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
- Crystal-clear and ultra-detailed sound allows users to zero in on details they haven't heard before
- Excellent stereo imaging makes it easy to place instruments in the mix with pinpoint accuracy
- Smooth and neutral high end, with no harshness or bite, makes them a joy to work on for long periods of time without ear fatigue
- Impressive bass extension for its size allows for picking out detail and nuance of low-frequency tones
- Accurate transient behavior and control, with punchiness and clarity, makes good dynamic decisions easier
Product Considerations
- A subwoofer may be needed to fill out the room with bass
- Bass can get a tad woofy on modern bass-heavy dance, pop, and EDM when pushed loud
- The A17M is voiced somewhat on the bright side
Takeaway: The PSI Audio A17-M is a fantastic studio monitor with clear sound and great stereo imaging, which is good for audio editing and mixing. These monitors are enjoyable to listen to and can help one make good decisions about the music.
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.
All
A17-M
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Potential peak power: 170+45 W
- Continuous max SPL@1m: 102 dB
- Short term max. SPL@1m: 105 dB
- Peak max. SPL@1m: 115 dB
- Signal to noise ratio (S/N): 96 dBA
- Bandwidth at -6dB: 44-23'000 Hz
- SPL tolerances: ±2.2 dB
- Phase tolerances: ± 45 (300 Hz – 20 kHz) deg
- Dispersion (H x V): 75 x 40 deg
- System: 2 ways
- Crossover frequency: 3500 Hz
- Woofer ext. diam.: 180 mm (7.1 in)
- W. diaphragm diam.: 130 mm (5.1 in)
- Tweeter ext. dim.: 90 mm (3.5 in)
- T. diaphragm diam.: 27 mm (1.06 in)
- Dimensions W x H x D: 200 x 320 x 230 mm (7.9 x 12.6 x 9.1 in)
- Net Weight: 7.4 Kg (16.3 lbs)
- Input connector: 1 x XLR F / 3P
- Warranty: 5 (+1) years
Description
The A17-M is THE REFERENCE of near field monitors. Powerful for its size, it delivers an uncompromised quality in term of stereo image, low end control and transparency all over the bandwidth.
The A17-M is THE REFERENCE of near field monitors. Powerful for its size, it delivers an uncompromised quality in term of stereo image, low end control and transparency all over the bandwidth. Are you ready to step ahead? Incredibly powerful for its size, the A17-M is the apogee of near field monitors, providing a perfect stereo image and accurate low end.
Release Timeline
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:
- PSI Audio's speaker designs are hand-crafted in Switzerland, combining traditional techniques with modern technology.
- They developed proprietary technologies like Adaptive Output Impedance (AOI) and Compensated Phase Response (CPR) to ensure accurate transient reproduction and phase coherence, resulting in a highly detailed and truthful sound.
- The brand maintains a consistent voicing across its entire product line, ensuring that any model can be seamlessly integrated into a monitoring setup.
- PSI Audio utilizes a unique Class G amplifier topology in many of their models, providing the linearity of Class A/B with the efficiency of Class D amplifiers, resulting in powerful and controlled sound reproduction.
Select products
Select product comparisons
AVAA C20
- Positioning: An analog active bass trap in PSI Audio's lineup, offering a straightforward solution for room mode issues.
- Description: Reduces resonance time of room modes by up to 50% without needing calibration. Unlike the digital AVAA C214, uses 100% analog technology, providing zero latency processing. It is highly portable and can be used in various environments, from home studios to professional settings, offering a cost-effective solution for those who do not require digital control features.
AVAA C214
- Positioning: A digital active bass trap, representing a more advanced option in PSI Audio's lineup with enhanced control features.
- Description: Features digital capabilities, allowing remote control via an app, which is a significant upgrade over the analog C20. It offers a larger absorption surface area, 45 times its size, compared to the C20's 25 times, making it suitable for users seeking high performance in larger or more complex acoustic environments.
