I preferred the PSBs by a long shot. They are smoother, better balanced, and more natural sounding. The B and W's have a peaky and rather fatiging treble. This seems to be a characteristic of Bowers and Willkins speakers generally. This is based on personal experience. I had a pair of B and W 685s that needed a resistor placed between the bi-wiring cable jacks to bring the treble down to a tolerable level. Although the B and Ws have a bit more detail, the PSBs are more musical and listenable over the long haul.
I never heard of PSB speakers before but that was quite impressive. The track is quite complicated at the end. The B&Ws were getting a bit confused but the PSB managed to sound more coherent. Quite remarkable considering their price.
I think the PSB sounds more natural and balanced while the B&W are bright sounding with a forward treble. B&W 607 brings out more details in the music however but it just has that cold sound to it, it is very analytical and reveals even the smallest details but lacks the emotional part in my opinion
I'm surprised no one mentioned the imaging differences. The psb is quite literally on the stage with grace with just shy of the instruments. Very life like.
Also people aren't accounting for volume level. If you like to listen to your music loud the B&W's may sound clearer and more lively at lower volume levels. But once that volume goes up try listening to them for longer than an hour, you'll need to take a break due to fatigue. The highs are still boosted on PSB's just a tiny bit and definitely get the job done. But are smoother on top end compared to the B&W's.
The PSB's do it for me. They sound more natural, musical and organic. The B&W's have that irritating "hi-fi" sound that some regard as "analytical" but over time is horribly fatuiging ! In a home environment the PSB's win hands down. The main issue with speakers using metal dome tweeters is the brightness caused by non-linearty when driven hard. PSB has addressed that issue by fitting a phase plug over the tweeter, whereas B&W haven't and that's the reason the Alpha 5's sound more balanced and easier on the ear for extended listening.
Je ne suis pas d'accord. Les PSB sont ennuyeuses, molles, tandis que les Bowers 607 sont pleines de vie. Si tu les trouves fatigantes c'est que tu es trop vieux
I have to disagree with you on this one. The B&W tweeter draws way too much attention to itself and literally hurt my ears. I much prefer the warmer and more laid-back sound of the PSB, and it's not even close.
@@Tharbamar Any tweeter that calls attention to itself is by definition, not hi fi. That's a form of mid-fi coloration. Sounds like the tweeters is all on it's own, and unnatural. B&W also has a very lifeless and dry midrange, like all the harmonics/tonality has been muted.
I agree so much tech going on with the 607, but i won't be willing to spend extra bucks if I can't stand the overly brightness of the tweeters..For a more enjoyable and longer listening sessions I would go with PSB's.. hands down..
I thought for a moment that you had a subwoofer hooked up with the P5's! The P5's reach lower and the sound is better blended than the (good) 607's......amazing speakers, excellent video!
@@corkydukeII5898 i see , they tend to go lower what does it mean sound better....honestly any 5.25inch woofer monitor will need sub in most of rooms . So lowest frequency will be played by a sub anyway and than mid bass definition and clarity will be far more important ....
@@YGDification Hello, I will not discuss a subject that depends on the tastes. Each deside by their ears / tastes to buy and how to listen to the music. I just wrote my opinion about the sound of this comparison. Greetings.
psb might not sound that clean but more full bodied, the B&W doesn't sound clean in the highs,it's to rough or mabye just verey analytic and might be thereason why the abby road studios use the big B&W speakers
Michael Larsen the b&w has cleaner sound without doubts. And the highs are great on the newer b&w modells. I would not buy bookshelfs ever, becouse i know their big downsides. Lack of bass, smaller soundstage and floorstanders are Much louder. I have campared 683 s2 that i own with 685 s2 that i was planning to buy first, as My very first speaker system. They sounded great but i had not heard Much of the floorstanding speakers then. I did not had the budget for it either. As soon as i had a larger budget. I listen to 683 s2. Before trying it i did not think it would be worth the price range. But it really is. 683 s2 is Much better at anything.685 s2 sounded so thin in campersion, 683 could Also handle twice as loud volume levels. And even them being in the same series 683 sounds clearer from highs to midrange. The midrange is one of the best at its price point. The sound is very detailed if you give them the love they deserve. Not the deepest bass, but its powerful, powerful enough to shake My apartment. They are extreamly loud for a speaker of this type.i can crank them up oto 100 db in My listen room. And there was no sign of struggle or losing Any clairty. they could have keep going even further. 685 would start losing it clarity around 95 db
it is hard to judge over youtube. I am not sure what others are listening to this on but with my Abyss AB-1266 Phi Tc the B&W are really bright and the PSB sound much more natural.
