After this review (I've read more on the 21i's) I found myself placing them on top of the long list of 10 (!) sucessors to my Emit10's hooked up to a Uniti Star. Auditioned them last week and I was sold, for me the same key words (crisp, speed, bass speed) applied. It's wonderful to have someone around on RUclips making such balanced reviews, thanks Tarun.
As always, an informative, straightforward and comprehensive review. I have long had my eye on PMC Speakers. My priorities are tonality followed closely by clarity and resolution. An infrequent combination, especially when modest resources are at play. Unfortunately, much music is not recorded with quality in mind. So we face the conundrum of cherished music poorly recorded. Ruthlessly revealing equipment exacerbates those flaws. Then there's the listening space. Many of us do not have a large room with flexibility in placement available. Reviews that address these issues are of particular value for the discerning. Finally, system synergy is an area that reviewers often overlook. One that can greatly affect the satisfaction or lack, when equipment is heard in the home. Thank you, your work is appreciated.
Good video and fair review. I own the pmc Twenty5 22 and agree with your points. Timing is amazing but not a heart shaking experience and source is very important. A great speaker and I would recommend for vinyl lovers to try it out.
Thank you very much for your professional review on the PMC 25.21i , Tarun. For two years I owned the PMC 25.21 and now I own the Sonus faber Minima Amator 2. The PMC is a great speaker with a clear and accurate sound. Tight bass. However, for me, the sound was for my head, not my heart. No speaker is perfect. Sonus faber speakers are certainly not perfect. Although my Sonus faber Minima Amator 2 plays less detailed than the PMC, it has a richer bass, and plays more organically and naturally than the PMC. The musical involvement with the Sonus faber is phenomenal. With PMC I listened to sound. With Sonus faber I listen to music. 😊
Fully agree. In fact, I cannot understand for even 1 second why any sane person could enjoy and even worse, purchase a pair of PMC speakers. They simply make various noises, certainly not MUSIC!
Hi Tarun, excellent video as always. Your knowledge depth is just so impressive and yet you consistently judge perfectly the amount of it that is included in each video. My favorite audio channel certainly. Thank you
Thank you Pedro. It is a difficult balance to get right, including technical information without losing people and keeping things digestible. Very kind of you to say and much appreciated 😊👍👍
Love the review. Big fan of proper transmission line speakers. I was freaked out at 1:44 when I saw the drawing and thought "no, they did it wrong" referring to the porting. Then later at 2:15, I was relieved to see the cutaway showing a properly engineered porting system. They look to be of excellent quality. Thanks again for the review. If I can find them here, I will definitely give them proper consideration.
As far as I know transmission line speakers always show a slow bass respond. What you gain on the one hand you'll lose on the other hand. What is the -3dB frequency 45Hz?
Yup love the special 40 compared to these ! Nearly bought the special forty but needed up with the Totem Signature One instead which I enjoy. PMC to harsh and lifeless for me!!
Wow. Fantastic again Tarun. Truely. It’s clear why you’re one of the fastest growing YT channels for audio that I’ve seen. I feel like I truly understand how these speakers sound now. I’ve contemplated the PMC Twenty5 series for some time now and this has finally nailed it for me. Thanks.
Thank you Rick. Very kind of you to say. These speakers will be on my shortlist of recommendations at this price point. Please let me know how you get on with them if you get a chance to listen. Always a pleasure to hear from you and thank you for your support 😊👍👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 in fact, I don’t plan to audition these (can’t do that during COVID anyhow), really because I know my preferences and priorities, and your review made it clear they don’t match up. Speed and transients don’t matter to me as much as soundstage (definitely including depth) and some level of warmth and body to the midrange. “Cool” or even “coolish” or “crispy” speakers and I don’t tend to get along, and the rest of my system is not tailored around that “temperature”. A Big 3D soundstage is super important to me as well, and I prefer a neutral or even “set back” presentation, to a forward or “intimate” one. By the way, I recommend to try to demo/review some Graham Audio speakers. I have the LS6 and I think they are incredible standmounts.
@@rlowes Dude, may I suggest that you're making a massive and costly mistake? At the very least you should home audition these speakers as they will quickly overload a room with cold, lifeless boom and tizz. I would hate for you to make such a risky gamble...
This is a bang on review! I've got the GB1i and love them but when I really enjoy listening it is the Kef 104/2s! Depth of sound stage, more natural presentation and just perfect rendition.
This review sits well with your very more recent review of PMCs Prodigy 5 . Transmission Line speakers produce a quality of bass like few others. Having owned Castle Avon 5s (a TL design from a few years ago no longer available) I can confirm the tangible detail, power,depth and tuneful bass a TL can produce which is difficult to find in other designs . TL designs are few (there are some DIY TL speakers available) but given their obvious advantages it is a missed opportunity . They are more complex in terms of the design and the internal line but the latter might also be part of their strength in suppressing speaker cabinet resonance and vibration . Keep the reviews coming. Much favoured in this quarter .
Thanks Tarun. I have always liked The PMC speakers from a few years ago. Your take on these newest of The PMC range have been well received by me. I constantly go back and forth on your very many audiophile reviews to educate myself .....in all this associated with this hobby. I am a music/enthusiast who just loves the hobby and cherry pick from the numerous ideas you present. Thanks and I love the vocal presentation. David from The Great White North
well I received the Twenty5.22i speakers today, and yes they paired lovely with the Sugden IA-4 amp. Effortless to drive these speakers with a good Class A amp. The clarity and articulation and annunciation is so clean and fast. The bass is perfect, not boomy very nice. This was a great choice.
Thank you my friend for this and all your other YT videos. Always a good day when I see you've posted another vid. You truly area ray of sunlight in world of gloom. Here in California we are going through another round of Covid shutdowns, and I understand that things are even worse in Great Britain. You give us something else to focus our mental outlook on. Appreciate your comparison of the speaker to your ProAcs. I've enjoyed the ProAc sound whenever I'v had the opportunity to listen to them. Back in the day, I also really enjoyed the Celestion SL600s.
Thank you buddy. Very kind of you to say. We could do with some Californian sun to cheer things up here. I hope you come out of restrictions soon. We have Judy come out of another lock down but I live in a Lancashire which is in Tier 3 government restrictions. Thank you for all the support you have shown me this year. Stay safe, my friend. There is light at the end of the tunnel 😊👍👍
I recently squeezed in a small 75 inch telly so my tld transmission lines were extended further apart already towed inwards and I was pleasantly rewarded with better sound stage and even deeper bass than I'd achieved before and I'm sick of folks playing hide and seek looking for non existent sub woofers around my living room,
Your observations are spot on! I have the 24s which exhibit the same traits however, there is definitely a sense of depth. I like your product placement in your videos .... I noticed the Denafrips DAC on your rack .... Expect we'll see a review soon 🙂 Cheers ... Enjoying your channel!
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thanks Tarun for a great review. The Freya+ and aegis/vidar might be a good pairing with these. I think you will like the Ares II, I have had mine since September 2019. For me it did need some good run in time before I really appreciated it. I wouldn’t normally pay that much for a DAC, but I think this one will keep me happy for a few years. MQA decoding and I2S would have been nice to future proof, but appreciate at the price I can’t complain. I guess you want to keep it vanilla for the review, if you fancy trying simple mods, go to Headquarter Audio RUclips channel. He recommends loosening the screws on the XLR connectors and also adding a copper washer to the back. I gave it a go and the bass sounded more textured and I think the highs opened up a bit more in my system. I’d be interested in your expert thoughts if you get time. Also, I was watching a Zero Fidelity video, might have been a live Q&A and someone asked a technical question, Sean said something like I don’t do technical, go to The British Audiophile for that 🙂. With your engineering experience and way of simplifying explanations for the common audiophile, you are building a great reputation for yourself 👍🏽
Hi Shahid, Great to hear from you as always. The PMC may be worth trying out with the Schitt Freya+ and the Aegis run in monos. I suspect they may have the warmth to balance out the sound. I won’t say to much about the Denafrips Ares II but there is not long to wait for the review. Thank you for the heads up on the mods. Thank you for watching and all the support you give me. Much appreciated. Stay safe buddy 😊👍👍
I am now hooked on your reviews,the Exposure you gave exceptional is down on my list for amplification. Still drinking copious cups of tea and awaiting that call to Alan Shaw.Your review of the Harbeths may just make up my mind for me.A brand that the British ignore but the rest of the world adore. Would like to know why preferably from you.Many thanks.
