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Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

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.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

Manufacturer details

  • Frequency Response: 30Hz - 600Hz
  • Sensitivity: 100dB SPL @ 1m (20k Ω BAL default input sensitivity @0dB - input level -10dBu)
  • Effective ATL™ Length: 3m (9.8ft)
  • Impedance: 20k BAL
  • Drive Units: LF 2 x PMC twenty5 series 6.5"/170mm long-throw g-weave cone with cast alloy chassis
  • Input Connectors: 2 x balanced analogue (left/right XLR female) (RCA unbalanced adapter provided)
  • Amplifier Power per Channel: 600 Wrms
  • Dimensions: H 587mm (23.1″) (+20mm spikes) W 200mm (7.9″) (238mm inc plinth bars) D 516mm (20.3″) (+9mm grille)
  • Weight: 25kg (55.1 lbs)
Whether you're savouring your favourite music or movie, the slender twenty5.sub, with its elegant Diamond Black finish, fits discreetly into any room and completes the audiophile experience.
Whether you're savouring your favourite music or movie, the slender twenty5.sub, with its elegant Diamond Black finish, fits discreetly into any room and completes the audiophile experience.

This combination of active electronics from PMC's renowned professional systems, our 400W Class-D ultra-low-distortion amplifiers, proprietary ATL™ and new Laminair™ technologies, and potent 6.5-inch high-excursion bass units, can faithfully reproduce frequencies down to 22Hz, and handle dynamic contrasts from the sonic complexity of a Hollywood blockbuster soundtrack to the filigree detail in a chamber music solo, with maximum resolution and precision-timed bass.

For the finishing touches, intuitive user control over EQ and filters allows for perfect integration of the sub with its listening environment — and with accompanying loudspeakers, because the twenty5.sub also makes an excellent addition to stereo setups.

Partnered with the compact twenty5.21 or 22 speakers, the sub forms a powerful system; the twenty5.sub handles the low frequencies, leaving the left and right speakers to concentrate on the mid-range. The result is performance close to that of the three-way twenty5.26, but in a more discreet package.
Manufacturer Site

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.

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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Avg. Product Price
$40,001-$75,000
Used For Sale
65
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
58
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
57
Founding Year
1991

Our take on the brand

PMC is a hifi speaker brand known for its Advanced Transmission Line (ATL) technology, which enhances bass response and reduces distortion, and its LaminairX technology in the Prophecy series, which reduces turbulence and harmonic distortion by up to 3dB. Their active speakers are preferred by music and audio professionals for their tonal accuracy and dynamic range, with user reviews particularly praising their accurate midrange and detailed sound compared to brands like Dynaudio and B&W.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

From our interview with
.
Brand Page

What if you spend more?

No items found.

What competes at this price?

Wilson Audio
Subsonic
41000
/
Released
The Wilson Audio Subsonic is the fraternal twin of the WAMM Master Subsonic. It features the same subwoofer drivers and the same internal volume. The differences lie in the finish details. The metal work in the WAMM Master Subsonic features the prismatic finish that mirrors (no pun intended) the WAMM's main array gantry. On the Wilson Audio Subsonic, the metal work is from Wilson's main line finish process—the same level of metal finish that has adorned Wilson products throughout the line.
Check Amazon
Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
Expand Details

Our Summary

No items found.

Product Strengths

  • Subsonics allow the listener to not only hear the bass, but also to feel it, making the experience more immersive and powerful
  • Measurements showed very flat, very smooth response, plus or minus maybe 1 dB using pink noise
  • The blend is beautiful

Product Considerations

  • Each subwoofer is $41,000 US, the crossover is another $5,500, and an amplifier is also needed

Takeaway: The subsonics offer a unique and immersive listening experience, allowing one to not only hear, but also feel the music, making it more powerful and realistic. If one wants the best sound and has the budget, the subsonics could be a great choice.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Wilson Audio is often considered the quintessential American high-end hi-fi brand, a staple in premium audio dealerships across the country. Many reviewers use Wilson speakers in their own home systems, reflecting their reputation for outstanding dynamics, bass depth, and the ability to reproduce classical music with remarkable realism. Wilson focuses on creating an uncolored sound, aiming to replicate the experience of live, unamplified performances.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
McIntosh
PS2K
50000
/
Released
2023
Experience unparalleled bass performance with the McIntosh PS2K Powered Subwoofer. Crafted with meticulous precision and a profound passion for sound, the breathtaking PS2K is designed to elevate the listening experience of an already awe-inspiring home audio system by adding new depths of low frequency perfection.
Check Amazon
McIntosh is one of the most iconic amplifier brands in the world, recognizable for its signature blue LED displays and distinctive industrial design. With a legacy spanning decades, McIntosh is known to many, even outside the audiophile community, and is sold in both mass-market retailers and specialized hifi stores. Their amplifiers are characterized by a warm, tube-like sound that enriches the midrange and smooths out the overall tonal balance.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Contains four 13-inch woofers and 2,000 watts of total power
  • The design uses McIntosh's patented Low Distortion High Performance (LD/HP) Magnetic Circuit Design, which significantly reduces distortion while increasing the driver's power handling and efficiency
  • Each of the PS2K's four drivers is powered by its own 500-watt Class D amplifier
  • Features Power Guard and Sentry Monitor protection technologies

Product Considerations

  • Analog dials are used to adjust frequency and Q, lacking the precision of digital control
  • Frequency response and CEA-2010 max output stats are not revealed

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs REL No. 32: The REL sells for $10,000 each
  • Vs Magico Titan 15: The Magico sells for $32,000 each
  • Vs Wilson Audio Subsonic: The Wilson Audio sells for $39,000 each
  • Vs JL Audio Gotham V2: The JL Audio sells for $20,000 each
  • Vs Perlisten D215S: The Perlisten sells for $10,000 each

Takeaway: The McIntosh PS2K subwoofer is a powerful and meticulously designed product, made to elevate the listening experience with new depths of low frequency perfection. The PS2K will complement high-output loudspeakers, without running out of steam–even at high volumes.

Video review

Our take on the brand

McIntosh is one of the most iconic amplifier brands in the world, recognizable for its signature blue LED displays and distinctive industrial design. With a legacy spanning decades, McIntosh is known to many, even outside the audiophile community, and is sold in both mass-market retailers and specialized hifi stores. Their amplifiers are characterized by a warm, tube-like sound that enriches the midrange and smooths out the overall tonal balance.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

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