Love my IB2i. They do everything extremely well, to my ears, and seamlessly. But I do think they're too pricey. That said, given how much I enjoy them, I don't regret the expense.
PMC vs. Salk Sound Speakers. Which is better?
PMC speakers out of England have come on like a freight train in recent years including being awarded an Emmy for outstanding performance as speakers in mixing sound tracks for top motion pictures. Their high end home line of speakers always get good reviews but their prices seem very high compared to other speakers. Salk appears to make great speakers at much lower prices. For example, the Salk Veracity HT3 costs $6K and the PMC PB1i cost $14K. Has anyone compared these brands and which do you think is better?
Showing 8 responses by wrm57
If the grills of my IB2i were to become warped (I assume that's what Mclsound meant by "wraped"), PMC will replace them free of charge for the next 18 years. That's how long I have remaining on the original 20-year warranty, which is transferable. I'd call that a company that prizes customer loyalty and satisfaction. |
I listen to jazz most of the time, although my tastes run the gamut, through two extremely refined vinyl rigs with excellent electronics. My PMC IB2i sound terrific to me on everything. Consummate versatility is one of their best features. By no means does my delight in my PMC model imply that Salk doesn't make terrific speakers, too. This thread sets up a false opposition between two brands, both of which may be excellent at the same time. Audio is not a zero-sum competition. And really, $16K to one buyer may mean less than $9K to another. |
FWIW, I just came across this recent review of PMC IB2i by Aron Garrecht on Ultra Audio. Some conclusions: "What the IB2i made clear is that, as always, sound is paramount, and when it came to sound, PMCs IB2i is a beguilingly good-sounding speaker that I found difficult to stop listening to.... The integration of the drivers outputs was so good that they reminded me of the point-source coaxial drivers used in such speakers as KEFs Blade. The quality of bass on tap from PMCs ATL technology and robust carbon-fiber piston driver working as one is also equal to or better than that of most floorstanding bass-reflex designs Ive heard in this price range. But the real jewel of the IB2i is its exquisite dome midrange driver -- it provided the most neutral, natural, lifelike midrange Ive heard in a speaker south of $40,000." He, too, questions their price but finds it justified by the sound quality. Having lived with these speakers for a couple of years, I find his analysis right on. YMMV. |