# HFN Review, May 15, 2023: FR20 **URL:** \ **Category:** Loudspeakers\ **Created:** [May 17, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742 "2023-05-17T18:18:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/1 "2023-05-17T18:18:42Z")
> **[PS Audio aspen FR20 Loudspeaker](https://www.hifinews.com/content/ps-audio-aspen-fr20-loudspeaker)** > > Less than a year after PS Audio launched its inaugural loudspeaker, this flagship floorstander has already inspired a trickledown sibling. Will the FR20 unseat the FR30? The advice given by Apple's Steve Jobs to 'Start small, think big' is pretty... ---
**Author:** ![kzk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@kzk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/kzk)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/2 "2023-05-17T18:23:08Z")
Very good review, and though HFN never include the numerical score in the free electronic versions of the review (it’s in the print version and the pay copies of digital versions), the speakers earned a 90% score as well, same as FR30 did, which is very good. ---
**Author:** ![adifferentpaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adifferentpaul/32/282181_2.png) [@adifferentpaul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adifferentpaul)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/3 "2023-05-17T18:39:34Z")
I love my FR20 ---
**Author:** ![wobblewobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/76d3ee/32.png) [@wobblewobble](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/wobblewobble)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/4 "2023-05-18T00:44:24Z")
Yikes what is happening here @Chris_Brunhaver ? Can you share your spinoramas Huge hole in a pretty critical region . Some could argue in 2 important regions ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/c/4/c457a61976648b084ca1dac859ffc7c64fd86d25.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/5 "2023-05-18T03:37:21Z")
Oh no, a dreaded-but-routine measurement that half the poll in another recent thread insist they don’t care about Nevertheless, such measurements deserve scrutiny by audiophiles Unless such significant performance cannot be heard But I suspect all could hear the effects that these curves reveal ---
**Author:** ![adifferentpaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adifferentpaul/32/282181_2.png) [@adifferentpaul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adifferentpaul)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 4:24am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/6 "2023-05-18T04:24:33Z")
It is known that the tweeters on that review pair were damaged in shipping. There is a discussion about this on ASR. I would hear it if the response was like this on my pair. My FR20’s sound fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![dawkinsj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@dawkinsj](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dawkinsj)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 5:28am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/7 "2023-05-18T05:28:23Z")
And I’m pretty sure he knows that as part of their crew. ---
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 8:04am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/8 "2023-05-18T08:04:32Z")
> [@adifferentpaul](#): > > It is known that the tweeters on that review pair were damaged in shipping. If true, this would invalidate the review. The ‘broken’ speaker should have been returned to PSA promptly for repair and quality assurance prior to review publication. And, any professional reviewer must be able to hear crucial frequencies; otherwise, the reviewer is invalidated as a professional reviewer impacting purchase decisions, especially for a $20,000 speaker pair. (eg, I think I do not hear frequencies above 12,000 well based on listening to test tones on my speakers. If not a problem with my speakers by instead my ears, I am certainly not qualified to professionally evaluate tweeters and then publish a review in a respected magazine whose readers rightfully rely on my ears) For these reasons, the review should be disregarded, retracted, and readers notified with apology. Unless, of course, reviewing known-damaged speakers is an acceptable proxy for a positive-sounding May 15, 2023 FR20 review. If your report is true, I will be glad to write a serious letter to the publisher of Hi-Fi News and request publication in the magazine. ---
**Author:** ![stevensegal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@stevensegal](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/stevensegal)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 10:17am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/9 "2023-05-18T10:17:45Z")
The drop in that chart affects the midrange, the greater part of the audible tweeter zone is higher than the bass and lower midrange. This is the report. There is no suggestion anything was broken. The DSD DAC Mk2 was reviewed this month and the measurements were also poor. In the April 2023 edition along with FR20 they measured the dCS Bartok Apex, which I thing @vkennedy61 bought, and the Lumin T3, that I bought. They both measure much better the dCS extraordinarily well. Some people ignore this stuff, others live by it. My view is that equipment should first measure well and then be enjoyable to listen to. The conclusion on the FR20 was a bit over the top. Frankly it’s a very competitive market with a lot of superb speakers, and it probably more a matter of taste than there being any standard setter. SabrinaX, Focal Sopra 2, Magico A3 come to mind. In recent years PS Audio or their UK distributor appear to have bought more advertising space in HiFiNews than any other brand. There was often 5 pages, although it seems to have died down recently. HFN review everything PSA do, including just about every Octave release (like there isn’t enough music out there to review). They even had some kind words to say about the Don Grusin one. We all know advertising buys reviews, usually good ones, it’s talked about openly by manufacturers. It’s just a marketing choice, and there are some reviews that are not linked to advertising. It does make you wonder that they can publish these measurements and call the product a standard-setter, without looking into it further. Many good reviewers would have called up PSA and asked them to explain. (copyrighted materials removed) ---