The PSB sounds more natural.. the B&W, though the detail is quite nice, is headache inducing after a while, even on my Studio monitor headphones... Its probably more bearable when you listen in person ... No idea
I really enjoy your videos. I'm listening with m-audio studio monitors and I can hear the differences you've stated. The B&W's sound great in the mid range but a little too bright.
Just set up my new B&W 3.1 comprising of 607s2, htm6 centre and aws610 sub paired with Yamaha musiccast 20 wireless surround speakers and the new Yamaha RX V6A 7.2 receiver. WOW...Movies have just come to life and the 607s2 have made me want to play all my cd collection all over again. The clarity with instruments is gorgeous to hear and brings enjoyment to my old ears. My old speakers and receiver was all over the place with sound volume balance in movies. The B&W have changed all that😀I'm hearing sounds I've never heard before. The new Yamaha receiver would have a lot to do with that as well. Now my wife doesn't have to tell me to turn down the volume with action scenes in movies. Happy wife...happy life🤣 now I just need overhead ceiling speakers to complete it for Dolby Atmos.
The boost at 10 kHz + on the B&W is fatiguing...PSB P5 has a more natural sound. PSB also has more percussive drums. If you were to ask which one sounds closer to sitting there at the show, it would be the PSB. You could easily add treble if that's your thing.
It's like people in here forget the fact that the PSB's are literally 40% cheaper. The fact that they can hang with the B&W 607's is ridiculously amazing. And for what you get in value the PSB's are the better buy and also not fatiguing. B&W's = $699, PSB's = $399
I realy appreciate that you made the effort to offer a lengthy sounddemo. Now you are counting to the few serious hifi reviewers on YT. Of course YT has its limitations,but in this case the specific characterics are just obvious. Imho the B&W`s are bookshelfs and placing them on a stand "free" doesnt do them good soundwise. They lack groundtonewarmth and bass in this placement and boarding on agressive forwardness. The PSB´s do better on a stand,but they in turn lack the better resolution of the B&W`s. Nevertheless i bet for most people the PSB`s will be felt more pleasant to listen to in longer listening session. Anyway,in this a comparison just on and off axis measured frequencyresponses would make crystal clear what is happening.
Psb all the way. Much more natural sounding. Amazing Bargain. Very good music for the demo. Are you demonetized for this? ....Went back and reviewed the entire video again. I think the B$Ws with a subwoofer base management could be better though because of midrange clarity. But the PSBs by themselves are very good.
I demo'd the B&W 606 on 3 different integrated amps ranging from $1000, $1500, and $6000. The B&Ws are highly resolving, but dry sounding. On the $6000 integrated it was like listening to someone crinkle up paper right next to your ear. Everything was so dry and sharp. There are people that will be wow'd by the clarity and detail because they have it in spades, but forget about long listening sessions. Everything is tilted towards the treble side of the equation. If you try these out spend a little time with them. It took a couple songs for my critical listening ears to get past the wow factor and really understand what owning them would mean. To be frank the B&Ws were a definite pass from me. The only thing I can offer is that the B&W might sound amazing with tubes. Whatever it is it better be warm or rolled off. If it's a DAC, the filter on a slow or NOS variety might be enough to tame the treble.
5:10 to 5:40 on B&W and 7:25 to 7:55 on PSB. All hell breaks loose in the track and B&W handles it amazingly well. It's not until you see the price that the PSB redeems itself but it's hard to forget how much better the B&W sounds. I checked the P5 online and it comes with a semi-transparent grille which is a nice touch (not shown) - they do look great for the price and simply judging by looks they seemed to be in the same price category. B&W should create semi-transparent grilles too to show off their drivers - should have done so a long time ago especially with the iconic yellow Kevlar drivers.
I had a chance to listen to the Whafedale 225 against a speaker costing double...the more expensive speaker was better in detail and resolution but the 225's had sweet and airy highs. A layer or two in the mids disappeared leaving a seemingly smooth but less detailed/layered sound. I think this is the case here. Maybe the B&Ws are a bit too bright for some, but they probably have greater resolution capabilities.
225 are good speakers, but they do lack some detail in the mids and as you move off-axis, the tonality changes greatly...meaning off axis performance suffers. But they do well for the price.
