Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Exceptional speed and clarity in the bass, especially compared to ported designs
- Neutral tonal balance, described as 'crisp' or 'cool-ish,' providing an accurate representation of recordings
- Remarkably large and airy soundstage
- Good imaging with crystal clear and sharp instrument placement
- Transmission line design provides exceptional bass control and resolution
Product Considerations
- The 'neutral to a fault' presentation can sometimes smooth over textural details and character in the midrange
- May reveal flaws in poor recordings due to its revealing nature
- Soundstage depth may be lacking compared to width and height
- Requires careful positioning and is demanding of quality amplification and source equipment
- Sensitivity is moderate, and they benefit from a high-powered, quality amplifier
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Twenty5.21i has faster and clearer bass than the ProAc Response 1SC
- Twenty5.21i is cooler and faster, while the Harbeth P3 ESR is more 'just-the-facts', while the Harbeth has more 'heart, body and soul'
- Buchardt S400 MKII has better soundstage depth than the Twenty5.21i
- Twenty5.21i is superior in natural resolution, precision and bass speed to the KEF LS50 Meta
Takeaway: The PMC twenty5.21i is a highly resolving speaker that delivers exceptional bass speed and control, making it suitable for those who value accuracy and detail in their music. With the right setup and high-quality recordings, these speakers create an immersive listening experience.
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twenty5.21i
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Manufacturer details
- Frequency Response: 46Hz - 25kHz
- Sensitivity: 86.5dB 1W 1m
- Recommended Amp Power: 25 - 150W
- Effective ATL™ Length: 1.72m (5.6ft)
- Impedance: 8 Ohm
- Drive Units: LF PMC 5.5"/140mm long-throw g-weave™ cone with cast alloy chassis, HF PMC/SEAS® 19mm twenty5i series SONOMEX™ fabric soft dome
- Crossover Frequency: 1.7kHz
- Input Connectors: One pair 4mm binding posts
- Dimensions: H 340mm (13.4") W 162mm (6.4") D 284mm (11.2") incl. binding posts (+9mm grille)
- Weight: 6kg (13.2 lbs ea.)
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- PMC leverages its professional studio monitor expertise to create hifi speakers, resulting in accurate and detailed sound reproduction at home.
- The brand utilizes Advanced Transmission Line (ATL) technology in their speaker designs, producing tight, extended, and well-balanced bass.
- They pay significant attention to minimizing cabinet vibrations through decoupled designs, mass damping, and plinth stands to improve imaging and overall clarity.
Select products
Prodigy5:
- Positioning: A compact floor-standing speaker designed for versatility in various room sizes.
- Description: Offers a dynamic sound experience with its Advanced Transmission Line and twin Laminair vents, making it ideal for small to medium rooms. Compared to the larger models like the twenty5.26i, it provides a more affordable option without compromising on the clarity and depth of sound. Its compact design makes it suitable for those with limited space and a moderate budget, while still delivering a powerful audio performance.
Active twenty5.24i:
- Positioning:The largest two-way speaker in the active twenty5i series, designed for high-resolution audio.
- Description: This model combines active technology with PMC's ATL to deliver precise and dynamic sound, perfect for larger rooms. Unlike the passive models such as the Prodigy5, the active design allows for optimized internal amplification, providing a more integrated and space-efficient solution.
Prophecy9:
- Positioning: The flagship model of the Prophecy series, offering state-of-the-art performance.
- Description: Featuring PMC's LaminairX technology, delivers an expansive soundstage and deep bass, ideal for large rooms and high-end audio setups. It surpasses models like the twenty5.26i in terms of technological sophistication and sound dynamics.
Fenestria:
- Positioning: The top-of-the-range model in the Fact series, designed for the ultimate listening experience.
- Description: With vibration-cancelling design and advanced materials, offers exceptional sound purity. It stands out from other models like the Prophecy9 with its innovative cabinet and driver technologies, providing an immersive audio experience.
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Used
PMC
What if you spend more?
The Active twenty5.21i is the smallest in the range, but its impact and portrayal of any piece of music is far from small, thanks to PMC's ATL bass loading and 2x100W active amplification.
