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PMC EB1i v. Thiel CS3.7 v. Pioneer S1-EX v. ???

I'm starting to look at speakers in the $10-16K range, new. These three are high on the list, along with used Vandie 5As. Tyler D20s and the new AZ Crescendos also interest me. Anyone have the chance to compare some or all of these fine speakers?

They'll be driven by Mac MC501 amps + C2300 pre. I listen mostly to '50s &'60s jazz, with some classic rock, bluegrass, and folk. 90% of the time I listen to vinyl on this rig. The room is 28x17x8, opening into hallways at both corners along the long wall behind the speakers (so no real bass issues in those corners). It's a hard room softened with 9 acoustic panels and two bass traps.

My listening priorities for this system are macro- and micro-dynamics, nuance, tonal purity, and realistic scale. I'd like the speakers to disappear while projecting a 3D soundstage and solid low frequency pressure into the room. (The Thiels would likely need a sub.) They'll also have to serve the 60-inch plasma TV on the wall 4 feet behind them in a 2-channel, pseudo-home theater set up. Not much to ask, I know.... :)

I can get a great local price on EB1is but I don't want the deal to make the call. Of course, I'll audition all of them eventually but it's impossible to find them all in one place--or even more than one. So I'd like to draw on the experience of this knowledgeable group as I make my way.

Thanks,
Bill
wrm57
sashav
72 posts
 
I cannot offer at this time a meaningful comparison of active PMC to active ATC, but I will be able to do so in a month or so when I will have them side by side.
I owned IB2S and have auditioned IB2i, and I agree that IB2i sounds incredible, but active ATC50 is overall more incredible to me, considering that there is no perfect speaker and all have some shortcomings.
So far my preference has been passive PMC over passive ATC, and active ATC over passive PMC, overall, based on models I have heard.
I find active ATC to be better than Wilson Sasha and Revel Salon 2, I also prefer passive IB2S or IB2i over these two, but I must say that Revel Salon 2 is also extremely well made speaker with very good integration of drivers, and I prefer Revel Salon 2 over Sasha considerably. About the only thing I find objectionable with Revel Salon 2 is a slight metallic coloration which I guess is the consequence of materials used. And I prefer Revel Salon 2 over lower PMC models.
I agree with Ryder’s assessment of Harbeth in comparison to PMC.
Finally, you will notice that I speak of my preferences, your ears should ultimately guide you.
mclsound
159 posts
 
hi Bill
First off,good luck with your speaker hunt and have fun.
Going by your room size,17x28,you would have no problems with MB2 or IB2.And depending on your average maximum volumes(110-120db??)the midrange would play a big part.If your max. volume does not "ever" exceed 110-112db,the vifa mid will work.Dont get to caught up in the "i" tweeter as it is not worth the extra thousands of dollars they ask for it.You can find a good used pair of non "i" MB2/IB2 for the $7-$8000 range with stands.
ryder
1,698 posts
 
Sashav, you have a good pair of ears and we probably share the same listening preference. I have listened to the Revel Salon2 couple of times last year. They were driven by Mark Levinson monoblocks and Wyred4Sound amps later through the year when my friend upgraded the electronics. Similarly I find the Salon2 to exhibit a hard and metallic sound especially in the high frequency region. Of course my benchmark is the Harbeth which possesses an organic, rounded and natural sound that sounded totally different from the Revels. In contrast, people may argue that the Harbeth lacks the transparency of the Revels and are rolled off in the highs. After becoming accustomed to the sound of the Harbeth, I find the presentation of the Salon2 to be artificial and unnatural.

In my mind the better PMCs and ATCs offer the most neutral sound without the artifact contributed by the *presumably* exotic materials in the tweeters and woofers.

To each his own.

I would be interested to hear your impressions on the active PMCs vs ATCs.
wrm57 OP
1,061 posts
 
Sashav: I appreciate your elaboration. While something of a vicarious information sponge, I'm also an empiricist and, in the end, will be led by my ears. As I said, I should get the EB1i in-house next week. I've also been invited to pop down to San Diego for a day to audition the Acoustic Zen Crescendo at the factory with a local dealer-friend who's thinking about carrying it. I'll see if I can make the time. It's another interesting transmission line contender that has received excellent if limited press.

Mclsound: Thanks for the well-wishes and the tip on the "non-i" PMCs. You may be right: at the SPLs I generally use, the Vifa, which is supposedly modified substantially in-house, might be okay. I'll see.

Thanks again to all. I'll post my findings as I realize them.

Best,
Bill
nescafe2008
1 posts
 
Sashav, what type of active ATC that you think comparable with PMC IB2S performance?
Thank You.
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