Author Topic: Dali v Polk v B&W v PSB (Read 20990 times)

@Nelson @bhenard,

I'm getting the C5 which is bigger than the other model, the C4.

I actually realized this when I got my Mission speakers a few years back. Should've gotten the M7C2 instead of the M7C1.

Congrats! I started with mission speakers too, love the warmth of those speakers but the i could barely understand the dialogue from movies. Switching to PSB was a big upgrade in that department, iba yung linaw while being able to retain the warm sound that I like. I hardly turn my center channel up anymore with this change.

tonedeaf · « **Reply #37 on:** Mar 08, 2014 at 01:13 PM »

Quote from: tonedeaf on Mar 04, 2014 at 07:16 PM

I'll be retaining my Mission M70 in the meantime.

I just realized M30 pala surrounds ko.

BongerDude · « **Reply #38 on:** Mar 08, 2014 at 06:19 PM »

Auditioned the 685s and the image b6 awhile ago. Same source same el34 tube amp, same everything. Budget ko talaga pang 685. After auditioning, i went home with the b6 + extra money in my pocket

tonedeaf · « **Reply #39 on:** Mar 08, 2014 at 07:20 PM »

Quote from: BongerDude on Mar 08, 2014 at 06:19 PM

Auditioned the 685s and the image b6 awhile ago. Same source same el34 tube amp, same everything. Budget ko talaga pang 685. After auditioning, i went home with the b6 + extra money in my pocket

Congrats!

Courage · « **Reply #40 on:** Mar 10, 2014 at 12:10 PM »

Quote from: BongerDude on Mar 08, 2014 at 06:19 PM

Auditioned the 685s and the image b6 awhile ago. Same source same el34 tube amp, same everything. Budget ko talaga pang 685. After auditioning, i went home with the b6 + extra money in my pocket

Congrats sir and very nice choice...

luis · « **Reply #41 on:** Mar 11, 2014 at 03:31 PM »

Quote from: BongerDude on Mar 08, 2014 at 06:19 PM

Auditioned the 685s and the image b6 awhile ago. Same source same el34 tube amp, same everything. Budget ko talaga pang 685. After auditioning, i went home with the b6 + extra money in my pocket

value for money talaga ang PSB! happy listening sir.

BongerDude · « **Reply #42 on:** Mar 11, 2014 at 03:36 PM »

Salamat mga kapatid. I'm not sure if factor ang speaker+amp matching... kasi maganda ang reviews ng 685 (or talagang iba lang ang tenga ko). Baka sa ibang amp maging iba rin ang result.

I made it sure na similar sa amp ko (el34 based amp) ang ginamit sa audition.

mikeer2002ph · « **Reply #43 on:** Mar 11, 2014 at 04:40 PM »

Well here is my take on this 4 way melee

Dali

Heard the Zensor 1 + Vokal + Sub = darn bang for the buck if you ask me for HT, also great for stereo listening in a small room.

Zensor 5 or Zensor 7 + Vokal + Sub = for bigger rooms (>40sqm)

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PSB

PSB Image B6 + Centre + Sub = great for music, but something is missing with HT that can be modified with tweaking the tone controls.

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Polk Audio

Polk RTiA3s or RTiA1s + Centre + sub = another bang for the buck for HT but is a bit more expensive than the Dalis for the same purpose

Odd Quirk: RTiA3 is more for Audio over HT, RTiA1s is more for HT over Audio if using a dedicated audio setup (integrated amp + CD player)

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Bowers & Wilkins

B&W 685s + Centre + sub = another perfect HT and Audio match, only IF your AVR can handle the B&Ws in HT.

The only AVR that did deliver in spades for this group - a Rotel RSX, But it costs an arm and a leg plus your kidney and cornea.

The Polks, Dalis and even the PSBs are more unpretentious and 'social' when it comes to AVRs in HT mode.

B&Ws are a bit snobbish = picky with AVRs especially the low powered ones in HT.

Assuming you have a medium to high end [insert brand here] AVR, then the B&W will definitely impress.

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The actual verdict will come from you since you have to bring your AVR to audition.

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Heard these permutations:

Dali Zenzor 1 + Vokal + sub with a Harman/Kardon AVR265 (Thanks Xandrik! [ecks_xnm] of PDVD)
Dali Zensor 5 + Vokal + sub with a Harman/Kardon AVR360 (Thanks Architectural Audio!)
Dali Zensor 7 + Vokal + sub with a Harman/Kardon AVR360 (Thanks Architectural Audio!)

B&W 685s + HTM 62 + sub with an Onkyo TX-NR818 (Thanks Toyama!)
B&W 685s + HTM 61 + sub with an Onkyo TX-NR818 (Thanks Toyama!)

PSB Image B6 + Image C4 + sub with a NAD T748 (Thanks Spectra!)
PSB Image B6 + Image C5 + sub with a NAD T748 (Thanks Spectra!)

Polk RTiA3 + Polk CSiA6 + sub with an Onkyo TX-SR508 (Thanks AVShop/MLY!)
Polk RTiA1 + Polk CSiA4 + sub with an Onkyo TX-SR508 (Thanks AVShop/MLY!)

Of course things will change once you bring in your AVR hence the wisdom in bringing in your own equipment to audition the speaker sets in question.

