeakers/phase_technology_pc-15_speaker_system/