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psb synchrony 1's owners question

203.184.38.134
Posted on October 27, 2009 at 23:11:34
AudioFreak
 Hello I am looking at buying the synchrony 1's but the retailer here is not interested in letting me demo the speakers with my system which consists of the Marantz SA11S1 CD player & the matching PM11 amp currently using Wharfedale opus 1 loudspeakers.


From the stereophile review JA meantioned the speakers needed careful matching with the system which is where I am stuck.

Does anyone know if my gear would be a good match to these speakers as they have had great reviews and would be a good step up from my current speakers.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Blair
RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on October 31, 2009 at 06:06:34
Frank I
Audiophile

Posts: 745
Joined: December 9, 2001
 The dealer is an idiot. I bought the pair of Revel F30 that Overture Audio in Deleware let me take home for a demo. They never left as I also purchased a Classe CDP .5 from them the same way. tERRY ALWAYS LETS YOU TAKE HOME HIS DEMOS FOR AUDITION. mAYBE THATS WHY HE IS IN BUSINESS FOR SO LONG.

RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on October 29, 2009 at 02:38:36
Ozzy
Audiophile

Posts: 5219
Joined: September 21, 1999
 If the local retailer won't let you demo them at home, or at the least let you bring in your components, you might as well buy online. And you hear cries of "support brick and mortar stores". If he's not willing to earn his money, don't give it to him.

Oz



Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill

RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on October 29, 2009 at 10:05:19
Olde Bulldogge
Audiophile

Posts: 308
Location: New York
Joined: September 24, 2007
 Oz, I agree with you. When I went to my local dealer looking for a tubed preamp a few years ago, they went to their computer and printed out a spec sheet for the VTL 2.5. Wow, what service!

I'd call PSB, posted on October 28, 2009 at 14:34:38
keith_d
Audiophile

Posts: 940
Joined: June 15, 2002
 Both to ask about a home trial - I bet they'd speak to the dealer or otherwise do something direct...if you're serious, and to ask about the suitability of the Marantz.

RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on October 28, 2009 at 10:45:49
Pat D
Audiophile

Posts: 7558
Joined: June 20, 2000
 I heard the Synchrony Ones in a store at some length. They were driven by a big Krell amp, but don't worry too much about that. It is a superb speaker and my listening pretty well accords with JA's comments, and also with Doug Schneider's comments in Soundstage. Some of the amps they used were only slightly larger than yours.

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/psb_synchrony_one.htm

The PSB Synchrony One's impedance gets down to a low of 2.65 in the bass and 2.6 ohms at 1160 Hz. The impedance curve also lies fairly low throughout most of the bass and midrange. Soundstage measured a sensitivity of 87.5 dB, which is about average.

I haven't been able to find much about the Marantz PMll integrated amp other than it seems to be rated at 100 watts into 8 ohms and 200 watts into 4 ohms so it seems to be a reasonably high current amplifier, which an expensive solid state amp should be. It probably will work at normal listening levels below 90 dB (I am allowing for about 15 dB headroom), which is quite loud. Since the speakers have moderately low impedance from 30-1500 Hz, the amp will probably run hotter than you are used to.

Can you bring your amp into the store to see how it works with the speakers? That would be the next best thing to a home trial. How much is the dealer giving you off for a demonstrator?

"Probability is the very guide to life."---Cicero
RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on October 29, 2009 at 05:38:27
Doug Schneider
 Since my name, my review and our NRC measurements were brought up, I thought that I'd weigh in on what I see as the issue.

Quite simple, the Synchrony One, while an excellent speaker, is a bit of a tricky load. The sensitivity is average, but the impedance presents some challenges even if the amp seems "powerful" enough.