Small but mighty – that's the Active twenty5.21i: it may be the most compact model in the new Active twenty5i range, but it benefits from the same cutting-edge active amplification as the other models in the line-up, combining an active crossover with 100W of power for each driver. It also benefits from PMC's Advanced Transmission Line technology, delivering bass impact you'd expect from a much larger design.
It is ideal for small-to-medium listening environments where you still want detailed bass, ultra-realistic mids and delicate highs with maximum musicality. It's equally happy to be mounted on a stand or a bookshelf and is an excellent choice for effects speakers in an immersive sound system.
The Active twenty5i series is an elegantly simple solution for any music lover: add a preamplifier or streamer with a volume control for a complete music system.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Neutral sound signature is suitable for critical listening and reveals details in recordings
- Transmission line design allows surprisingly deep and well-defined bass for its compact size
- Clarity, resolution, and the ability to separate instruments are noted
- Wide and airy soundstage creates a sense of space and immersion
- High frequencies are described as refined, open, and airy, with good extension and controlled sibilance
Product Considerations
- Revealing nature means it can expose flaws in recordings and upstream equipment
- Soundstage depth was an area one reviewer struggled with
- Speaker is neutral to cool-ish, not a full, rich sounding speaker
- Revealing nature also makes placement sensitive
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Versus the GoldenEar BRX, the PMC twenty5.21i was cooler in balance, but faster
- Compared to the Harbeth P3 ESR, the Harbeth has heart, body, and soul, making one feel like there are human beings making music
- The PMC twenty5.21i bass is faster and clearer than ProAc, which seems slower and lumpier in comparison
Takeaway: The PMC Active twenty5.21i is a compact speaker that delivers a detailed and neutral sound with impressive bass for its size. It's a great choice for those who want accurate sound reproduction and appreciate hearing all the nuances in their music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Extremely clear sound, making them better for mixing and mastering than many other monitors
- Sound like main monitors, offering a large sound footprint not typically found in near-field or mid-field monitors
- Wide bandwidth accuracy and dependability at any volume level
- Midrange performance is particularly notable for realistic, unhyped accuracy, especially on naturally recorded human voices
- Bass performance combines extended bandwidth with great dynamic, pitch, and temporal accuracy
Product Considerations
- Require a significant break-in period
- To get the most out of them, an interface that can connect via AES is needed, as the conversion when using analog is not as transparent
- Correct placement is crucial; at least four and a half feet of distance is needed between the listener and the monitor to be able to get all of the sound that it's trying to give
- SoundAlign software, while useful for EQ adjustments, may introduce unwanted digital artifacts to the sound
- Expensive, these monitors are at the higher end of this sector and share that space with some well-respected designs
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs ATC SCM25a: The reviewer finds an absence of 'not hearing the box' evident in the 6-2 compared to the ATCs
- Vs Neumann KH310s: The 6-2s outperform them in every respect, sounding much better, with other monitors sounding colored by comparison
- Vs ATC 150s: The reviewer prefers these PMC6-2s over the ATC 150s
Takeaway: The PMC6-2 is a high-performance studio monitor that delivers exceptional clarity and detail. For those seeking accurate and dependable sound at all volumes, these monitors are worth consideration.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The PMC6 is packed with innovation and providing the same sonic signature as our renowned larger monitors, it's ideal for smaller control rooms or for use in larger immersive systems, where its astounding resolution allows critical mix decisions to be made with absolute confidence.
With 20mm of excursion, the bespoke 6-inch bass driver is designed specifically to integrate with our latest ATL™ bass-loading and Laminair™ airflow technologies. The combination outperforms most 8-inch monitors, offering unparalleled bass extension, headroom, dynamics, and low distortion at all levels.
The high end is courtesy of a one-inch precision-built fabric soft-dome tweeter, with a shallow waveguide that creates wide, tonally consistent dispersion and rock-solid imaging. Both the bass and treble drivers are precisely and individually controlled by a pair of 200W ultra-low-distortion, high-damping-factor Class-D amplifiers.
Whether in portrait or landscape placement, the PMC6's sophisticated DSP engine automatically adjusts the crossover, ensuring optimum tonal accuracy, phase and imaging. The monitor can be calibrated using the rear-panel controls or with PMC's intuitive browser-accessible SoundAlign™ software.
