For the past few years, PSB Speakers International has been replacing its older lines with new models designed in Canada, and assembled in China from Chinese-made components. Judging from the reception here of PSB's Synchrony One and Imagine T, it's clear that the new models combine advanced performance with true economy. Now, with the new Image line, we see the result of trickling all this down to less expensive products.
For this, you get a 1" titanium-dome tweeter, a 5.25" clay/ceramic-filled polypropylene-cone midrange unit in a separate internal enclosure, and two 6.5" woofers; the crossover frequencies are 500Hz and 2.2kHz. The Image T6 measures 40.2" (1031mm) H by 9" (231mm) W by 14.8" (380mm) D and weighs 48.6 lbs (22.1kg). It has dual gold-plated binding posts and jumpers, and adjustable feet with the option of rubber levelers or spikes.
Sound quality
The traces were all impressively flat from about 200Hz up to about 14kHz, on and ±15° to either side of the horizontal axis. Below 200Hz, all traces showed a smooth 2–3dB rise that fell off below 60Hz, but with usable bass below 40Hz. Above 14kHz, a mild dip was followed by a >3dB peak at 17kHz, both on and off axis. Considering the top-octave fall-off in my hearing, it would seem that these treble deficiencies would be inaudible to me. However, I suspect that the trough and peak combined to account for the loss of treble detail I did notice.
I figured that running Audyssey MultEQ would smooth out the T6's bass response and level its upper HF response. Audyssey confirmed the lumpy bass response of all three Image speakers with peaks and dips that varied in near-sinewave fashion from about 150 down to 20Hz. In addition, it clearly showed the 15kHz dip, although, as Audyssey smooths the display graphs, the sharp 17kHz peak was not shown. Unfortunately, while Audyssey's initial "corrected" response looked good, it actually sounded far worse than the T6s did on their own. Male voices were emasculated by a breathy treble and a midbass suckout. Since I had the advantage of using AudysseyPro's curve editor with my Integra DTC-9.8 processor, I fiddled with the response options. What worked was to put in a broad but subtle (<2dB) increase from about 300Hz down, and to use the more severe HF rolloff option. The former seemed to restore some "room gain" in the range where I saw the suckout due to speaker placement, while the latter restored the treble balance to what sounded, subjectively, neutral.
The result was a tonal and spatial presentation that seemed much more sophisticated than I'd expected from speakers of this size and price. I immersed myself in two SACD/CDs from Praga Digital's wonderful series devoted to the chamber music of Martinu: the Piano Quintets and Piano Quartet, with pianist Ivan Klansky and the Kocian Quartet (Praga PRD/DSD 250250); and the Piano Trios, with the Kinsky Trio Prague (Praga PRD/DSD 250256). These discs were recorded in Prague's lovely Martinu Hall, and in both one hears a fairly close-up sound: exquisite detail and instrument placements surrounded by a subtle ambience, all simulating the perspective of a seat at the front of the hall. The soundstage was absolutely seamless, seeming to fill the space without any reference to the three Image T6s sitting in front of me.
Specifications
Description: Three-way, port-loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" titanium-dome tweeter, 5.25" clay/ceramic-filled polypropylene-cone midrange unit, two 6.5" woofers. Crossover frequencies: 500Hz, 2.2kHz. Sensitivity: is 89dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms, 4 ohms minimum.
Dimensions: 40.2" (1031mm) H by 9" (231mm) W by 14.8" (380mm). Weight: 48.6 lbs (22.1kg).
Finishes: Black Ash, Dark Cherry vinyl.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 901423, 901427, 901319.
Price: $1199/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 250.
Measurements
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