Floorstanding loudspeakers — Psb Synchrony T800

The Synchrony T800 is the largest tower of PSB's Synchrony series, the top range of the Ontario-based brand Paul Barton started in 1972. Launched a year after the Synchrony B600 and T600, it is larger and more powerful than the T600, and PSB describes it as having the widest performance envelope of any loudspeaker in its history. It was voiced by a team working under Barton's direction.

Key specs that matter

The T800 uses a 25mm titanium dome tweeter with ferrofluid and a neodymium magnet, a 133mm (5.25-inch) midrange and three 203mm (8-inch) woofers, all with cast aluminium baskets, woven carbon-fibre cones and rubber surrounds. Crossover points are 450Hz and 1,800Hz, the upper a fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley. On-axis response is within +/-1.5dB from 24Hz to 20kHz, off-axis response at 30 degrees is within +/-1.5dB from 30Hz to 10kHz, and low-frequency cutoff is 20Hz. Sensitivity is 89dB anechoic and 91dB in room, impedance is 4 ohms nominal and minimum, and recommended amplification is 20 to 300W. Each speaker measures 377 x 1,212 x 396mm and weighs 45.36kg, in satin walnut veneer or high-gloss black.

Engineering and use context

PSB calls the layout a transitional array. The three woofers do not all run to the same frequency - they hand over progressively, so the lowest units cover only the deepest bass while the upper woofer blends into the midrange, avoiding the vertical lobing that several drivers sharing the same band would produce. Each woofer sits in its own individually tuned chamber with its own rear-firing port, which breaks up standing waves inside the cabinet. The motors use Faraday rings, a shorted turn, longer voice coils and symmetrical magnetic drive to reduce non-linear distortion and allow higher levels without compression. The crossover uses high-voltage polypropylene film capacitors and oxygen-free wire, and its fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley filters keep the summed amplitude flat through the crossover region. The MDF cabinet is heavily braced, with aluminium-clad front baffles for rigidity, and outrigger stabilisers carry integrated feet developed with IsoAcoustics from its GAIA II isolators, reducing the transfer of vibration to the floor while holding the speaker steady. Two port plugs are supplied, and triple sets of gold-plated binding posts allow tri-wiring or tri-amping.

Pairing

Its low impedance asks for current-capable amplification, while good sensitivity keeps power requirements moderate. Triple terminals suit bi- or tri-amplification, and in home cinema the T800 pairs with Synchrony centre and surround models.

Alternatives

PSB's own Synchrony T600 is the smaller tower of the same series, with fewer and smaller woofers.