N C got ya no perfect speaker but the hpm 100s but 799.00 U.S. in 1976 was too dollar I love them I've never heard a more accurate speaker but I got the 400.00 upgraded crossovers and how they built the surrounds on a 12 inch carbon fiber woofer is just crazy and very easy to drive and love the tone controls when I play Bozzi levins Stevens Duede OHh myyyy!! lol
Difficult to judge from a UA-cam vid but I too dont like the tweeter of the B&W. The PSB seems better integrated and easier to listen to as a whole. It seems slightly more dynamically restricted but no bookshelf this size can compare to bigger drivers/enclosures anyway. I can imagine for loud parties the B&W may be better. PSB for me but it does look like Mission design 😌 Nice vid as always T. - Thanks
We all have different taste but for me, at least in this video the B&W sounds significantly better than the PSB, the highs specially are 50 times better, more air, more definition and presence without being harsh!
Taking into consideration that this is UA-cam, I find that listening on my headphones the percussion instruments on the B&W sound more like what I would hear live. The overall sound is more dynamic, articulate and engaging. The PSB to me sounds compressed, boxy and rolled off at the top end - it also seems to struggle when the music gets more complex (although that could be reverberation caused by your listening area?). Your room seems like it could do with more soft floor and wall covering - which could help with the perceived brightness of the B&Ws?
I agree completely with your opinion. I feel that some people listen to the tonal balance of speakers rather than the musical information they convey. I could hear that the B&Ws revealed the closely miked cymbals were being hit with a brush, the bass player allowed the bass notes to resonate freely after strumming, the piano & rhythm guitar stayed in focus while the singer voice was more separated from backing instruments when the song became more energetic. The PSBs are less transparent, less coherent, not as good rhythmically and lack tonal variation. Therefore the B&Ws are better value for money despite being more expensive.
Roger E Gisley What's more important, the amount of information shoved down your ear-hole, or an enjoyable listening experience? The B&W are like ice picks to the eardrum.
@@Gary_M Shoved down your earhole? The B&Ws allow the listener to hear in a more understandable way, what the singer/musicians are communicating to him/her. On this demo, the B&Ws were more successful in doing this than the PSBs, which may be a more comfortable listen but were inferior communicators.
Hi mate PSB P5 more listenable for longtime in life room but firstly i dont like Bowers speakers but real music if you heard live doenst soft and really agresive some times. BW more than hard sound and really agresive sound. i think more realistic and wide and opened sound hard to say from my sit position. i like Bw.
I own the b&w 703s2 and they never sound fatiguing to my ears, i find them very detailed, realistic and relaxing to listen to at the same time. But in comparison to these speakers the b&w do seem bright but i think its just because the other speakers are a little dull in comparison and may become boring in time and leave listeners wanting more from these speakers.
I have a pair of 606 for 5 months, they sounded very bright for the first 200 hours. After Burn in using different high/low frequency files. They would sound amazing and detailed. Though you need a good powerful amp to drive them.
I definitely think the PSB's are a bit more relaxing but I think it could depend on what your listening too. In my audition of the 607's some things sounded amazing, like Polyphia. I'm guessing because of the layers and detail in their music. I purchased for my flat where I will not blast them because of neighbours and picked them up for £329. I definitely need a more powerful amp, I don't think my old 1996 Rega Elex 35w amp is gonna do them huge justice, so going to swap out for something above 70w, possibly the elex mk4.
The PBS sounf great to me and im looking for a good set of passive speakers for vinyl playback. I currently run klipsch r51pm but those sre going to be re -purposed fot the theater room. Are the pbs easy to drive? I have a yamaha as301 intigrated amp and ill be adding a sub
B&W have better scene, they handle much better. PSB are more bassy and withdrawn. They have less air and are compressed. But I guess I will buy them paired with NAD C316bee v2.
great video, great PSB speakers for the price !! Is it the same speakers performance with a PSB Alpha iQ Streaming Powered Bookshelf Speakers with BluOS ? Thx
To me, the PSB May be a bit less fatiguing for some music, but it also sounds a bit boxy and muddled in the range the woofer is playing. Pick your poison it would seem. I’d probably take the b&w and tone the tweeter down a little if it proved to be too much. The clarity elsewhere is nice.
Hello. In my country, B&W607s2 are more/less the same price as the Klipsch RP-600M. Are those speakers in the same class sonically? What would you think how do both of them compare to Wharfedale Evo 4.2? I presume Klipsch has more bass extension than B&W, but not versus Evo 4.2? On the other hand, Klipsches seem to have a more pronounced treble than the Evos. Is that true? Thanks
Congratulations on Videos helps a lot for those who want to buy certain Speakers. I enjoyed listening to the music on Bowers & Wilkins 607 vs PSB P5. Will it be possible Mr Tharbamar do a PSB P5 Demo test with the song, Grace Mahya -Mona Lisa? If I take the Demo test it will help me decide the purchase between Bowers & Wilkins 607 vs PSB P5. Thank you. My apologies for the bad English. I'm from Portugal
B&W More upfront Psb more layed back if I had to chose I'd go B&W I have a very warm set up, So what i'm saying is it depends on your front end which speaker would sound best for your own set up thanks again for the video you do a great job but if you ever get a chance I'd like to see you try the vintage Pioneer HPM 100s I think you'd be amazed 4way 4 drivers !
