Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: PMC LB1 Speakers by dirtyblues

Model:	LB1
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2400 in US Â£1300 in UK
Description:	2-way transmission line monitor
Manufacturer URL:	PMC
Model Picture:	View

Review by dirtyblues on December 20, 2002 at 05:53:33
IP Address: 212.124.239.62

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for the LB1

The LB1 is a 2-way monitor with a transmission line. It hasnâ€™t got a conventional shape: quite tall, deep and slender (53.5x27x18cm). The first thing you notice when you remove the grilles is the size of the woofer. 4.5 inches! This is very strange to see it in real size. I had seen pictures so I knew what it looked like but the actual proportion was a shock.
I bought the speakers second hand and got the version with neutrik connectors instead of normal binding posts.
Set-up
This started as every second hand buyerâ€™s nightmare. I didnâ€™t have neutrik plugs to terminate my speaker cables and didnâ€™t know how to connect them, I ended up double wiring from my amp (NAD c340, 50wpc) with QED silver anniversary. Then I realised that one tweeter wasnâ€™t working. But the guy who sold me the speakers had a multichannel system so he replaced the faulty speaker.
The speakers sit on DIY wall mounted speaker platforms. They are thick mdf cube shaped boxes, opened in front, were I put some LPs. I put 3 little hard rubber feet between speaker and platform.
Sound
It really takes time to get used and appreciate new speakers. My previous speakers were B&O closed box, a 1970s model that I had refurbished. Bass wasnâ€™t going very low but the sound of closed box bass is very tight. They sounded very different.
The thing with the LB1 is that you canâ€™t believe such small drivers can do bass at all. So I kept thinking that there was some sort of cheating in the bass I was hearing. I was listening with my eyes for the first few weeks. Also, after the tweeter problem, I was not relaxed, always trying to hear something that could be wrong.
PMC claims a 35-25khz usable frequency response. I would say the bass doesnâ€™t really go lower than 45hz. But Iâ€™m not sure, for this test I was using the test tone generator software on my Sony Vaio, using the headphone jack and plugged this into my integrated amp. Anyway, on music, the bass is good. It is musical and tuneful. But not as tight as a closed box would be. This transmission line business really works. The midrange is very open and there is maybe a slight emphasis in the treble, but no harshness. You just notice that snare drum a bit more. My speaker placement doesnâ€™t create a boomy bass.
In my set up, they are a bit laid back, controlled, and might not be to everyoneâ€™s taste. Rock percussion are not as pogo inducing as other speakers, they do very well everything jazz and electronica. Maybe my NAD is the culprit here as PMC recommends 50w-300w. At 87db they are not very sensitive. If anyone has experience with an amp to drive them, donâ€™t hesitate.
I paid 750gbp for those, and I am glad I did. But I wouldnâ€™t give an unconditional recommendation. If you find some second hand for a good price, try to do a little audition first, especially if you are into percussion music.

Product Weakness: Maybe too laidback for some tastes.
Product Strengths: Detailed, extended top end, good bass.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	NAD C340
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Meridian 507
Speakers:	b&o
Cables/Interconnects:	QED silver anniversary
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz/Electro/Hip Hop/Some Rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	14 x 16 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	rugs
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	none
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	none

Product Weakness:	Maybe too laidback for some tastes.
Product Strengths:	Detailed, extended top end, good bass.