Hello. Thank you for your accurate review. I can recognise all your descriptions on my own system: PMC Twenty 24 and Leben CS 300 F tube amplifier. Although my speakers don't have a fast bass as the new PMC 25 models, they are very good, fast and detailed. Sound is good with any kind of music, giving an unfattiging sound and a very musical one. I find that a "warmer" amplifier makes a perfect match for PMC. Thank you
Best speakers I have heard are pmc. I have heard loads over the years even top car audio speakers. They are very revealing and detailed. Special sound. Can't afford any of them though😭
@@AB-vr6qe have you heard the Acoustic Energy AE1s. £1,000 for a pair of speakers with electronic crossover and 4 class A/B amplifiers built in. The performance relative to the price is staggering. That is why I was my product of the year 😊👍
Good review. Having owned smaller PMC stand mounts and floor standers in the past the worst thing you can do is "miss the below 40hz region enough to just buy some cheap subs to supplement" The PMC bass is something special in the way the notes are rendered, if you add some bog standard muddy subwoofers down low it really detracts. I now, through pure luck, have PMC floor standers with 10" drivers and I now fully understand PMCs vision. You can have good bass, or you can have low bass, rarely can you have really good low bass. The bass on my EB1 is unmatched by anything else I have heard. No sub I''ve ever heard does what these do. They go down to about 19 hz in my room but the transient speed at 19hz has the ability to make all the glasses clink in my kitchen in rhythm to to the song if I've accidentally put them in the cupboard touching each other. It's bizarre. The entire room and house becomes alive. A PMC sub is a really good idea though very expensive compared to the usual hifi subs. I had TwoTwo Sub2 for a year and it really did a good job.
Would love a video discussing which speakers or speaker manufacturers tend to focus more on the ‘release of the note’. Would be a good topic to cover… dry sounding speakers vs those with more body
Tarun, excellent as always.. I'm torn between the PMC Twenty5 21i or the ATC SCM 19. I do run a JL audio Fathom in my current 2.1 system. Watching both reviews over and over sounds like you preferred the ATC's...Cheers!
I built myself a pair of nice floorstander 1/4 wave Transmission lines, just over fifteen years ago. Wonderful results. The cab design is inherently solid, and can easily be made rock solid and incredibly dead when doing it oneself. They are flat down to 32 Hz. Cathedral and big orchestral shit, with low organ peddles can shake stuff around, and can sound menacingly epic. Bass does shine, with none of that slow flabbiness one can get with bigger drivers. I need to finish them off properly with a new tweeter. As indeed they should really be. Likely a ribbon of some type. This needs to be crossed lower than at present, to alleviate some of the mid frequencies from the upper of the 6.5 inch Magnesium Woofer to be taken on by the Tweeter, so that the Woofer will be operating wholly pistonically and away from the cone break up and bell modes. Been meaning to get around to it. Not that they are not pretty damn decent anyway. A real big plus of transmission lines is just how tunable they are. You can adjust how much foam or long haired wool one has in the line. This allows a certain amount of adjustment to suit a particular room. There's just something about a transmission line, in the bottom registers, than is very appealing. Which is what the whole deal is about. The Tweeter is pretty much a complete system one simply bolts/screws on the front baffle. The box really is only for the control of the Woofer bottom end. In effect a physical filter, as opposed to an electrical one. That controls the Woofer at/around it's resonant frequency. The different types. Open Baffle. Infinite Baffle/Sealed Box. Ported box/Bass Reflex. Transmission Lines. Horns. All have what amount to essentially analogues in the Electrical Domain. They have different type filter slopes, in just the same way as the electrical filters do that make up the passive crossover. Not that I'm trying to teach anyone how to suck eggs. I just thought the cabinets actual role in actually being part of the filtering/crossover might be interesting and something most folk overlook.
I always have the utmost respect for people who have a good at doing it themselves. I really enjoyed reading about your experiences. Thank you for sharing them. I actually did a video on speaker enclosures. Link below, just in case you haven’t seen it... ruclips.net/video/g4M3rb8QMSU/видео.html
Tarun, very informative and entertaining review. You have great mastery of audiophile lexicon. I really understand what you mean about revealing speakers . Ive got Revel F36 floor standers. I felt they were too forward and more than “crisp”. I was a bit panicked cause I didn’t like them. I decided to change over to a Mac I have with autoformers. It’s a much warmer amp and it dialed the speakers in. Saved the day and saved me too. I didn’t have to explain why I wanted to dump my brand new speakers.
Hi Steve, it is hard to get components to match and get the tonal balance right. When it works, it works and the pain of getting there seems to evaporate. Glad you you got it sorted. Thank you for watching and your kind words of support 😊👍
Hello Tarun, sounds to me like this is a really good speaker with a crossover that needs tweaking. The speaker terminals are real good on this one. Great stands underneath them, they are a force to be reckoned with! Stay safe mates!😊👍🏻😷
Hi Tarun, great review and like myself once you realise just how well PMC speakers produce bass, nothing really comes close in that specific area. I run Fact 12s myself and love what they do, but as you say they don’t take any prisoners, when it comes to upstream equipment. Allow me to add, that I am not sure it is a good idea to rake them further backwards, as they have already got a sloping baffle. Correct Image height should be determined by your ears being at a level between the tweeter and the midrange and this is how the speaker was designed and with the intended measured frequency response. Ie. raise speakers equally front/back with a slab of something or have the right height dedicated stand. An alternative could be lower your own listening position. The overall room/ speaker response and interaction can change most likely unfavourably as you start tilting, as the off axis listening response becomes more unpredictable and influenced by 1st ceiling reflections. This will in turn influence the overall tonality of the speakers, as a different reflection pattern gets thrown into the mix. No worries I’ll get me coat......🤓🤣 ATB Peter
Hi Peter, I can imagine those Fact 12s being quite impressive. I originally had the 21is raised to 70cms to get the acoustic centre of the speaker to ear height. I was struggling with soundstage depth and played around quite a bit with positioning. I always feedback to the manufacturer my findings once I have completed listening tests. I consider this a professional courtesy and gives them the opportunity to point anything out that may be useful to include in the review. It was my discussion with them that encouraged me to pull the speakers out even further than I would ordinarily consider necessary. In the end it didn’t help much with soundstage depth in my room. I found by dropping the speaker to 60cm and raking it back a little the stronger floor reflection added a bit if warmth, which I preferred. Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences with your PMC speakers 😊👍
Pretty spot on with the PMC sound. I own the twenty series speaker which are a little more warmer in presentation. The newer 25 series tend to be voiced in a V curve which is fine if you like it that way.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 There are about three accounts trolling pretty much every PMC review out there with numerous posts on each review. This is one of those accounts. Quite bizarre and if you read them it feels more like a disgruntled employee more than anything else. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their opinion but some of these posts are off the wall.
Tarun, brace yourself for some praise. Since my Covid house arrest, I've become a RUclips audio review addict and my bank account shows the consequences. I need an app to remove "Buy it now" from my computer. In watching all these reviewers, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy your reviews regardless of length for several reasons. I appreciate how you do your best to separate objective findings from your personal opinions. I also appreciate your excellent descriptive and analytic abilities as articulated in your findings. It is refreshing to hear someone with a vocabulary actually use it to review audio equipment. One thing that drives me crazy with some reviewers (And maybe it's just an Americanism) is the phrase "Pretty good" What is that supposed to mean,? I guess anything from damning with faint praise to four out of five star praise? To put it in perspective, let's say you just had a thrilling romantic interlude with your lover and she says it was "pretty good". Where does that leave you? I'd say not very secure, and it's hardly helpful or even instructive. You don't know whether she's trying to keep your ego in check, or should you go looking again on in a dating website.
You mentioned Exposure monoblocks, would love to see a review on them in due time as you have reviewed other amps, especially as they are priced around the Hegel 160. Great review of the speakers as usual!
Excellent. I bought the 25.23’s after demoing about a dozen pairs of speakers and was completely taken by the depth and speed of the bass, accuracy and clarity of these speakers. For me nothing else came close. However, like you, if I had one criticism it is that they do sound very “cold”. I went for the 25.23’s over the 25.21’s as they had that bit more bass and were effectively better v.f.m. than the 21’s plus stands, plus sub. Whilst I found the 23’s sounded just like the 21’s but with more bass I didn’t like the 22’s at all. They sounded like a completely different speaker and the bass was “muddy” in comparison. Final point, everything in your review chimes exactly with my experience except for placement. Perhaps it is a difference between the 21’s and the 23’s, perhaps it is the room, but I have found my much less sensitive to positioning. Looking forward to the next one!
Just heard the twent five 22i today with Priare 135. Sounded great, never heard such a crisp treble. Wasnt sure ifnit could get too fatiguing tho. Im off to hear other speakers soon, including the dynaudio special 40. Would love to see you get a pair of these, as they seem to be very well favoured. I was impressed with the Primare amp too. Made me think maybe i could actually achieve more by upgrading amp first.....which i was never thinking before. (I took my current speakers with me to demo).
I had a discussion with someone at PMC recently who said that Sugden amps work really well with their speakers. Sugden has been one of my favourite brands for decades. I should get the A21 Signature in for review soon. Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Stephen 😊
I'm going to get myself some of that non-metallic stainless steel at 3:00! Good review Tarun. My 23i's are now run in and sounding fantastic. The tonal balance must be a family thing as the bigger speakers are also fast, resolving and accurate, not warm - maybe a result of their studio monitor heritage.
