In this review, we will be comparing Canterbury and Synchrony T600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Tannoy and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Tannoy Canterbury and PSB Synchrony T600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Tannoy Canterbury | PSB Synchrony T600 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-22k Hz | 24-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 63.05kg / 138.7lbs | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | — | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Tannoy Canterbury 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* |
Tannoy Canterbury |
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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Canterbury is a 2-way design whereas the Synchrony T600 is a 3-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 |
Tannoy Canterbury |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Canterbury features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.1 kHz. 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
Canterbury has a frequency range of 28-22k Hz whereas Synchrony T600 has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Synchrony T600 can go slightly deeper then the Canterbury's min frequency of 28Hz.
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
Canterbury is a 8 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. Canterbury sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Synchrony T600's is rated at 89 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Tannoy Canterbury a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Synchrony T600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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 T600 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Canterbury has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Tannoy Canterbury's and PSB Synchrony T600's external dimensions. Tannoy Canterbury has external dimensions of () 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).
PSB Synchrony T600 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 228mm wider, 1048mm taller and 343mm deeper than Tannoy Canterbury.
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 Tannoy Canterbury weighs 63.05kg / 138.7lbs and the PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs. This makes the Canterbury 81% heavier than the Synchrony T600.
Here is a comparison of how Canterbury 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 |
96 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
5.5 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
0mm
vs
1048mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
0cm2
vs
782cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
8000USD
vs
40000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Tannoy Canterbury |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Brand |
Tannoy |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
5.5 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-22k Hz |
24-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
3 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
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 |
1.1 kHz |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
mm (0") |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
mm (0") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
mm (0") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
63.05kg (138.7lbs) |
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 |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Tannoy Canterbury costs roughly 5x 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 28Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Tannoy Canterbury is more sensitive (96dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
Tannoy Canterbury is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Expandability |
B |
PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping. |
| Price |
B |
PSB Synchrony T600 is cheaper - $8,000 against $40,000, about 80% less; arguably a different class. |
A Tannoy Canterbury
B PSB Synchrony T600
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Tannoy Canterbury is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $32,000 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.