Looks like PS Audio has a hit on their hands with the new speaker

I inquired about the FR30's being at AXPONA in an email to PS Audio last week. Sadly, they will not be there. I am on the waiting list for a pair, after waiting a year for Salon2's. Evidently Revel/Harmon/Samsung cannot tear their attention away from cell phones and low-fi long enough to figure out whether the Salons are discontinued or worth marketing anymore. They certainly couldn't be bothered to let me know while I waited for them to not arrive after 5 missed shipping target dates. Anyway, Paul McGowan has worked closely with Arnie Nudell at Genesis, and Nudell was helping design a PS Audio speaker with Paul before his death in 2017. I ordered the FR30's after using other PS Audio products and because of their excellent customer service. A home audition will be important, as well as the ability to return them, shipping paid by PS Audio, if they are not for me. The initial home install videos seem promising.

yoyoyaya, about that rounded bottom design, I wondered if they come with a plumb-bob to verify they are set up vertically.  ;^)

Seriously, it looks very awkward to me.  I agree that round surfaces belong at the top if utilized.

And no, I've not heard them.  Nor would I put much credibility on hearing them at a show -- only generalized impressions.  I've attended audio shows over more than 20 years and seldom heard a demo that I felt comfortably represented the in-home sonics of a system.

But I'm not in the market for $28K speakers, so none of my opinion matters.

PS does have a good trade-in program, but they cap it at about 25% of the purchase, while their big dealers used to reduce prices by 40% - 45%...so in essence their prices went up significantly...and the trade in is mostly a convenience. as you could sell it yourself...but I do love their DAC and Transport...and I find their customer support to be excellent...

It may need a separate thread, but that room? It seems so odd and small. I can see why he fought with so many sound absorbers, wouldn’t most recordings sound constrained? It seems more like a big set of headphones. But hey, no wrong approaches in this hobby, but you can’t really fight the architecture of the space. Only so much you can achieve. 

Regarding their pricing, with PS Audio's direct sale model in the US they eliminated their dealers but offer unusually high trade in values. The result is that US buyers generally end up paying well under retail prices for new PS Audio products when trading in old gear and getting large discounts. Their trade in policy seems to top out at discounts of one third the retail price for most items.

Heard their first (?) iteration at the last Axpona and thought they sounded pretty darn good.  The usual caveats about show sound apply.  Watched the two setup videos and the second one sounded great with my headphones on.  Again, the usual caveats.  

I hope to hear the FR30 at Axpona.  Never be able to afford 'em but so what!

I really like PS Audio, their group is very very helpful.  I have a piece of their equipment and I think the support is superior.  I wanted to go hear these, but they said I could not come because of "covid", which makes me nervous - you could still listen to them - nope.  The introduction is very controlled.  

Gee, what a cheery lot. PS Audio has already sold several dozen pairs in the first three rounds and the waitlist is backed up to September. They'll do fine without your business...

Once the FR30 hits the used market its true value will be established. Until then it's going to be a lot of hype about how high demand is. 

Whatever about the sound (to be determined), I find the rounded bottom cognatively dissonant. One expects a curve to be on the top of an object. Imagine a neoclassical building where the romanesque windows were upside down.

Also, I really can't see why they did it from a structural engineering point of view. It adds a lot of complexity to the structure for no benefit.

As regards the pricing, it looks pretty competitive for the specification - assuming the sound lives up to it, of course.

And PS is planning a number of trickle down models which, of course, is where they will make their real money and recoup their R&D costs.

Can't speak to the FR30 as I haven't heard them.

But, I was at RMAF 2019 and stayed in Denver for over a week prior as my son lives there.  I went to the PSA factory/offices specifically to hear the IRS V, which I did. To me they are astounding, 'nuf said.

Also got to listen to ??? iteration of the new speaker for about a half hour with Chris Brunhaven.  They sounded superb to me, they were no where near (physically) where the FR30 ended up. Then they packed up for the show. 

At RMAF 2019 I spent quite a bit of time in the PSA room (large conference room) and they had the predecessor sounding great.  The most "tangible" aspect was the imaging which was impeccable, honestly, I tried eyes wide open staring a one speaker and just could not loose the soundstage.

FWIW, Mrs. Wilson (Dave Wilson's (RIP) wife)  sat in the front row for an inordinate amount of time listening to the predecessor.  I spoke with her later that day in the Wilson room and asked "How did you like PSA speaker?" she replied that they are "very good".

I also agree that they will get extraordinary reviews in the big two 'phile mags.
Let's see if the reviewers purchase them and hold them dear.

Regards,

barts  

From what I understand these are made in China (confirmed by Paul on a PS Audio forum thread), which is disappointing to me. If I’m buying a pair of $28k speakers I would expect them to be manufactured in Europe or USA. Of course PS Audio is all about value at price point so it makes sense. I’d rather buy a used pair of YGs.

You guys haven’t been out lately to shows have you? Have you seen what’s on the market these days for $28k? I attended the Florida audio expo a few weeks ago and most of the speakers cost more than you he PSA speakers and they sounded like crap. The fink 2 way was $33,500 on special and my small revel floorstanding speakers sound better. I also listened to the bigger speakers across the aisle and they sounded decent but they were $120k. My large ushers sound better than these and I bet the PSA speakers would sound better too. 

As for trade tag reviews, you know ahead of time they are going to be the best of the best since PSA pays for ads in these mags. 
BTW, the 2nd install YouTube video of the PSA speakers were from a guy that replaced his rockports which are pretty good speakers. 

That's certainly a fine system, vinylvalet, as you know, and hear...