Yet another great review. I'd love you to a review a pair of original, in spec 15 ohm LS3/5a's. I've recently acquired a pair and they are the most convincing speakers I have yet to hear. I have them paired with a Primaluna valve amp.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 the Falcons seen to be well regarded, though a little brighter at the top end than the original, for reasons that seem to be elusive. Have you ever spoken to Paul Whatton? He's a lovely bloke and he could possibly lend you his BBC pair with serial numbers 001 and 002.
Nice job as always, Tarun. I do appreciate that you go into, not just the tech, but also the all important set up of a speaker. In my view comparing the PMCs to the LS3/5 is an odd one. They are different beasts attempting different goals. The LS3/5 is ultimately a monitor whereby the PMC is a HiFi speaker with a particular voice. The only similarity is the size and cost and there are dozens of speakers that would fit in that category - Harbeth, Focal, Dynaudio and my personal favourite Quadral Aurum Galans which are criminally neglected in the UK. They’re the same size, have a ribbon tweeter and go down to 36hz. What’s not to like. Cheers
@@jim586 Hi Jim, great comment. Just one thing, though, I didn't want Arun to compare the speakers, I was just saying that I would be interested in his views on the LS3/5a.
@@1jhnpenningtonOk. That’s fair enough. In my opinion they are chalk and cheese. The PMCs would be really analytical and forward sounding compared to the LS3/5 of any flavour(brand). Cheers
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Dynaudio are great Tarun, oh and when you return those PMC's, ask them for a review pair of fenestria's, now that'll be something Tarun :)
Hi, love the work you do. Wish you could move the section on the sound performance upfront of your review, and the rest further down. The tech and gizmo don't mean a thing if it sound good. Many reviewers tries to impress others with their tech knowledge first, I think that should be second or third. Oh, I sincerely hope you'll get some wharfedales into your line up, especially the diamond 12.1.
Hi Wie, thank for the suggestion. The reason I cover the design and setup first is so that people can hopefully correlate how the design and setup impact on the sound quality. 😊👍
Hi Tarun, Maybe overkill, but I’d love to hear your honest take on warmer toned speakers like the Harbeth P3 xd’s. Love your reviews and I think that would be interesting :) Best, R
Fantastic! I look forward to your intelligent and level headed point of view. I’ve owned the p3’s and Stirling LS3/5a V2’s at one time, but let them both go for various reasons. Can’t wait. Cheers
Top notch review again. Maybe depth will improve when they are longer run in. How do they compare to LS3/5 speakers? Maybe that's a good reference point to compare speakers in the pricerange. Job well done😉👌👍
Thanks for another review with exceptional detail. I really enjoy your channel. Subscribed! I have a Simaudio setup with W5 amp how do you think they would pair up. Although my Moon W5 is old it looks new and performs very well. :)
Thank you Ryan. I very much appreciate your support. I haven’t tried the Moon W5 but Simaudio generally produce good stuff. I am not surprised that you still enjoy it 😊👍
I auditioned the twenty23 (non i) floor stander, with a pretty ambitious front end consisting of Fletcher audio point 5 turn table, Manley steel head phono pre and Roksan Blak integrated amp and it was pretty damn sweet! Certainly not lean/cold, but I would say very neutral and with a sparkle in the treble. Non the less made me think the balance might be off with the wrong front end/source material (also from what I can gather, people seem to think the twenty23 is warmer and more full then the 21 and 22). I could certainly live with that setup 🥰 For what it’s worth my mate who is a mixing engineer, says he likes PMC for their ability to retain their low end at lower listening volumes. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Sune. I can imagine that the extra bass in the 23is may shift the overall tonal balance to the warmer side. I wouldn’t mind getting a pair in for review some time 😊👍
@@richardjohnston4682 I really liked it, but only heard it in that setting 🤷🏻 I do know that this particular dealer are pretty selective with what amps they carry (That used to carry exposure and still speak well of them even though they no sell the brand).
Very enjoyable review once again Tarun, thx. Not sure if anyone’s mentioned it, but they do sell a ‘cheaper’ model, the DB-1’s. About $2000 Cdn... although on sale around here for $1500. They seem to be trying to get more recognition in Canada lately. I just bought a pair and they produce an incredible soundstage as you’ve described. Decent sense of depth, maybe not the best I’ve heard but not far off. Hooked up with a good sub, it’s a full range system in my medium sized room. Fantastic transparency and detail. Looking forward to more reviews! Rob
Since you have a long term relationship with a Celestion 300 which you have done a review on and have even repaired I am sure us subscribers would like for you to do a review of the PMC twenty5.24i comparing it with the Celestion 300. Celestion 300 Crossover Frequency: 2200Hz Bass: 1 x 165mm cone Tweeter: 1 x 32mm aluminium dome Dimensions: 970 x 210 x 326mm Weight: 19.7kg Sensitivity: 84dB Impedance: 8Ω Finish: walnut, mahogany, black ash Enclosure: 47 litre, transmission line PMC twenty5.24i Crossover Frequency:1.7kHz LF PMC 6.5”/170mm long-throw g-weave™ cone with cast alloy chassis HF PMC/SEAS®, 19mm twenty5i series, SONOMEX™ fabric soft dome, Ferrofluid cooled, with 34mm surround and dispersion grille Dimensions:H 1015mm (40”) (+20mm spikes) x W 192mm (7.6”) (275mm incl. plinth bars) x D 419mm (16.5”) (+9mm grille)Drive Units: Weight:23kg (50.6 lbs ea.) sensitivity:89dB 1W 1m Impedance:8 Ohm Finishes:Walnut, Diamond Black, Oak, White Silk Effective ATL™ Length:3m (9.8ft)
Thank you buddy for taking the time to post the specs. I do hope to review the floorstander versions at some point. The Celestion 300 still have the best bass I have heard in my room 😊👍
Amazing review Tarun. Thank you! What do you think of combining PMC (thinking about 22i or 23i) and Roksan K3 Integrated Amp? My source will be the EverSolo DMP-A6 Master Edition. Regards!
Freezing, cold and cool, crisp sounds too crunchy! Cold seems to be a word that is frowned on by the manufacturers but accurately describes many. I’ve only heard one speaker I’d call freezing, but it was detailed as an X-ray.
I wonder how these compare to their ancestors from IMF and TDL. PMC is WAYYYY above my (and many) budget, yet it surprises me that only few see the connection with IMF and/or TDL - which can be cheaply found (and restored/improved on if needed). I know that reviewers rather focus on stuff that can be bought new, but would it not be great to do a video comparing the three generations and see how TL has evolved of time?
Hey Tarun, have you heard of the Closer Acousics Ogys? Another transmission line speaker that some have given great reviews. Any chance you're going to review that? Best wishes
I associate the dry/lean/ antiseptic sound with Focal. Never been a Focal fan myself, and it sounds like those PMC's are a similar ilk. At a similar cost, does not sound like I will be trading in my ATC 19s any time soon...
Thank you for watching Will. Whenever I have heard Focal or B&W, I always thought they were more on the lean/analytical side than PMC. Would like to try them at home an find out for sure some time 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I have had 3 pairs of B&Ws, 805s, 803Ds, and PM1s and didn't find them lean at all. B&Ws have more of a "house sound" that some love and some don't, but they're not lean analytical as Focals can be. Some love that Focal beryllium tweeter, some hear two pots being banged together. As my listening tastes with age lean toward wanting a neutral sound, gotten away from B&W and find the ATC's hard to beat in that regards.
A quite professional review that is done in a very clear language. Bravo! Thanks so much. I had 20.21s in 2013 with original stands and I just loved them for their speed and clarity. And their boogie factor. They were hooked up to Naim CD5XS and Nait XS2+HiCap Dr. Now those PMCs are gone. Electronics remain the same with an addition of streamer. But it looks like I made a wrong decision to let them go.. I still toy with the idea of upgrading to 25.23i floorstanders and Nait XS3. What would be your take on that? Do you think XS3 could drive them properly? I already hear you say, check that setup and let your ears decide. No, sorry, it is not possible to personally audition them during these pandemic times.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I support them more than I should. Christian Henson calls HiFi gear "divorce wear", which is helarious, and, if we are not careful, accurate 😥
The way to reduce turbulance is to design the opening area and the line cross section to keep airflow in the laminar flow velocity region beneath 7m/s. Those grilles may help a little but dont dictate laminar flow conditions but are an economic way of shaping it rather than more expensive production means by design. Expensive imho for a simple small box. Why compromise the whole build by stuffing the crossover into the line?!!!! Poor practice given they could be in their own little pocket which would also benefit sq by reducing microphony of the inductors. The soundstage depth is a strange one for pmc who normally nail this. As a designer who works with studio engineers I know that the only way to recreate depth is to ensure speakers have both correct time and phase alignment. Lose one of those and it's impossible to accurately recreate image depth. Coincidental axis will add to realism by introducing genuine point source too. Pity no uk speaker does this anymore.
