PMC Speakers

[counterofbeans]

I've read good things about PMC over the years to the point where I'm thinking of getting a pair.

Is anyone here using any?

I believe they're quite pricey, is there a sweet spot for cost / performance?

Finally, new or used?

Many thanks for any pointers.

[Panamax]

I've never owned any but in my opinion they're very definitely at the "good" end of the spectrum

Have a look at Focal as well. Serious kit for the money IMO.

[outnumbered]

They don't measure very well ! For example:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php...

Personally I wouldn't be looking far away from Kef if I were in the market for new speakers at the moment.

[Panamax]

outnumbered said:

They don't measure very well !
Personally I wouldn't be looking far away from Kef if I were in the market for new speakers at the moment.

To my mind speakers are about sound, not measurement.

Having said that Kef are definitely another serious player and I've owned many over the years, including three sets right now. Kef LS50 are stunning value in my opinion.

[hyphen]

counterofbeans said:

I believe they're quite pricey....

They used to be cheap, but then upped prices due to popularity.

Main strength is that the transmission line design gives you more lower end than other speaker designs of the same physical size. And front ported.

Do you need small size and bass?

Edited by hyphen on Friday 4th February 16:43

[outnumbered]

Panamax said:

To my mind speakers are about sound, not measurement.

Having said that Kef are definitely another serious player and I've owned many over the years, including three sets right now. Kef LS50 are stunning value in my opinion.

Well, the measurements will obviously have some correlation to how they sound... Personally I wouldn't buy speakers without trying them out at home, but I also wouldn't even want to try anything that was as messed up as those PMCs.

[biggles330d]

I had some PMC twenty5 21's on demo for a while. The are beautifully finished and I found attached to my Naim system gave an extremely clean sound - almost clinical - with some impressively punchy bass power for their size but ultimately the box size limited the substance of the sound they gave. I really wanted to get some twenty5 23's floor standers that would give a much fuller sound I suspect but I was already in the grips of price-creep.

Ended up with a pair of Spendor A4's the dealer had on demo. Got to be honest, I'd heard them mentioned but didn't really give them a second look as they don't look particularly special but the dealer said to take them away and try. Their sound I'd describe as being less clinical and warmer than the PMCs but matched to the Naim really are a comfortable listen. Lovely clarity, decent depth, no harshness. It didn't take long to give myself a telling that the point of speakers is for how they sound, not really how they look!

I'd definitely recommend going and testing a few speakers with your chosen system. The way different speakers sound really surprised me. Some I found myself really trying to 'appreciate' for their clarity or tone or imaging or depth etc but on reflection were quite hard to just sit back and enjoy. That's where the Spendor's really stood out and showed up some others as lacking character. No regrets, although I'm still curious as to the twenty5 23's!

Edited by biggles330d on Friday 4th February 17:08

[Mr_Yogi]

I have listened to a number of PMC's over the years, mostly at the Bristol show or just playing in dealers and always thought they were great. In particular the Fact8.

I did a proper audition of the Twenty23, with my Cyrus kit and I was very impressed. I compared them against the Kef R5, Focal Aria 9something, Kudos C2 and some small soundmounts in the same price bracket from B&W. The PMC's were very detailed, with deep bass and had an amazingly accurate soundstage. The Kudos were my favourite but the PMC's were a close second and beat the Kudos in a number of areas.

I would definitely recommend you audition a pair.

Edited by Mr_Yogi on Friday 4th February 19:54

[Mr_Yogi]

outnumbered said:

They don't measure very well ! For example:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php...

Personally I wouldn't be looking far away from Kef if I were in the market for new speakers at the moment.

I haven't read the whole of that thread but the original post is about the Twenty series, which were replaced many years ago. I wouldn't say PMC's don't measure well based on one budget model that was discontinued years ago. PMC's origins are in studio monitors, and they are very successful in this field, so you would assume they know how to reproduce sound accurately.

[outnumbered]

There's a twenty5 review that shows a similar lumpy response. Fine if you like exaggerated bass and treble, but not really HiFi in my opinion. I'd prefer to have neutral speakers and use DSP to tune the response to my liking if required.

[legzr1]

counterofbeans said:

I've read good things about PMC over the years to the point where I'm thinking of getting a pair.

Is anyone here using any?

I believe they're quite pricey, is there a sweet spot for cost / performance?

Finally, new or used?

Many thanks for any pointers.

What’s the budget?

Used will always trump new for value but lots prefer to be the first owner.

I’ve not had much experience of the entire range but the DB1 (dinky box!) was very good. Actually, excellent considering the size!