The PMC6 can be upgraded by adding a PMC8 SUB to create a full-range, free-standing PMC6 XBD system. Activating the 'XBD' DSP mode ensures the perfect marriage of the two units, creating a clean LF extension down to 25Hz.
"Active 2-way nearfield reference monitor with ATL™ bass loading Frequency response: 39Hz - 25kHz (- 3dB @1m full space, on-axis) Max. cont. SPL: 106dB @1m (half space value calculated as +3dB from full space measurement. Un-weighted input,20-20kHz Pink Noise (IEC) with 12dB CF for 2 hours AES2-1984 duration) State-of-the-art Class-D amplifiers: HF 200W, LF 200W Analogue/AES3 digital input (16/24-bit, 18 -192kHz sample rate) Digital 'through' output (AES3 24-bit 96kHz) SoundAlign™ network control interface for single or group EQ & settings Sophisticated DSP crossover, driver protection, EQ, and delay/polarity options Automatic portrait/landscape placement DSP correction PMC6 + PMC8 SUB creates PMC6 XBD, with LF down to 25Hz Ceiling-mount yoke allows suspension in multi-channel or immersive systems"
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Detailed and accurate sound reproduction
- Extended bass response due to PMC's Advanced Transmission Line (ATL) technology
- Exceptional stereo imaging allowing for precise mixing and monitoring
- Easy configuration through the SoundAlign web interface, offering versatile adjustments
- Attractive and versatile design suitable for both portrait and landscape orientations
Product Considerations
- Minor dip in the frequency response around 300Hz, potentially due to transmission line harmonics, though it doesn't affect the overall performance
- High mids may be revealing and fatiguing to some users
- Users need to ensure proper network connectivity for using the SoundAlign app
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs ATC SCM20ASL Pro Mk2, the PMC6 has a stronger low-end, while the ATC offers unmatched clarity and articulation in smaller rooms
- Vs PSI Audio A21-M, the PMC6 is more powerful
- Vs Genelec 8341A, the Genelec has a wider frequency response
Takeaway: The PMC6 is an impressive nearfield monitor that provides trustworthy sound to work on your audio and mixes. It's a valuable studio tool because it allows users to make mix choices with confidence.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Excellent build quality, featuring a blend of aluminum, leather, and wood veneer, or gloss paint.
- Detailed sound with excellent stereo imagery.
- Good detail and clarity.
- Wide and deep soundstage.
- Design features contribute to cabinet rigidity and reduced coloration.
Product Considerations
- May sound bright with the wrong amplifier or cables.
- May require a high-power solid-state amp.
- Needs quality amplification and may sound soft if underpowered.
- Requires stands, adding to the overall cost.
- Bass may not satisfy those seeking high-output bass without a subwoofer.
Takeaway: The 805 D4 is an excellent speaker that is beautifully built and delivers a detailed and engaging sound. It's a great option for those seeking a premium listening experience.
Video review
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What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Advantage of direct amplifier connection to the drive unit, which eliminates the crossover network, preventing power loss and phase issues
- Dynamics and imaging capabilities are difficult to match with passive speakers and separate amplifiers at a similar price
- Details are revealed with transparency and vitality, combined with precise timing, resulting in considerable musical appeal with decent recordings
- Bass extension is very impressive for its size
- Soundstage escapes the cabinets
Product Considerations
- Careful amplifier matching is required to avoid a fatiguing sound with colder amplifiers
- May seem expensive for a bookshelf two-way speaker
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs passive twenty5.22i with a decent amplifier, the active twenty5.22i offers better imaging and dynamic capabilities at a lower overall price
Takeaway: The PMC active twenty5.22i loudspeakers offer impressive sound quality and dynamics, making them an excellent choice for those seeking a revealing and engaging listening experience. They represent the development of consumer sound in recent times.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The transparency of this weighty compact speaker ensures vocals that captivate and superb resolution of every element of a recording while delivering a cohesive, captivating musical whole. Meanwhile the thoughtful design ensures ease of drive for use with modest and exotic amplification alike, while the timeless design, and real wood finishes will blend with any style of interior. Hidden fixings keep the styling clean, with magnetically attached grilles with and elegant textured fabric weave.
