With all the variables putting a stereo system together: source, preamplifier, amplifier, tubes, interconnects, speaker wires, and power cables…I have to wonder what of the above components did PS Audio use to determine the FR20 design was complete?
I know myself, changing just the speaker cables, not to mention even bi-wiring them make a huge difference. Interconnects, wow changed the entire sound.
Would love to know what PS Audio would consider the perfect components for the FR20’s
We used our own front end components (DSD MK2, BHK Preamp, SACD transport, at the time an innuous streamer) and various amplifiers for listening and final tweaks. We were using rather high end audioquest cabling in the listening tests.
However, we designed the speaker to have a rather flat impedance curve and linear response to try to work well with a wide variety of components and rooms and associated components.
Things like the affect of different cables, bi-wiring etc. do change the sound but this happens more or less with every speaker and component is and fairly universal.
Most of the design of speakers is objective measurements and engineering out problems, in linear and non-linear distortion, resonances etc. and the listening testing was primarily small tweaking a couple of resistors and caps in the crossover. We took an extra month on this because I wasn’t 100% happy and I’m very glad we did because the final voicing came out to be my favorite product of the line.
I have some ideas about how I’d like to improve our speakers due to some ongoing driver research and samples so we’ll eventually try to one-up and refine things both cosmetically and functionally and so there’s always more to do and you just have to draw a line in the sand at some point and call something “done”.
may I ask what is the preferred interconnect between the BHK preamp and BHK 300s? I am currently using Audioquest Water XLR.
And may I also ask what is the preferred speaker cable? I am currently using Audiquest Indigo (bi-wired) an older cable using Hyperlink Technology.