Anyone heard the new PMC Twenty series?

[Bluedroog]

Hi guys, regular reader but not such a regular poster (due to work web marshal but seems to be letting me now....)

Is there much excitement over the new range from PMC to celebrate 20 years in the business? From what I've read else where they seem to getting quite a warm reception. There is an obvious correlation between models in the i and new Twenty series. I was looking at getting a pair of the TB2i's but now the Twenty 22's will defiantly be getting an audition too. There isn't a huge difference in price, about a £300 premium.

They are supposed to have a sound closer to that of the FACT speakers and I for one can't wait to give the a demo back to back.

Anyone else heard them yet? First impressions?

[Butuz]

Not heard them but would like to! They certainly look much more impressive than the old i series.

By the look of it they have a woofer and tweeter that bares more resemblence to the FACT series than it does the i series.

Butuz

[DSJR]

Nothing like launching a new range and increasing the retail prices to suit :rolleyes:

[DSJR]

1.8kHz on the tweeter means this unit must be good, as it's a bit low for smooth functioning of many tweeters...

[Bluedroog]

Nothing like launching a new range and increasing the retail prices to suit :rolleyes:



I've read a fair bit on this range and although there are obvious comparisons to be drawn between these and the i series (mainly size wise) apparently they have been completely re-designed and the only component shared is the bolts holding the drivers in place. These do not replace the i series which will be kept in production for the foreseeable future but are a new addition to their line up.

Not sure if these are suppose to be a 'range up' or just 'different'. Although sound wise they have been compared as being similar to the more expensive FACT series.

[DSJR]

I'm sure they're fine and will no doubt sell better in wealthier countries than this one. Whether their UK dealers (Audio T?) will be able to sell many these days is anyone's guess.....

[aquapiranha]

I owned the TB2S+'s for a couple of years and if I am honest I thought they were very good. I wouldn't mind hearing some of the new ones but will never be buying any, as my money, if I ever get any, will be going on some 15" Tannoys of some description and I will build the cabs myself.

[YNWaN]

I've heard absolutely nothing about them. However, today I had a look at the list of exhibitors at the Manchester show (this coming weekend) and I see these new PMC speakers are being launched; what a remarkable coincidence.

I will be at the show on Sunday, so will have a listen.

[Bluedroog]

Hi Mark - Well if you get the chance to hear them I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts. :)

[YNWaN]

I will definitely have a listen - will let you know my findings :). I should perhaps say that I have not previously found myself very enthusiastic about transmission-line designs though.

[Bluedroog]

I should perhaps say that I have not previously found myself very enthusiastic about transmission-line designs though..

All helps to give a balanced view.

[DSJR]

I will definitely have a listen - will let you know my findings :). I should perhaps say that I have not previously found myself very enthusiastic about transmission-line designs though.

I've found they do vary and the more one tries to "extend" the usable bass response, the more problems you get further up. The best lines I heard were in the PMC MB1 and 2 and years before, IMF's RSPM IV, which totally lacked the ear-pressure effects of the RS and PM III models which preceeded it.

[Bluedroog]

Hi Mark, did have have a listen in the end?

[Butuz]

Heared the new ones at manchester show i think they are like a more well refined version of the i

Loved em myself. Precise, clear, nonfatiguing. Enjoyable. Pmc room was one of the best at the show IMO

Butuz

[YNWaN]

Hi Mark, did have have a listen in the end?

Yeah, I heard the smaller stand-mount ones. To be honest, I thought they were OK, but they didn't excite me in any way. Then again, I'm not a big fan of Bryston. They seemed tonally well balanced and one of my friends felt they filled the room well and produced a good sense of scale; personally, I wasn't so convinced that their abilities were anything special in this regard and wanted them to sound more 'open'. However, they didn't have the rather odd, slowed, bass that I often hear with transmission lines - but then they are too small to have much of a transmission line - must be more of an aperiodic damping configuration (which I prefer any way).

Of the smaller speakers, my favourites were these Quadral Aurum speakers (very much to my surprise).

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/Hi-Fi%20Choice/HFC%20350/HFC350.quadral.aurum_feat-218-85.jpg

The room did everything to encourage my prejudices - lots of random looking speakers that looked like they had copied ideas from a dozen other manufacturers and tried to hit every price point. They also had a rep who kept referring to their 'hand made' range.

As we sat down, one of my friends told me that he had heard them sounding good at Scalford Hall last year and that I would be surprised. I made it clear to him that I would be sufficiently surprised if they didn't sound completely shit. The rep plonked them on some wobbly stands and proceeded to demo from their 'hand made' amplifier (which looked like it had just been unloaded from a 'made in China' pallet. Well, I was surprised, exceedingly surprised in fact. They sounded really open and expressive - the ribbon tweeter sounded smooth and well integrated and the bass didn't boom at all. However, their positioning did mean they were a long way from the walls so the verdict is still out on the bass as far as I am concerned (there sure is a heck of a lot of port on that back panel :(). The demo ones were in gloss red which I didn't like - but gloss black is also done (and wood veneers) - approx £1500 a pair.

My favourite big speakers were the Kef Blades. I've heard these a few times now. Most recently, prior to the show, at Paul Messenger's house. At Manchester they were being used with absolutely vast Electrocompaniet mono-block power amps, and the sound did lean toward the 'electronic' in character - they sounded very much more laid back at Paul's using very different amplification. My own preference would be for something between the two styles of presentation, but my experience does suggest that the Blade sounds quite different depending on what is up-stream of it. However, every time I have heard the Blades they have produced one constant, and that is truly excellent stereo placement and they have a very 'out of the box' sound to them (20K though).

http://fwdcdn.channel5.com/upload/1155/8307/KEF_Blade_Pair_Shot_White_Black_1__size_9.jpg?