In this review, we will be comparing Synchrony T600 and ESL 9, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and MartinLogan. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Synchrony T600 and MartinLogan ESL 9 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the PSB Synchrony T600 and MartinLogan ESL 9 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Synchrony T600 and MartinLogan ESL 9 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Synchrony T600 is a 3-way design whereas the ESL 9 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
MartinLogan ESL 9 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
9.2 x 44-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the ESL 9 features a 9.2 x 44" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter and 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
Synchrony T600 has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz whereas ESL 9 has a frequency range of 34-23k 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 ESL 9's min frequency of 34Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Synchrony T600 and ESL 9 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Synchrony T600 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the ESL 9's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan ESL 9 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 Synchrony T600 and the Synchrony T600 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Synchrony T600 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Synchrony T600 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the ESL 9.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Synchrony T600 and ESL 9 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
MartinLogan ESL 9's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare PSB Synchrony T600's and MartinLogan ESL 9's external dimensions. PSB Synchrony T600 has external dimensions of 1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm ( 41-1/4 x 9 x 13-1/2inch) whereas MartinLogan ESL 9 has external dimensions of 1520.0 x 266.0 x 647.0mm ( 59-13/16 x 10-7/16 x 25-7/16inch) .
MartinLogan ESL 9 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 472mm taller and 304mm deeper than PSB Synchrony T600.
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 PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan ESL 9 is approximately 1721.0cm2 / 266.8inch2. The Synchrony T600 requires 55% less surface area than the ESL 9 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 PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs and the MartinLogan ESL 9 weighs 35.45kg / 78lbs. This makes the ESL 9 2% heavier than the Synchrony T600.
Here is a comparison of how Synchrony T600 and ESL 9'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 are included inside the box of Synchrony T600:
Floorstanding loudspeakrGrille2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Isolation feet2 Port plugsOwners ManualWarranty Card
What's in the Box of MartinLogan ESL 9?
Here are the items that come with the ESL 9:
Floorstanding hybrid electrostatic loudspeakerAC power adapter (w/ attached 10-feet DC cord)Grille4 Spike FeetUsers ManualProduct Registration Card
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1520mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2 (228x343mm)
vs
1721cm2 (266x647mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
400 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* |
7000USD
vs
8000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 |
| Brand |
PSB |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
20-400 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
24-23k Hz |
34-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon fiber |
high-excursion paper cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
9.2 x 44" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
curved electrostatic transducer |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
1520.0mm (59.8") |
| Width |
228.0mm (9") |
266.0mm (10.5") |
| Depth |
343.0mm (13.5") |
647.0mm (25.5") |
| Weight |
34.90kg (76.8lbs) |
35.45kg (78lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
Composite |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years w/ Registration |