PSB Image T6 fuzzy sound


Hello,

I just got a pair of PSB Image T6’s. I am noticing that on source material containing female vocals (Norah Jones, Feist), the high frequencies are accompanied by a fuzzy, “staticy” muddled sound. Sadly it makes the recordings pretty hard to listen to. I do not recall hearing such coloration at the store where I demo’d them (I unfortunately did not listen to the same material at the store… I plan to head back there with my discs in hand when time permits). After initially thinking I got a defective pair, I played the same material on my surrounds which are PSB Image T5’s. Interestingly enough, I heard the same coloration. Given the similarity in the sound between the two sets of speakers, I am wondering if its one of my other components. Before I go down that path and shop for and swap out cables and amps, I wanted to get some idea from those out there who have listened to these speakers. Is this fuzzy, “staticy” muddled sound a characteristic of the latest incarnation of the PSB Image line? More importantly, is there anything I can do to clear up those highs?

Thanks
Kevin

Additional Associated Equipment and Room Information:

20’ X 20’ with a 20 ft pitched ceiling at the center.
Arcam AVR 200 as Pre/Power amp
Oppo BPD 103 as CD player
Acoustic Research 6ft interconnects
10’ pair of 11 guage IXOS speaker cables.
krazeeyk
It's funny. By you writing that the thread was old, I looked at the op and immediately assumed it was from 2008. I've only had one vodka drink tonight. Maybe I should get off the Schmirnoff.
Hello B_limo,

If I may ask, what convinced you that the sound wasn't indicative of a blown tweeter? Although I did a comparison with my T5's, part of me still can't shake the idea that the tweeters are blown. It really just doesn't sound right. It may just be a matter of adjusting my expectations. I bought these with the intention for home theater.

Anyhow, here are few of the tracks and times that I noticed the high "fuzz" on. I hope you have access to some of the same CDs.

Artist Norah Jones, Album "Come Away With Me"
Track 1 "Don't Know Why"
0:10 through 0:13
0:22
0:38
0:50
1:00 through 1:04
1:10 through 1:18
Track 2 "Seven Years"
0:15
0:30
0:40
Track 3 "Cold Cold Heart"
0:23
0:40
1:07
1:10
1:22 through 1:24
1:47
2:00 through 2:11 (the whole piano part has this fuzzy hiss to it)

Artist The XX, Album "Coexist"
Track 9 "Unfold"
0:40
1:00

Artist Diana Krall, Album Live in Paris
Track 4 "The Look of Love"
0:49 through 0:51
1:22 (the "Long I've waited" part really brings out the hiss)

Artist Bic Runga, Album Drive
Track 1 "Drive"
0:41 through 0:43 (pay particular attention when she sings the word "know")
1:05 (notice the sound of the singing "feeling I guess")

Artist Coldplay, Album Parachutes
Track 1 "Don't Panic"
The chorus "we live in a beautiful world" brings out the hiss
1:20 through 1:23 (the piano part is pretty bad sounding)
1:50 through 1:54
Track 6 "Trouble"
0:40

Thanks again,
Kevin
Eek! That must of took some time to compile that list. Just one or two tracks would have done, my man! Anyhow, all I had to do was listen to the Norah jones cd to realize we definately aren't talking about the same thing. The fuzziness I am hearing is more of a distorted crunchiness that is only apparent in some rock music (mainly three doors down) during electric guitar solos.

Anyhow, I would think that you definately have an issue here. You are noticing it quite often. The Norah Jones cd I am listening to sounds perfect. I also listened to the coldplay cd and heard nothing.

This is definately not a charecteristic of your speakers. It's interesting that you heard it in your surround speakers also. I was going to say that you should hook up another pair of speakers and see if you still hear the sound. It may be a pair of rca patch cords going bad on you. I've heard rca's do what you are describing. Go to best buy or wal-mart and pick up a new pair. You can take them back, and I would even if that is the problem, once you order yourself a good pair of the net.

Hope you get it figured out soon! Must be a drag to get a new pair of speakers and not be able to enjoy them. Those are nice speakers and they will sound great once you get this figured out. If there is anything else I can do to help you I will! Nice taste in music by the way :-)
I don't think it's your speakers, if your speakers are new maybe the company upgraded something in the crossovers, better caps? compared to older versions of the same model speaker giving you a little more detail, i ran your test on my infinity IRS epsilons, these speakers were $16,000.00 when they were new in 1995, they have so much detail from top to bottom that they will reveal the weakest link in your electronics and the good and the bad in all recordings...much better than any other speaker i have ever owned, they use planar tweeters, planar midranges, planar midbass drivers and a servo controlled 12"woofer, if you want to see what they look like you can search them on the web, i listened to where you marked the points in the Nora Jones cd and i hear the noise to, actually i heard this years ago and had to laugh at how bad it was recorded, it almost sounds like at times it gets distorted when they play or sing too loud but then at some points in the recording when they are not playing loud you can hear it too, i don't think it's your speakers i think it's just a bad recording.