In this review, we will be comparing A3 2027 and Synchrony T800, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Magico and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Magico A3 2027 and PSB Synchrony T800 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Magico A3 2027 | PSB Synchrony T800 |
|---|
| Brand | Magico
United States · founded 2004 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 7" Nano-Tec, aluminium-honeycomb core with carbon-fibre skins | 3 x 8" Cast Basket Carbon Fibre Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-50k Hz | 21-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 59.40kg / 130.7lbs | 45.40kg / 99.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-1/8" x 9-1/4" x 11"
1095.0 x 235.0 x 280.0mm | 47 3/4" x 14 7/8" x 15 5/8"
1212 x 377 x 396mm |
|---|
What size room are the Magico A3 2027 and PSB Synchrony T800 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* |
Magico A3 2027 |
PSB Synchrony T800 |
| 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 A3 2027 and Synchrony T800 are 3-way speakers.
Magico A3 2027PSB Synchrony T800
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Magico A3 2027 |
PSB Synchrony T800 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
3 x 8-inch
|
A3 2027 features a 1.1" Beryllium Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 7" Nano-Tec, aluminium-honeycomb core with carbon-fibre skins Woofer. On the other hand, the Synchrony T800 features a 1" titanium with ferrofluid cooling and neodymium magnet Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8" Cast Basket Carbon Fibre Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
A3 2027 has a frequency range of 25-50k Hz whereas Synchrony T800 has a frequency range of 21-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 21Hz, the Synchrony T800 can go slightly deeper then the A3 2027'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
A3 2027 and Synchrony T800 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. A3 2027 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Synchrony T800's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the PSB Synchrony T800 a more sensitive speaker compared to Magico A3 2027, 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 A3 2027 and the A3 2027 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 300 watts RMS, though A3 2027 is rated 50-300 watts and Synchrony T800 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
Synchrony T800 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. A3 2027 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB Synchrony T800'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 Magico A3 2027's and PSB Synchrony T800's external dimensions. Magico A3 2027 has external dimensions of 1095.0 x 235.0 x 280.0mm (43-1/8 x 9-1/4 x 11inch) whereas PSB Synchrony T800 has external dimensions of 1212 x 377 x 396mm (47 3/4 x 14 7/8 x 15 5/8-inch).
PSB Synchrony T800 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 142mm wider, 117mm taller and 116mm deeper than Magico A3 2027.
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.
PSB Synchrony T800 needs about 127% more floor or shelf area. PSB Synchrony T800 is 116mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. PSB Synchrony T800 is 117mm 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 Magico A3 2027 is approximately 658.0cm2 / 102.0inch2 and base area of the PSB Synchrony T800 is approximately 1492.0cm2 / 231.3inch2. The A3 2027 requires 56% less surface area than the Synchrony T800 which gives it a small advantage 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 Magico A3 2027 weighs 59.40kg / 130.7lbs and the PSB Synchrony T800 weighs 45.40kg / 99.9lbs. This makes the A3 2027 31% heavier than the Synchrony T800.
Here is a comparison of how A3 2027 and Synchrony T800'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 T800?
Here are the items that come with the Synchrony T800:
- Floorstanding loudspeakr
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Isolation feet
- 2 Port plugs
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1095mm
vs
1212mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
658cm2
vs
1492cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
21 Hz
vs
25 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
11999USD
vs
25000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Magico A3 2027 |
PSB Synchrony T800 |
| Brand |
Magico |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-50k Hz |
21-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Nano-Tec, aluminium-honeycomb core with carbon-fibre skins |
Cast Basket Carbon Fibre Cone |
| 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 |
n/a |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1095.0mm (43.1") |
1212.0mm (47.7") |
| Width |
235.0mm (9.3") |
377.0mm (14.8") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
396.0mm (15.6") |
| Weight |
59.40kg (130.7lbs) |
45.40kg (99.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black, Silver, Red, Blue (bead-blasted anodised aluminium) |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Magico A3 2027 costs roughly 2.1x what PSB Synchrony T800 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 T800 digs deeper - 21Hz against 25Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | PSB Synchrony T800 is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Magico A3 2027 is easier to place; PSB Synchrony T800 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | PSB Synchrony T800: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | PSB Synchrony T800 is cheaper - $11,999 against $25,000, about 52% less; arguably a different class. |
A Magico A3 2027 B PSB Synchrony T800
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 T800 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Magico A3 2027 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, PSB Synchrony T800 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Magico A3 2027 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, PSB Synchrony T800 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.