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

[3db]

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 T6s are very revealing and will not hide poor recordings. The fact that they did very well in acoustic and jazz indicates that their voicing is quite natural. Their frequency response is much tighter than that of the Klipsch , image much better, and are more linear in their response then the Klipsch. Unless electronic/modern genre is what you listen to the most, I would stay clear from the Klipsch.

 

[3db]

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.

Speaker positioning relative to the side and back walls and relative to listenting position all effect imaging. Perhaps the speakers were positioned incorrectly where you auditioned. I have a pair of older generation PSB Image T45s and they disappear into the room with a very fleshed out very well defined image. With some recordings, I can even hear the vocalist move back and forth across his band. Those are the really cool recordiongs. The majority of the vocals are locked smack dab in the middle. I would bring my own collection of music with you that you know very well and use then to audition the speakers.

 

[zieglj01]

Speaker positioning relative to the side and back walls and relative to listenting position all effect imaging. Perhaps the speakers were positioned incorrectly where you auditioned. I have a pair of older generation PSB Image T45s and they disappear into the room with a very fleshed out very well defined image. With some recordings, I can even hear the vocalist move back and forth across his band. Those are the really cool recordiongs. The majority of the vocals are locked smack dab in the middle. I would bring my own collection of music with you that you know very well and use then to audition the speakers.

I have owned some Image and Reference speakers in my home,
and used my own material - and know all about room position
and placement. The Klipsch for sure, is not going to disappear
The PSB also, did not disappear for me >> however overall the
PSB, did have the more balanced and pleasing sound, compared
to the Klipsch and a lot of other speakers.

Thank You and have a good day.

 

[emtuzas]

thanks again guys for all the input here, yeah klipsch RF-82s i have are getting returned today, as i still have 30-day return policy in effect.

I think i'm leaning towards T6's as i am hearing so many good things about them (in that price range specifically). Really love their warm sound with most of the
music i listened to. As far as electronic music goes, i figure - that kind of music
sounds good on any (even cheap) speaker that has a lot of bass and a lot of treble, and that is not what i want at all, cause thats what my klipsch speakers have and i kind of hate it, especially the wobbly bass all over the place.

 

[zieglj01]

I think i'm leaning towards T6's as i am hearing so many good things about them (in that price range specifically). Really love their warm sound with most of the
music i listened to. As far as electronic music goes, i figure - that kind of music
sounds good on any (even cheap) speaker that has a lot of bass and a lot of treble, and that is not what i want at all, cause thats what my klipsch speakers have and i kind of hate it, especially the wobbly bass all over the place.

Speakers that tend to jump out at you and sound more lively, also in
time can begin/tend to wear you out. Even poor bass response, gives
me ear fatigue.

PSB makes nice stuff - good luck.

 

[GranteedEV]

. As far as electronic music goes, i figure - that kind of music sounds good on any (even cheap) speaker that has a lot of bass and a lot of treble

Not necessarily. Even within the genre you'll find mixes that sound better on good systems. Sometimes you need to turn the better system up higher in volume though.

 

[monkish54]

I think i'm leaning towards T6's as i am hearing so many good things about them

Before you pop on the T6, you should still give the Salon 2, Blade, and CR1 a listen. You should also do this:

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.

 

[3db]

Before you pop on the T6, you should still give the Salon 2, Blade, and CR1 a listen. You should also do this:

Please keep in mind that the models you suggest are 4x to 7x times the price of the T6. If a valid comparison is to be made, then he should also be looking at the Imagine T2 or the PSB Synchrony T1

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

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.

You should do more comparison with more songs between the RF82 vs PSB vs KEF vs B&W. All speakers will have a different trade off.

Everyone is different. You can't based your decision on others' opinions.

The important thing is how they sound to you with the majority of your music, not just a few albums, at the usual volume over at least 2 hours.

You already noticed you preferred the Klipsch over the PSB for certain songs. Listen to more albums and more songs.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

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!

Excellent point. Even if you can't afford or not willing to spend that kind of money, it's good to know what is the "best" or "gold standard".

If you listen to B&W, Phil2, KEF Q900, Salk ST, Ascend Sierra, Revel F12, Focal, Dynaudio, PSB, Paradigm, etc, etc, and you think they sound as good or almost as good as the Salon2, Blade, or Reference One, then you will be happy and know that it is about as "good as it gets".

