In this review, we will be comparing 1610 Tower 8 and Synchrony T600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Arendal Sound and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 and PSB Synchrony T600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 | PSB Synchrony T600 |
|---|
| Brand | Arendal Sound
Norway · founded 2015 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 8" Aluminium cone, reinforced ribbed surround | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-20k Hz | 24-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89.5 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 800 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 45.37kg / 99.8lbs | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45-1/4" x 10-7/16" x 17-11/16"
1150.0 x 265.0 x 450.0mm | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 and PSB Synchrony T600 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 1610 Tower 8 and Synchrony T600 are 3-way speakers.
Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8PSB Synchrony T600
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 8-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
1610 Tower 8 features a 1.1" Aluminium-magnesium dome in the Rost Essence waveguide with acoustic lens Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 3 x 8" Aluminium cone, reinforced ribbed surround Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz / 2600Hz. On the other hand, the Synchrony T600 features a 1" titanium with ferrofluid cooling and neodymium magnet Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
1610 Tower 8 has a frequency range of 28-20k Hz whereas Synchrony T600 has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Synchrony T600 can go slightly deeper then the 1610 Tower 8's min frequency of 28Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
1610 Tower 8 and Synchrony T600 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 1610 Tower 8 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the Synchrony T600's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Synchrony T600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the 1610 Tower 8 and the 1610 Tower 8 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
1610 Tower 8 can handle a max power of 800 watts RMS, whereas Synchrony T600 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 500 watts less than the 1610 Tower 8.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Synchrony T600 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 1610 Tower 8 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB Synchrony T600's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
1610 Tower 8 has a bottom firing port whereas Synchrony T600 has a rear firing ports. Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to PSB Synchrony T600 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8's and PSB Synchrony T600's external dimensions. Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 has external dimensions of 1150.0 x 265.0 x 450.0mm (45-1/4 x 10-7/16 x 17-11/16inch) whereas PSB Synchrony T600 has external dimensions of 1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm (41-1/4 x 9 x 13-1/2inch).
Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 102mm taller and 107mm deeper than PSB Synchrony T600.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 needs about 52% more floor or shelf area. Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 is 107mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 is 102mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 is approximately 1192.5cm2 / 184.8inch2 and base area of the PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2. The 1610 Tower 8 requires 52% more surface area than the Synchrony T600 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 weighs 45.37kg / 99.8lbs and the PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs. This makes the 1610 Tower 8 30% heavier than the Synchrony T600.
Here is a comparison of how 1610 Tower 8 and Synchrony T600's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8
What's in the Box of PSB Synchrony T600?
Here are the items that come with the Synchrony T600:
- Floorstanding loudspeakr
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Isolation feet
- 2 Port plugs
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Max Input Power |
800 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
7600USD
vs
8000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1150mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2
vs
1192cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Brand |
Arendal Sound |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 800 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-20k Hz |
24-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminium cone, reinforced ribbed surround |
Carbon fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
380Hz / 2600Hz |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
265.0mm (10.4") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
450.0mm (17.7") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
45.37kg (99.8lbs) |
34.90kg (76.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF, painted |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Basalt, Polar, Black |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 is the newer design, against a 2022 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | PSB Synchrony T600 digs deeper - 24Hz against 28Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 takes more power (800W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | PSB Synchrony T600 is easier to place; Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($7,600 vs $8,000 a pair). |
A Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 B PSB Synchrony T600
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
PSB Synchrony T600 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same. In a large or open-plan room, Arendal Sound 1610 Tower 8 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, PSB Synchrony T600 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.