Hi Tarun, you often mention partnering speakers with a sub-woofer (or two) and that you use one with your Proacs... I use a subwoofer with my Proac Tablettes, but the setting up of the sub appears to to be a bit of a dark art - any chance of a video on sub-woofer set up ? Great channel, keep up the good work. Andrew.
Tarun what a great job you’re doing!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Do you think this will pair well with an Accuphase (class A ) E-650 or even E-800! I have a very small room. 4 x 4.8 x 2.8 meter I would like to have some more stage depth ….. So I wonder what would you recommend for that? Budget up to €5k will be fine
Thank you Miss P. Very kind of you to say. The PMC Twenty5.21i have a cool tonal balance with excellent bass and clarity. If that is what you are looking for then they are worth considering 😊👍👍
i dont mean to be off topic but does someone know a tool to log back into an instagram account..? I was dumb lost my account password. I appreciate any help you can offer me!
@Howard Finnegan Thanks for your reply. I found the site through google and im in the hacking process atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
was thinking about them as a replacement of ls50 metas for my electrocmpaniet eci 80D. But I do not like very much fact they dont do depth in soundstage,...thx for the review
Nice review Tarun, very educative and interesting, Can i ask you what track or tone you use richt around on 5 min to show mid woofer movements ?Thanks and keep up the good work ;)
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I guess it was some kind of a trick otherwise you wouldn't have any neighbors:), where can i find this track to stretch my woofers ?
Hi Greg, I would describe the ATCs as more neutral. However, the SCM19s were also pretty fussy about placement. My ProAc 1SCs are less fussy but still need careful placement to get them singing. I think this just goes with the territory when you get to this level of performance 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 will do. I am an audio and acoustic consultant. By emitting bass half-way up the wall, the bass nodes are reduced for frequencies longer than the height and width of the room. So the sub woofer driver and port will be up high at the top of the transaction line. Not pretty for aesthetics but good for acoustics. Need to finish my retro speaker using old drivers but modern understanding of physics and components such as high quality caps first
Very good engineering, high quality overal. Due to steep filtering, it has even power distribution,wich gives a good balanced sound. The cost is depth of soundstage. Typical behaviour of studio monitors. If given better quality crossover parts, the results are stunning. Speakers made by engineers for engineers
Hi Tarun. PMC speaker's are starting to grow on me and the transmission design is very efficient at getting a low deep bass with a relatively small cabinet. I have my eye on the Twenty5.26 model even though they are the older model. The Hegel h390 may be a better choice for these speaker's. The big question to you is are you thinking of swapping the Proacs for the PMC's? Thanks for a good solid review.
Surely you are better off with the tall cabinets of the 23s and 24s rather than using a separate subwoofer. You introduce another level of complexity where the sub needs to match the speaker.
Hi tarun, seriously good concise review. You mentioned your Exposure components offer good speed/resolution while also providing some extra body/texture to the sound. I feel this is what my Proac tablette 10 bookshelf speakers are needing, they (to my ears) have a similar fast/crisp/lean sounding presentation to how you described the PMC's. (I like the speed but not so much the leanness). Would you be able to point me in the direction of other, similar sounding amplifiers?
Hi Youtubiers, Exposure amps traditionally have a very open midrange and a bit of warmth. If you like that tonal characteristic I would take a look at the Exposure 3010S2D or Musical Fidelity M6Si. I appreciate you watching and thank you for your support 😊👍
After this review (I've read more on the 21i's) I found myself placing them on top of the long list of 10 (!) sucessors to my Emit10's hooked up to a Uniti Star. Auditioned them last week and I was sold, for me the same key words (crisp, speed, bass speed) applied. It's wonderful to have someone around on RUclips making such balanced reviews, thanks Tarun.
Thank you my friend. Much appreciated 😊👍
go for the 22i you’ll never go back as bookshelf speakers
PMC and Exposure is a match made in heaven. I use an older Exposure 2010S2 (75w/ch) with my PMC's and it provides ample power.
Cool 😎 thank you for sharing 😊👍
@essendon72 Which speaker cable do you use between the 2010 & the PMC’s?
@@Theoriginalramjammer Hi. Using Van Den Hul - The Clearwater atm. Have also used Audioquest Rocket 33's. I like the VDH's.
As always, an informative, straightforward and comprehensive review.
I have long had my eye on PMC Speakers. My priorities are tonality followed closely by clarity and resolution. An infrequent combination, especially when modest resources are at play. Unfortunately, much music is not recorded with quality in mind. So we face the conundrum of cherished music poorly recorded. Ruthlessly revealing equipment exacerbates those flaws. Then there's the listening space. Many of us do not have a large room with flexibility in placement available. Reviews that address these issues are of particular value for the discerning. Finally, system synergy is an area that reviewers often overlook. One that can greatly affect the satisfaction or lack, when equipment is heard in the home. Thank you, your work is appreciated.
Thank you Geoffrey 😊
Good video and fair review.
I own the pmc Twenty5 22 and agree with your points. Timing is amazing but not a heart shaking experience and source is very important.
A great speaker and I would recommend for vinyl lovers to try it out.
Thank you Frederick. I appreciate you watching and sharing your experiences 😊👍
Thank you very much for your professional review on the PMC 25.21i , Tarun. For two years I owned the PMC 25.21 and now I own the Sonus faber Minima Amator 2. The PMC is a great speaker with a clear and accurate sound. Tight bass. However, for me, the sound was for my head, not my heart. No speaker is perfect. Sonus faber speakers are certainly not perfect. Although my Sonus faber Minima Amator 2 plays less detailed than the PMC, it has a richer bass, and plays more organically and naturally than the PMC. The musical involvement with the Sonus faber is phenomenal. With PMC I listened to sound. With Sonus faber I listen to music. 😊
Hi Peter, thank you for watching and sharing your experiences with the PMC Twenty5.21s.😊👍
Perfectly true and well said. It is extraordinarily easy to embarrass a PMC speaker anyway.
Fully agree. In fact, I cannot understand for even 1 second why any sane person could enjoy and even worse, purchase a pair of PMC speakers. They simply make various noises, certainly not MUSIC!
You keep making these terrific videos, very interesting.
Thank you Richard. Much appreciated 😊👍
looking back the video that 1 year ago got me into PMC speakers 🎉
That is great. I hope you are enjoying them 👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 sure I do! 😌
Hi Tarun, excellent video as always.
Your knowledge depth is just so impressive and yet you consistently judge perfectly the amount of it that is included in each video.
My favorite audio channel certainly. Thank you
Thank you Pedro. It is a difficult balance to get right, including technical information without losing people and keeping things digestible. Very kind of you to say and much appreciated 😊👍👍
Love the review. Big fan of proper transmission line speakers. I was freaked out at 1:44 when I saw the drawing and thought "no, they did it wrong" referring to the porting. Then later at 2:15, I was relieved to see the cutaway showing a properly engineered porting system. They look to be of excellent quality. Thanks again for the review. If I can find them here, I will definitely give them proper consideration.
Thank you for watching and sharing Terry 😉
As far as I know transmission line speakers always show a slow bass respond. What you gain on the one hand you'll lose on the other hand.
What is the -3dB frequency 45Hz?
Thanks for the review. I considered these ones while shopping, but ended up buying the Dynaudio Special Forty instead and I’m very happy with them!
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences A Man 😊
Yup love the special 40 compared to these ! Nearly bought the special forty but needed up with the Totem Signature One instead which I enjoy. PMC to harsh and lifeless for me!!
Wow. Fantastic again Tarun. Truely. It’s clear why you’re one of the fastest growing YT channels for audio that I’ve seen. I feel like I truly understand how these speakers sound now. I’ve contemplated the PMC Twenty5 series for some time now and this has finally nailed it for me. Thanks.
Thank you Rick. Very kind of you to say. These speakers will be on my shortlist of recommendations at this price point. Please let me know how you get on with them if you get a chance to listen. Always a pleasure to hear from you and thank you for your support 😊👍👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 in fact, I don’t plan to audition these (can’t do that during COVID anyhow), really because I know my preferences and priorities, and your review made it clear they don’t match up. Speed and transients don’t matter to me as much as soundstage (definitely including depth) and some level of warmth and body to the midrange. “Cool” or even “coolish” or “crispy” speakers and I don’t tend to get along, and the rest of my system is not tailored around that “temperature”. A Big 3D soundstage is super important to me as well, and I prefer a neutral or even “set back” presentation, to a forward or “intimate” one.
By the way, I recommend to try to demo/review some Graham Audio speakers. I have the LS6 and I think they are incredible standmounts.
@@rlowes Hi Rick, half the job is knowing want suits you. I will have to get around to try the Graham Audio LS6s at some point. 😉
@@rlowes Dude, may I suggest that you're making a massive and costly mistake? At the very least you should home audition these speakers as they will quickly overload a room with cold, lifeless boom and tizz. I would hate for you to make such a risky gamble...