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Avg. Product Price
$1,001-$2,500
Used For Sale
2
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
308
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
11
Founding Year
1988
Our take on the brand
PSI Audio is a Swiss hifi brand that builds all their speakers and acoustic devices without using DSP, focusing instead on pure analog technology to deliver accurate sound reproduction. Their standout product is the AVAA C20, a revolutionary active bass trap that eliminates low-frequency noise by creating a "black hole" effect for resonant frequencies, requiring much less space than traditional acoustic treatments while being effective across diverse environments from recording studios to subway stations.
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Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
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PSI Audio
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What if you spend more?
Buchardt
Anniversary 10
3988
3988
/
14
Reviews
The Anniversary 10 (A10) is a culmination of all the experience that we have gathered over the last 10 years of designing and building HiFi speakers. Over the last decade, we have produced and sold thousands of speakers to happy HiFi enthusiasts from all around the world. Listening to feedback from our customers, learning from the best and adding our own flavor to the mix, has created extremely popular and critically acclaimed speakers, and now, this has evolved into our best sounding speaker yet. The A10 is something we are truly proud of, both in terms of sound, look and production values. It is a true celebration of our passion for amazing high-end sound, great engineering and high value products.
Buchardt Audio is a direct-to-consumer speaker brand that uses an "upside down" design with a back-mounted passive radiator, which helps create high-end sound at more affordable prices. Their speakers are engineered with advanced measurement technology and a proprietary waveguide design that enhances off-axis listening, while delivering deep bass from compact cabinets that rival larger floor-standing speakers.
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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
Our take on the brand
Buchardt Audio is a direct-to-consumer speaker brand that uses an "upside down" design with a back-mounted passive radiator, which helps create high-end sound at more affordable prices. Their speakers are engineered with advanced measurement technology and a proprietary waveguide design that enhances off-axis listening, while delivering deep bass from compact cabinets that rival larger floor-standing speakers.
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Product Page
Dynaudio
BM 15A
3158
3158
/
4
Reviews
Dynaudio is a hifi speaker brand known for its unique external voice-coil construction, which allows for larger voice coils that improve thermal power handling and reduce thermal compression. The brand has a heritage in professional sound production and uses advanced materials like the Esotar 40 tweeter and rare 240mm drivers to deliver superior dynamic realism and headroom.
Expand Details
Product Strengths
- Delivers greater tightness and precision from the crossover point on down
- Delivers an extended high-frequency range, with greater detail and more openness without harshness
- Stereo imaging is amongst the best
- Has no sweet 'spot', which allows the engineer, producer, and client a fairly similar listening experience
- Has a smoothly extended bass response that reveals what is really going on in that elusive bottom octave
Product Considerations
- The BM-15As may be overkill for a smaller mixing environment and better suited for larger rooms
- High end is as clean and accurate as the BM-12s, but the mids were a little lacking
- While they have a slightly forward characteristic, it doesn't get in the way of accurate monitoring
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Dynaudio BM-12 MK3s—BM-15A has more bass extension and pure raw SPL power
- Vs Dynaudio BM-12 MK3s—BM-12 MK3s have more detail in the mid-range
- Vs Dynaudio BM-12 MK3s—BM-15A are far louder and put out substantially larger amount of energy in the bass and subs
- Vs Genelec, Focal, Neumann, and Event—the Dynaudio BM series are in the same class as these monitors
Takeaway: The BM15A is a speaker that gives great stereo imaging with a wide frequency range, and produces an accurate sound which is nice to listen to for long periods. Full-range monitoring in a smaller studio is possible with these speakers.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Dynaudio is a hifi speaker brand known for its unique external voice-coil construction, which allows for larger voice coils that improve thermal power handling and reduce thermal compression. The brand has a heritage in professional sound production and uses advanced materials like the Esotar 40 tweeter and rare 240mm drivers to deliver superior dynamic realism and headroom.
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What competes at this price?