The ‘cheapest’ model using a mid-range driver was the OB1 - I’ve listened to the i version and they’re cracking speakers. Discontinued now but pop up occasionally on the used market.

And, finally, the speaker which made me really sit up and take notice (although the price is kinda challenging…) - the MB2/XBD. I heard these being driven by big Bryston mono blocks. 1 track was enough to convince me that they’re an end-game speaker. Only ever seen one set for sale used.

[tonyg58]

I've heard a lot of them and liked very few of them.
The bass is nearly always out of time because of the transmission line.
The exception is the GB1 which were an excellent speaker until the price went up about 40% in a couple of years.
If you can pick up a pair used go for it.
If anyone is in the market for a pair of speakers try to find a Paradigm dealer.
The dealers are few and far between, but they are all excellent speakers.

[anonymous-user]

You need to demo the speakers ideally at home with your system.

I bought a pair of Focal Aria 936's as replacements for Focal Chorus 714s on the assumption it would be fine with my existing system. Well it didn't work out and eventually bought a new amp to sort it out.

I demo'd 3 different amps at home all very capable on paper of driving the 936's, 2 weren't up to the job despite sounding very good in the shop.

[stevoknevo]

I picked up a pair of GB1 about 18 months ago and really enjoy them, they do like a bit of power though, and the bass is astonishing for the size of them - the later 'i' version was the pick of the three iterations with an improved tweeter/crossover.

I know someone with twenty23's hanging off much pricier NAIM and Rega kit and he's very pleased with them, I've seen them popping up recently for £1k-ish used recently.

I enjoy reading ASR and do check it out if I'm buying something, but the objectivist v subjectivist argument can get a bit wearing at times, with rather expensive, well known manufacturers products measuring really poorly yet subjective reviews saying they're fantastic (NAIM Supernait 3 being a case in point)

[Deranged Rover]

Superb speakers IMHO.

As to ASR, I’d take his opinions with a huge pinch of salt…

[outnumbered]

stevoknevo said:

I picked up a pair of GB1 about 18 months ago and really enjoy them, they do like a bit of power though, and the bass is astonishing for the size of them - the later 'i' version was the pick of the three iterations with an improved tweeter/crossover.

I know someone with twenty23's hanging off much pricier NAIM and Rega kit and he's very pleased with them, I've seen them popping up recently for £1k-ish used recently.

I enjoy reading ASR and do check it out if I'm buying something, but the objectivist v subjectivist argument can get a bit wearing at times, with rather expensive, well known manufacturers products measuring really poorly yet subjective reviews saying they're fantastic (NAIM Supernait 3 being a case in point)

Don’t think Amir has ever reviewed a Supernait, do you have a pointer ?

The whole point of ASR is to provide some facts in a sphere which is dominated by hearsay. You only have to read people’s totally differing opinions of products they’ve heard at HiFi shows as an example. The same room can be “the best I’ve ever heard” or “totally unlistenable” on the same day in different reports. Generally I think people have a very inflated opinion of their own hearing and ability to truly discriminate between electronics, for sure.

[Red 5]

outnumbered said:

They don't measure very well ! For example:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php...

Personally I wouldn't be looking far away from Kef if I were in the market for new speakers at the moment.

That does look like a very old set of speakers!
Several generations old.
Somebody might have ‘upgraded’ them. Who knows what has happened to them over the years.

[carlymart]

I have used lots of speakers over the year,s linn, monitor audio, b&w. Sonus Faber and more but I took a punt on a pair of PMC gb1 last year and loved them so when I was offered a pair of fact 8,s for a very silly price I had them and that will be the last speakers I intend to buy. Very easy to put in a room and don’t need a lot of room correction. Amazing base and mid and sweet treble. Wide sound stage I just love them.
The may measure bad but I don’t care I enjoy the sound I get from the fact 8,s

[Crackie]

Deranged Rover said:

Superb speakers IMHO.

As to ASR, I’d take his opinions with a huge pinch of salt…

I agree regarding PMCs......the ones I've heard have been excellent.

Very interested to hear your concerns regarding ASR..........is it the testing methodology that concerns you, the objective opinions themselves or something else?

[stratosboy]

I bought a new pair of PMC FB1's, but swapped them over for a pair of secondhand PMC Fact 8 speakers in my arcam based system. Night and day difference. I'd demo'd lots of others too, including Spendor, Kef etc. I would definitely recomend Fact 8 (or 12's if you can afford them) - they come up from time to time on Ebay. Expect to pay £3.5k for Fact 8's and £6.5k for Fact 12's.
or double that new.