PMC Twenty 26 vs. 23

CDLehner

CDLehner

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By now...many of you know the saga. What you my not know, is why? Why...even entertain the idea, of 23s; when you are perfectly ecstatic with the 26s.

Well...a) those of you, who know/loathe me :| understand, that I am never completely content; even with the gear I love, lol; and b) it's really about possibly down-sizing. If the 23s, offer close to 100% of the performance...at just over half the cost; then it might be a choice I'd consider...and let some other lucky fella, take ownership of the excellent 26s.

I started this thread...so i could get away, from the hi-jacking of the thread, where this drama started.

So...here they are; the "unicorn" speakers



 
Very interested to hear what you think.......I cant see you keeping the 23s though :rolleyes:
 
Those look beautiful Chris......

Geeezz...I guessed they shipped it so quickly they forgot the hardware and bases.:rolleyes:
 
So guys...yes; I was quite surprised...at just how much smaller, the 23s looked next to the 26s. I mean...to an extent, I was looking to go smaller. That's one of the reasons, I didn't go for the 24. A) was price; but more-so, b) was...if I wanted "big"; I would just stay with the 26s. The idea was...would the 23s, offer a smaller, more intimate alternative; that I could live with, trade-off wise. Again..."down-size".

26s are listed at 41.8"...23s 36.14"; but I think what really makes them seem, so much bigger...is the body and w i d t h (keep in mind...the 23s, don't have their stands and spikes either).

So...I've been temporarily, using the excellent Luxman L-550AX IA; which I eventually, probably will look to sell...but wanted to keep, through the evaluation, because it has a speaker A/B switch. It'll make comparisons, a breeze! I've been using it a while, even before the 23s got here; because I wanted to be really familiar...with its signature, so I could judge without worrying about other new variables.

Last night...I was listening to the Linn Jazz stream, through the Auralic Aries Mini; to the Luxman, and with the 26s. I decided to switch over to the 23s...not for critical listening yet; but to put some hours on them, overnight...so I could start to do some critical listening this weekend. I have to be honest...by just the looks of them; cowering, next to the 26s...I was expecting, a big let-down and drop-off. I was really...pleasantly surprised.

With the same source...so it might as well, have just been an A/B switch (I'm not set-up for that, just yet...so I just quickly swapped cables); I have to say. Yes...the sound was "smaller"; but...really, really sweet, musical...and that kind of "intimate", that might just do the trick. My first thought was "man...I wish I could find a place for these, and keep both after all". But...the whole idea, is to simplify.

So...short, first impression; they're great...for what they are. First-class; a helluva speaker. As I listen more, and compare; I'll do more of the contrast thing.
 
OK...so this is a little better:



Whilst I wait for my hardware package; I decided to run out, and get some M8s...so I could at least, attach the bases (on a side note...that was not as easy, as I would have thought. Lowes didn't have any, and told me they are discontinuing their Metric stock :weird: They also said HD was doing the same thing, though I did find what I needed at Big Orange; I got the last 4, they had available).

I also have things set-up now, so that...comparisons between the two Twentys; is as easy, as an A/B switch away :)

Allow me to side-track/OT, my own thread: can someone give me the Reader's Digest version...on the idea of slabs or platforms, under floor-standing speakers?
 
A day of testing now?
What are your thoughts?
my 26s arrive this week and they will have to be significantly better than the 23s to get anywhere near the Olympicas in my opinion
 
Womaz said:
A day of testing now?
What are your thoughts?
my 26s arrive this week and they will have to be significantly better than the 23s to get anywhere near the Olympicas in my opinion
Click to expand...

Not really Womaz; just been getting some hours on them; but I will do some listening tonight.

So...you have 23s, Olympicas...and 26s coming in already? What kind of music do you listen to mostly?
 
Do you guys, think maybe I should flip-flop the contenders? Give the little brother, the "advantage"...of the w i d e r placement??
 
Yes I will have all 3 speakers here some time this week. I dont need to hear the 23s any more as the Olympicas wipe the floor with them in my opinion. So for me its the 26s or the Olympicas.
Its an old cliche but i really listen to all types of music. The only types i really never listen to are Jazz and Classica.
An example ....last night I listened to the following.

Donny Hathaway
Metallica
Deep Purple
Adele
Wolf Alice
Royal Blood
Pure Deep House 4.

Like I say a bot of everything
 
Womaz said:
Yes I will have all 3 speakers here some time this week. I dont need to hear the 23s any more as the Olympicas wipe the floor with them in my opinion. So for me its the 26s or the Olympicas.
Its an old cliche but i really listen to all types of music. The only types i really never listen to are Jazz and Classica.
An example ....last night I listened to the following.

Donny Hathaway
Metallica
Deep Purple
Adele
Wolf Alice
Royal Blood
Pure Deep House 4.

Like I say a bot of everything
Click to expand...

And I'm sorry; I could probably go back and look...but which Olympicas are we talking?
 
Womaz said:
Its the Olympica 2
Click to expand...

Womaz said:
In the UK they are close to the same price as the PMC 26
Click to expand...

Nice. I was hoping you'd say that...because looking at them, it looks like a very apples to apples comparison.

And that was my next question; last time I checked, 26s were $11k USD. What do the O2s run in the States?

Now I'm looking forward, to your comparison...between the O2s and 26s :)
 
I am in the UK. The PMC is 6K and the Olympica 2 is 6.25k.
I am not that good at describing what I hear I dont think, so I would not get too excited.:D
I will go with the speaker I enjoy more. My gut feeling says the PMC will be more accurate and clinical, but with the Devialet 200 the Olympicas might sound better.
 
Womaz said:
I am not that good at describing what I hear I dont think, so I would not get too excited.:D I will go with the speaker I enjoy more.
Click to expand...

I hear ya. I used to be, pretty detailed and verbose...about shoot-outs. Now...it kinda reminds me, of that Ray Romano gag.



**If anyone knows, how I can trim the end?
 
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