Glad I found this video. I have Proac Response 1SC and think I will keep them.
Cool 😎
This is a bang on review! I've got the GB1i and love them but when I really enjoy listening it is the Kef 104/2s! Depth of sound stage, more natural presentation and just perfect rendition.
Thank you Rob. Much appreciated 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 2K is PMC's cheapest loudspeaker?! I once offered a pair of 104abs to the Director of PMC. It's a small world.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Peter said that 104ab's were FLAT & that he hates them!
@@JohnSmith-of4vh interesting 🤔
Talks about specs is one things, hearing and falling in love with is another.
Hi Tarun, thank you very much for this review. You are really setting a benchmark in my opinion with your reviews.
Th am you Thiago. Very kind of you to say 👍😊👍
This review sits well with your very more recent review of PMCs Prodigy 5 . Transmission Line speakers produce a quality of bass like few others. Having owned Castle Avon 5s (a TL design from a few years ago no longer available) I can confirm the tangible detail, power,depth and tuneful bass a TL can produce which is difficult to find in other designs . TL designs are few (there are some DIY TL speakers available) but given their obvious advantages it is a missed opportunity . They are more complex in terms of the design and the internal line but the latter might also be part of their strength in suppressing speaker cabinet resonance and vibration . Keep the reviews coming. Much favoured in this quarter .
Thank you Peter 👍
Hi.
Very detailed review very well presented. Love the comparison to the ProAc speakers.
Thank you Michael. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😊👍
Thanks Tarun.
I have always liked The PMC speakers from a few years ago.
Your take on these newest of The PMC range have been well received by me.
I constantly go back and forth on your very many audiophile reviews to educate myself .....in all this associated with this hobby. I am a music/enthusiast who just loves the hobby and cherry pick from the numerous ideas you present.
Thanks and I love the vocal presentation.
David from The Great White North
Thank you David. I greatly appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😊👍👍
well I received the Twenty5.22i speakers today, and yes they paired lovely with the Sugden IA-4 amp. Effortless to drive these speakers with a good Class A amp. The clarity and articulation and annunciation is so clean and fast. The bass is perfect, not boomy very nice. This was a great choice.
That is great 👍
Great review of a complex speaker. Good to hear your comments about the Exposure amplifier.
Thank you for the great review Tarun.
You are most welcome. Thank you for watching Sandeep 😊👍
These speakers and my luxman lx380 tube amp is a great match, the attack and decay on notes is on point.
Cool 😎
Excellent review as always Tarun.
Thank you filofilo 😊👍
Thank you my friend for this and all your other YT videos. Always a good day when I see you've posted another vid.
You truly area ray of sunlight in world of gloom. Here in California we are going through another round of Covid shutdowns, and I understand that things are even worse in Great Britain. You give us something else to focus our mental outlook on.
Appreciate your comparison of the speaker to your ProAcs. I've enjoyed the ProAc sound whenever I'v had the opportunity to listen to them. Back in the day, I also really enjoyed the Celestion SL600s.
Thank you buddy. Very kind of you to say. We could do with some Californian sun to cheer things up here. I hope you come out of restrictions soon. We have Judy come out of another lock down but I live in a Lancashire which is in Tier 3 government restrictions. Thank you for all the support you have shown me this year. Stay safe, my friend. There is light at the end of the tunnel 😊👍👍
I recently squeezed in a small 75 inch telly so my tld transmission lines were extended further apart already towed inwards and I was pleasantly rewarded with better sound stage and even deeper bass than I'd achieved before and I'm sick of folks playing hide and seek looking for non existent sub woofers around my living room,
Thank you for watching and sharing 😊
Your observations are spot on! I have the 24s which exhibit the same traits however, there is definitely a sense of depth.
I like your product placement in your videos .... I noticed the Denafrips DAC on your rack .... Expect we'll see a review soon 🙂
Cheers ... Enjoying your channel!
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Kub. Very observant, the Denafrips Ares II DAC review coming soon 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thanks Tarun for a great review. The Freya+ and aegis/vidar might be a good pairing with these. I think you will like the Ares II, I have had mine since September 2019. For me it did need some good run in time before I really appreciated it. I wouldn’t normally pay that much for a DAC, but I think this one will keep me happy for a few years. MQA decoding and I2S would have been nice to future proof, but appreciate at the price I can’t complain. I guess you want to keep it vanilla for the review, if you fancy trying simple mods, go to Headquarter Audio RUclips channel. He recommends loosening the screws on the XLR connectors and also adding a copper washer to the back. I gave it a go and the bass sounded more textured and I think the highs opened up a bit more in my system. I’d be interested in your expert thoughts if you get time. Also, I was watching a Zero Fidelity video, might have been a live Q&A and someone asked a technical question, Sean said something like I don’t do technical, go to The British Audiophile for that 🙂. With your engineering experience and way of simplifying explanations for the common audiophile, you are building a great reputation for yourself 👍🏽
Hi Shahid, Great to hear from you as always. The PMC may be worth trying out with the Schitt Freya+ and the Aegis run in monos. I suspect they may have the warmth to balance out the sound. I won’t say to much about the Denafrips Ares II but there is not long to wait for the review. Thank you for the heads up on the mods. Thank you for watching and all the support you give me. Much appreciated. Stay safe buddy 😊👍👍
Was waiting since this morning Tarun , cheers .. great review 👍
Thank you Atri. Much appreciated. I hope I was worth the wait 😊👍
Once again great detailed review
@@zindahoon thanks buddy 😉
I am now hooked on your reviews,the Exposure you gave exceptional is down on my list for amplification. Still drinking copious cups of tea and awaiting that call to Alan Shaw.Your review of the Harbeths may just make up my mind for me.A brand that the British ignore but the rest of the world adore. Would like to know why preferably from you.Many thanks.
Alan Shaw! 😂 They’d talk at each other and it’d cancel each other out!
Thank you Francis. I got a few reviews to get out and then I can focus on getting some more products in. I see what Alan has to say 😊👍
Hello. Thank you for your accurate review. I can recognise all your descriptions on my own system: PMC Twenty 24 and Leben CS 300 F tube amplifier. Although my speakers don't have a fast bass as the new PMC 25 models, they are very good, fast and detailed. Sound is good with any kind of music, giving an unfattiging sound and a very musical one.
I find that a "warmer" amplifier makes a perfect match for PMC.
Thank you
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Pedro 😊👍
Superb review!! As I’ve heard them last week, I can, at last, review your review😜！！ excellent and honest review!! Great work!!
Thank you William. I am glad you came to a similar conclusion as me. Thank you for watching and your support 😊👍
Lovely review again!
Thank you RTZ 😊👍
Bit cold sounding for this time a year 😁 great review yet again Tarun.
Thank you Justin. More crisp than cold 🥶😊👍
They say the pioneerA 400 sold in trucks
@@collinsodhiambo it and the Marantz PM40SE were the budget amps of choice back then.
Best speakers I have heard are pmc. I have heard loads over the years even top car audio speakers. They are very revealing and detailed. Special sound. Can't afford any of them though😭
@@AB-vr6qe have you heard the Acoustic Energy AE1s. £1,000 for a pair of speakers with electronic crossover and 4 class A/B amplifiers built in. The performance relative to the price is staggering. That is why I was my product of the year 😊👍
as always, great video!
Thank you averagepainter. Much appreciated 😊👍
Excellent review insightful and balanced.
Thank you Thomas. Much appreciated 😊👍
Fascinating review. It struck me as very reminiscent of my Epos ES11s,although very different in price bracket!
The EposmEs11 was a great speaker. Haven’t heard one for many years. Thank you for watching and your support 😊👍
Good review. Having owned smaller PMC stand mounts and floor standers in the past the worst thing you can do is "miss the below 40hz region enough to just buy some cheap subs to supplement" The PMC bass is something special in the way the notes are rendered, if you add some bog standard muddy subwoofers down low it really detracts. I now, through pure luck, have PMC floor standers with 10" drivers and I now fully understand PMCs vision. You can have good bass, or you can have low bass, rarely can you have really good low bass. The bass on my EB1 is unmatched by anything else I have heard. No sub I''ve ever heard does what these do. They go down to about 19 hz in my room but the transient speed at 19hz has the ability to make all the glasses clink in my kitchen in rhythm to to the song if I've accidentally put them in the cupboard touching each other. It's bizarre. The entire room and house becomes alive. A PMC sub is a really good idea though very expensive compared to the usual hifi subs. I had TwoTwo Sub2 for a year and it really did a good job.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Mr B 😊
Would love a video discussing which speakers or speaker manufacturers tend to focus more on the ‘release of the note’. Would be a good topic to cover… dry sounding speakers vs those with more body
Thank you for the suggestion Gavin 😊
Nice review, as always 🙂
Thank you Raymondey 😊👍
Tarun, excellent as always.. I'm torn between the PMC Twenty5 21i or the ATC SCM 19. I do run a JL audio Fathom in my current 2.1 system. Watching both reviews over and over sounds like you preferred the ATC's...Cheers!
