Did anybody else notice this about PSB Speakers?

The PSBs I've heard (Synchrony floorstanders) are quite good with good tube amplification. Though much different sounding from each other, they and the Magico Minis at way more are two speaker lines I have heard recently that I could probably live with. The third is mbl.

"If the Syncrony has any flaw, it's that it errs on the side of extreme neutrality. "

I can't regard "neutrality" as a flaw. And yes, I agree the Synchronies sounded most neutral when I heard them, which was a major aspect of their good sound at their price point.

I neutral sounding speaker may not sound best in every system out there, but that indicates a flaw elsewhere most likely, not in the speaker itself.

Dynaudio and PSB are both lines that I could live with (I've lived with a pair of Dynaudio monitors for about 3 years now and still always enjoy them when I listen).

I would not equate neutrality with lack of character. The PSBs had as much character as anything I have listened to in recent years. The "toe tapping" factor was as high as I have heard, perhaps even greater than what I heard with Magico and mbl, though I liked those very much as well. Those also happen to cost 5-6 times as much I believe so I consider the PSBs to be a fantastic bargain.

The "character" of the PSBs (Synchrony floorstanders)was more like the OHM Walsh floorstanders in my system than the Dynaudio monitors. I did not discern a major difference however. The Dynaudios do bass very well for a small monitor but perhaps not as robustly as the PSBs. The Dyns may also be just a bit "tighter" and hotter sounding in my system whereas the PSBs had flow to the nth degree. The PSBs were being sourced from a Cambridge 840c player and my own Linn turntable. Pre-amp was an ARC sp-17 and the amp was a good sized Rogue tube amp, so the electronics feeding them were quite good but neither inexpensive nor the nth degree in cost. Nevertheless, the sound was in the same league as the best I have heard, though certainly not identical. PErsonal preference and fit to room and the rest of the system more than anything else would be the
prime factors in deciding which way to go (also budget of course). But the PSBs left me believing that they are most competitive with some of the best systems out there at much higher cost, if they turn out to be your cup of tea.

There were also a pair of large Maggie 20.1s also at significantly higher cost to compare to. I preferred listening to the PSBs and found I did not want to stop listening, always a good sign! I did listen to some classical music for comparison as well, but my focus was on more popular, swinging music that particular day. Steely Dan sounded really good on those PSBs!

I also have a pair of tiny Triangle Titus monitors in my second system. These may be one of the best values new or used in all audio. They also have that "don't want to stop listening" factor, but their sound is totally different from the PSBs. The little Triangles are perhaps still one of the fastest and most transparent and detailed speakers I have heard. They have convinced me to let go of both very well regarded speakers by B&W and Magnepan that I 've had in my system in past years. They are Stereophile class B rated and their only flaw I hear is that they do not do the lowest octave of bass. They definitley offer an alternate sound to the likes of PSB I would say. WHich is better? Who know. They are both very very good, but much different at least in the systems I have heard them in. YMMV.

Blindjim,

For smaller rooms and more nearfield listening, I tend to like floorstanders with monitor-like physical driver configurations (drivers closer to each other) but in a well constructed floorstanding cabinet (as opposed to stands).

In larger rooms and for listening from a distance, floorstanders with drivers more separated vertically can work just as well.

Either scenario lends itself well to a better listener perspective for best soundstage, imaging and overall coherency.

The thing to avoid IMHO is listening nearfield to floorstanders with greater vertical separation between drivers covering different frequency ranges.

A more neutral speaker lets the character of the music itself shine through more.

I think somebody used the wine drinking analogy. Do you want the glass to affect the taste of the wine, or should the taste of teh glass be neutral? Good one!

Bottom line: if you are listening and drawn in and do not want to stop listening, then ou are on the happy path, which is all that really matters.