ADAM Audio
A8H
1499
/
Released
2022
The pinnacle of the A Series, the A8H is a 3-way speaker that delivers the extremely accurate and analytical sound required for critical-listening environments. The A8H incorporates an 8-inch resonant Multi-Layer Mineral (MLM) fiber woofer, innovative midrange driver, and handmade precision X-ART tweeter, which together produce an ultra-wide frequency response. Like the other members of the A Series family, the A8H gives you tremendous flexibility for fine-tuning the sound through rotatable HPS waveguide technology and onboard DSP. At home across a full range of audio applications in mid- to full-sized spaces, the A8H is the right choice when you're looking for the most detailed representation of your audio.
ADAM Audio is renowned for its innovative ART tweeters, which enhance the Air Motion Transformer concept by moving air four times faster than their folds for high-definition sound. Their monitors, especially the S Series, are favored by sound engineers for their accurate and transparent sound, advanced engineering, and reduced distortion, while the T Series offers affordable, high-performance studio monitors.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Detailed and powerful low-end response
- Articulate midrange driver
- Crisp and airy high-end without harshness
- The built-in EQ and Sonarworks SoundID Reference integration allows users to tailor the sound to their specific room acoustics
- Wide, deep, highly detailed, and solidly centered soundfield
Product Considerations
- Self-noise/hiss can be noticeable up close
- To fully use the Sonarworks feature after the trial, users would need to purchase the software
- Some users experienced initial connection hiccups with the A Control app
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The A8H offered a better value than the Dynaudio LYD 48 due to sound, build quality, and features like the built-in EQ
- The A8H offers more DSP capabilities, and is less expensive than the HEDD Audio Type 20 MK2 or Neumann KH310
- It is halfway between the less expensive but less sophisticated Dynaudio LYD 48 and ADAM Audio's own S2V—which, although a 2 way, offers step up in terms of sophistication
Takeaway: The A8H studio monitors deliver exceptional sound quality with user-friendly features—enhancing the overall audio production experience. These monitors, with versatile connectivity, DSP-driven room adaptation, and impressive audio performance, are a great choice for those serious about audio.
Video review
Our take on the brand
ADAM Audio is renowned for its innovative ART tweeters, which enhance the Air Motion Transformer concept by moving air four times faster than their folds for high-definition sound. Their monitors, especially the S Series, are favored by sound engineers for their accurate and transparent sound, advanced engineering, and reduced distortion, while the T Series offers affordable, high-performance studio monitors.
Product Page
Product Page
Dynaudio
Core 5
1699
/
Released
2024
Core 5 is the most compact model in our range of high-end professional reference monitors. It's a two-way nearfield design that's been created to work in cramped spaces in a stereo configuration, or to provide width and height support in an immersive set-up. And, crucially, to give you usable SPL for those jobs – so if you're in an OB truck or a smaller mix-stage, you won't strain to hear, and your eardrums won't be blasted.
Dynaudio is a hifi speaker brand known for its unique external voice-coil construction, which allows for larger voice coils that improve thermal power handling and reduce thermal compression. The brand has a heritage in professional sound production and uses advanced materials like the Esotar 40 tweeter and rare 240mm drivers to deliver superior dynamic realism and headroom.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent balanced delivery with precise midrange
- Well-specified, easy-to-use EQ and room correction settings
- Good low-frequency extension given its compact size
- Produces a beautifully clean and well-defined sound, with no harshness in the highs and a real sense of spatial depth and stereo width
- As mixing tools, they tell it like it is, so good mixes sound 'right' and flaws are shown up clearly, just as they should
Product Considerations
- Expensive
- There's no straightforward way to hook up the Core 5s to the Core Sub Compact if all connections are to remain analogue
Takeaway: The Core 5 is a compact, accurate, and high-quality studio monitor that delivers a balanced and detailed sound perfect for smaller studios or immersive setups. It is comfortable to work with for extended periods, making it a great choice for professional use.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Dynaudio is a hifi speaker brand known for its unique external voice-coil construction, which allows for larger voice coils that improve thermal power handling and reduce thermal compression. The brand has a heritage in professional sound production and uses advanced materials like the Esotar 40 tweeter and rare 240mm drivers to deliver superior dynamic realism and headroom.
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