I have been the happy owner of the B&W 802 in the past and CM5 speakers now and love 'em. Don't like these new B&W continuum silver drivers at all - waaay too in your face. I'd choose the PSB P5's as the winner in this matchup.
I purchased the 607's a few weeks ago just out out curiosity to the mixed reviews. My main 2 channel system is a pair of B&W CM5 S1. Love 'em also. Have had them for years. Running them with a Yamaha A-S701, with a SVS PC-12, and a SVS SB-12. I broke the 607's in on an older Yamaha RXV-992 and experienced some of the lively top end but never were harsh or annoying. Very clear. When I hooked them up to the S701 with the subs they sounded even better. I'm cranking these things too! Different amps do make a difference and they sounded great on both, but better with the S701.. Having ample amounts a bass always helps too! I prefer the CM5's on the S701 also. Kickin little speakers with class. I am enjoying them as much as the CM5'. Keepers!! I also picked up a used pair Paradigm Monitor SE Atoms on Ebay recently for $170. Also was curious about the reviews. Another pair of great sounding inexpensive speakers with a lot a talent beyond there price...Keepers also..... Some great cheap speakers around these days!!
@@gheetze Yes! The CM-5's are fantastic. They are the best behaved stand mount speaker with anything I 've thrown at it. I have used an NAD325BEE, Odyssey Kismet power amp with a Schiit Saga tube (6SN7) pre, and now, Naim Supernait3 integrated. Sounds great with all three systems, but I must say the Naim, to my utter surprise really digs out bass and dynamics that the CM-5's seem to have reached a higher level of quality sound than I expected.
I preferred the PSBs by a long shot. They are smoother, better balanced, and more natural sounding. The B and W's have a peaky and rather fatiging treble. This seems to be a characteristic of Bowers and Willkins speakers generally. This is based on personal experience. I had a pair of B and W 685s that needed a resistor placed between the bi-wiring cable jacks to bring the treble down to a tolerable level. Although the B and Ws have a bit more detail, the PSBs are more musical and listenable over the long haul.
I never heard of PSB speakers before but that was quite impressive. The track is quite complicated at the end. The B&Ws were getting a bit confused but the PSB managed to sound more coherent. Quite remarkable considering their price.
I think the PSB sounds more natural and balanced while the B&W are bright sounding with a forward treble. B&W 607 brings out more details in the music however but it just has that cold sound to it, it is very analytical and reveals even the smallest details but lacks the emotional part in my opinion
Gotta say - the PSB P5 speaker sounds great! Musical and powerful. Thanks for post!
Bowers sounds bright more precision and dynamic. I prefer more relaxing sound. The winner is p5
I'm surprised no one mentioned the imaging differences. The psb is quite literally on the stage with grace with just shy of the instruments. Very life like.
Also people aren't accounting for volume level. If you like to listen to your music loud the B&W's may sound clearer and more lively at lower volume levels. But once that volume goes up try listening to them for longer than an hour, you'll need to take a break due to fatigue. The highs are still boosted on PSB's just a tiny bit and definitely get the job done. But are smoother on top end compared to the B&W's.
The PSB's do it for me. They sound more natural, musical and organic. The B&W's have that irritating "hi-fi" sound that some regard as "analytical" but over time is horribly fatuiging ! In a home environment the PSB's win hands down. The main issue with speakers using metal dome tweeters is the brightness caused by non-linearty when driven hard. PSB has addressed that issue by fitting a phase plug over the tweeter, whereas B&W haven't and that's the reason the Alpha 5's sound more balanced and easier on the ear for extended listening.
Je ne suis pas d'accord.
Les PSB sont ennuyeuses, molles, tandis que les Bowers 607 sont pleines de vie.
Si tu les trouves fatigantes c'est que tu es trop vieux
@@manugrandest1683If you find the B & W natural that's because you're deaf.
@@manugrandest1683 Well, you appear to be the only one who prefers the B&W so what does that say about you?
The clear winner, imo, is Grace Mahya.
The B&W are brighter and the Psb are warmer.
PSB for me as well.. B&W sound more live, but way to bright and somewhat shrill
I have to disagree with you on this one. The B&W tweeter draws way too much attention to itself and literally hurt my ears. I much prefer the warmer and more laid-back sound of the PSB, and it's not even close.
