PSB T3 I have not heard better bass from a floor standing/tower, have you? Under $7.5K


Dear all,

Although a long time member of Audiogon I am a relative novice at this so please be gentle with me!:)

I live in Singapore and recently was able to audition the PSB T3 floor standing speakers, when I had gone to the dealers to pick up a new Bluesound Node 2i.

The music I heard coming out of the PSB T3 had the best bass (Tight, punchy and articulate) I have ever heard from a tower speaker. The amp was a not so powerful NAD M10 (class D). Admittedly, it is very likely that the dealers audition room was perhaps well treated for such a bass response. There was no subwoofer playing.The rest of the sound spectrum was also very balanced. Vocals were amazing. The top end was very good, but not perfectly airy. perhaps the only very minor criticism i had.

My question to all of you is: Has anyone heard A/B'ed a tower speaker in under $7.5K range with the PSB T3 that can better the bass of the PSB T3?
charan
I wouldn’t chase the “deepest” or “best-ever” or “...?? Insert adjective ” (note . That is a subjective biased and undefined term)  bass reproduction possible on ANY single speaker - .floor-stander or standmount  ....full-stop.

Deep bass needs to be reproduced as “accurate, tight, crisp and FAST”. Going “deep bass” without this frequently creates muddy, bloated , and wooly with a bass overhang that swamps the performance. The “deep” chase becomes an illusion towards audio OZ.

Here’s an extract from an article that explains it  well

”.... The  #1 benefit of adding a high quality subwoofer to your system is not how it further extends the bass response, but how it can dramatically improve the sound of your existing power amp and main speakers from the midrange on up. That, my friends, is by far the most compelling reason to add a sub to your high-end music system. Once your main speakers are freed from the burden of making deep bass, they will sound cleaner, faster and clearer, especially in the midrange and mid-bass....”

They will also image way better because there will be far less air pressure and therefore resonance and vibration affecting their cabinet walls. 

And since the power required to make the deep bass is provided by the subwoofer’s built-in amplifier, your main power amp will be free from that burden and begin to sound like a much more powerful amplifier. ...”
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Problem with that is if you use the crossover from sub a speaker like a T3 loses its reason for being unless you just play rock . You loose the great mid and treble for bass , bad trade .A sub with a crossover as good as T3 would cost
more the T3 itself .
Dear akg_ca & schubert,

Thank you very much for your responses.

I am shying away from a sub for reasons that schubert has mentioned. Hence was looking at 'one stop solution' in a floor standing speaker.

I will scout this forum and the internet to see if there are any A/B comparisons with the PSB T3.


The PSB T3 are perhaps the Best Buy out there for high end speakers.  

Google PSB T3 Reviews.  
Haven't heard the PSB but I'm very happy with my Scansonic MB-6 designed by Michael Borresen of Raidho. IMHO they are giving them away these days. 
I own a pair of T3's and enjoy them. I auditioned many speakers; indeed many more expensive models. For the dollar they are excellent. Even though I am a fair sized man, I did not want 300 pound speakers. My only gripe is the binding posts. It could be simpler than it is. The instructions that come with the speaker do not cover this 3 way system as well as they should have.
For the record, my favorite speaker of all that I listened to were the Sony ss AR-1. Less than 130 pounds and very balanced. Some 600-800 pound behemoths sound fabulous but when you need 3-4 men to set them up that is too much. 
Dear All who responded,

Thank you all for your very helpful responses. Please keep them coming.

I have still not pulled the trigger on a new pair of PSB T3s because they are quite expensive for me, so I remain on the look out for something equally good (if not better) for a lesser price.

Some people have suggested the Tekton Double Impacts (cost about half of PSB T3) but buying them without an audition and having them shipped to Singapore comes with its own risks.
The Proac Response DT8 are cost well bellow the PSB are very easy to drive and have huge dynamics and soundstage ,and powerful bass . I am not familiar with better speakers than this Proac's at this price level.

The PSB T3 are super neutral loudspeakers. With the right equipment they sound amazing. Si you have to be careful with what you match them. I would definitely give them some breathing room to sound their best.
@charan, how big was the dealer's room? And how much space was provided behind and to the sides of the T3s?
Thanks Milpai. Come to think of it, you are right... the speakers in the dealer’s room did have a lot of breathing room back and sides.. i would say over 4 feet back and sides. The room itself would have been at least 20 feet by 20 feet. My listening room is as big, if not slightly bigger, but I tend to place my speakers in two corners of a cove about a foot away from the side and rear walls. As such would it be right to think I will be better of with front ported speakers?
You are welcome @charan.If you prefer to keep your speaker in the corner, then these are not for you, honestly. I have listened to these speakers a number of times. You can also read Stereophile review and they mention the same.
Check out some Audio Note speakers. Heard one at.a audio show and they sounded pretty nice when placed in the corner of the room. 
I've owned a pair of ProAc DT-8's for over a year now and  itzhak1969 is right on the money with his description. 
@mets1p,
I agree, I like the ProAc sound over the PSBs.
While I feel that the ProAcs are very musical, the PSBs can be musical too, if paired with the right equipment. Hence I was asking OP to do due diligence in choosing ancillaries, if he decides to go with the PSBs.

I have not heard any of the speakers previously mentioned. But when I think of speakers around the $7.5k mark, I think of the Legacy Audio Signaure SE.

They sound incredible with their dual 10" woofers they provide nicely extended, deep, warm bass. Right now I'm not suffering from upgrade-itis, but if I were, these would be my next speaker.

Cheers,
Joe

Also there is a dealer/ distributor in Singapore:

Tritone AV

No. 1 Coleman Street
The Adelphi Unit No. #04-46
Singapore 179803
P: (65) 6333 9477
or (65) 9025 9082
E: contactus@tritoneav.com

Yes.  The Spendor D7 speakers have much better bass response and definition.  There is something quite special about their slotted port design that makes placement forgiving and yields smooth, appropriately tactile and deep bass without peak or exaggeration.  
The P3s sounded peaky and exaggerated in the bass when I heard them. 
Thank you all.

Will look to audition the Spendors and the ProAcs.

@audionoobie - I audtioned the Legacy speakers you recommended, however they were quite a lot more expensive here in Singapore. Not looking to spend as much. Thanks for the recommendation nonetheless!