In this review, we will be comparing S4700 and Synchrony T600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL S4700 and PSB Synchrony T600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL S4700 | PSB Synchrony T600 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 15" Pure Pulp | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-40k Hz | 24-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 300 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 54.50kg / 119.9lbs | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42-1/16" x 19-11/16" x 14-5/8"
1068.0 x 500.0 x 371.0mm | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL S4700 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* |
JBL S4700 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 S4700 and Synchrony T600 are 3-way speakers.
JBL S4700PSB 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 |
JBL S4700 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 15-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
S4700 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 15" Pure Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 80Hz and 12000Hz. 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
S4700 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas Synchrony T600 has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Synchrony T600 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S4700's min frequency of 38Hz.
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
S4700 is a 6 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. S4700 sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the Synchrony T600's is rated at 89 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the JBL S4700 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 300 watts RMS, though S4700 is rated up to 300 watts and Synchrony T600 20-300 watts.
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 S4700 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 JBL S4700's and PSB Synchrony T600's external dimensions. JBL S4700 has external dimensions of 1068.0 x 500.0 x 371.0mm (42-1/16 x 19-11/16 x 14-5/8inch) 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).
JBL S4700 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 272mm wider, 20mm taller and 28mm 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.
JBL S4700 needs about 137% more floor or shelf area. JBL S4700 is 28mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. JBL S4700 is 20mm 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 JBL S4700 is approximately 1855.0cm2 / 287.5inch2 and base area of the PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2. The S4700 requires 137% 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 JBL S4700 weighs 54.50kg / 119.9lbs and the PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs. This makes the S4700 56% heavier than the Synchrony T600.
Here is a comparison of how S4700 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
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1068mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2
vs
1855cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
8000USD
vs
15000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL S4700 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Brand |
JBL |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 300 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-40k Hz |
24-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pure Pulp |
Carbon fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
80Hz and 12000Hz |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1068.0mm (42") |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
500.0mm (19.7") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
371.0mm (14.6") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
54.50kg (119.9lbs) |
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 - JBL S4700 costs roughly 1.9x 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 | B | PSB Synchrony T600 digs deeper - 24Hz against 38Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | JBL S4700 is more sensitive (94dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | JBL S4700 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | PSB Synchrony T600 is easier to place; JBL S4700 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL S4700: bi-amping; PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping. JBL S4700 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | PSB Synchrony T600 is cheaper - $8,000 against $15,000, about 47% less; arguably a different class. |
A JBL S4700 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?
JBL S4700 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 88% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - PSB Synchrony T600 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the JBL S4700 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 38Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, JBL S4700 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.