Small Box, Big Fun - Why PMC's prodigy1 Transmission Line Standmount is a Force to be Reckoned With!

[@timbre7999]

Rhat's what I love about your Riffs; you go on tangents and they're both entertaining and informative, explaining the thinking behind certain designs and naming interesting alternatives.

[@titntin5178]

Thanks guys more entertaining hi fi chit chat. Those speakers look pretty good and sound like they would be great fun to listen too. Love front port designs as Mike can show us the ports whilst holding them front on for a change 😊

[@Silsoe123]

Have the posh wood finish ones in the same size. Absolutely love them. Currently using them near field at low vol. I find they are particularly good with electronic music given speed.

[@oohtob6685]

As well as the hifi, as a comedy duo hilarious. Great watch.

[@garethvaughan426]

Great Riff guys, great to see a fabulous product made in the UK, well done PMC. Trevor Horn wow, my early memories are the Drama album from Yes

[@chrissimmonds4383]

Hi Mike and David, congratulations for creating an amazing and unique HiFi reviewing channel. Regarding your review of the PMC Prodigy's, one of the outstanding comments made was that they sound great at low volumes. On a sad note, I remember getting some sound (pun not intended) advice from Paul Messenger, a fantastic and knowledgable reviewer who lived near me in Herne Bay and who loaned me speakers to try out on occasions when he had them, he sadly died recently but was a giant in HIFI reviews. He said to me, when I was selecting some new speakers to review, that he really like PMC speakers and that I should consider them to be included in any tests. I now own PMC Twenty5/23 floorstanders, I love them for their ability to sound good at low volumes, their great bass etc etc. I thank Paul messenger and wishing him a peaceful rest.

[@MrVinylista]

Thanks, Chris. Yes, it's very sad news about Paul - I worked with him in three difference capacities (Hi-Fi World, Hi-Fi Critic and Hi-Fi Choice), and he was a true gent. Extremely knowledgeable, very charming and a thoroughly decent type. He's a legend and his name will live on, I'm sure. I have plenty of stories to tell about Paul (all good, of course) but that's for another day. Last but not least, he did have a passion for Jaaags - seem to remember he bought Julian Vereker's old black XJ! Former Choice editor John Bamford had an XJ8 too, as did Touraj Moghaddam, AJ van den Hul and me! About 20 years ago it felt like half the hi-fi industry was smoking around in them! RIP Paul, gone but not forgotten.

[@robertleitch2016]

@@MrVinylista Another sad loss, and no great age. I wouldn't have had MPM down as a Jag man, but they're a broad church. Ivor T - whom G-d preserve - can be added to the Jaguar driving list of honour. I used to encounter him regularly in his XJ12 Series 3 on one of my Glasgow commutes, and sometimes in his Nissan Skyline GTR. One had an 'LP 12' registration, the other was something-LPL. In one of his proclamations Ivor claimed that he chose Richard Rogers as architect for the Waterside factory as he arrived for the interview in an XJ. He was contemptuous of another st-architect who arrived in a Citroën BX - rather harsh I thought.

[@MrVinylista]

@@robertleitch2016 Yes, I should have mentioned Ivor, who like Naim's Julian Vereker (RIP) was a bit of a Jag fancier! I have heard various stories about Ivor driving his XJR-S at, shall we say, 'enthusiastic' speeds. I'm sure Max Townsend (RIP) wouldn't approve of Ivor's choice in architects, as he was a huge Citroen fan and loved his XM. If memory serves, they weren't the best of mates, in their younger years.

[@stevehollingbery9744]

Yet again great viewing, funny I’m looking for a second systems pair of speakers. Cheers Chaps😊

[@adampoll4977]

I picked up a pair of home-built transmission-line speakers from a second-hand store recently, and they are quite the revelation. They have the outward appearance of LS 3/5As (and even the front baffle is completely damped around the driver with dense foam) bur are a single old-school (even made in the USA when they were kinda serious about hifi) Realistic full-range driver in the fully damped transmission-line cabinet (decades before the Sibelus 😉). I'm running them through a Yamaha amp as my computer speakers and for near-field listening they are amazing. Completely revealing of source quality, and a soundstage so immersive it's almost like having headphones on.

[@charlesnr]

For retro look, I have used Celestion 7 sealed speakers with Kimber Kable caps.

[@gdwlaw5549]

I still enjoy my PMC TB1's! I found someone to audition this wonderdul brand. Keep on stroking...🙂

[@analogueman5364]

Brilliant riff chaps, really enjoyable and interesting. I am slightly biased as I'm a big PMC fan and so great to see how much you enjoyed the Prodigy 1s. Also need to confess to being a Rick Astley fan and agree with Mike regarding cry for help. Cheers guys.

[@Gadgetdad007]

Are you coming out of the closet 😂

[@laurieharper1526]

I have the PMC Result6, which is to all intents and purposes an active version of these. Really like them. I bought them to use as monitors with my modest laptop-based recording set-up. I found I much preferred them to my ageing hi-fi speakers, so I sold the hi-fi amp and speakers and bought a pre with XLR outs (Quad Artera - nice piece of kit). I reckon I'd be hard pushed to get better sound for the money.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

I would love to hear them. Mike

[@andreasmisundberntsen9237]

Nice review! I've been using my Prodigy 5 pair for a few months now and enjoy them a lot, even paired with a cheap surround receiver that will have to do for a while longer. I thought it's worth mentioning that they scale well with source upgrades, which in my case has been first getting the Wiim Pro Plus streamer, and then adding the Chord Qutest DAC. This weekend I had my first listen to Naim's new 300-series of gear at a shop, and while obviously on a wildly different price range I think their snappy, engaging sound signature would pair well with PMC. We'll see what happens.

