PSB T45 dissapointment and other Recommendations?

[porksoda]

I recently heavily in house auditioned the T45's and to my dissappointed they are not for me... i am not a big fan or harsh sounding speakers... after running some test tones and checking output levels seems to have OVER exagerated the 5khz-7khz range approx.

Lack of bass to the point where barry white voice was done unjustice.

Jazz and classical sounded great... most rock was ok minus the harshness.

This is for sure not my cup of tea... on the positive note... by far one of the best sound stage in stereo mode... the seperation was great too... from the size of the speakers they perform like something smaller but with a boost.

I had high hopes for these speakers and wanted to adopt them to my system. But i think i am back on square one.

My Only reason for heading towards psb series was because i already own the psb image 9c centre channel and i thought the tone match would complete my listening expeirence.

Any suggestions for some non harsh speakers?

 

[Privateer]

What is your budget?

 

[bumblebee]

try acoustic energy, wharfedale.

 

[porksoda]

No more than 2k per pair.

What is your budget?

 

[Takeereasy]

If you own a 9C then have you considered buying a 2B. They share the same 6 1/2" driver as the 9C. 2001 audio video is clearing them out for $299. I hate 2001's pushy tactics but this is a steal. I have 2B's and I love em, but that is just me. I noticed you were from TO so I figured I 'd suggest this as a fall back.

I'd also suggest you demo some Monitor Audio Bronze B2's, great bookshelfs with alot of punch. But if you want to spend the whole 2K then look into Monitor audio S8 floorstanders. Fan F'n tastaic sounding IMO.

 

[porksoda]

The dealers here have a great sale to flush out last year models on AE so i havnt been able to give them a listen.

I am going to wait for the new models for AE to come in.... I gotta find a dealer for wharfedale.

thanks for hte pointers.

try acoustic energy, wharfedale.

 

[3db]

Wow Thats so odd

I recently heavily in house auditioned the T45's and to my dissappointed they are not for me... i am not a big fan or harsh sounding speakers... after running some test tones and checking output levels seems to have OVER exagerated the 5khz-7khz range approx.

Lack of bass to the point where barry white voice was done unjustice.

Jazz and classical sounded great... most rock was ok minus the harshness.

This is for sure not my cup of tea... on the positive note... by far one of the best sound stage in stereo mode... the seperation was great too... from the size of the speakers they perform like something smaller but with a boost.

I had high hopes for these speakers and wanted to adopt them to my system. But i think i am back on square one.

My Only reason for heading towards psb series was because i already own the psb image 9c centre channel and i thought the tone match would complete my listening expeirence.

Any suggestions for some non harsh speakers?

I own a pair of T45's and love em. They are voiced darker than the Axioms or Paradigm monitor series so I'm really surprised to hear you say that they sound harsh. When I got my pair, I too found the bass a little on the anemic side but the more I played them, the stronger the bass got. I suspect that there wasn't enough breakin time on them. To see what these speakers can do with bass, I suggsest listeniing to Cowboy Junkie's Crescent Moon" album or Melvin Taylor's version of "Texas Flood" . I play these as full range speakers in stereo mode, no DSP, no sub and I'm rattling my basement slider windows. I'm using a cheap old Panasonic DX940 receiver to drive them. Out of curioisty, what are you using to drive them? Where did you get the test tones? The other thing I have to add here is that these speakers reveal everything. If the recording is poor, you will hear it as poor and visa versa.


Good luck with your hunt!!

 

[porksoda]

Alas

In my search for good speakers i auditioned the AE and i found them to be a bit better but not too far...

Initially when i went on this paramount journey to find speakers that were better than mine i did not realise that i may have to shell out more than i bargained for.

I found the PSB Platinum series to be very well balanced and musical. I think the platinums are for me...

The image series i still believe is a little harsh.

I listened to the t45s on marantz sr7000 sr7300 the nad 773 and arcam avr300.

I should not not recommend t45s they are just not according to my musical style.

The staging/imaging was excellent and clarity was as good as you can get for that price range. They do very well for speakers as they do not impose on the musical appearance instead they dissappear and u just are left listening to music alone.

But one again they are not my taste. Same reason i tend to stay away from yamaha and/or denon... they are just not my musical taste.

I own a pair of T45's and love em. They are voiced darker than the Axioms or Paradigm monitor series so I'm really surprised to hear you say that they sound harsh. When I got my pair, I too found the bass a little on the anemic side but the more I played them, the stronger the bass got. I suspect that there wasn't enough breakin time on them. To see what these speakers can do with bass, I suggsest listeniing to Cowboy Junkie's Crescent Moon" album or Melvin Taylor's version of "Texas Flood" . I play these as full range speakers in stereo mode, no DSP, no sub and I'm rattling my basement slider windows. I'm using a cheap old Panasonic DX940 receiver to drive them. Out of curioisty, what are you using to drive them? Where did you get the test tones? The other thing I have to add here is that these speakers reveal everything. If the recording is poor, you will hear it as poor and visa versa.


Good luck with your hunt!!

 

[Brianphoto]

Do not buy Paradigm speakers, customer service is a nightmare. Read my thread under "loudspeakers and subwoofers" for details......

 

[Shinerman]

Do not buy Paradigm speakers, customer service is a nightmare. Read my thread under "loudspeakers and subwoofers" for details......

OK, enough! You started a thread about Paradigm so stay there. No need to trash Paradigm in every thread regardless of topic. We get the point!

