In this review, we will be comparing Synchrony T600 and L800, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Synchrony T600 and Polk L800 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Synchrony T600 | Polk L800 |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 2 x 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber | 2 x 10" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 24-23k Hz | 32-38k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-300 watts | 25-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs | 68.50kg / 150.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm | 48-5/8" x 18" x 17-7/16"
1236.0 x 458.0 x 443.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the PSB Synchrony T600 and Polk L800 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* |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
Polk L800 |
| 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 Synchrony T600 and L800 are 3-way speakers.
PSB Synchrony T600Polk L800
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
Polk L800 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
2 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 10-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 L800 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 10" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 370Hz and 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Synchrony T600 has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz whereas L800 has a frequency range of 32-38k 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 L800's min frequency of 32Hz.
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
Synchrony T600 and L800 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 L800's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the PSB Synchrony T600 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L800, 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. 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 Synchrony T600 is rated 20-300 watts and L800 25-300 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 Synchrony T600 and L800 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
Polk L800's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Synchrony T600 has a rear firing port whereas L800 has a down firing ports.
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 PSB Synchrony T600's and Polk L800'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 Polk L800 has external dimensions of 1236.0 x 458.0 x 443.0mm (48-5/8 x 18 x 17-7/16inch).
Polk L800 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 230mm wider, 188mm taller and 100mm deeper than PSB Synchrony T600.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Synchrony T600 and Polk L800 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Synchrony T600 and Polk L800 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 PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2 and base area of the Polk L800 is approximately 2028.9cm2 / 314.5inch2. The Synchrony T600 requires 61% less surface area than the L800 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 Polk L800 weighs 68.50kg / 150.7lbs. This makes the L800 96% heavier than the Synchrony T600.
Here is a comparison of how Synchrony T600 and L800'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 loudspeakr
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Isolation feet
- 2 Port plugs
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Polk L800?
Here are the items that come with the L800:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Large Grilles
- 2 Small grilles
- Two 15-feet SDA interconnect cables
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Spike feet
- 2 Jumper-wires (pre-installed)
- 2 Cleaning cloths
- 2 Hex-keys
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
2.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1236mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2
vs
2028cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional L900 Height Module Speaker
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Price per pair* |
5998USD
vs
8000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
Polk Audio Legend L800 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
25-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
2.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
24-23k Hz |
32-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon fiber |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
370Hz and 2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
down |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
1236.0mm (48.7") |
| Width |
228.0mm (9") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Depth |
343.0mm (13.5") |
443.0mm (17.4") |
| Weight |
34.90kg (76.8lbs) |
68.50kg (150.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
| 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 | A | PSB Synchrony T600 digs deeper - 24Hz against 32Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | PSB Synchrony T600 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 | PSB Synchrony T600 is easier to place; Polk L800 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping; Polk L800: bi-amping and Atmos drivers. |
| Price | B | Polk L800 is cheaper - $5,998 against $8,000, about 25% less. |
A PSB Synchrony T600 B Polk L800
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 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 33% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Polk L800 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the PSB Synchrony T600 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 32Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk L800 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Polk L800 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.