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 10:22am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/10 "2023-05-18T10:22:34Z")
My bad perhaps I consider damaged to be broken ---
**Author:** ![rkindel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@rkindel](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/rkindel)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 10:28am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/11 "2023-05-18T10:28:13Z")
That’s a 10db swing smack dab in the middle of the “presence” region. The area where the ear is most sensitive. I would think anyone would be able to hear that. Just what PS Audio needs right now- another measurement controversy. Nothing negative in the written review however. When I first saw this I knew we would eventually get a explanation from Chris. ---
**Author:** ![adifferentpaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adifferentpaul/32/282181_2.png) [@adifferentpaul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adifferentpaul)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 10:36am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/12 "2023-05-18T10:36:53Z")
The bizarre thing is there does not seem to be any “relief” that the tweeters were simply damaged in shipping and that the speakers are actually ok. Instead, just more negativity. ---
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 10:43am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/13 "2023-05-18T10:43:43Z")
garbage in, garbage out ---
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 11:08am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/15 "2023-05-18T11:08:18Z")
> [@stevensegal](#): > > If only I had a spare $1m. just give us your bank routing number ---
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 11:37am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/17 "2023-05-18T11:37:15Z")
> [@stevensegal](#): > > he fell out with IAG ah yes, the invisible hands behind dealer recommendations ---
**Author:** ![stevensegal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@stevensegal](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/stevensegal)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 12:27pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/18 "2023-05-18T12:27:34Z")
I’m with the dealer on this. Central London retail costs are astronomic. This dealer had carried Quad for over 50 years. Just because they decide to bring out a range of budget speakers, why should the dealer sell them? The people who do sell then do so from far inferior premises without demo facilities. A dealer may well decide that only certain products from a manufacturer suit their client profile. I like this dealer because they are very selective and with a certain brand they only carry one product. Another dealer I liked now seems to sell too any brands. My favourite, he’s been in business over 50 years, mainly sold just 3 brands. Because rent is the main issue, we have lots of new dealers set up in really nice out-of-town premises, usually within 30-45 minutes of the suburbs, where it is viable to stock larger product ranges. ---
**Author:** ![kzk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@kzk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/kzk)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 12:55pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/19 "2023-05-18T12:55:35Z")
> [@adifferentpaul](#): > > It is known that the tweeters on that review pair were damaged in shipping. Huh? Known by whom? There is zero mention anywhere in the review of any damage. What is your source for this statement? ---
**Author:** ![adifferentpaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adifferentpaul/32/282181_2.png) [@adifferentpaul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adifferentpaul)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/21 "2023-05-18T13:33:39Z")
Chris already discussed this on another forum. I mentioned the other forum. It’s not hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![Paul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/paul/32/6_2.png) [@Paul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Paul)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/22 "2023-05-18T13:42:26Z")
Well, in fact, he’s pretty spot on though “damaged” sounds more like they got injured with a hammer. 😊 What happened was weird but something that fortunately only affected the small first pilot run of a few pairs before we discovered the issue (and then only to those few that were air freighted). None with this issue ever got to customers, fortunately. Turns out that the tweeter is so well built that it forms an almost perfect airtight seal between the ribbon and the magnet cup structure. On those first few units that were air freighted, the sudden lowering of air pressure created a bubble behind the ribbon diaphragm that pushed it out, causing that dip you see. The fix was simple: Chris just put a pinhole opening in the rear cup and voila! The diaphragm returned to its normal resting point away from the magnet and now it measures flat. What’s also interesting is that sonically it doesn’t really show itself much (despite how bad it appears). We got our first production pair out of that same small batch that the magazine got theirs from, both air freighted, and they sounded great. It wasn’t until Chris ran his measurements that he discovered the problem. Once fixed we could hear the difference but it wasn’t like this night and day sort of thing (despite how it looks). If time had allowed, we would have received in those first samples, measured them all, then sent on for review. We/they were anxious to get them out into the world. Live and learn. ---
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 1:47pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742/23 "2023-05-18T13:47:10Z")
Always great to get more facts, even if they include measurements that helped discover the problem and fix it [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/hfn-review-may-15-2023-fr20/33742.md?page=2)