Speakers:

PSB, Polks, B&Ws are peddled by: Toyama (distro), AVShop/MLY (Kalayaan QC), Watts HiFi (MCS), Spectra (New Glorietta)

Dalis are peddled by Architectural Audio (distro) - Greenbelt 5

AVRS:

Onkyo, Harman/Kardon, NAD are peddled by: AVShop/MLY, Spectra

alx · « **Reply #44 on:** Oct 09, 2015 at 12:00 PM »

guys up ko lang to..

looking to upgrade my speakers.

i have to 2choices

psb x1t

or

dali zensor 5

using yamaha aventage receiver.

any inputs?

-mhan- · « **Reply #45 on:** Oct 09, 2015 at 12:36 PM »

instead zensor 5 go for zensor 7, konti lang price difference at mas deep bass at more detailed.

alx · « **Reply #46 on:** Oct 09, 2015 at 01:36 PM »

Quote from: -mhan- on Oct 09, 2015 at 12:36 PM

instead zensor 5 go for zensor 7, konti lang price difference at mas deep bass at more detailed.

will try to demo both zensor 5 and 7.

marami kasi good feedback sa psb. anyone have x1t paired up with yammy avr?

luis · « **Reply #47 on:** Oct 09, 2015 at 05:35 PM »

Quote from: alx on Oct 09, 2015 at 12:00 PM

guys up ko lang to..

looking to upgrade my speakers.

i have to 2choices

psb x1t

or

dali zensor 5

using yamaha aventage receiver.

any inputs?

parehong maganda, psb more lows and weight, dali neutral more of mid and high.

alx · « **Reply #48 on:** Oct 09, 2015 at 08:00 PM »

Quote from: luis on Oct 09, 2015 at 05:35 PM

parehong maganda, psb more lows and weight, dali neutral more of mid and high.

thanks for the feedback sir luis..

oo nga pala naka dali zensor 3 ka at psb x2t before..

btw yun x2t ba ndi too big for 17spqm room?

cyberdraven · « **Reply #49 on:** Oct 11, 2015 at 09:08 AM »

How about the kef q100/300 or r100? Any reviews?

junji · « **Reply #50 on:** Oct 11, 2015 at 03:21 PM »

Quote from: cyberdraven on Oct 11, 2015 at 09:08 AM

How about the kef q100/300 or r100? Any reviews?

I have q300 that replaced my ma bx2. for me the diff. is night and day, narinig ko yung very punchy bass na hinahanap ko.

luis · « **Reply #51 on:** Oct 12, 2015 at 03:28 PM »

Quote from: alx on Oct 09, 2015 at 08:00 PM

thanks for the feedback sir luis..

oo nga pala naka dali zensor 3 ka at psb x2t before..

btw yun x2t ba ndi too big for 17spqm room?

if you are living in a single detach home, you can optimize x2t in a 17 sqm room.

sientobente · « **Reply #52 on:** Oct 13, 2015 at 03:45 PM »

Quote from: cyberdraven on Oct 11, 2015 at 09:08 AM

How about the kef q100/300 or r100? Any reviews?

Those are good choices boss P! I kinda find the R-series sounding a bit dark while the Q-series neutral. You won't go wrong with the Q300. Lawak pa ng soundstage. It is also highly flexible in equipment partering. Mapa SS or Tube, it can make those KEFs shine.

cyberdraven · « **Reply #53 on:** Oct 15, 2015 at 01:13 PM »

thanks master Gerald. nakadinig ako dati ng kef, old models. ok naman pero what I didn't like is the highs. madetalye pero "splashy". probably because of the tweeter pero sabi ng distro sakin, the q100/300 series is much much better in terms of mid-high coherence.

MrDeckard · « **Reply #54 on:** Oct 20, 2015 at 09:27 AM »

Not intending to hi jack but-

Is the Zensor 3 naturally bright even with a warm amp?

Is the psb xb forward, or say have a relatively narrow soundspace? (Paired with a rotel)

Auditioned these and this is what I noticed.

-mhan- · « **Reply #55 on:** Oct 20, 2015 at 01:48 PM »

to answer this;

the zensor 3 is neutral with warm amp.(in my ears).

Is the Zensor 3 naturally bright even with a warm amp?

sientobente · « **Reply #56 on:** Oct 20, 2015 at 02:14 PM »

Quote from: MrDeckard on Oct 20, 2015 at 09:27 AM

Not intending to hi jack but-

Is the Zensor 3 naturally bright even with a warm amp?

Is the psb xb forward, or say have a relatively narrow soundspace? (Paired with a rotel)

Auditioned these and this is what I noticed.

Not a fan of Rotel + PSB pairing. I would recommend to pair you amp with B&W instead. Listen to the difference, I bet you'll find the same.

luis · « **Reply #57 on:** Oct 20, 2015 at 02:20 PM »

Quote from: MrDeckard on Oct 20, 2015 at 09:27 AM

Not intending to hi jack but-

Is the Zensor 3 naturally bright even with a warm amp?

Is the psb xb forward, or say have a relatively narrow soundspace? (Paired with a rotel)

Auditioned these and this is what I noticed.

Zensor 3 is neutral, for me best paired with warm amp for more body like a nad.

psb and rotel combi is not common. if you have psb get nad, if you have rotel get b&w.

MrDeckard · « **Reply #58 on:** Oct 20, 2015 at 06:26 PM »

Thanks. Was impressed with the BW with rotel even if the bw was fresh out if box.

Btw, re my observation on Zensor, it was paired with a Naim.

sientobente · « **Reply #59 on:** Oct 20, 2015 at 11:35 PM »

PSB generally sounds forward. Coupled with Rotel which is lean and clinical. It does not make for a good pairing. The B&W 6-series is dark sounding. This is why Rotel is best paired with it. Dark+Clinical=Balance