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PSB Synchrony One Speakers and Pass XA30.5 Amp

For a while I've been driving a pair of PSB Synchrony Ones with a Pass Labs XA30.5 amp (and Pass XP-10 preamp) and I find I'm still fussing over the sound. This combination seems to lack liveliness on most recordings, and this observation  seems at odds with the descriptions I've read here about the speakers' character. I'm wondering if this pairing is just not suitable? I listen to a wide variety of music but mostly jazz, classical and choral. I'd like some suggestions on other amps that might do better (greater liveliness) with the Synchrony Ones than the XA30.5. My room is roughly 24' (L) x 10' (W) x 16' (H) with the speakers firing down the 24' dimension although I can only sit 6-7 ft from them. 

Thanks
partialresponse

Showing 6 responses by lowrider57

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Synchrony One is not an easy load to drive.
http://www.stereophile.com/content/psb-synchrony-one-loudspeaker-measurements#Tg4MUvgRPY2suIrQ.97

Without high power, high current it will never sound dynamic. Maybe a high power Pass, Plinius, or Parasound A21. I had 600 wpc/4 ohms driving mine. 
This speaker can sound dynamic with deep bass extension, very wide soundstaging, with warmth. Not the most transparent speaker, maybe Class A is colouring the presentation.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
It seems like you are listening in a near-field setup, so room acoustics may not have an effect. Make sure the speakers are at least 3 ft. from front wall and play with distance from side walls. I needed speakers to be 7 to 8 ft. apart and toed-in.

Are you getting 3D imaging and wide soundstaging? You should be with that amp.
Lastly, what are your speaker cables?
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
@partialresponse , I would think that the Pass XA30.5 could drive this speaker with its high current, but there have been past threads where somebody had described the same situation with the Synchrony One. Basically complaints of lifeless or non engaging music.
This is a demanding load where impedance drops to 3 ohms and below. The speaker is rated at 4 ohms, so the Pass should double down to 60 wpc/4, correct?

Maybe it doesn’t pair well with Class A, just a guess.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Why change the amp? I suggest auditioning some speakers that are more efficient and are more neutral. PSB's are toward the warm side, which is not a good match for the Pass Class A.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Look for a more efficient speaker (over 90dB sensitivity), preferably 8 ohms, which rules out Dynaudio, Totem, B&W.
Kef, Klipsch, GoldenEar are efficient speakers that can be driven by tube amps and are more transparent than PSB. Even if you were to move to a more efficient PSB model, I don't think their warm sonics would match well with the Pass.

Perhaps, start a new thread and you will get responses from tube guys and Pass Class A owners who can recommend an efficient speaker that excels in jazz and classical reproduction.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
ARC is a good choice, but understand that my recommendation of changing speakers and keeping the Pass is due to my belief that there are many speakers better than the Synchrony to build a system around. I owned both the One and Two, and PSB discontinued them pretty quickly and introduced a new line of speakers.
 A Pass based system with the right speakers would be a step forward.
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