Yes it does but sonically superior compare to LS50, musicality is base on the taste.
@@Tharbamar Any tweeter that calls attention to itself is by definition, not hi fi. That's a form of mid-fi coloration. Sounds like the tweeters is all on it's own, and unnatural. B&W also has a very lifeless and dry midrange, like all the harmonics/tonality has been muted.
totally agreed PSB has a great lineality and a deep bass response that makes them feel like they are bigger
I agree so much tech going on with the 607, but i won't be willing to spend extra bucks if I can't stand the overly brightness of the tweeters..For a more enjoyable and longer listening sessions I would go with PSB's.. hands down..
I thought for a moment that you had a subwoofer hooked up with the P5's! The P5's reach lower and the sound is better blended than the (good) 607's......amazing speakers, excellent video!
Are P5s woofer size larger
@@corkydukeII5898 i see , they tend to go lower what does it mean sound better....honestly any 5.25inch woofer monitor will need sub in most of rooms . So lowest frequency will be played by a sub anyway and than mid bass definition and clarity will be far more important ....
B & W sounds very bright, PSB more natural and smooth. Thanks for the video.
I love the brightness from the B&W ! :D
@@YGDification Hello, I will not discuss a subject that depends on the tastes. Each deside by their ears / tastes to buy and how to listen to the music. I just wrote my opinion about the sound of this comparison. Greetings.
psb might not sound that clean but more full bodied, the B&W doesn't sound clean in the highs,it's to rough or mabye just verey analytic and might be thereason why the abby road studios use the big B&W speakers
the psb is the best athough bass is a bit muffeled,not to precise and tight
Michael Larsen the b&w has cleaner sound without doubts. And the highs are great on the newer b&w modells. I would not buy bookshelfs ever, becouse i know their big downsides. Lack of bass, smaller soundstage and floorstanders are Much louder. I have campared 683 s2 that i own with 685 s2 that i was planning to buy first, as My very first speaker system. They sounded great but i had not heard Much of the floorstanding speakers then. I did not had the budget for it either. As soon as i had a larger budget. I listen to 683 s2. Before trying it i did not think it would be worth the price range. But it really is. 683 s2 is Much better at anything.685 s2 sounded so thin in campersion, 683 could Also handle twice as loud volume levels. And even them being in the same series 683 sounds clearer from highs to midrange. The midrange is one of the best at its price point. The sound is very detailed if you give them the love they deserve. Not the deepest bass, but its powerful, powerful enough to shake My apartment. They are extreamly loud for a speaker of this type.i can crank them up oto 100 db in My listen room. And there was no sign of struggle or losing Any clairty. they could have keep going even further. 685 would start losing it clarity around 95 db
I love me the PSB's . B&W is just to expensive. Great value back in the 90's. Now my rig is all Monitor Audio..best price to performance ratio
Thanks for sharing!
it is hard to judge over youtube. I am not sure what others are listening to this on but with my Abyss AB-1266 Phi Tc the B&W are really bright and the PSB sound much more natural.
While there are more factors to consider than a utube video comparison can offer...that being said, I like these type of videos and want more!!!
The PSB sounds more natural.. the B&W, though the detail is quite nice, is headache inducing after a while, even on my Studio monitor headphones... Its probably more bearable when you listen in person ... No idea
I prefer the PSB. More lively and clean sound with better extreme low bass.
Psb. Midrange presence on psb is always spot on.
PBS is the winner! No doubt abt it!
I really enjoy your videos. I'm listening with m-audio studio monitors and I can hear the differences you've stated. The B&W's sound great in the mid range but a little too bright.
Just set up my new B&W 3.1 comprising of 607s2, htm6 centre and aws610 sub paired with Yamaha musiccast 20 wireless surround speakers and the new Yamaha RX V6A 7.2 receiver. WOW...Movies have just come to life and the 607s2 have made me want to play all my cd collection all over again. The clarity with instruments is gorgeous to hear and brings enjoyment to my old ears. My old speakers and receiver was all over the place with sound volume balance in movies. The B&W have changed all that😀I'm hearing sounds I've never heard before. The new Yamaha receiver would have a lot to do with that as well. Now my wife doesn't have to tell me to turn down the volume with action scenes in movies. Happy wife...happy life🤣 now I just need overhead ceiling speakers to complete it for Dolby Atmos.
The boost at 10 kHz + on the B&W is fatiguing...PSB P5 has a more natural sound. PSB also has more percussive drums. If you were to ask which one sounds closer to sitting there at the show, it would be the PSB. You could easily add treble if that's your thing.
