Floorstanding loudspeakers — Pbn Audio M0!5

PBN Audio's M0!5 is the smallest floorstander of the M Series. Peter Noerbaek started PBN Audio, a company that also makes amplifiers and turntables and had marked 27 years in business by 2019. PBN says the M Series now counts six models planned as a complete set for rooms of any size and for surround layouts. The series began with the M2!5, which carries two 15 inch woofers. The M0!5 came after the M1!5 and was aimed at smaller spaces such as bedrooms or dens.

Key specs that matter

Two 8 inch woofers handle the low range, and a 3 inch true ribbon on a waveguide covers the top. The crossover point is 2 kHz with 6th order slopes. Sensitivity is 92 dB measured at 2.83 V and 1 metre, and nominal impedance is 4 ohm. PBN gives a frequency range of 30 Hz to 25 kHz and a power handling figure of 160 W. Each cabinet measures about 28 cm wide, 41 cm deep and 112 cm tall, and weighs 47.6 kg.

Engineering and use context

The woofer cones are made from a paper and glass fibre blend, chosen by PBN for consistency from one unit to the next. Behind them sits a heavy motor with a 39 mm voice coil, and a set of heat-venting ports keeps the coil at a stable temperature during long, loud playback. The ribbon tweeter uses a neodymium magnet and a reinforced sandwich diaphragm. The crossover follows PBN's LKRY topology and is charge coupled with 27 V DC, a method the brand uses across the M Series in which batteries hold a bias voltage on the crossover capacitors. Because the M0!5 is the compact member of the series, it keeps the same approach as the larger models while fitting rooms where the larger models would be too much. Veneers and finishes can be chosen to order, and PBN also takes commissions for custom speakers. The voice coil is generously sized for this woofer, which PBN links to power handling and control of the cone.

Pairing

With this sensitivity the M0!5 reaches normal listening levels with moderate power, although with the low nominal impedance the chosen amplifier must remain steady into a low load. A 20 m2 bedroom or den is the kind of space PBN had in mind, and PBN's own amplifiers are an option for buyers who want to keep the system within one brand.

Alternatives

The PBN Audio M1!5 sits one step above in the M Series, with two 12 inch woofers, a compression driver, 94 dB sensitivity and 300 W power handling.