HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Here are some speakers I have listened to over the years

Atc scm 11
Dynaudio excite 16
Pmc 23
B&w cm2
Neat motive se2

Not many but I know the type of sound that I like and I get it through the pmc

I know from demos / bake-offs what the ATC SCM 11's and B&W CM2's sound like.

I liked the speed and clarity of the ATC but they left me a little cold

How would you say your PMC Twenty 21's compare to the ATC 11's for clarity?

Thd PM 21s recently received a big slagging on ASR. Going on his reviews of kit I know is good I am inclined to believe the PM 21s must sound rather good although they measure badly.

There are limits to what can be achieved with tiny, non-sealed box, low efficiency speakers.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/foru ... iew.14442/

I'm amazed that anyone would expect a relatively overall neutral frequency response from tiny 2 ways (that didn't use equalisation).
A lack of bass extension and a dip in the presence region, somewhere between 150 hz and 300 hz is par for the course for this breed of speaker.
As are other sonic compromises, which are less easy to measure, but easy to hear in comparative demos.

It makes a audible positive difference for the 21s when you replace the bi-wiring bars with pieces of solid copper wire (my mother was told by the dealer and I had to do it and he was true).

I just read the asr review of them. Wow they got rinsed lol!!!!

Goes to show how much of a personal taste this hifi game is.

As long as we enjoy the music from our systems that's all that matters I guess

The ASR review appears to be over obsessed with getting a flat frequency response.

The subjective listening report does not say what speakers were compared against them.
Nor what recordings were used.
If he was playing an old Kate Bush album, I'd expect it to sound screechy.
If he was playing INXS, I'd expect it to sound bright.

One thing about speakers like the Twenty 21's is that for a lot of owners it's academic if there are speakers that cost less and sound better, if those speakers are bigger and uglier.
It's all about horses for courses. Which means Shetland ponies for most people. And Shire horses for those with the certain types of home and less conventional tastes...

I remember Richard claiming something like trust your ears and not the measures. My ears really could have fun with the 21s.