To Doug Schneider,
Have you compared PSB Synchrony Ones with the Paradigm Signature S8s? Could you direct me to the right site if you have or give me your words of wisdom for these speakers? They will be in a 7.1 system with NAD components.
Thanks,
Vipul Kapoor
I get asked this question quite often, likely because these are the top models from two of the best-known speaker brands and I reviewed the Synchrony One for SoundStage! Hi-Fi in 2008. Have I compared both? Yes, indirectly at shows, since I’ve never had the opportunity to have both in my listening room. I have some general observations I can share with you.
I’ve found the Synchrony One to be the more neutral of these two with an absolutely stunning midrange presentation -- crystal clear, highly detailed, and quite immediate. In contrast, the S8 setups I’ve heard have tended to be a touch more relaxed in the mids, but have had greater bass weight. I haven’t seen measurements on the latest S8 model, but I would suspect its bass cutoff point (usually about -10dB) to be lower than that of the One. On the other hand, in all the PSB setups I’ve heard, including in my own room when I had the speakers here, the Synchrony Ones have always sounded extremely visceral and punchy, so, in terms of bass quality, they are certainly comparable. The one area the S8 steps ahead is in the highs -- Paradigm’s beryllium-dome tweeter has always sounded a little sweeter to my ears than the titanium dome the PSB has in it. Insofar as expanding into a 7.1 system, Paradigm and PSB have excellent centers and surrounds that match both of these models. Cosmetically, I like the elegant look of the Synchrony One, although I know some prefer the flashier appearance of the Signature S8.
In the end, though, the decision has to be up to you. These aren’t just two of the best-known speakers around, but two of the best for the prices they sell for, yet they don’t sound the same. Frankly, if I were spending the money today, I wouldn’t know which to buy, and I’ve had plenty of experience with both. So if I were in your shoes, I’d go and listen to them, preferably side by side. . . . Doug Schneider