Expanding My Horizons: PSB Image B/Revel M12/Gallo Nucleus/Paradigm Mini Bookies

[JJ]

In my continuing quest for a small bedroom set-up, I've set up appointments this weekend to go have listens to the aforementioned bookshelves, and while they are from lesser known brands here (I think, anyway) - perhaps there are a few who have them or similar products from the same line who can offer me insights?

I've previously wandered into the the same line Concerta F12 towers before I settled on my 683s, but I know very little about PSB, so I'm looking forward to hearing them and the Gallo's for the first time! The Paradigms are the wild-card of the bunch, I know some about the larger Monitor lines, but nothing about the Atom/Mini monitors...just what I've read on spec sheets, but that means very little...

And the little Gallo spheres seem highly praised, despite their unorthodox form...there's a great-looking pair of red ones on audiogon I might have to spring for if they impress me, given their small size.

[Big Daddy]

I am glad you finally decided to go for higher-end speakers. I love PSB speakers. They are designed by Paul Barton. Read about him here:

http://www.soundstagelive.com/factorytours/psbnrc/
http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/231/

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I am glad you finally decided to go for higher-end speakers. I love PSB speakers. They are designed by Paul Barton. Read about him here:

http://www.soundstagelive.com/factorytours/psbnrc/
http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/231/

Silly B&W, being so middle-end (what, guys? You want me to say low-end? Kiss my kevlar drivers, ) with their 600 series,

Thanks for the reads, Daddyo. I just spent a bit of time on each of the 4 websites for the respective brands. Knowing, after all, is half the battle.

[JJ]

Check - here's a VERY interesting viewpoint in this article that I've never considered, perhaps falling into the realm of psychoacoustics:

Finally, and perhaps most controversially, Barton talks about the supposed break-in effect of components that has become so popular in audio today. Break-in refers to running components for a long time (sometimes hundreds of hours) to the point where their components "settle" into their proper operating mode. Barton doesn’t doubt that some components do change subtly, but he thinks that the major improvements people think they’re hearing aren’t in the components at all. Barton doesn’t doubt that people are hearing these changes, but thinks that what they’re hearing is actually brain break-in.

Barton has examined his own speakers to test this. He has taken a Stratus Gold loudspeaker, built and measured some ten years ago, and re-measured it today. The deviation is slight, perhaps 1/4dB at most. Although that deviation can possibly be heard, it is certainly not a huge difference that one may attest to hearing. Instead, Barton surmises that the difference in sound that people are hearing over time is conditioning of the brain. He cites experiments done with sight that indicate the brain can accommodate for enormous changes fairly quickly and certainly within the hundreds of hours that audiophiles claim changes occur in. Could this apply to hearing, too? Barton thinks that more often than not, what happens is that the changes in perceived sound that are attributed to component break-in are simply the brain becoming accustomed to the sound. He warns listeners not to fool themselves.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Silly B&W, being so middle-end (what, guys? You want me to say low-end? Kiss my kevlar drivers, ) with their 600 series,

We don't mean your current speakers are low-end. We mean that you finally decided to go for higher-end speakers for your bedroom.

I don't like to kiss kevlar drivers. I prefer to kiss a beautiful girl in your bedroom while we are listening to your new speakers.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

We don't mean your current speakers are low-end. We mean that you finally decided to go for higher-end speakers for your bedroom.

I don't like to kiss kevlar drivers. I prefer to kiss a beautiful girl in your bedroom while we are listening to your new speakers.

Not you, but a few out there who have been...shall I say...detractors? Look at you, though! A mod for a few days and already referring to yourself in the first person plural, But I must admit, I really did want to sort of veer-off from the regular path of the Polk/Klipsch/etc route. And the only person doing ANYTHING in my bedroom is...well, me. Go into the living room.

[jcs913]

The PSB's are a can't miss. I have a shop about 7 miles from the house that has the Synchronies and they sound fantastic. When I bought my NHT's about 10 years ago, PSB was my second choice and a little more than I wanted to spend. Don't regret it, but it would have been nice. Good Luck..

[CrabbyAzz]

I've auditioned Paradigm Atoms, Mini Monitors and the Gallo's. I was very impressed with both Paradigms. You should have a sub with the Atoms. For bedroom use, you can get by without a sub using the Mini Monitors. Both speakers have great bang for the buck.

edit note: I removed my comments concerning the Gallo system above. I auditioned the Satelite system not the Nucleus system. I found the Satelite system unimpressive.

[Beta Man]

a lot of Gallo Accoustic Mini reviews.... (54 to be exact)

http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/gallo...8_1594crx.aspx

[CosmoKid]

(Glowing) Stereophile review of the Atom v.5

The review includes a direct comparison to the PSB Alphas