@@hotjava1316 thank you. I prefer the sound characteristics of the SCM19s. The Twenty5 21i have some great qualities but are a bit to forward for me 😊
I built myself a pair of nice floorstander 1/4 wave Transmission lines, just over fifteen years ago. Wonderful results. The cab design is inherently solid, and can easily be made rock solid and incredibly dead when doing it oneself. They are flat down to 32 Hz. Cathedral and big orchestral shit, with low organ peddles can shake stuff around, and can sound menacingly epic. Bass does shine, with none of that slow flabbiness one can get with bigger drivers.
I need to finish them off properly with a new tweeter. As indeed they should really be. Likely a ribbon of some type. This needs to be crossed lower than at present, to alleviate some of the mid frequencies from the upper of the 6.5 inch Magnesium Woofer to be taken on by the Tweeter, so that the Woofer will be operating wholly pistonically and away from the cone break up and bell modes.
Been meaning to get around to it.
Not that they are not pretty damn decent anyway.
A real big plus of transmission lines is just how tunable they are. You can adjust how much foam or long haired wool one has in the line. This allows a certain amount of adjustment to suit a particular room.
There's just something about a transmission line, in the bottom registers, than is very appealing. Which is what the whole deal is about. The Tweeter is pretty much a complete system one simply bolts/screws on the front baffle.
The box really is only for the control of the Woofer bottom end. In effect a physical filter, as opposed to an electrical one. That controls the Woofer at/around it's resonant frequency.
The different types. Open Baffle. Infinite Baffle/Sealed Box. Ported box/Bass Reflex. Transmission Lines. Horns. All have what amount to essentially analogues in the Electrical Domain. They have different type filter slopes, in just the same way as the electrical filters do that make up the passive crossover.
Not that I'm trying to teach anyone how to suck eggs. I just thought the cabinets actual role in actually being part of the filtering/crossover might be interesting and something most folk overlook.
I always have the utmost respect for people who have a good at doing it themselves. I really enjoyed reading about your experiences. Thank you for sharing them. I actually did a video on speaker enclosures. Link below, just in case you haven’t seen it...
ruclips.net/video/g4M3rb8QMSU/видео.html
Trying to cross a ribbon tweeter over low might be difficult, but should give excellent quality if you can find a suitable driver
Tarun, very informative and entertaining review. You have great mastery of audiophile lexicon. I really understand what you mean about revealing speakers . Ive got Revel F36 floor standers. I felt they were too forward and more than “crisp”. I was a bit panicked cause I didn’t like them. I decided to change over to a Mac I have with autoformers. It’s a much warmer amp and it dialed the speakers in. Saved the day and saved me too. I didn’t have to explain why I wanted to dump my brand new speakers.
Hi Steve, it is hard to get components to match and get the tonal balance right. When it works, it works and the pain of getting there seems to evaporate. Glad you you got it sorted. Thank you for watching and your kind words of support 😊👍
Hello Tarun, sounds to me like this is a really good speaker with a crossover that needs tweaking. The speaker terminals are real good on this one. Great stands underneath them, they are a force to be reckoned with! Stay safe mates!😊👍🏻😷
Thanks for watching buddy. You stay safe too 😊👍
Great review ! 👍🏽👍🏽
Thank you AB 😊👍
Hi Tarun, great review and like myself once you realise just how well PMC speakers produce bass, nothing really comes close in that specific area. I run Fact 12s myself and love what they do, but as you say they don’t take any prisoners, when it comes to upstream equipment.
Allow me to add, that I am not sure it is a good idea to rake them further backwards, as they have already got a sloping baffle. Correct Image height should be determined by your ears being at a level between the tweeter and the midrange and this is how the speaker was designed and with the intended measured frequency response. Ie. raise speakers equally front/back with a slab of something or have the right height dedicated stand. An alternative could be lower your own listening position. The overall room/ speaker response and interaction can change most likely unfavourably as you start tilting, as the off axis listening response becomes more unpredictable and influenced by 1st ceiling reflections. This will in turn influence the overall tonality of the speakers, as a different reflection pattern gets thrown into the mix. No worries I’ll get me coat......🤓🤣 ATB Peter
Hi Peter, I can imagine those Fact 12s being quite impressive.
I originally had the 21is raised to 70cms to get the acoustic centre of the speaker to ear height. I was struggling with soundstage depth and played around quite a bit with positioning. I always feedback to the manufacturer my findings once I have completed listening tests. I consider this a professional courtesy and gives them the opportunity to point anything out that may be useful to include in the review. It was my discussion with them that encouraged me to pull the speakers out even further than I would ordinarily consider necessary. In the end it didn’t help much with soundstage depth in my room. I found by dropping the speaker to 60cm and raking it back a little the stronger floor reflection added a bit if warmth, which I preferred.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences with your PMC speakers 😊👍
Pretty spot on with the PMC sound. I own the twenty series speaker which are a little more warmer in presentation. The newer 25 series tend to be voiced in a V curve which is fine if you like it that way.
Thank you George, I appreciate you watching and sharing your experiences with your PMC speakers 😊👍
PMC is only known for two things: BOOM and TIZZ and ridiculous pricing. That's really all anyone needs to know.
@@mayaparis6192 sorry mine don’t do any of those things.
@@mayaparis6192 they most certainly don’t boom or tizz. Something doesn’t sound right in your system if they are doing that.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 There are about three accounts trolling pretty much every PMC review out there with numerous posts on each review. This is one of those accounts. Quite bizarre and if you read them it feels more like a disgruntled employee more than anything else.
Don’t get me wrong, everyone is entitled to their opinion but some of these posts are off the wall.
Tarun, brace yourself for some praise. Since my Covid house arrest, I've become a RUclips audio review addict and my bank account shows the consequences. I need an app to remove "Buy it now" from my computer.
In watching all these reviewers, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy your reviews regardless of length for several reasons. I appreciate how you do your best to separate objective findings from your personal opinions. I also appreciate your excellent descriptive and analytic abilities as articulated in your findings. It is refreshing to hear someone with a vocabulary actually use it to review audio equipment.
One thing that drives me crazy with some reviewers (And maybe it's just an Americanism) is the phrase "Pretty good" What is that supposed to mean,? I guess anything from damning with faint praise to four out of five star praise? To put it in perspective, let's say you just had a thrilling romantic interlude with your lover and she says it was "pretty good". Where does that leave you? I'd say not very secure, and it's hardly helpful or even instructive. You don't know whether she's trying to keep your ego in check, or should you go looking again on in a dating website.
Thank you James. That is very kind of you to say. I appreciate you watching and your support 😊👍
You mentioned Exposure monoblocks, would love to see a review on them in due time as you have reviewed other amps, especially as they are priced around the Hegel 160. Great review of the speakers as usual!
I suppose I should at some point. 22 years old and still going strong. Thank you for watching and your support. It is much appreciated bingoberra18 😊👍
Good job Tarun!!
Thank you 😊👍
Excellent. I bought the 25.23’s after demoing about a dozen pairs of speakers and was completely taken by the depth and speed of the bass, accuracy and clarity of these speakers. For me nothing else came close. However, like you, if I had one criticism it is that they do sound very “cold”.
I went for the 25.23’s over the 25.21’s as they had that bit more bass and were effectively better v.f.m. than the 21’s plus stands, plus sub. Whilst I found the 23’s sounded just like the 21’s but with more bass I didn’t like the 22’s at all. They sounded like a completely different speaker and the bass was “muddy” in comparison.
Final point, everything in your review chimes exactly with my experience except for placement. Perhaps it is a difference between the 21’s and the 23’s, perhaps it is the room, but I have found my much less sensitive to positioning.
Looking forward to the next one!
Hi Gardenflyer, I would not mind trying out the 23is myself. Really enjoyed hearing about your experiences. Thank you for watching and sharing 😊👍
Just heard the twent five 22i today with Priare 135. Sounded great, never heard such a crisp treble. Wasnt sure ifnit could get too fatiguing tho. Im off to hear other speakers soon, including the dynaudio special 40. Would love to see you get a pair of these, as they seem to be very well favoured. I was impressed with the Primare amp too. Made me think maybe i could actually achieve more by upgrading amp first.....which i was never thinking before. (I took my current speakers with me to demo).
I hope to review some Dynaudio speakers. Thank you for sharing 😊
Hi. I have a pair of non i pmc speakers on wooden stands. I use a real sub woofer and a Sugden sig a1 se amp. Very pleased with this.
I had a discussion with someone at PMC recently who said that Sugden amps work really well with their speakers. Sugden has been one of my favourite brands for decades. I should get the A21 Signature in for review soon. Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Stephen 😊
I'm going to get myself some of that non-metallic stainless steel at 3:00! Good review Tarun. My 23i's are now run in and sounding fantastic. The tonal balance must be a family thing as the bigger speakers are also fast, resolving and accurate, not warm - maybe a result of their studio monitor heritage.
