Michael Trei

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Bookshelf Speaker Reviews Subwoofer Reviews Surround Sound System Reviews Tower Speaker Reviews

PSB Alpha T20 Speaker System Review

Michael Trei | Apr 03, 2019 | 0 comments

Speakers
Performance
Build Quality
Value

Subwoofer
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $1,800 (as tested)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Neutral balance
Close timbral matching between models
Excellent value
Minus
Pedestrian styling
Basic finish options

THE VERDICT
PSB's long-running Alpha Series has been a value leader for more than 25 years. Now in their third generation, these speakers sound equally good with music and movies, and the value quotient is stronger than ever.

I think of PSB's entry-level Alpha Series speakers as being the loudspeaker equivalent of the Toyota Corolla. The Alphas may not be the sexiest speakers around, but they do offer solid engineering, long-term reliability, and excellent performance at a very reasonable price. Speakers from PSB's now sadly discontinued flagship Synchrony line have served as my personal home theater reference for over a decade, so you could call me a bit of a fanboy. As you might expect, that means I'm also interested in seeing what the company can deliver when keeping costs down is part of the equation.

Tower Speaker Reviews

PSB Image Series Speaker System

Michael Trei | Sep 04, 2001 | Published: Sep 05, 2001 | 0 comments

With the Image Series speaker system, PSB proves that you can cut corners without compromising performance.

Quick, which do you think would be more difficult to do: design a cutting-edge, no-compromises speaker or design a speaker that gives the best possible performance for a very affordable price? While coming up with a mind-blowing design without any cost boundaries is undoubtedly a daunting challenge, I would argue that producing a loudspeaker that can deliver killer results for a very affordable price is much harder. Making great budget speakers involves the art of compromise, knowing where you can save money without sacrificing the sonic results you're after.

PSB Image Series Speaker System

Michael Trei | Dec 10, 2009 | 0 comments

Key Features

$2,373 PSBSPEAKERS.COM

• Image T6 tower ($1,199/pair) 1-in titan

On-Wall Speaker Reviews

PSB PWM-1 On-Wall Surround Speaker System Review

Michael Trei | Mar 24, 2021 | 4 comments

Speakers
Performance
Build Quality
Value

Subwoofer
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $6,193 (as tested)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Dynamic sound for on- wall speakers
Versatile installation options
Solid build quality
Minus
Sub pricey compared with standalone units

THE VERDICT
PSB’s classy but low-profile PWM1 on-wall speakers and CSIR SUB subwoofer won’t attract attention, and they're not meant to. An excellent choice if you want a great-sounding speaker system for movies and music that won’t take over your room or your life.

A common notion among audiophiles who dismiss on-wall speakers is that speakers need to be positioned well out into a room in order to get big, spacious sound. But that kind of thinking misses the point. For many, on-wall speakers can be an excellent option if you don't want to dedicate your living room to a hi-fi or home theater audio system, but also expect dynamic and enveloping sound that's a step above what you'd get from in-wall speakers.

Accessory Reviews

Record Doctor VI Record Cleaning Machine Review

Michael Trei | Apr 08, 2020 | 1 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $300

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Digs deep to leave records sparkling
Far more effective than brush cleaners
Affordable
Minus
Hands-on manual operation
Loud vacuum motor

THE VERDICT
The Record Doctor VI is a bare-bones wet record cleaning system that delivers superb results at a bargain price.

It's easy to dismiss the recent resurgence of interest in vinyl records as a youth-driven phenomenon, with millennials embracing vinyl more for its hipness factor than for the great sound that it can deliver. But in the course of my day job setting up and maintaining high-end turntables, I'm finding that much of the rekindled attention is actually coming from my fellow Boomers and Gen-Xers. Some of us never stopped playing our records. Others, it seems, simply stashed theirs in the basement decades ago when CDs seemed so convenient and are just now pulling them out to appreciate all over again.

Review: B&W P5 Headphones

Michael Trei | Aug 09, 2010 | 0 comments

With its enviable reputation for creating speakers that push the technological envelope, you might expect a company like B&W to burst on to the headphone market with an all-out effort that aims to rewrite the rulebook.

Desktop Speaker Reviews

Review: B&W Z2 AirPlay dock

Michael Trei | May 09, 2013 | 0 comments

Most of us who write about technology tend to become the go-to guy when friends and family seek gear recommendations. Last Christmas, my 16 year old niece wanted to know about speakers to use with her iPod Touch. When I asked whether she wanted a dock or something that used a cable to connect, the look she shot back told me that I might as well have asked if she wanted 8-Track or cassette.

Headphone Amp/DAC Reviews

Review: Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air

Michael Trei | Apr 27, 2011 | 0 comments

Review: Magnepan MMC 2 and CC 5 On-Wall Speaker System

Michael Trei | Nov 11, 2010 | 0 comments

Key Features

$6,875 (as tested) magnepan.com

• MMC 2 on-wall speaker ($1,995/pair): 36 x 4-in quasi-ribbon midrange; 36 x 2-in quasi-ribbon tweeter, 36 x ¼-in quasi-ribbon supertweeter; 50 x 10¼ x 1 in; 13 lb

Review: Panasonic SC-BT730 Blu-ray Home Theater System

Michael Trei | Dec 10, 2010 | 0 comments

Ask any audiophile to recommend a decent home-theater-in-a-box (HTiB), and you'll probably get the same kind of vacant stare as from a wine snob who's been asked to name his favorite brand of boxed wine. Although a ready-to-roll system like Panasonic's SC-BT730 may not get an enthusiast's heart racing, it can be a great solution for an average person who wants good performance with a minimum of fuss. Simply add an HDTV to the mix and you'll be ready to go.

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Michael Trei

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