In this review, we will be comparing Gold 500 6G and Synchrony T600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G and PSB Synchrony T600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G | PSB Synchrony T600 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 3" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" HDT C-CAM | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44 Hz – 60 kHz | 24-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88.5 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 300 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.56kg / 58.4lbs | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45-1/2" x 15-1/16" x 18-11/16"
1156.0 x 383.0 x 475.0mm | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G 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* |
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G |
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 Gold 500 6G and Synchrony T600 are 3-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6GPSB 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 |
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Gold 500 6G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 8" HDT C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 700 Hz - 2600 Hz. 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
Gold 500 6G has a frequency range of 44 Hz – 60 kHz 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 Gold 500 6G's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
Gold 500 6G and Synchrony T600 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Gold 500 6G sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the Synchrony T600's is at 89 dB.
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 Gold 500 6G and the Gold 500 6G 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 Gold 500 6G 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.
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Gold 500 6G and Synchrony T600 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G's Binding post terminals allows 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 Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G's and PSB Synchrony T600's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G has external dimensions of 1156.0 x 383.0 x 475.0mm (15-1/16 x 45-1/2 x 18-11/16) 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).
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 155mm wider, 108mm taller and 132mm deeper than PSB Synchrony T600.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G and PSB Synchrony T600 in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G and PSB Synchrony T600 Size and External Dimensions
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 Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G is approximately 1819.3cm2 / 282.0inch2 and base area of the PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2. The Gold 500 6G requires 133% 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 Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G weighs 26.56kg / 58.4lbs and the PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs. This makes the Synchrony T600 31% heavier than the Gold 500 6G.
Here is a comparison of how Gold 500 6G and Synchrony T600's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Gold 500 6G:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 6 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-plates (pre-installed)
- 4 Port plugs
- 2 Base plates
- 8 Outrigger feet
- 8 rubber feet (pre-installed in outrigger feet)
- 8 Spikes (pre-installed in outrigger fee)
- 8 Large machine screws
- 24 Small machine screws
- Hex-key
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
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
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
7499USD
vs
8000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1156mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2
vs
1819cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 300 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.5 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44 Hz – 60 kHz |
24-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
HDT C-CAM |
Carbon fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
700 Hz - 2600 Hz |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
2 Base plates| 8 Outrigger feet| 8 rubber feet (pre-installed in outrigger feet)| 8 Spikes |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1156.0mm (45.5") |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
383.0mm (15.1") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
475.0mm (18.7") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
26.56kg (58.4lbs) |
34.90kg (76.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Macassar Wood Veneer, High-Gloss Black, Satin White |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | PSB Synchrony T600 digs deeper - 24Hz against 44Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | PSB Synchrony T600 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G: bi-amping; PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($7,499 vs $8,000 a pair). |
A Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 44Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.