It's like people in here forget the fact that the PSB's are literally 40% cheaper. The fact that they can hang with the B&W 607's is ridiculously amazing. And for what you get in value the PSB's are the better buy and also not fatiguing. B&W's = $699, PSB's = $399
wow.... listening to music while enjoying red wine, you know your stuff.
PSB have a sound that’s less fatiguing, very nice sound.
Great comparison job!
ty sir for this sound demo and VERY NICE setup!!!!!!!!
I realy appreciate that you made the effort to offer a lengthy sounddemo.
Now you are counting to the few serious hifi reviewers on YT.
Of course YT has its limitations,but in this case the specific characterics are just obvious.
Imho the B&W`s are bookshelfs and placing them on a stand "free" doesnt do them
good soundwise. They lack groundtonewarmth and bass in this placement and boarding on
agressive forwardness.
The PSB´s do better on a stand,but they in turn lack the better resolution of the B&W`s.
Nevertheless i bet for most people the PSB`s will be felt more pleasant to listen to in longer
listening session.
Anyway,in this a comparison just on and off axis measured frequencyresponses would make
crystal clear what is happening.
Psb all the way. Much more natural sounding. Amazing Bargain. Very good music for the demo. Are you demonetized for this? ....Went back and reviewed the entire video again. I think the B$Ws with a subwoofer base management could be better though because of midrange clarity. But the PSBs by themselves are very good.
BW 607 boom bass, clear highs, muffled treble. PSB P5 more natural sounding speaker, good bass and treble.
For me it’s an easy call, I prefer PSB over B&W because PSB sounds much more natural.
The PSB is so much more natural. B&W is not for long-term listening as listening fatigue will step in easily!
I demo'd the B&W 606 on 3 different integrated amps ranging from $1000, $1500, and $6000. The B&Ws are highly resolving, but dry sounding. On the $6000 integrated it was like listening to someone crinkle up paper right next to your ear. Everything was so dry and sharp. There are people that will be wow'd by the clarity and detail because they have it in spades, but forget about long listening sessions. Everything is tilted towards the treble side of the equation. If you try these out spend a little time with them. It took a couple songs for my critical listening ears to get past the wow factor and really understand what owning them would mean. To be frank the B&Ws were a definite pass from me. The only thing I can offer is that the B&W might sound amazing with tubes. Whatever it is it better be warm or rolled off. If it's a DAC, the filter on a slow or NOS variety might be enough to tame the treble.
PSB's sound more natural with the B&W sounding overly bright but just a tad more open than the P5's.
Psb rubbish dead du warm soft
Thailand price b&w607 22000bath🤒🤕😳
psb p5 9700bath
psb very budget and affordable😁😍😊
Go with the B&W if you’re electronics and front end are refined enough..
PSB !!
5:10 to 5:40 on B&W and 7:25 to 7:55 on PSB. All hell breaks loose in the track and B&W handles it amazingly well. It's not until you see the price that the PSB redeems itself but it's hard to forget how much better the B&W sounds. I checked the P5 online and it comes with a semi-transparent grille which is a nice touch (not shown) - they do look great for the price and simply judging by looks they seemed to be in the same price category. B&W should create semi-transparent grilles too to show off their drivers - should have done so a long time ago especially with the iconic yellow Kevlar drivers.
PSB wins with balance.
These PSB could be attached to speaker supporters?
I had a chance to listen to the Whafedale 225 against a speaker costing double...the more expensive speaker was better in detail and resolution but the 225's had sweet and airy highs. A layer or two in the mids disappeared leaving a seemingly smooth but less detailed/layered sound. I think this is the case here. Maybe the B&Ws are a bit too bright for some, but they probably have greater resolution capabilities.
N C I have heard a lot of good about those 225
225 are good speakers, but they do lack some detail in the mids and as you move off-axis, the tonality changes greatly...meaning off axis performance suffers. But they do well for the price.
N C got ya no perfect speaker but the hpm 100s but 799.00 U.S. in 1976 was too dollar I love them I've never heard a more accurate speaker but I got the 400.00 upgraded crossovers and how they built the surrounds on a 12 inch carbon fiber woofer is just crazy and very easy to drive and love the tone controls when I play Bozzi levins Stevens Duede OHh myyyy!! lol
I think it boils down to whether one wants neutrality (PSB) or a very forward sounding treble (B&W).
Difficult to judge from a UA-cam vid but I too dont like the tweeter of the B&W. The PSB seems better integrated and easier to listen to as a whole. It seems slightly more dynamically restricted but no bookshelf this size can compare to bigger drivers/enclosures anyway.
I can imagine for loud parties the B&W may be better.
