Speaker Choice

[sdiesel77]

Hi Guys,
I m for a while looking at upgrading my current speakers (B&W 683) and would be need some advice/opinion.
I recently went to the Listening Suite (really nice and professional Staff! :D) where I heard a pair of Jean Marie Reynaud Abscisse. I always liked the look of these speakers and was truly amazed by the details coming from the ribbon tweeters.
However having B&W at home, the difference in terms of bass shocked me a little as mine are full of it (maybe too much...) and the JMR bass are really sharp but much quieter.
I really loved these speakers but I m not sure they'll be compatible with all types of music (Jazz, Blues, Rock,...). Have you heard them? What do you think?

I'm also looking at some PMC Twenty 24 but never heard them. Basically I'd love to find speakers with the same details as the Abscisse but will a little more punchy bass... :)

Thanks for your advice
S

[DaveF]

I heard the small JMR standmounts a few weeks back. Quiet fast and open I thought yet not bright either. I was quite impressed. I then had a very brief listen to one of the bigger models. Very tight bass which I liked but I didnt get a chance to listen to them for long enough. To be honest, I find shop demos of speakers to be pretty useless in general. I always find it difficult to make a proper judgement.

Its a tired old statement at this stage but the fact is a home demo is the only way to know if the speakers are for you.

I think both the JMR's and PMC's would probably be a step up from your B&W's.

[Audioq]

I have heard some older JMR speakers and based on a quick listen always thought they sounded very musical and non fatiquing. Never heard PMC but they seem to be highly regarded. As to the bass or lack of it this seems to be so room dependent for many speakers that you would really need to hear them in your room to decide. A lot of dealer show rooms tend to be bigger than the average living room and bigger than you think when standing in them so its very difficult to judge.

[sdiesel77]

I visited the Dublin shop HifiHut yesterday where they have quite an extensive choice of speakers for demo. I could finally listen to the PMC 23 and PMC 24. :)
First, I didn't expect the 24 to be THAT BIG and the 23 to be that small :D. They both look very well designed and nice quality.

Now, regarding the listening test. I started by the 23 and was really amazed by the "lively sound" produced by such small cabinets. The bass were well present and precise without being overwhelming, the details in the high frequencies were also really good and the sound wasn't directive as I was initially expected to be. Even at low volume, the quality was really good.
We then switched to the 24, knowing that they cost 1500€ more and that the cabinet is a lot bigger, my expectation was quite high toward this model.
Well, lets say that I was rather disappointed by them. I couldn't get the same excitement I got with the 23, for me at low/medium volume they produced a sound quality rather "flat" and they needed to be pushed in higher sound volume to finally sound "alive".

Now if I have to compare the JMR Abscisse and the PMC 23, the price of the JMR is almost double of the PMC (which makes the PMC 23 an Excellent value) but there was clearly, IMO, a significant different in sound quality. The JMR produce a more details sound (probably due to the double ribbon tweeters) and that's a very personal taste but they also look a lot more "unconventional" and sexy than the PMC :p

[sdiesel77]

:-)

[HiFiFan]

Congrats

[sdiesel77]

Et voilà [emoji14]

[Adrian]

Brave man indeed.... well done..... !!!

And yes.... I do approve..... I do like what I see in those photos!!

[Derek]

they look really good, all the best with them

[Diapason]

Wonderful! Enjoy them, they look great and I'm sure they sound great too.