PMC PB1i review

Simply excellent speakers: big, bold and accomplished Tested at £6650

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

These are simply excellent speakers: big bold and accomplished. You'll really enjoy listening to them

Pros

  • +

    Very articulate with exceptional dynamics

Cons

  • -

    Need space

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Although slimmer than some of the company's loudspeakers, PMC's new PB1is will still dwarf a smaller room.

At 109cm tall and 40cm deep, these hefty floorstanders need space to work, although they're not fussy about positioning or partnering kit.

Internally, there's more to the PB1's outwardly conservative design than meets the eye.

They feature a transmission-line design with four sections for exceptional bass response (the company claims extension down to 24Hz), and as is PMC's wont, every drive unit is designed to exacting standards, with exceptional attention to detail.

And the sound? The biggest compliment we can pay the PB1is is that they simply let the music flow.

They're beautifully rounded, supremely articulate and blessed with exceptional dynamics, but they're also unshowy, with a likeable knack of getting out of the way (sonically, at least) to leave you focussed on your favourite tunes.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test

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