PMC vs. Salk Sound Speakers. Which is better?

Never heard Salk but have been a avid PMC user for 3+ years. As good as the PMCs are they are seriously overpriced. My model is the OB1i, a nice 3 way floor stander that IMHO represents the best value, if possible, in the I series. When I purchased them the list price 3 years ago was $7500. They now list for $8500. About 2 years ago PMC introduced a step up model from the ob1i, the pb1i. It consists of exactly the same drivers and cabinet design but with a extra woofer and more height to house the double woofer array. I was interested in a listen but stopped dead in my tracks when learning this new model lists for 5 thousand more than the ob1i! This is for 1 extra driver and a little extra cabinet. The overall benefit of the extra driver is a more bass but for 5k. I ended up buying 2 used JL Audio Fathom f110 subs and a Bryston 10B sub crossover to augment the ob1is for less than 4 thousand. The bass is now light years ahead of the pb1i and a lot less cash.

So after this long rant in a nutshell PMC sound great but they have to reign in prices. I am not saying switch production overseas but at least make the factory more efficient. As a side note the materials and assembly quality while very good in not great.

First, I have to agree with Dodgealum, this thread was pointless. Audiozen certainly got a rise out of a few people but I doubt anything was accomplished.

I've never heard PMC speakers but based on Vapor1's link to the PMC crossover, I'd definitely have to pass, especially at their asking price. I doubt there's more than $50 worth of parts on each board and they're obviously very low quality.

As for x-over design, I agree with a few others posts, the fewer parts the better. I'll take a simple 1st order series x-over with a minimum of parts any day and I absolutely hate the use of resistors. Usually, that glassy glare and sizzle you hear in the treble(mids too) is caused by those nasty resistors.

I also agree with many of Bigkidz points including the one about "price of a component means nothing" and I certainly didn't find it to be as "stupid" as this thread started by Audiozen. Frankly, I've heard countless speakers and components over the years that carried 5 and 6 figure price tags that sounded like crap and I've heard just as many audio toys priced at fractions less that put them to shame. So... often, the price is meaningless!

Finally, I've heard Salk speakers a few times under "show conditions" and have always enjoyed what I heard. I've never owned any of Jim's designs but have chatted with him and he seems like an intelligent designer. I'm not a huge fan of ribbons but he seems to get the best out of them. As for the cabinets, they really are beautiful and overall quality appears quite high.

Well, I've wasted enough time on this "stupid" thread so I'm outta here!

Toddnkaya, I was shocked to see that price too!

Hello, hello !

I have not heard Salk speakers yet but, in its price range, I can tell that the PMC Twenty 24 is a real killer. I've made extensive listening sessions, with all kinds of different equipment thrown in (CD players ranging from 700 to 4500€, my old and beloved McIntosh MC2100 as well as B&K, Heed and Atoll amplifiers, Devialet integrated, McIntosh, Heed or Ayre preamps, balanced and unbalanced cables, etc), different kinds of music, and pretty much everything sounded incredibly good. HUGE bass for such a small speaker but, if I had to summarize there greatest quality, it would be "beautifully non-fatiguing". The kind of speakers which want you to - I know it's a cliché but, hey !, it's true... - re-listen to all your albums again and again. Very, VERY convincing !

So that's why I've now ordered Salk's Veracity ST's. After all, we all have "the right to know", right ? ;o)

Are you kidding me ? I have had and sold many Speakers in my day
And Solen capacitors Suck,as well as the white ceramic resistors gritty not refined at all. Look at Magico,or YG Mundorf Capacitors,and resistors as well as inductors. You donot skimp if sonic purity is important to you.
The other parts are decent. Personally if you want top value for a Boutique company ,considered one of the best designers in the industry
Bamburger loudspeakers have designed for Svs,Sonus Faber,Thiel
And a bunch of others including Salk when they were starting out.
PMC make some good speakers but lacking at premium parts.
Parts like the worlds best Duelund resistors, and capacitors Mundorf makes good Xover products, clarity MR, Jupiter Ht all top shelf quality parts.I was just trying to point out besides the drivers ,the Xover is th Brain ,
Tuning,as well as quality drivers and cabinet will determine how pure and clean The music is ,as long as th cables, and electronics are of good quality.