PSB for me but it does look like Mission design 😌
Nice vid as always T. - Thanks
We all have different taste but for me, at least in this video the B&W sounds significantly better than the PSB, the highs specially are 50 times better, more air, more definition and presence without being harsh!
PSB is a clear winner for me in terms of sound quality and price
Grace Mahya- 5 Stars!
Taking into consideration that this is UA-cam, I find that listening on my headphones the percussion instruments on the B&W sound more like what I would hear live. The overall sound is more dynamic, articulate and engaging. The PSB to me sounds compressed, boxy and rolled off at the top end - it also seems to struggle when the music gets more complex (although that could be reverberation caused by your listening area?). Your room seems like it could do with more soft floor and wall covering - which could help with the perceived brightness of the B&Ws?
I agree with this observation.
you on the money
I agree completely with your opinion. I feel that some people listen to the tonal balance of speakers rather than the musical information they convey. I could hear that the B&Ws revealed the closely miked cymbals were being hit with a brush, the bass player allowed the bass notes to resonate freely after strumming, the piano & rhythm guitar stayed in focus while the singer voice was more separated from backing instruments when the song became more energetic. The PSBs are less transparent, less coherent, not as good rhythmically and lack tonal variation. Therefore the B&Ws are better value for money despite being more expensive.
Roger E Gisley What's more important, the amount of information shoved down your ear-hole, or an enjoyable listening experience? The B&W are like ice picks to the eardrum.
@@Gary_M Shoved down your earhole? The B&Ws allow the listener to hear in a more understandable way, what the singer/musicians are communicating to him/her. On this demo, the B&Ws were more successful in doing this than the PSBs, which may be a more comfortable listen but were inferior communicators.
I like bass then bright,so I prefer PSB P5 more~and It can be use to wathing movies also.
PSB. Without a doubt to my ears. Smoother.
Psb for me. Don't know why some manufacturers go with a boosted treble.
Edit, but the psb do sound a tad boxed in.
just wonder how these 2 brands are compare to Elac debut 5.2 or 6.2 (cheaper)
* * * PBS P5 but the bass is a little loose...prefer the bass on the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 or Elac Debut 2 B5.2/B6.2 or Wharfendale Diamond 220 / 225
Psb 👍
thanks for video
Hi mate PSB P5 more listenable for longtime in life room but firstly i dont like Bowers speakers but real music if you heard live doenst soft and really agresive some times. BW more than hard sound and really agresive sound. i think more realistic and wide and opened sound hard to say from my sit position. i like Bw.
Great demo song!
I prefer the natural and more balanced character of the PSB. B&W has too much sizzle and tizz. It'll get too much after extended listening.
I own the b&w 703s2 and they never sound fatiguing to my ears, i find them very detailed, realistic and relaxing to listen to at the same time.
But in comparison to these speakers the b&w do seem bright but i think its just because the other speakers are a little dull in comparison and may become boring in time and leave listeners wanting more from these speakers.
Have you had your hearing checked recently ? It's possible you're losing higher frequencies ?
I have a pair of 606 for 5 months, they sounded very bright for the first 200 hours. After Burn in using different high/low frequency files. They would sound amazing and detailed. Though you need a good powerful amp to drive them.
I definitely think the PSB's are a bit more relaxing but I think it could depend on what your listening too. In my audition of the 607's some things sounded amazing, like Polyphia. I'm guessing because of the layers and detail in their music. I purchased for my flat where I will not blast them because of neighbours and picked them up for £329. I definitely need a more powerful amp, I don't think my old 1996 Rega Elex 35w amp is gonna do them huge justice, so going to swap out for something above 70w, possibly the elex mk4.
Good music man !,
The PBS sounf great to me and im looking for a good set of passive speakers for vinyl playback. I currently run klipsch r51pm but those sre going to be re -purposed fot the theater room.
Are the pbs easy to drive? I have a yamaha as301 intigrated amp and ill be adding a sub
B&W have better scene, they handle much better. PSB are more bassy and withdrawn. They have less air and are compressed. But I guess I will buy them paired with NAD C316bee v2.
Cymbals are clearer on the B&W’s. Bass has more definition on the PSB’s.
great video, great PSB speakers for the price !! Is it the same speakers performance with a PSB Alpha iQ Streaming Powered Bookshelf Speakers with BluOS ? Thx
To me, the PSB May be a bit less fatiguing for some music, but it also sounds a bit boxy and muddled in the range the woofer is playing. Pick your poison it would seem. I’d probably take the b&w and tone the tweeter down a little if it proved to be too much. The clarity elsewhere is nice.