 

[monkish54]

Please keep in mind that the models you suggest are 4x to 7x times the price of the T6. If a valid comparison is to be made, then he should also be looking at the Imagine T2 or the PSB Synchrony T1

LOL wait, the OP doesn't have 40,000 to spend on CR1? XD

Listening to the Blade etc. Would not be for the sake of comparing them to the T6, but for the OP to find what he likes. Also, it's an excellent way to get a feel for imaging, as they have some of the best imaging ever.

 

[3db]

LOL wait, the OP doesn't have 40,000 to spend on CR1? XD

Listening to the Blade etc. Would not be for the sake of comparing them to the T6, but for the OP to find what he likes. Also, it's an excellent way to get a feel for imaging, as they have some of the best imaging ever.

I understand what you are saying now that Accudeftech guy rephrased it. Me bad.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I understand what you are saying now that Accudeftech guy rephrased it. Me bad.

If he thinks the PSB sounds as good as (or close) Salon2, Blade, R1, after auditoning, then it's all good. No need to ever wonder "what if?"

 

[monkish54]

If he thinks the PSB sounds as good as (or close) Salon2, Blade, R1, after auditoning, then..

I'll eat my desktop. LOL

 

[3db]

I'll eat my desktop. LOL

Passes you the salt shaker.

 

[monkish54]

Passes you the salt shaker.

LOOOOOL

Gonna need a lot more than Salt to make this PC taste good. Do I have to eat my monitor too? It's a crt...gonna hurt going down!

 

[3db]

LOOOOOL

Gonna need a lot more than Salt to make this PC taste good. Do I have to eat my monitor too? It's a crt...gonna hurt going down!

Fill your boots my friend.

 

[3db]

Why should the OP audition speakers he hasn't budgeted for? He would be better served auditioning speakers he can afford. The analogy is test driving a Ferrari while shopping for a Honda. Ferrari is fun sure but its not going to let the OP know if he should have picked up a Camry instead. Kind of pointless really.

 

[monkish54]

its not going to let the OP know if he should have picked up a Camry instead.

No, it wont. However, it will give him a reference point; more accurately, it will give us a reference point. This is what I want my speakers to sound like, what can you recommend? This isn't what I want, can you recommend something that sounds different? It wont give him any idea what to get, but it'll give us an idea of what to recommend for him. It'll also give him a great example of imaging, it's really really fun, and he has nothing to lose.

The OP seemed kinda hesitant to go with the PSB, but the good reviews on here appear to be swaying him. Perhaps if he hears one of the excellent speakers suggested, he'll decide the PSB was good after all, or maybe it wasn't. It gives him a taste of "true" neutrality, and IMO, a taste of what HI-FI is all about.

Personally, I listened to PLENTY of speakers before I listened to the Salon 2. Had I not listened to it, I probably would have purchased one of the other speakers I heard, and settled without even knowing it. I don't feel I settled for the Philharmonic 2, but I do feel I would have settled had I purchased the B&W CM9, or the Dancer Mini One Diamond DMD.

 

[3db]

No, it wont. However, it will give him a reference point; more accurately, it will give us a reference point. This is what I want my speakers to sound like, what can you recommend? This isn't what I want, can you recommend something that sounds different? It wont give him any idea what to get, but it'll give us an idea of what to recommend for him. It'll also give him a great example of imaging, it's really really fun, and he has nothing to lose.



The OP seemed kinda hesitant to go with the PSB, but the good reviews on here appear to be swaying him. Perhaps if he hears one of the excellent speakers suggested, he'll decide the PSB was good after all, or maybe it wasn't. It gives him a taste of "true" neutrality, and IMO, a taste of what HI-FI is all about.

Personally, I listened to PLENTY of speakers before I listened to the Salon 2. Had I not listened to it, I probably would have purchased one of the other speakers I heard, and settled without even knowing it. I don't feel I settled for the Philharmonic 2, but I do feel I would have settled had I purchased the B&W CM9, or the Dancer Mini One Diamond DMD.

I'm not saying don't listen to many speaker. I'm suggesting listening speakers in the price range. More expensive speakers doesn't necessarily mean more neutral speakers. Look at Wilson or anything coming out of Vienna Acoustics whose frequency response looks like it came from a transistor radio or worse, Bose. Its still subjective after all.