PMC Upgrades - worthwhile?

Has anyone upgraded their PMC speakers (TB1, DB1 or FB1) to "plus" status? (i.e. new x/over, new t/line foam and new Vifa soft-dome tweeter).

What's the verdict?

I've heard varying degrees of improvement from various sources
- HFC suggests the improvements are worthwhile
- My dealer suggests its pretty massive (as they would)
- The distributor (who distributes mostly pro-gear), says its not a huge improvement

 

I've had it done to my FB1s and would certainly recommend it. The change not only takes away the bright treble (more noticible on certain recordings) but it seems to integrate the units better.

I felt it took at least 48 hours before they were run in (PMC say about 14) but go for it, I would not go back to the metal tweater now.

 

Chap over on HFC, reckons it's better but agian not a great deal, although worthwhile, he also removed the extra padding as he felt that dampened the lows a bit. TBH seems a bit pricey for what it is, considering it's DIY, £250 for a tweeter and some foam?

 

I saw that post as well. The guys on the Bryston/PMC forum all think its definitely worthwhile.

The tweeter is a Vifa 27mm soft-dome double-chambered design (about $30USD ea?) but its meant to be good. It's not a Revelator by any means though. There is a new crossover as well.

£250 is cheap... where I live, it's approx £600.

Wonder if UK dealers would ship to Oz...?

 

I think PMC modify the tweeter as well though, don't they?

 

I was going to ask the same question on Bryston/PMC Audio Circle forums.

I think they modify some of the drivers in the higher-end stuff.... check out the bass drivers on the MB2/BB5.

 

i heard the DB1 at billy vee london. the demo was for another customer and the speakers were being poweredby a arcam solo. it's like a linn classic except it looks worse.

back to the demo - the DB1 was up against the cheap little b and w's, and those award winning quads.

the b and w's were horrible. the quads were better and the db1 were better still. frankly it still all sounded horrible though.

that could be down to the arcam music centre I suppose

 

My AML1's use a (highly modified, same as in the Active BB5) 34mm tweeter, but it sounds brilliant so I see nothing wrong with it. Still go right up too 25Khz apparently.

 

Yeah they're lovely aren't they, sculpted from plastic with a blunt chisel. Think that probably describes the sound quite well too

 

I think they look very good - do people not like them because they dont appear to be 'serious' hifi?

 

i thought it looked like an oversized vcr.

 

they look cheap and nasty. Like a piece of dashboard or something. They're a grand, could they not stretch to a proper chassis?

 

you're right they do look cheap and nasty. the recent arcam stuff looks quite solid but the solo looks a bit feeble