It is amazing stuff - it bends the laws of physics 😂 I am such a plonker ! Non-magnetic, not non-metallic 😢
Yet another great review. I'd love you to a review a pair of original, in spec 15 ohm LS3/5a's. I've recently acquired a pair and they are the most convincing speakers I have yet to hear. I have them paired with a Primaluna valve amp.
Thank you John. That is a very nice system. I would love to review even the current Falcon LS3/5A if I can get hold of one 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 the Falcons seen to be well regarded, though a little brighter at the top end than the original, for reasons that seem to be elusive. Have you ever spoken to Paul Whatton? He's a lovely bloke and he could possibly lend you his BBC pair with serial numbers 001 and 002.
Nice job as always, Tarun. I do appreciate that you go into, not just the tech, but also the all important set up of a speaker.
In my view comparing the PMCs to the LS3/5 is an odd one. They are different beasts attempting different goals. The LS3/5 is ultimately a monitor whereby the PMC is a HiFi speaker with a particular voice.
The only similarity is the size and cost and there are dozens of speakers that would fit in that category - Harbeth, Focal, Dynaudio and my personal favourite Quadral Aurum Galans which are criminally neglected in the UK. They’re the same size, have a ribbon tweeter and go down to 36hz. What’s not to like.
Cheers
@@jim586 Hi Jim, great comment. Just one thing, though, I didn't want Arun to compare the speakers, I was just saying that I would be interested in his views on the LS3/5a.
@@1jhnpenningtonOk. That’s fair enough. In my opinion they are chalk and cheese. The PMCs would be really analytical and forward sounding compared to the LS3/5 of any flavour(brand). Cheers
Biggest problem with these PMC's are ATC 11 or 19s(I'd take the 7s as well), but also proacs amazing studio 100s. Still a fine review.
There are many fine speakers at this price point. Dynaudio also come to mind. I hope to review many of them 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Dynaudio are great Tarun, oh and when you return those PMC's, ask them for a review pair of fenestria's, now that'll be something Tarun :)
@@bhupendraparekh6225 those Fenestrias would probably lead to a very expensive divorce 😂
I know this is an old video, would be good to compare what the new PMC active kit does for these speakers.
@@tonyhodgkinson4586 thx for the suggestion 😊
Good job Tarun, thank you.
Thank you for watching 😊👍
Nice review!
Thank you Baron 😊👍
Hi, love the work you do. Wish you could move the section on the sound performance upfront of your review, and the rest further down. The tech and gizmo don't mean a thing if it sound good. Many reviewers tries to impress others with their tech knowledge first, I think that should be second or third. Oh, I sincerely hope you'll get some wharfedales into your line up, especially the diamond 12.1.
Hi Wie, thank for the suggestion. The reason I cover the design and setup first is so that people can hopefully correlate how the design and setup impact on the sound quality. 😊👍
When talking about amplifiers or speakers? Of course, everyone is looking forward to hearing its sound.
Hey Tarun ,Nice one !
Thank you Anand 😊👍
Hi Tarun,
Maybe overkill, but I’d love to hear your honest take on warmer toned speakers like the Harbeth P3 xd’s. Love your reviews and I think that would be interesting :)
Best, R
Thank you Rob. I plan to get to them 😉👍
Fantastic! I look forward to your intelligent and level headed point of view. I’ve owned the p3’s and Stirling LS3/5a V2’s at one time, but let them both go for various reasons. Can’t wait. Cheers
Top notch review again. Maybe depth will improve when they are longer run in. How do they compare to LS3/5 speakers? Maybe that's a good reference point to compare speakers in the pricerange. Job well done😉👌👍
Thank you buddy. I have to get a pair of LS3/5As in soon. Would love to take a proper look at them. Thank you for watching and your suggestion 😊👍
5:31 is where its at👆🏼Great review. Thank you.
Thank you Geof 😊👍
The length of the line on the "Twenty 25 i" at time 2:18 ..say what..a tongue twister indeed :)
Sure was 😉
Thanks for another review with exceptional detail. I really enjoy your channel. Subscribed! I have a Simaudio setup with W5 amp how do you think they would pair up. Although my Moon W5 is old it looks new and performs very well. :)
Thank you Ryan. I very much appreciate your support. I haven’t tried the Moon W5 but Simaudio generally produce good stuff. I am not surprised that you still enjoy it 😊👍
I auditioned the twenty23 (non i) floor stander, with a pretty ambitious front end consisting of Fletcher audio point 5 turn table, Manley steel head phono pre and Roksan Blak integrated amp and it was pretty damn sweet! Certainly not lean/cold, but I would say very neutral and with a sparkle in the treble. Non the less made me think the balance might be off with the wrong front end/source material (also from what I can gather, people seem to think the twenty23 is warmer and more full then the 21 and 22). I could certainly live with that setup 🥰 For what it’s worth my mate who is a mixing engineer, says he likes PMC for their ability to retain their low end at lower listening volumes. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Sune. I can imagine that the extra bass in the 23is may shift the overall tonal balance to the warmer side. I wouldn’t mind getting a pair in for review some time 😊👍
Hi, would you recommend the Blak as one to audition? Thanks
@@richardjohnston4682 I haven’t had a proper listen to the Roksan Blak but it has a good reputation. Definitely worth an audition 😊
@@richardjohnston4682 I really liked it, but only heard it in that setting 🤷🏻 I do know that this particular dealer are pretty selective with what amps they carry (That used to carry exposure and still speak well of them even though they no sell the brand).
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Good point about the bass! I've certainly found a perceived shift towards fullness/warmness when adding subs to monitors.
Very enjoyable review once again Tarun, thx.
Not sure if anyone’s mentioned it, but they do sell a ‘cheaper’ model, the DB-1’s. About $2000 Cdn... although on sale around here for $1500. They seem to be trying to get more recognition in Canada lately. I just bought a pair and they produce an incredible soundstage as you’ve described. Decent sense of depth, maybe not the best I’ve heard but not far off. Hooked up with a good sub, it’s a full range system in my medium sized room. Fantastic transparency and detail.
Looking forward to more reviews!
Rob
Hi Rob, thank you for watching and sharing your experiences with your PMC speakers 😊👍
Since you have a long term relationship with a Celestion 300 which you have done a review on and have even repaired I am sure us subscribers would like for you to do a review of the PMC twenty5.24i comparing it with the Celestion 300.
Celestion 300
Crossover Frequency: 2200Hz
Bass: 1 x 165mm cone
Tweeter: 1 x 32mm aluminium dome
Dimensions: 970 x 210 x 326mm
Weight: 19.7kg
Sensitivity: 84dB
Impedance: 8Ω
Finish: walnut, mahogany, black ash
Enclosure: 47 litre, transmission line
PMC twenty5.24i
Crossover Frequency:1.7kHz
LF PMC 6.5”/170mm long-throw g-weave™ cone with cast alloy chassis
HF PMC/SEAS®, 19mm twenty5i series, SONOMEX™ fabric soft dome, Ferrofluid cooled, with 34mm surround and dispersion grille
Dimensions:H 1015mm (40”) (+20mm spikes) x W 192mm (7.6”) (275mm incl. plinth bars) x D 419mm (16.5”) (+9mm grille)Drive Units:
Weight:23kg (50.6 lbs ea.)
sensitivity:89dB 1W 1m
Impedance:8 Ohm
Finishes:Walnut, Diamond Black, Oak, White Silk
Effective ATL™ Length:3m (9.8ft)
Thank you buddy for taking the time to post the specs. I do hope to review the floorstander versions at some point. The Celestion 300 still have the best bass I have heard in my room 😊👍
Amazing review Tarun. Thank you! What do you think of combining PMC (thinking about 22i or 23i) and Roksan K3 Integrated Amp? My source will be the EverSolo DMP-A6 Master Edition. Regards!
Thank you. That may work but I would have to try to be sure 😊
NEAT!!
Thank you Kevin 👍
Interesting that our host seems to have preferred the Prodigies on an absolute basis, not just on a value-adjusted one.
Yup 😉
Freezing, cold and cool, crisp sounds too crunchy! Cold seems to be a word that is frowned on by the manufacturers but accurately describes many. I’ve only heard one speaker I’d call freezing, but it was detailed as an X-ray.
@@LelandPratt-nw9ix thx for sharing 🙂
I wonder how these compare to their ancestors from IMF and TDL. PMC is WAYYYY above my (and many) budget, yet it surprises me that only few see the connection with IMF and/or TDL - which can be cheaply found (and restored/improved on if needed). I know that reviewers rather focus on stuff that can be bought new, but would it not be great to do a video comparing the three generations and see how TL has evolved of time?
Very good point. IMF and TDL are still well thought of today. My transmission line Celestion 300s are going strong too 👍
i am happy with my ATC's which sound like they would be fuller and a better match for my Rega Amp.
