In this review, we will be comparing Quatuor 40th and Synchrony T600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Triangle and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th and PSB Synchrony T600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th | PSB Synchrony T600 |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 6.5" Fibreglass sandwich | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-30k Hz | 24-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 80-500 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 47.00kg / 103.4lbs | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 50-3/8" x 9-13/16" x 13-3/8"
1280.0 x 250.0 x 340.0mm | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th 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* |
Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th |
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 Quatuor 40th and Synchrony T600 are 3-way speakers.
Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40thPSB 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 |
Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Quatuor 40th features a 1" Magnesium dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Fibreglass sandwich Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2500Hz. 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
Quatuor 40th has a frequency range of 33-30k Hz 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 Quatuor 40th's min frequency of 33Hz.
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
Quatuor 40th 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. Quatuor 40th sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Synchrony T600's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Synchrony T600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
Synchrony T600 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Quatuor 40th has a max power handling value of 260 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the Synchrony T600.
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.
Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Synchrony T600 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Quatuor 40th 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Quatuor 40th has a front firing port whereas Synchrony T600 has a rear firing ports. Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to PSB Synchrony T600 with its rear-firing port.
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 Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th's and PSB Synchrony T600's external dimensions. Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th has external dimensions of 1280.0 x 250.0 x 340.0mm (50-3/8 x 9-13/16 x 13-3/8inch) 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 22mm narrower and 232mm shorter than Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th but it is also 3mm deeper.
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.
Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th needs about 9% more floor or shelf area. Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th is 232mm 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 Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th is approximately 850.0cm2 / 131.8inch2 and base area of the PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2. The Quatuor 40th requires 9% 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 Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th weighs 47.00kg / 103.4lbs and the PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs. This makes the Quatuor 40th 35% heavier than the Synchrony T600.
Here is a comparison of how Quatuor 40th and Synchrony T600's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th
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 |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
260 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.4 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
33 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1280mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2
vs
850cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
8000USD
vs
22000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Brand |
Triangle |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
80-500 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-30k Hz |
24-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fibreglass sandwich |
Carbon fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350Hz and 2500Hz |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1280.0mm (50.4") |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
250.0mm (9.8") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
47.00kg (103.4lbs) |
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 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th costs roughly 2.8x 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 33Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th is more sensitive (91dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (260W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | PSB Synchrony T600 is easier to place; Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | PSB Synchrony T600 is cheaper - $8,000 against $22,000, about 64% less; arguably a different class. |
A Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 33Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th 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.