A rock-solid solid-state design, say a Bryston, should have no trouble with it. I never tried it, but I'm guessing and I know that's one of the amps Paul Barton drove it with at NRC when he was designing it. But a lower-power amp with as robust a power supply, possibly not. I tried Simaudio's 50Wpc integrated, which is a beefy "small" amp, but it clipped badly on bass passages. My 30Wpc Zanden tube amp didn't stand a chance. 100W or over seems to be a minimum, but there needs to be very-good current capability that's sustained because it's dropping to less than 3 ohms a couple of times. I have the 100Wpc Classe integrated here that supposedly holds up well into 4-ohms loads but, unfortunately, I can't remember how it performed exactly. I recall that it didn't present it severe problems. But I also know that the very best experience I had with the speaker was with Classe's CA-5200, which is a 5-channel amp capable of 200Wpc into 8 ohms per channel. For the Synchronys, I was using just 2 of its 5 channels.

My suggestion would be to definitely TRY it before you buy. Can you take your amp down to the store?

Doug Schneider

RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on October 31, 2009 at 13:20:24
johannablair@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Joined: October 27, 2009
 Hello Doug,
Well I managed to talk the dealer to finally letting me bring my gear in to demo with the speakers.

The amp had no problem driving the speakers although the amp got a bit warm and the combination sounded great.

I would have to say these are the best speakers that I have listened to that are in my price affordability range, they are very neutral and natural sounding and had the best clean bass from any reflex encloser I have heard.

Thanks for the advice.
Cheers
Blair
RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on November 2, 2009 at 07:22:55
Pat D
Audiophile

Posts: 7558
Joined: June 20, 2000
 I thought that your amp should do pretty well with the Synchrony Ones.

The PSB Synchrony Ones are first class loudspeakers, very neutral. They are as good as any I have heard and I am sure I could live very happily with them.

"Probability is the very guide to life."---Cicero
RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on October 29, 2009 at 11:34:37
johannablair@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Joined: October 27, 2009
 Hello All,
thanks for all your input, I would love a hm demo but this retailer does not allow that option.

One of the UK HiFi mags measured my amp and it could actually deliver 300 watts into 4ohms, unsure if this was only 1 channel driven or both but it was continous power.

I am sure I also read some where that KI from Marantz said the amp was designed to work with the B&W802D's which I understand is a difficult load as well.

Heres hoping for the best.

Cheers
Blair

RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on October 29, 2009 at 09:32:25
Pat D
Audiophile

Posts: 7558
Joined: June 20, 2000
 I also suggested the OP take his amp to the store to see how it works with the speakers.

I have no idea why the dealer wouldn't arrange for a home trial--the usual thing is to put it on a credit card with a specified return period for a trial so there's no risk. Perhaps the dealer figures his demonstrator price is low enough that he can sell them outright to someone, or maybe he's just a jerk.

I think the Marantz may be a little marginal but from what I can tell it was rated at 200 watts into 4 ohms. Something like a Bryston 4B would provide more headroom, for sure.

How loud he plays music is also a factor, and I don't think most people play music all that loud. How loud do you listen? We have an inmate here who drives a pair of PSB Stratus Gold-i speakers (which are about 3.5 dB less sensitive) with a 125 watt amp some of us consider a bit marginal for them but it apparently works well most of the time and he likes the sound.









"Probability is the very guide to life."---Cicero
What's the current rating of the Marantz amp??, posted on October 28, 2009 at 09:19:16
Sordidman
Dealer

Posts: 9251
Location: San Francisco
Joined: May 14, 2001
 I suspect that you might have a good combo there.

They are going to fill up your room if you have a medium to largish room; but I do recommend a high current amp. I'm very familiar with the Marantz SACD unit, - but not the character of the amp. If it errs on the side of being a touch warm or sweet, - it should be pretty good; as long as you have the current.

Cheers,


Surrendered to self preservation,
From others who care for themselves.
A blindness that touches perfection,
But hurts just like anything else.
RE: psb synchrony 1's owners question, posted on October 28, 2009 at 05:24:59
Brzi
Audiophile

Posts: 67
Location: Ljubljana
Joined: November 13, 2002
 I had no ooportunity to listen to the Synchrony 1 and PM-11 combination, but on the basis of the specififications I see no obstacle for both devices to be paired. Post a message/review if you would buy Synchrony 1.
B.

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