Cool 😎
Hey Tarun, have you heard of the Closer Acousics Ogys? Another transmission line speaker that some have given great reviews. Any chance you're going to review that?
Best wishes
Thanks for the suggestion. I will check them out 😊
Very nice and detailed explanation.
Could you please give a comparison between PMC twenty5 22i and Dali Epicon 2?
Regards.
Thank you for the suggestion Shahed. I am sure I will get to them at some point 😊
Excellent content as per norm. How do these compare to the new Prodigy line?
Thank you. The Twenty5.21is are more resolving but also more forward in tonal balance to the Prodigy 5s I reviewed 👍
I associate the dry/lean/ antiseptic sound with Focal. Never been a Focal fan myself, and it sounds like those PMC's are a similar ilk. At a similar cost, does not sound like I will be trading in my ATC 19s any time soon...
Thank you for watching Will. Whenever I have heard Focal or B&W, I always thought they were more on the lean/analytical side than PMC. Would like to try them at home an find out for sure some time 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I have had 3 pairs of B&Ws, 805s, 803Ds, and PM1s and didn't find them lean at all. B&Ws have more of a "house sound" that some love and some don't, but they're not lean analytical as Focals can be. Some love that Focal beryllium tweeter, some hear two pots being banged together. As my listening tastes with age lean toward wanting a neutral sound, gotten away from B&W and find the ATC's hard to beat in that regards.
@@willbrink would love to get some in at some point and check them out properly as opposed to dealer demos and shows 😉
A quite professional review that is done in a very clear language. Bravo! Thanks so much. I had 20.21s in 2013 with original stands and I just loved them for their speed and clarity. And their boogie factor. They were hooked up to Naim CD5XS and Nait XS2+HiCap Dr. Now those PMCs are gone. Electronics remain the same with an addition of streamer. But it looks like I made a wrong decision to let them go.. I still toy with the idea of upgrading to 25.23i floorstanders and Nait XS3. What would be your take on that? Do you think XS3 could drive them properly? I already hear you say, check that setup and let your ears decide. No, sorry, it is not possible to personally audition them during these pandemic times.
Hi Haldun, the Naim XS3 will drive the 25.23i fine. Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences 😊👍
Thanks Tarun, appreciated.
I sold my PMC FB1's but I bought a speaker that meant I was up on the deal ... I have a feeling I made a mistake
Thank you for sharing 😊
One of my local HiFi pushers sell PMC. I have been wanting to hear them. I think I will go and see him next week.
Always good to give them support 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I support them more than I should. Christian Henson calls HiFi gear "divorce wear", which is helarious, and, if we are not careful, accurate 😥
That is great 😂😂😂
The way to reduce turbulance is to design the opening area and the line cross section to keep airflow in the laminar flow velocity region beneath 7m/s. Those grilles may help a little but dont dictate laminar flow conditions but are an economic way of shaping it rather than more expensive production means by design. Expensive imho for a simple small box. Why compromise the whole build by stuffing the crossover into the line?!!!! Poor practice given they could be in their own little pocket which would also benefit sq by reducing microphony of the inductors.
The soundstage depth is a strange one for pmc who normally nail this. As a designer who works with studio engineers I know that the only way to recreate depth is to ensure speakers have both correct time and phase alignment. Lose one of those and it's impossible to accurately recreate image depth. Coincidental axis will add to realism by introducing genuine point source too. Pity no uk speaker does this anymore.
Very interesting Paul. Thank you for watching and sharing 😊👍
Hi Tarun, you often mention partnering speakers with a sub-woofer (or two) and that you use one with your Proacs... I use a subwoofer with my Proac Tablettes, but the setting up of the sub appears to to be a bit of a dark art - any chance of a video on sub-woofer set up ? Great channel, keep up the good work. Andrew.
Thank you Andrew. That is a good suggestion. I will do that at some point 😊👍
Hello, these speakers work with a Sugden A21SE Signature? Thanks. Super vidéo.
I haven’t tried that pairing 😊
Tarun what a great job you’re doing!!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Do you think this will pair well with an Accuphase (class A ) E-650 or even E-800!
I have a very small room.
4 x 4.8 x 2.8 meter
I would like to have some more stage depth …..
So I wonder what would you recommend for that?
Budget up to €5k will be fine
Thank you Miss P. Very kind of you to say. The PMC Twenty5.21i have a cool tonal balance with excellent bass and clarity. If that is what you are looking for then they are worth considering 😊👍👍
i dont mean to be off topic but does someone know a tool to log back into an instagram account..?
I was dumb lost my account password. I appreciate any help you can offer me!
@Lyle Pedro Instablaster :)
@Howard Finnegan Thanks for your reply. I found the site through google and im in the hacking process atm.
Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Howard Finnegan It worked and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much, you saved my account!
Great review!. I love the speed, soundstage and precision of my PMC twenty5 23's. Combine them with Cyrus.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Gerben 😊👍
was thinking about them as a replacement of ls50 metas for my electrocmpaniet eci 80D. But I do not like very much fact they dont do depth in soundstage,...thx for the review
Thx 😊
Nice review Tarun, very educative and interesting, Can i ask you what track or tone you use richt around on 5 min to show mid woofer movements ?Thanks and keep up the good work ;)
That is a bit of a trick. I use a frequency sweep from about 35Hz down to about 5Hz. Just a visual effect 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I guess it was some kind of a trick otherwise you wouldn't have any neighbors:), where can i find this track to stretch my woofers ?
@@Armotube9 type in frequency test in RUclips 😉
what really annoys me is the price considering its as mdf box with £10 worth crossover, it does bug me a bit.
Great review, i would love to see a review of kef ls50 Meta, passive version.
Thank you for watching and your suggestion Benjamin. I hope to get them in at some point 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 sounds good.
Neutral is good and I suppose the Atc's give some depth to the soundstage and are less sensitive about placement.
Hi Greg, I would describe the ATCs as more neutral. However, the SCM19s were also pretty fussy about placement. My ProAc 1SCs are less fussy but still need careful placement to get them singing. I think this just goes with the territory when you get to this level of performance 😉
As always thanks for the review. Have you reviewed the floor stander yet?
Thank you J. Not yet but hope to next year 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 looking forward to it. Plan on building a transmission line sub, hopefully next year.
@@jked7463 great! Please let me know how you get on 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 will do. I am an audio and acoustic consultant. By emitting bass half-way up the wall, the bass nodes are reduced for frequencies longer than the height and width of the room. So the sub woofer driver and port will be up high at the top of the transaction line. Not pretty for aesthetics but good for acoustics. Need to finish my retro speaker using old drivers but modern understanding of physics and components such as high quality caps first
Very good engineering, high quality overal. Due to steep filtering, it has even power distribution,wich gives a good balanced sound. The cost is depth of soundstage. Typical behaviour of studio monitors. If given better quality crossover parts, the results are stunning. Speakers made by engineers for engineers
Thank you for watching and sharing Frank 😉
Hi Tarun. PMC speaker's are starting to grow on me and the transmission design is very efficient at getting a low deep bass with a relatively small cabinet. I have my eye on the Twenty5.26 model even though they are the older model. The Hegel h390 may be a better choice for these speaker's. The big question to you is are you thinking of swapping the Proacs for the PMC's? Thanks for a good solid review.
Hi Steve, that is a very good question. Both are extremely competent at this price point. Can I keep both ?
@@abritishaudiophile7314 that's a good compromise and I think you should. Go for it as it would be fun 😁
@@steverees1936 of I had to choose one, for me personally it would still be the ProAcs as I prefer a bit of warmth 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I would agree with you and they also look nicer. 😁👍
Surely you are better off with the tall cabinets of the 23s and 24s rather than using a separate subwoofer. You introduce another level of complexity where the sub needs to match the speaker.
Great video
Any chance to review the classic amps
Eg.. pioneerA400?
Thank you CO. If I can get hold of one, why not 😉
sounds like the musical fidelity gear like the M6si would be a good match with these
I haven’t tried that combo but I would think so too 😉
Hi tarun, seriously good concise review. You mentioned your Exposure components offer good speed/resolution while also providing some extra body/texture to the sound. I feel this is what my Proac tablette 10 bookshelf speakers are needing, they (to my ears) have a similar fast/crisp/lean sounding presentation to how you described the PMC's. (I like the speed but not so much the leanness). Would you be able to point me in the direction of other, similar sounding amplifiers?
Hi Youtubiers, Exposure amps traditionally have a very open midrange and a bit of warmth. If you like that tonal characteristic I would take a look at the Exposure 3010S2D or Musical Fidelity M6Si. I appreciate you watching and thank you for your support 😊👍
I prefer Exposure 3010S2D.
hope u review the bigger speakers fm Spendor (classic) & ATC (Classic)
I hope to at some point 😊
Did you use a vibration absorbing interface between the loudspeaker and the stand? If so, can you elaborate?
Thanks...from the USA
I use a sound proofing mat. The stuff you get to in tiles to place inside vehicles 😉