If you walked into a hifi store and gave them a budget they would wheel in / out speakers, you’d listen, you’d say what sounded good to you, they would box them up, take them to your home, set them up again, and reconfirm they sounded good.
No discussion of specs in that process. No one walks into a store and says “I’ll buy whatever speaker sits stable at 4 ohm please.”
Are we debating these “design decisions” without listening because these are at home only trials and the spec has to be right before you bring them in your home? I honestly just don’t get. It’s not like Paul and his team don’t know understand what “sounds good” means.
You’d do all of that at the dealer, but first you’d have a good discussion with the dealer about the amp and source you had, or were planning to get, and the type of sound that you liked or what you were looking to improve upon, perhaps the speakers you’ve gone through to that point and what you liked and didn’t like, and then based on all of that you’d get to hear and compare compatible speakers for your setup or tastes and judge how they sounded, as you mention.
Speaker to amp matching is a major consideration, so I would hope people wouldn’t ignore it, especially at these price points. I’d guess that’s why it’s being discussed, to answer your question
To the target audience that these speakers are intended for, that’s not an issue.
And it’s refunded if they’re returned.
It’s not really a valid argument, unless you’re not the intended audience and therefor can’t understand how it would be so simple to place that kind of cash as a desposit, in which case, this thread likely isn’t for you.
Agreed and I think this is the right answer and both what’s missing and, sadly, harder to do. I think PS is going to recommend amp pairing with this other than their own. Does that mean whatever the cost of the BHK600 lands at is the last money you’ll ever have to spend on an amp? Seems unlikely but that’s how this speaker is voiced so why pair it with anything else?
The other thing I’ve noticed with amp / speaker pairing (at least in my area) is selection has dwindled to almost nothing with the dealers. In fact, I recently listened to a pair speakers that sounded downright horrible. It was the electronics but because of the unique configuration of these speakers it was the own gear they had in the shop to power them. Was a miserably sad experience.
So, yes, pairing is very important but how would you do that in this trial-at-home situation other than just buying the BHK and calling it a day? PS doesn’t have 3 different amps to ship you as part of the trial… they have 1.
Auditioning new speakers at a brick and mortar store robs you of all your tweaks and gadgets such as special cables, fuses, interconnects, footers, vibration mgmt. discs, speaker weights, contact enhancers, and more. Your music will sound like crap.
How sad.
Any music from a speaker sounding like “crap” without all your tweaks and gadgets will certainly sound like crap with them as well.
Those gadgets do not enhance sound quality, they just limit the losses.
As far as I understand many forum members do not have dealers in your neighborhood. I also agree that the best place to audition speakers is in your own room especially if you do not fancy turning it into a sound studio with artificial room treatments.
But this does certainly not mean that speakers at a dealer sound per definition like crap.
I simply will not pay for any pair of speakers up front, unless I have not at least heard them anywhere.
The visit to the dealer is worthwhile a trip for me. Being able to see, touch and listen to all that equipment makes me feel like when I was a child in a candy store. Listen, compare play and decide. There is always enough to compare to make you feel good about your decision.
After all these posts here’s what I’ve learned about the FR30:
Very few have heard them.
They are made in China and will undergo a second QA in Boulder before they are sent out to buyers.
The speakers will be delivered into your residence, but it’s up to the buyer to install and optimize placement.
Due to COVID, we don’t know when they will be at an audio show.
There’s no dealer network to audition them.
Features:
a) The FR30’s come in Pearl White and Sable Black.
b) There are coasters under the feet making them easy to slide into position.
c) As of 12/27/2021 photos of the rear of the cabinet are not yet available.
Cost
a) Pre-orders for Round 1 and Round 2 are sold out. Pre-orders for Round 3 ship around June 30, 2022.
b) FR30’s cost $28,490.
c) To pre-order you must pay 1/10 the cost of the Speakers. That’s $2,849.
d) PSA’s great buy and try program will include the FR30.
e) Trade-in allowances for the FR30 Loudspeaker are capped at $8,550.00 (30%).
Specs:
a) Frequency response = 28Hz to beyond 20kHz
b) Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1M) = 87 dB
c) High Frequency Transducer = 2 x 2.5” planar magnetic with Teonex diaphragm
d) Mid Frequency Transducer = 10” planar magnetic with Teonex diaphragm
e) Low Frequency Transducer = 4 x 8” woofers, cast frame, aluminum cone, 12lb advanced magnet structure
f) Crossover Frequency = 400 Hz, 2500 Hz – LR4
g) Weight = 230lbs (104.5 kg) each
h) Amplification = Paul believes that they can be easily driven by 100W or more. This includes Tube and Solid State amps.
i) There’s two sets of binding posts on the lower cabinet for bi-wiring.
j) There’s a tweeter level control and a three position baffle switch that adjusts for the distance from the front wall.
k) Each speaker comes in two pieces – Sealed upper cabinet mid-tweeter module, Passive radiator lower cabinet (4 10” side-firing passive radiators).
Anything else?
Perhaps we can post a FAQ or some kind of sticky post at the top. There’s so much wild speculation lately.
I would rephrase this as a second QA is done in Boulder. Don’t remember how far back but, Paul said the test equipment at the factory was more accurate than what they have in Boulder. So, I assume, QA is done in both places with the Boulder check being a more fit&finish check / maybe reboxing? But I wouldn’t expect anything to leave China “out of spec”.
oh, yeah, and excellent summary of 3994+ posts… now make a list of what was removed from the original design (servo woofers, wood panel, mid-century modern stands, etc.) -
Just kidding!
Wasn’t commenting on dealer vs direct choice, but rather explaining how the amp-speaker potential incompatibility issue is addressed via conversation, even if sensitivities are never mentioned, contrary to the suggestion in the post I replied to. Hey, 4000th post!
