need opinions on PSB Image line

[david118383]

No, there isn't reason not to trust them, but honestly, what did you expect them to say? Even I, the most enthusiastic supporter of getting the C60, have already said the C40 will "work".

The best center speaker choice for the T65s is actually another T65. The best horizontal center speaker choice for the T65s is the C60. Even a B15 bookshelf will "work" as a center speaker, but it doesn't mean it's the best choice.

I am totally unfamiliar with the Pio, but the aforementioned 805, which I own, is sort of a beast of an amp at its price point. That said, I do think most receivers in most rooms can handle most Images. I don't know about the T65s in particular, or your room, and/or habits.

I have to ask you, have you seen any of these speakers in person? IMO, a C40 mated to T65s will look nearly comical.

Thanks. I may just end up going with the T55s. You say the C40 will look stupid with the T65s, but I've noticed that the Image C5 which is the proper center for the T6's is like 5 lbs lighter than the C40 and several inches smaller while the T6's are almost as big as the T65's. Just looking at the specs it seems that if the C5 can work 'well' with the T6s than the C40 would work just as well with the T65s. I'm no audiophile though so I could be completely clueless.

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks. I may just end up going with the T55s. You say the C40 will look stupid with the T65s, but I've noticed that the Image C5 which is the proper center for the T6's is like 5 lbs lighter than the C40 and several inches smaller while the T6's are almost as big as the T65's. Just looking at the specs it seems that if the C5 can work 'well' with the T6s than the C40 would work just as well with the T65s. I'm no audiophile though so I could be completely clueless.

Interesting. I am not saying to necessarily get smaller towers because of this, btw. So, on the topic of smaller centers . . . do you know why these even exist, these smaller horizontal center speakers? Purely for aesthetic compromise. So, it's not that shocking to me that they are getting smaller and smaller. 4" drivers now in the "smaller" center speaker. Hmmm. I have to admit though, and I think I already said it, if my only choice was to mate C40 to T65s, I'd definitely test out phantom (stereo) mode as I wouldn't be shocked if it sounded better to me. All you do is defeat center channel in receiver, and this channel reroutes itself to your mains.

 

[3db]

Again, there is no gigantic size difference between the C40 and C60. The C40 is NOT a small center channel by any stretch of the imagination so I fail to understand why you elude to it being small.

Image C40 Center Specifications
Frequency Range
On Axis @ 0° ±1.5dB 65-20,000 Hz
On Axis @ 0° ±3dB 50-23,000 Hz
Off Axis @ 30° ±1.5dB 65-10,000 Hz
Lf Cutoff -10dB 45 Hz
Sensitivity
1w (2.83V) @ 1m, IEC-filtered Pink Noise, C-weighted
Anechoic Chamber 90 dB
Typical Listening Room 92 dB
Impedence
Nominal 6 Ohms
Minimum 4 Ohms
Input Power
RMS, Clipping < 10% of the Time
Recommended 10-150 Watts
Program 120 Watts
Acoustic Design
Tweeter (Nominal) 1" (25mm)
Aluminium Dome with Ferrofluid
Woofer (Nominal) 2 x 5 1/4" (133mm)
Injection Molded Metalized Polypropylene Cone
Rubber Surround
Crossover 2,200Hz, B3
Internal Volume Design Type 0.59 cu ft (16.5 liter)
Bass Reflex
2 x 2" Front Port
Video Shielded
Size (W x H x D)
Millimeters 597 x 178 x 298 mm
Inches 23 1/2x 7 x 11 3/4"
Net Weight
Kilograms 10.5 kg /each
Pounds 23 lb /each
Shipping Weight
Kilograms 12.3 kg /each
Pounds 27 lb /each
Finish
Black Ash, Maple, Sienna
Maple not available in North America
Features
5-way Gold-plated Binding Posts
Clear Bumpers