Paul is a smart guy but I've never thought of an electronics company as a speaker company but I'm sure that they sound good.

But, there really is a LOT of superb competition in that price range, at least IMO.

@jl35 Legacy Audio Classic HD speakers, Legacy i.V2 amp, Black Ice Audio F360 tube line stage, ifi Zen Stream (wirelessly, remote Roon Nucleus+; I don't have fiber ethernet to that room yet) to ifi NEO. 

Yes, he most probably was exaggerating the total price of the system and I shouldn't have included that tidbit without verifying first. My apologies. I've never been to PS Audio so I don't know how that system is configured. Maybe someone else who has visited can fill in the blanks.

Like any other speaker, please get a good audition before purchasing.

I believe Steinway speakers are around the 28 K range.

@rixthetrick ...well, I'll assume you know more now than before.... ;) *G*

All that's left is to wait for the 'Yay!'/'Nay...' reviews to roll in on it....

Anything new gets put under the glass and pecked apart like chickens with a lizard clueless enough to enter the coop.... *smirk*

One mfr. that never gets mentioned (and rarely seen in the used lists) is:

https://www.newformresearch.com/

Now, having no personal experience as a owner nor even a listening one, there exists a curiosity over them....

I've mentioned them here before with 0 responses....

Best kept secret?  Or hastily buried in deep disdain?

The mind wanders....

@asvjerry - rounds 1, 2 and 3 sold out already?
Waiting to virtually September for them to ship. Now that’s patience.
I’ll go suss out the video, cheers mate.

PS Audio's last attempt at a high end speaker went nowhere.  Pretty stiff competition at this price point, not the least of which is the KEF Blade speakers.

@rixthetrick , here y'go, mate. *S*  Not far in is a vid where a gent 'splains the tech they've plowed into it.  The ribbons are 'old news', looking like a variant of amt tech (you can see the folds, but the visible elements seem to go crossways...?...).

I'm intrigued by the woofers' design, reminds me of the Watkins dual voice coil units of awhile ago....

The 28.5K$ in my world has a lot more pressing things I could toss it at, though... ;)

It's a cruel planet, waving things like that at impressionable people...*L*

Regards, J

 https://www.psaudio.com/product-category/aspen/

“Said it was like a $1M system or something”

I’m quite sure it’s no where near that price tag!

Interesting speaker. I have never been a big fan of passive radiators. They are reasonable attractive. But, for $28,500 there are many speakers they are up against that most probably will out perform them, Magnepan 20.7's for one. Sound Labs 745's another. 

@asvjerry - have you found info/photos of the innards, the guts (I'm Aussie) of these speakers? Please share?

please tell us vinylvalet what is your lowest cost system that they preferred to the $1M system?  Thanks 

I had a friend (younger man, undamaged ears) over a few weeks ago. He and his dad drove out to PS Audio to hear their new speakers. Said it was like a $1M system or something very expensive in a very nice room. He preferred my lowest cost system by a wide margin. The simple test, do human voices sound like human voices, failed. Spectacular, yes. Deep tight bass, yes. Tons of detail, yes. Tonal purity, big no.

From plenty of experience breaking in new speakers, 500 hours is not unrealistic, unless a break in disc or other devices are used. Also, not all speakers are a match for all electronics

IMO, they look amazing, and well thought out, probably a bargain at MSRP when compared to other ~30K+++ speakers. It would be interesting to see whether White Camaro gets a pair. If you're not familiar with his channel, he rotates quite a few high dollar speakers and electronics in his dedicated room

The guy that bought them doesn’t seem overly thrilled. At 28k, I would want to demo in my own room before buying 

".....’n AlsoSpunkZarathruster...." (...reading the LP cover, very drunk...)

...done with kazoos' and tambourine...yowling cats...

@rixthetrick ...Yes, 4 per column, 10".  Woofs @ 8", like their approach on the innards...

PM mid & tweets...good.  28.5K$....I'll wait for the Lotto check.... ;) *L*

Nice looking....the black ones need a batch of simian dolls @ the base....

Rix I am not using the BHK pre- I use Atma-sphere mp1 all tube unit, balanced into the BHK300’s.  

@emailists I like the BHK signature amps, are you using the BHK pre?
Thanks for the heads up.
Are those passive radiators on the sides? Would be interesting to hear what they can do, and yes as stereo5 wrote, it will be interesting the results.

Will probably never hear them unless I go to another Audio Show. Sound put aside, I do not care for the looks, the rounded bottom in in particular.  The guy said he listened to the GE which must mean the Reference.   It’s hard to compare a 10k pair of speakers to a 28 K pair.   I’m sure both TAS and Stereophile will review the speakers.   It will be interesting to see JA test results.  

it may be a hit but I how big is the actual market for a $28,000 speaker? It shouldn't be a surprise that it's good. For that money I would be surprised if it wasn't.

"I know that many here may not take the PS Audio FR30 seriously as a speaker."

How do you *know* that?

you don’t have to worry about buying a new product, they are sold out until late summer...

28k loudspeakers are never a hit. They only sell in small nums.

Interesting jump....from a $2k speaker to a $28k speaker....I'll bet that doesn't happen very often???

No offense but the guy shopped around a little but had 1.7s in his last system so there are a lot of speakers better than that.  I would like to see a Stereophile report before I get too excited. 

Maybe it’s just me, but I would not consider buying the first product from a company that has never made that type of product before. Nothing against PSA in particular, but if I’m spending a decent amount of money I would like the dust to settle first. 

Trip to Boulder might be on the cards. Warranted at that price tag.

Good luck finding them.