Hello. In my country, B&W607s2 are more/less the same price as the Klipsch RP-600M. Are those speakers in the same class sonically? What would you think how do both of them compare to Wharfedale Evo 4.2? I presume Klipsch has more bass extension than B&W, but not versus Evo 4.2? On the other hand, Klipsches seem to have a more pronounced treble than the Evos. Is that true? Thanks
Superb!
Why does it feel as if I just listened to a jazzy version of The Prodigy's "Breathe"?
PSB 👊🏻
Congratulations on Videos helps a lot for those who want to buy certain Speakers. I enjoyed listening to the music on Bowers & Wilkins 607 vs PSB P5. Will it be possible Mr
Tharbamar do a PSB P5 Demo test with the song, Grace Mahya -Mona Lisa?
If I take the Demo test it will help me decide the purchase between Bowers & Wilkins 607 vs PSB P5. Thank you.
My apologies for the bad English. I'm from Portugal
PSB. 20 years ago... B&W
Dude what are those weird thingamajigs on ya cables???
Would be good to do a comparo between these PSB Alpha P5s and your Wharfedale Diamond 11.2s.
Let us know how that goes, thanks.
I think the W's are way off the chart recessed and muddy - need a lot of power and volume....
Wow! PSB sounds awesome.
7:06 psb alpha p5
B&W More upfront Psb more layed back if I had to chose I'd go B&W I have a very warm set up, So what i'm saying is it depends on your front end which speaker would sound best for your own set up thanks again for the video you do a great job but if you ever get a chance I'd like to see you try the vintage Pioneer HPM 100s I think you'd be amazed 4way 4 drivers !
Hi ! thanks for the review ! Did you fill these stands with sand ? if so how much ? many thanks.
the b&w are brilliant, but a little too bright. However the PSB lacks clear defined bass imo. The two combined would make a great speaker.
PSB is anytime better & handle complex signal much better! The vocal is seductive!
Just learned that B&W is under new ownership and to expect better things from them. Hurray, something to look forward to.
The most important thing I’ve noticed, the PSB’s are slow, but they are less harsh sounding
I have been the happy owner of the B&W 802 in the past and CM5 speakers now and love 'em. Don't like these new B&W continuum silver drivers at all - waaay too in your face. I'd choose the PSB P5's as the winner in this matchup.
I purchased the 607's a few weeks ago just out out curiosity to the mixed reviews. My main 2 channel system is a pair of B&W CM5 S1. Love 'em also. Have had them for years. Running them with a Yamaha A-S701, with a SVS PC-12, and a SVS SB-12. I broke the 607's in on an older Yamaha RXV-992 and experienced some of the lively top end but never were harsh or annoying. Very clear. When I hooked them up to the S701 with the subs they sounded even better. I'm cranking these things too! Different amps do make a difference and they sounded great on both, but better with the S701.. Having ample amounts a bass always helps too! I prefer the CM5's on the S701 also. Kickin little speakers with class. I am enjoying them as much as the CM5'. Keepers!!
I also picked up a used pair Paradigm Monitor SE Atoms on Ebay recently for $170. Also was curious about the reviews. Another pair of great sounding inexpensive speakers with a lot a talent beyond there price...Keepers also.....
Some great cheap speakers around these days!!
@@gheetze Yes! The CM-5's are fantastic. They are the best behaved stand mount speaker with anything I 've thrown at it. I have used an NAD325BEE, Odyssey Kismet power amp with a Schiit Saga tube (6SN7) pre, and now, Naim Supernait3 integrated. Sounds great with all three systems, but I must say the Naim, to my utter surprise really digs out bass and dynamics that the CM-5's seem to have reached a higher level of quality sound than I expected.
Best track to challenge speakers. The vocals should be forward. Bass and drum needs control .
The PSB's are way too laid back, and sound more congested, less air around the instruments.
The B&W section sounds bright even on a mobile phone speaker. PSB is surely more balanced.
Balamurugan J A mobile phone speaker! I assume you’re joking?
The PSB’s to me had a more evenly balanced sound.
love the denon sound, try using kimber 8tc it works great with those amps.
I had it before I did not like them, thanks
@@Tharbamar fair enough
The PSB is less compressed. Its sound more natural.
the sound of the b & w is brighter in the treble and the p5 sounds more natural
The b&w's made my ears bleed...PSB is more smooth and less fatigue.
PSB!
What song you use to test?
My definitive technology towers drivers are positioned the same as those.
B&W easy win, but twice the price... PSB5 best budget speakers hands down.
May I ask what is the name of this song and album.
Regards.
Any day Psb much much better more balanced organic natural musical involving