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Impressive extension for its size, detailed midrange, and remarkable soundstaging
- Very even-sounding speaker
- Crisp, detailed, spacious, and musical sound
Product Considerations
- Cabinet volume limits the amount of bass it can produce
Takeaway: The Prophecy1 is a compact speaker that delivers impressive sound for its size. It is a great choice for those looking for detailed and musical sound in a smaller package.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Gorgeous sound is clear, smooth, detailed, and dynamic
- Elegant design is dashingly elegant, minimalist aesthetic, and painstakingly crafted for equal parts style and substance
- Impressive bass extension and output, described as deep and firm, surprising for their size
- Clear midrange makes voices sound purposeful, characterful, and entirely present
- Versatile connectivity with streaming and input options, including Chromecast, AirPlay 2, phono pre-amp, and HDMI ARC/eARC
Product Considerations
- Some reviewers experienced streaming and HDMI ARC reliability issues
- Input and control layout can be inconvenient and awkward
- Prototype unit had operational bugs
- No bass level adjustment is available, though it could be added in mobile app
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs KEF LS50 Wireless II—the KEF LS50 Wireless II is a similarly high-end option
- Vs PSB Alpha iQ—the PSB Alpha iQ is a more compact wireless speaker package than the Sonus Faber and is comparatively lighter on bass
Takeaway: The Sonus Faber Duetto speakers are well-suited for those seeking amazing sound and a beautiful design in one package. These speakers are easy to connect and use, and fill the room with rich, detailed audio.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional bass performance for its compact size, with bass that is fast, clear, and tight
- Multiple 'Master Tunings' offer customizable sound profiles, adapting to different room acoustics and user preferences
- A high-quality Purifi woofer and SB Acoustics tweeter contribute to clarity, detail, and low distortion
- A solid wood cabinet made in Denmark provides a luxurious look and feel
Product Considerations
- Bass output may diminish or be limited at high volumes to protect the drivers from damage
- A separate purchase of the Platin Stereo Hub may be required for full wireless functionality and room correction
- The 'Made in China' label applies to the electronics inside the cabinet
- While the A10 offers impressive bass, some may still prefer to add a subwoofer for a true full-range experience
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Buchardt S400 Mark II, the A10 is more transparent with greater inner detail, clarity, and top-end extension—and deeper, tighter bass—while the S400 Mark II is more relaxed and forgiving with harsh recordings
- Vs Buchardt A500, the A10 has comparable performance, with possibly a crisper sound in some instances
Takeaway: The Buchardt Anniversary 10 is a compact yet powerful speaker that offers a customizable listening experience. Its impressive bass and versatile tuning options make it a great choice for those seeking a high-quality audio solution in a small to medium-sized room.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Remarkable sound power and early directivity indexes make it a true point source speaker.
- Special sound quality for the price offers a level of performance not typically found in speakers at this price point.
- Very good neutrality is present when the speaker is turned off axis.
- It is a very versatile speaker to drive.
- The midrange presentation is very dead center and coherent.
Product Considerations
- The bass does not reach as low as some listeners might prefer.
- The speaker can get bright at times.
- Care should be taken to place it not directly on axis, because when placed directly on axis, it is no longer a neutral speaker.
- There's no stand included in the package.
- It is made in China, and construction can be suspect.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs PureAudioProject Duet 15, the SourcePoint 10 is more precise and focused, while the PureAudioProject has a bigger soundstage.
- Vs Fleetwood Deville SQ, they sounded more alike than different when in action, but SourcePoint was more extended from top to bottom and brought more lively dynamics and impact.
- Vs Klipsch Heresy IV, the SourcePoint 10 is the superior speaker in every way from build to sound, with more refinement and smoothness, and it seems just as dynamic as the Klipsch.
- Vs Dynaudio Special 40s, the SourcePoint 10 sounds much bigger, more dynamic, has much better bass, and fills a room with ease.
- Vs KEF LS50 META, the LS50 sounds smaller, leaner, and not as special in the vocal region.
Takeaway:
The SourcePoint is a speaker with a neutral sound that originates from a single point, and it has remarkable early directivity indexes. It is a speaker that offers very good performance for the money, but careful attention needs to be paid to its placement in the room.
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