PMC 26 v Sonus Faber Olympica 2

Hiker said:
If I already owned 23 I would get the new twenty.sub rather than spending a lot more on 26. The sub will integrate perfectly with the 23 and provide deep and clean bass, same effective cone area as a 12" long throw woofer with a dedicated 400 watt amp.
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Can't say I agree. IMO...what we think of, as "bass"; involves a lot of mid/mid-bass. The 3-way design, vs. 2, of 26 and 23 respectively; will have more to do with the overall sound...than adding that last bit of FR, down low. Just my opinion; but I didn't hear the OP say, the 23s weren't digging deep enough.

Womaz said:
I guess what would be idea l now was if the 26 kept a lot of the 23s characteristics, like the tight bass, but also gave me the soundstage and full sound I get from the Olympicas.
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Funny...the way I came about 3-way PMCs; was I was a Dynaudio guy...BIG Dynamics. Then I fell hard, for the sweet mids of Harbeths.

As I've said...NO PERFECT SPEAKER! But I posted, that if I could combine the dynamics of the Dyns...and the mids of a Harbeth; that would be pretty damn close for me. And someone said...try an OB1i; and the rest, as they say, is history :)

Anatta said:
You should also consider the current ATC SCM40s which are a similar design to the PMC 26, closed box vs TL of the PMCs though. They have very tight, taut bass, but with impact, very transparent, featuring ATCs great dome midrange and their new tweeter.

http://atcloudspeakers.co.uk/hi-fi/loudspeakers/hifi-entry-series/scm40/

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YES...you should! If you can get past, the ugly-a$$ looks, lol; that's a great speaker. Has that "$800" mid-driver, that PMC used to source (and still does, in some of the older models that are in production. Ask my man Jax, about IB2s!)
 
I have heard nothing but good things about the ATCs, but I could not live with their looks I am afraid. I have to have them in my main living room so no good for me
 
Womaz said:
I have heard nothing but good things about the ATCs, but I could not live with their looks I am afraid. I have to have them in my main living room so no good for me
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Can't say I disagree...and I have a dedicated room, and no WAF to worry about, lol.

For the record...just got an update from my dealer. My 23s, are supposed to be here "sometime next week". Given his history, I'll take that to mean more like...the week of 2/1-2/5 :rolleyes: ;)
 
Chris....you've been waiting a long time for those 23's. :( .....hope you get them soon.

Can't wait for your comparison as I'm finding it difficult selling my Auditors. :( I would love it to go full circle on PMC's.
 
Womaz said:
I have heard nothing but good things about the ATCs, but I could not live with their looks I am afraid. I have to have them in my main living room so no good for me
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Yeah, the ATCs aren't exactly setting standards in loudspeaker WAF, but the 26s aren't that much better looking either IMO, de gustibus.

This guy says he had the Olympica 2 for home demo and the ATCs blow them away.

http://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/atc-scm40-my-final-speaker?reply=45352254710330808
 
Anatta said:
PMC uses the Volt dome midrange in the higher end models (also their Radial woofers), which is very similar to the ATC.

http://www.voltloudspeakers.co.uk/loudspeakers/vm752-3/
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I'm not so sure, they're not one in the same. One of the things, that I know about driver manufacturing...as I'm sure you do; is there is a lot of OEM work going on. What I mean is...one company is making said driver, and a lot of people slap their label on it.

Here's a blurb, I will always remember...about the PMC midrange driver in question:



Well...I think PMC has generally been very clear; they don't make their own drivers? If they created the prototype, and then contracted it out to Volt, ATC...or some company, behind the scenes we've never heard of; it's likely...more or less...the "same" driver. I mean...I know looks aren't everything; but take a look at them.

Here's what I do know; that driver...to purchase retail, is ~$700 USD/per! Now...that might not sound like much...but when you consider, I've seen $30 SEAS tweeters; in $5k speakers...it kinda puts it in perspective.

Also...those Volt Radial bass drivers; or as I call them, the "Spider Drivers"...are Bad-A$$ ;)
 
Womaz said:
I think the 26s should blow the 23s out of the water surely......looking forward to hearing your thoughts
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Well...if they blow them out of the water; start lining up for 23s I guess...because they'll go. But...if they fit my room better, and give me 80, 85, 90%; I might go smaller.
 
CDLehner said:
Well...if they blow them out of the water; start lining up for 23s I guess...because they'll go. But...if they fit my room better, and give me 80, 85, 90%; I might go smaller.
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I could be in that line if all my cards fall into place. ;)
 
Anatta said:
Yeah, the ATCs aren't exactly setting standards in loudspeaker WAF, but the 26s aren't that much better looking either IMO, de gustibus.
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IDK; they're certainly not SFs...but I think I have to give the PMC, a couple of extra style points.



As you said (only fancier)...YMMV ;)
 
Put a photo of the Olympica 2s on there and you will swoon ;-)
But yes the sound quality has to match. I await the arrival of your 23s probably as much as you do.

Right now I am really enjoying the Olympicas
 
Womaz - take a look at the Living Voice OBX-RW's. Unlike Harbeth's, Spendor's and their other competitors, they are efficient enough to use with a SET amp and give you a beautiful big sound.

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Womaz said:
Put a photo of the Olympica 2s on there and you will swoon ;-)
But yes the sound quality has to match. I await the arrival of your 23s probably as much as you do.

Right now I am really enjoying the Olympicas
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I agree; some of them, are works of art. I never cared, for the use of leather though; but I think they've gotten away from that on most new models, yes?
 
Leather front and on top, but not a great deal. I love the look of them.
 
Unfortunately Living Voice impossible to get on a home demo. Up in the NE of England there is not a lot of dealers. I listened to Scansonic MB6, Usher Mini Dancer 2, SF Olympicas and Martin Logan Adventure. I took the Olympicas home to hear them in my living room. I have now tamed the bass and I really like them. I guess I am used to the PMC sound though so I want to hear the 26s before I decide. I have a lively listening room and think that the Olympicas seem to suit my room. In the shop I though they were a little too laid back, but not at home.
 
Note that both the 23 and 26 have a tipped up treble on axis, they should be positioned firing straight ahead for a flat response, no toe-in.
 
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