PMC Twenty 22: $2,738
The Twenty series celebrates PMC’s first 20
years, and builds on everything it has learned over that time. It looks as
though the engineers have learned a lot, considering both our higher-priced
Award have done their way.
There’s plenty of technical prowess to
admire here. The tweeter, a 27mm Sonolex dome, is designed to deliver high
levels of detail with wide dispersion. While the paper-coned mid/bass driver –
PMC likes paper’s light weight, rigidity and resonance behavior is specifically
designed for use with a transmission line.
Did
you know? PMC stands for ‘Professional Monitor Company’, denoting the firm’s
lofty origins in the world of professional studio recording
It’s the inclusion of a transmission line
that makes PMC speakers different from most. The idea is that the rearward
output of the mid/bass driver is forced through an internal folded path that
exits through the grille at the front of the speakers. This path is lined with
specially chosen damping material that absorbs all but the lowest frequencies
in the sound. As these very low frequencies exit the transmission line, they
augment the forward output of the driver. PMC thinks this is the best way to
get high-quality, low-distortion bass.
There are other technical idiosyncrasies,
including the slight rearward slope on the enclosure’s front and rear panels.
These not only give the speakers a distinctive look, they are also said to
improve cabinet rigidity and reduce internal standing waves.
These PMC speakers have the scale and
power to do justice to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, but with terrific tonal
balance
Speed is of the essence
These Twenty Standmounters are immensely
fast and precise. Their detail levels are excellent, and they deliver the sound
with breathtaking agility. You can add wide dispersion and a focused soundstage
to the list of plus points. Tonally, the speakers sound lean and taunt. Some
may prefer a more relaxing presentation, but it would be very hard to find such
leading-edge definition and speed any other way.
These PMC speakers do it all. They have the
scale and power to do justice to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and the tonal
balance to render individual instruments convincingly. They’ll also deliver
intimate music such as Bon Iver’s Michicant with real finesse. The 22’s detail
resolution and way with low-level dynamics is as good anything we’ve heard at
this price level. That’s why they pick up an Award.
Best floorstander: $2,250+
PMC Twenty 23: $3,150
As if to prove great designs don’t happen
by sheer luck, PMC grabs our top floor-stander (as well as top Standmounter)
Award, with the petite and immaculately constructed Twenty 23. All the things
we like about the Twenty 23. All the things we like about the Twenty 22 are
here, albeit with a smaller paper-coned mid/bass unit and without the need for
stands.
PMC
Twenty 23, the best floor-stander
Technically, these towers are classic PMC.
They borrow heavily from the thinking behind the brand’s high-end FACT range
while keeping faith with its traditional engineering ethos.
The most obvious example is the continued
use of a transmission line to tune the bass output. As with the 22, this
technique helps these floor-standers deliver a deeper and more articulate bass
than would be suggested by their size and drive-unit specification/
If the Twenty 23s have a weakness, it’s
their low perceived value. If you’re willing to spend this kind of money there
are any numbers of hugely capable, monster-sized designs worth considering. The
23s are, in comparison, tiny.
Our doubts, however, lasted right up to the
point at which we started listening to the Twenty 23s. These PMCs will happily
deliver the likes of Iggy Pop’s Search and Destroy with enthusiasm – there’s
plenty of bite to the leading edges of notes and a naturally hard-charging
sense of rhythmic drive. Yet move on to the likes of Adele’s Someone Like You
and the 23s change down a gear effortlessly.
With vocal-based material such as this, the
superb drive-unit integration comes into play, as does the PMC’s wonderfully
expressive midrange. If there’s even the tiniest bit of emotion in a song,
these speakers will dig it up.
With vocal-based material the superb
integration comes into play, as does the wonderfully expressive midrange
Faithful to the source
The Adele example also shows just how well
these speakers cope with less-than-perfect recordings. They’re more than happy
to reveal any shortcomings just as they are capable of shining with excellent
source material but they’re never overstate flaws. These PMCs are far too well
behaved for that.
You can add a firm sense of control,
convincing tonality and a high level of detail resolution to the sonic plus
points. And we think they look pretty smart too.
Easy positioning and an unfussy attitude to
partnering equipment simply seals the deal. The Twenty 23s really are a
fabulous buy.
Best desktop speaker
Epoz Aktimate Micro: $390
We’re massive fans of B&W’s excellent
MM1 desktop speakers, so the ease with which Epoz’s Aktimate Micros trumped
those gems in a Group Test was something of a surprise.
Epoz
Aktimate Micro, the best desktop speaker
These Micros are hard to pigeonhole. Yes.
They have a USB input, 40 watts of internal power and are small enough to put
on desk next to a computer, so desktop speaker it is. However, they also come
with a 30-pin iPod dock and a 3.5mm line-level input so they can form part of a
handy small-room or student system, working in tandem with a more conventional
music source. And if you want a more conventional finish, they come in black or
white too.
However you use them, you can be sure these
speakers will shine. Ideally, if using the Epoz on a desk, place them slightly
away from the rear wall, or bass notes will become a little over-cooked. In
every other circumstance they’re a pleasure to listen to.
They’ll deliver everything from Elgar
to Rihanna without favoritism, thanks to a sound packed with bass and detail
They’ll deliver everything from an Elgar
symphony to Rihanna’s Loud set without showing favoritism, thanks to a vibrant
sound packed with punchy bass and plenty of detail. High frequencies can cause
problems with more affordable speakers, but the Micros rise to this emphasizing
the hardness that is part of most modern commercial recording.
Loud? Yes, but don’t push it
These speakers will deliver a decent turn
of volume too, though if you’re looking to have a party that might be a step
too far.
Essentially, $390 buys a well-made and
conceived set of powered speakers that sound better than any dedicated desktop
set-up we’ve heard. It’s a bonus that they can double as a pretty effective
second system too. That’s great value in anyone’s judgment and reasons enough
to award the Micro a Best Buy gong.