Shinerman

 

[annunaki]

I agree, it is not fair to the person who started the thread.

 

[Takeereasy]

Ok, fair enough, I agree that the Platinum's sound better than the Image series. They had better considering that the MSRP starts at $2000US for a pair for the bookshelves and ranges up to $7000US for floorstanders. The T45 is $750 US MSRP. Come on man, apples to apples comparison, not apples to steak and beer MMMMM... Steak and beer, I can hear my BBQ firing up from here.

The PSB Platinum series are some of, if not the best sounding speakers I have ever heard, but they are out of my price range by a long shot.

 

[porksoda]

Ok, fair enough, I agree that the Platinum's sound better than the Image series. They had better considering that the MSRP starts at $2000US for a pair for the bookshelves and ranges up to $7000US for floorstanders. The T45 is $750 US MSRP. Come on man, apples to apples comparison, not apples to steak and beer MMMMM... Steak and beer, I can hear my BBQ firing up from here.

The PSB Platinum series are some of, if not the best sounding speakers I have ever heard, but they are out of my price range by a long shot.

NOds i agree entirely... i just have to get to that level since i dont enjoy anything i have heard so far .. so they will be here soon.

Its not bashing the psb image its just NOT for me... for someone who may not have a preference like i do may enjoy the t45, t55 and t65...

 

[Takeereasy]

I've got a quick suggestion, you're in Toronto so you're pretty close to Whitby, there is a dealer there that has some PSB stratus minis that are usually $1200 on for $750 because they are trade-ins. They are heads and tales above most bookshelfs IMO.

I hear ya about personal taste. I love my psb 2B's, but if I had my druthers there'd be some PSB Platinums or some Paradigm 100's in my HT. I love those speakers but they are just tantalizingly out of reach. My next purchase has to be a sub so I'm researching away on that. THe best setup I've heard would be some B&W's (I think they were 800's) run off some krell monblocks that were like 400 watts a piece. That setup was fantatic, also was way more than $20K, how much more I don't know. My girlfriends dad asked me how much I thought that setup would cost and I guessed $20k, the salesman who had sidled up behind me just did that fake cough while saying way more! under his breath. Of well, one day when I win the lottery or marry a doctor, or marry a doctor who's won the lottery or something like that.

 

[Duffinator]

I'd also suggest you demo some Monitor Audio Bronze B2's, great bookshelfs with alot of punch. But if you want to spend the whole 2K then look into Monitor audio S8 floorstanders. Fan F'n tastaic sounding IMO.

I spent an hour last weekend listening back and forth between the newer Monitor Audio RS8's and RS6's. Both are terrific sounding and worth your consideration. The older S Silver series are discontinued and on sale now.

 

[Takeereasy]

Duffinator, you have made me as happy as a school girl. I've got a new project to start researching. By the way my girlfriend, accountant, and wallet all hate you now . Monitor audio silvers are fantastic speakers in every sense of the word, I'm not as big a fan of the s1 but the s2 is a great bookshelf. (the s1 is nice but for just a little more the s2 takes it to town) I'm going to start looking for those clearout silvers now.

 

[porksoda]

Well seems like 2001 audiovideo carries lots of lower end psb... not bad... great metro had a few sale items im not sure about the stratus ones... i grabbed the stratos subsonic 7 for a killer price when paul barton was discontinuing the stratus series (temporarily, i hear its going to be back in a year or so).

Yeah well the speakers add up... 8k a pair two pairs centre for 2k... sub for a k... yer upto 19k with speakers alone . Throw in a plasma upto 30... some seperates yer upto 38ish.

Damn lottery is right... hobbies are expensive... whatever happened to the good ol' days? which good ol' days? havnt the clue.

I've got a quick suggestion, you're in Toronto so you're pretty close to Whitby, there is a dealer there that has some PSB stratus minis that are usually $1200 on for $750 because they are trade-ins. They are heads and tales above most bookshelfs IMO.

I hear ya about personal taste. I love my psb 2B's, but if I had my druthers there'd be some PSB Platinums or some Paradigm 100's in my HT. I love those speakers but they are just tantalizingly out of reach. My next purchase has to be a sub so I'm researching away on that. THe best setup I've heard would be some B&W's (I think they were 800's) run off some krell monblocks that were like 400 watts a piece. That setup was fantatic, also was way more than $20K, how much more I don't know. My girlfriends dad asked me how much I thought that setup would cost and I guessed $20k, the salesman who had sidled up behind me just did that fake cough while saying way more! under his breath. Of well, one day when I win the lottery or marry a doctor, or marry a doctor who's won the lottery or something like that.

 

[KFG14]

How about Vandersteens?

Have you heard Vandersteens?

The 2Ce's list for 1,549.00 USD.

http://www.vandersteen.com/pages/2Celit2.html

I bought the 1C's and love them. I did a lot of listening to the 2Ce's but don't have the space nor the bucks for them.

I'm getting married tomorrow, so the money's tied up a bit... but I did manage to buy new stuff.

 

[Paul D. H.]

I have the T45's. They are much more reveling of the equipment and source material then you may think. Room acoustics are very important has you know. Also make sure you room is not hot, hard floors are a big no no. Also keep them away from sidewalls.

My son was running an older Yamaha receiver with my T45's and they showed it be harsh, when we put the speakers back on my main Yamaha the harshest went away. I have Celestion’s SL12's that I have replaced with the T45’s and there is no going back. The speaker's are easily worth 3 times their going price.

Paul