PMC Speakers:"Best Buy"or just another speaker?

Sunnyjim,

The Bryston/PMC Owner's circle on www.audiocircle.com has a wealth of information on PMC speakers and ATC vs PMC has been discussed a lot. You might want to check it out if you haven't already. I've only listened to the IB-1 (I own a pair and the IB-1 center). I would think it would be worthwhile for you to listen to the GB-1, FB-1, and the OB-1.With the IB-1's, you hear what is on the recording. If you have a bad recording, it will sound badly. The IB-1's are phenomenal speakers in the bass, mids, and highs in my opinion. The OB-1 shares the same mid and tweeter as the IB-1's. Hope this helps.

I want to thank all for thir generous advice and comments; Yes,I will have to give the PMC's a careful listen. Though, I think I may be predispposed to liking them because of their slim profile and small footprint and "potentially" deep bass. Unfortunately, from what I have read from the above posts, they may not be anything exceptional about them; and, they may also be finicky about front electronics. Also, I would be limited to the GB-1 because of money and even stretching it at $2200.... Interestingly, I heard the Monitor Audio RS-6 which is a great speaker for the money. Along side them, were the Thiel 1.6 which sounded better; the sound just being there unattached to a box or driver. The Thiels, though still had a bit of a tizzy sound in the lower treble, and their published bass response of 48Hz seems anemic for a speaker that costs approx. $2500. All in all, it is difficult for me to justify spending $1500 more for the Thiels over the Monitor Audio's, so I will keep looking.... For the record, I currently have a pair of Vandersteen 1C's which are good speakers and generally accurate for the money, but not coherent with highs that can sound a bit bright and hard. I have also considered just changing my CD player which a 13 year old Sonographe to the "new" Music Hall CD 25.2 or the "allegedly" better modified version. I am sure this could offer some improvement to the overall sound of my system which is neither mediocre nor shabby

Dont go in to listen with negative preconceptions. PMC is well respected in pro sound and domestic sound in the UK. I have the FB1 floorstanders I purchased from an audiogon member(by the way they feature a 6" woofernot 4.5"). They do reveal differences in supporting equipment to a relatively high degree. I have heard them sound very good using SS in a med-large room and surprisingly well in a small room driven by tubes. You can find lots of positive reviews, but you know how that can go...but I do like them very much myself. They can sound very good with the right partners, so keep an open mind.

I have a pair of the FB1+ with the upgraded tweeters and crossovers. Strictly phenomenol with the electronics I have - Bryston 3BST/2BLP biamped, the 2BLP driving the tweeters and Sonic Frontiers Transport, DAC and Phono Preamp, all through a Bryston BP25 Preamp. The room is 15 x 12 x 7 with the speakers close to the wall (transmission port at the front and the wife likes the fact that the speakers are not three feet into the room) and the sound is unbelievable. Monitors usually mean you get what went into the recording - maybe some say "LIVE." Isn't that what audio is all about? Go to a live concert and tell me the sound is 'warm" or "laid back." I think not! In a live concert you want to hear the overtones, the buzz of a guitar string and the twang when a guitarist goes up and down the frets. That's what live music is all about. Sorry, but you don't get that in the majority of speakers.
I'm sold on the PMC line. Try ProAc if you can't find the PMCs in your neighbourhood.