In this review, we will be comparing Maestro Utopia Evo and Synchrony T600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Maestro Utopia Evo and PSB Synchrony T600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Maestro Utopia Evo | PSB Synchrony T600 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Inverted Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 10.5" W sandwich | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-40k Hz | 24-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-600 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 116.00kg / 255.2lbs | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 57-7/8" x 30-5/16" x 17-15/16"
1470.0 x 770.0 x 455.0mm | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Maestro Utopia Evo 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* |
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
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 Maestro Utopia Evo and Synchrony T600 are 3-way speakers.
Focal Maestro Utopia EvoPSB 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 |
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 10.5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Maestro Utopia Evo features a 1.1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 10.5" W sandwich Woofer. 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
Maestro Utopia Evo has a frequency range of 25-40k 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 Maestro Utopia Evo's min frequency of 25Hz.
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
Maestro Utopia Evo is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Synchrony T600 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Synchrony T600 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Maestro Utopia Evo sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Synchrony T600's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Maestro Utopia Evo a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Synchrony T600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
Maestro Utopia Evo can handle a max power of 600 watts RMS, whereas Synchrony T600 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 300 watts less than the Maestro Utopia Evo.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Maestro Utopia Evo and Synchrony T600 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
PSB Synchrony T600's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Focal Maestro Utopia Evo's and PSB Synchrony T600's external dimensions. Focal Maestro Utopia Evo has external dimensions of 1470.0 x 770.0 x 455.0mm (57-7/8 x 30-5/16 x 17-15/16inch) 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).
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 542mm wider, 422mm taller and 112mm 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.
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo needs about 348% more floor or shelf area. Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is 112mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is 422mm 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 Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is approximately 3503.5cm2 / 543.0inch2 and base area of the PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2. The Maestro Utopia Evo requires 348% 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 Focal Maestro Utopia Evo weighs 116.00kg / 255.2lbs and the PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs. This makes the Maestro Utopia Evo 232% heavier than the Synchrony T600.
Here is a comparison of how Maestro Utopia Evo and Synchrony T600's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
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 |
600 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
10.5 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
25 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1470mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2
vs
3503cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
8000USD
vs
79998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Brand |
Focal |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-600 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-40k Hz |
24-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
10.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
W sandwich |
Carbon fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1470.0mm (57.9") |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
770.0mm (30.3") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
455.0mm (17.9") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
116.00kg (255.2lbs) |
34.90kg (76.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Maestro Utopia Evo costs roughly 10x what PSB Synchrony T600 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (25Hz vs 24Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is more sensitive (93dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Focal Maestro Utopia Evo takes more power (600W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | PSB Synchrony T600 is easier to place; Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Focal Maestro Utopia Evo: bi-amping; PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping. Focal Maestro Utopia Evo sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | PSB Synchrony T600 is cheaper - $8,000 against $79,998, about 90% less; arguably a different class. |
A Focal Maestro Utopia Evo 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?
The usual trade-off: Focal Maestro Utopia Evo measures better, PSB Synchrony T600 costs about about 10x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Maestro Utopia Evo the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Maestro Utopia Evo 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.