Image C60 Center Specifications
Frequency Range
On Axis @ 0° ±1.5dB 50-20,000 Hz
On Axis @ 0° ±3dB 40-23,000 Hz
Off Axis @ 30° ±1.5dB 50-10,000 Hz
Lf Cutoff -10dB 35 Hz
Sensitivity
1w (2.83V) @ 1m, IEC-filtered Pink Noise, C-weighted
Anechoic Chamber 90 dB
Typical Listening Room 92 dB
Impedence
Nominal 8 Ohms
Minimum 6 Ohms
Input Power
RMS, Clipping < 10% of the Time
Recommended 10-175 Watts
Program 150 Watts
Acoustic Design
Tweeter (Nominal) 1" (25mm)
Aluminium Dome with Ferrofluid
Woofer (Nominal) 2 x 6 1/2" (165mm)
Injection Molded
Metalized Polypropylene Cone
Rubber SurroundRubber Surround
Crossover 2,500Hz, B3
Internal Volume Design Type 0.88 cu ft (24.6 liter)
Bass Reflex
2 x 2" Front Port
Video Shielded
Size (W x H x D)
Millimeters 697 x 216 x 303 mm
Inches 27 7/16 x 8 1/2 x 11 15/16
Net Weight
Kilograms 11.4 kg /each
Pounds 25 lb /each
Shipping Weight
Kilograms 15.0 kg /each
Pounds 33 lb /each
Finish
Black Ash, Maple, Sienna
Maple not available in North America
Features
5-way Gold-plated Binding Posts
Clear Bumpers

 

[Ares]

Is the C40 a smaller center, slightly when compared to the C60 in physical size but as 3db has pointed out in terms of performance you would be hard press to hear a difference and while the C60 will have a slight advantage in terms of extension the C40 is no slouch.

I think I said this somewhere that the Image line is meant to be mixed and matched, now I chose the C60 to run with the T45's for a few reasons one being extension, appearance and at that time the C60 I believe was $20 more so why not. Now as for whether or not your receiver can handle them, yes it can as you can see in my Sig I running my setup with a 1910 which is 2nd to last in term of power in the Denon four digit line.

 

[david118383]

Would $1000 shipped be a decent price on a pair of T65s and a C40?

 

[zieglj01]

Would $1000 shipped be a decent price on a pair of T65s and a C40?

That seems to be pretty good for shipping included.

 

[jostenmeat]

Again, there is no gigantic size difference between the C40 and C60. The C40 is NOT a small center channel by any stretch of the imagination so I fail to understand why you elude to it being small.

I allude to the idea of a small center, because when you see them right next to each other, the C40 really does look small to me. Ok, so I would consider a 44% increase in size to be significant, and not subtle, but when I put them together subjectively, I would (mistakenly) guess that the difference is even greater than 44%. I've been to my local PSB dealer on probably double digit occasions.

Whatevs. He'll figure something out.

I consider the OP's price to be fair, but I really wonder if he's even listened to these, or anything else for that matter. I'd really make sure I wanted these over anything else, especially when buying a now superceded line that is a bit long in the tooth.

Trivia bit: the T65s are 357% the size of the C40.

 

[david118383]

Thanks again for the responses. Does anyone have any experience ordering bstock speakers from DMC Electronics? What exactly is meant by bstock?

 

[david118383]

Thanks again for all the responses. I just pulled the plug on a pair of T6's/C5 combo from DMC. In the end I figured it was worth a tad more money to get these over the T65's/C40. I think I'll feel better the next few years knowing that I have the latest Image line rather than a dated model.

I do have a couple more questions though. I'm currently using 14 gauge speaker wire from Home Depot. Would I notice any improvement in quality if I upgraded to 12 gauge? The speaker wire length is only like 5 feet on my center and 8-9 feet on the mains so I didn't know if it was worth or it not at that short a distance.

Secondly, I currently have a pair of Klipsch SF-1 tower speakers as my rears and PSB Alpha B's as mains. Should I keep the Klipsch speakers as my surrounds or use the Alpha B's as surrounds?

 

[3db]

Thanks again for all the responses. I just pulled the plug on a pair of T6's/C5 combo from DMC. In the end I figured it was worth a tad more money to get these over the T65's/C40. I think I'll feel better the next few years knowing that I have the latest Image line rather than a dated model.

I do have a couple more questions though. I'm currently using 14 gauge speaker wire from Home Depot. Would I notice any improvement in quality if I upgraded to 12 gauge? The speaker wire length is only like 5 feet on my center and 8-9 feet on the mains so I didn't know if it was worth or it not at that short a distance.

Secondly, I currently have a pair of Klipsch SF-1 tower speakers as my rears and PSB Alpha B's as mains. Should I keep the Klipsch speakers as my surrounds or use the Alpha B's as surrounds?

Congrats. Your wire gauge is thick enough for the distances you are dealing with. I would chose the Alphas over the Klipsch because the surround speakers are meant to diffuse the sound generally. The Klipsch with their horns will beam more making a less diffuse surround sound experience.

 

[zieglj01]

Congrats. Your wire gauge is thick enough for the distances you are dealing with. I would chose the Alphas over the Klipsch because the surround speakers are meant to diffuse the sound generally. The Klipsch with their horns will beam more making a less diffuse surround sound experience.

14 AWG is fine - the Alpha will work.