[@thebingaling1105]

Got a pair of these powered by an Exposure 3510. Lovely combo to my ears. Surprising bass for their size. Went for these as i have a medium sized room and needed flexibility in positioning. These are very flexible but experimentaion is key. Small toe in change can impact the sound a lot.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

Completely agree with everything you say. Mike

[@thebingaling1105]

@@Hi-FiRiff thanks Mike. Keep up the good work you guys!

[@robertleitch2016]

There's something of the 1955 Corvette about the prodigy1's transmission line outlet grille.

[@richardparnell6551]

Great riff. I could not get to the Bristol show this year, but heard other PMC speakers in the range last year and was really impressed. I was concerned that they could not be that good and I was simply hearing an ordinary loudspeaker being run loud by hugely expensive electronics. It is lovely to hear that this range really are this good. Fun as always - thanks!

[@Hi-FiRiff]

Absolutely! We also have a Riff ready to go on the Prodigy 5's too! They are excellent as well. Mike

[@enrico-nx1ow]

@@Hi-FiRiff when will it come?

[@erichhofer201]

when you will review the prodigy 5?

[@aprobin1]

Oh heck, you two! I bought a used pair of AE500’s following your review a few weeks ago. They’re excellent, but with a few minor reservations … they appreciate being turned up a bit, they can be a bit cruel with poor source material and I feel they can sound just a touch hard in the top end compared to a good traditional soft dome. Based on your description of these PMC’s it sounds like I need to get hold of a pair of these as well for a bit of a comparison.

[@MrVinylista]

Don't panic. If you really like the AE500s already, you're probably not going to want to replace them with the prodigy1. They're quite different. The AEs are a lot more neutral, and detailed, and grown-up sounding but still lots of fun. The PMCs are a tad less refined, with more upfront sound and better speed. It's six of one, and half a dozen of the other. Both are superb, I think. It really depends on your system. What are you using?

[@aprobin1]

@@MrVinylista Thanks for the reply, I’m ever curious and quite enjoy comparing and contrasting, speakers in particular. I usually have two or three pairs of speakers on hand that get rotated in and out. The rest of my system consists of a couple of digital sources (Rega Apollo CD player and Holo Audio Red streamer) into a Chord TT2 and from there into a Rega Aethos integrated amp.

[@Trebor-u4q]

Interesting what you said about the weight of the cabinets. My all time favourite speakers, the Triangle Titus EZ which I will never part with, are just under 6 kgs but they are very inert and well built. I've tried a few speakers at about the £1k price point including Dynaudio Emit 20, Kef ls50 meta and the AE 500 you reviewed, all of which were heavier than the Triangle, but not as good to my ears. Never heard a PMC speaker and the whole transmission line thing but would like to some day.

[@bigblueocean]

Been a fan of Trevor Horn since the buggles. ❤😊

[@thebingaling1105]

For what it’s worth I auditioned these against the Ls50’s and Lumina 2’s. Went for these as I found them the most neutral and listenable for longer periods. Lumina were lovely but slightly bright treble to my ears. Didn’t like the Ls50’s, detailed but found them lacking in excitement. These were tested with both a Roksan K3 and Exposure 3510.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

I love these! Mike

[@christopherhawkins5456]

In debating between these and lunmia 2s

[@gaetancharbonneau3902]

I am heading off to the Montreal audio fest this weekend, PSB will be there, but not PMC... too bad. I think I'll wear a mask...

[@georgeheatherley3548]

Great video! Very informative as I am looking for some bookshelf speakers , top job 👍

[@Hi-FiRiff]

I absolutely loved them. I put them in my daughter's system and she was very sad when we had to return them. Mike

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

Stroke the tweeter 😂😂😂

[@razisn]

That thing about some speakers sounding better than other speakers when played at low volumes beats me because I can't think of any plausible technical explanation of this phenomenon (if it is indeed a real phenomenon). Any hypotheses you can offer about why this might be the case? Until then I will have to assume that the speakers that sound better at low volumes would tend to sound better at least at medium volumes too so they are just better speakers.. Really high volumes is a different issue because things like level of distortion and room start playing a major role.

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

I do not know what explains the phenomenon of playing well at low volumes, but I do have such a speaker. My Heresys sound full bodied and detailed at a low volume. I have loved this because I'm able to play them after work without waking up the house. I also have a pair of Spendors that definately need volume to sound their best- to me. And I'm not sure efficiency is the thing because my amplifier runs much warmer at the end of the Heresys than the Spendors. I love them both.

[@razisn]

@@timothyfreeseha4056 I was thinking this over again and the only plausible explanation I could come up with was that the woofer might not be able to 'wake up fully'' at a voltage level the tweeter (and mid) may already be able to operate. Thus at very low perceived levels you really have mostly the upper frequencies there with the lower frequencies lacking. If this is the reason then this should indeed have to do with efficiency (which is really dependent on the low frequency drivers). Frequency response measurements at different sound pressure levels will be able to prove or disprove this. Alternatively, if one has a method (like eq) to hold back the high (and mid) frequencies one may be able to get a 'fuller' sound at low levels if what I'm saying is correct.

[@analogueman5364]

Does a loudness button not solve this issue? That was the reason many amps had them back in the day. I'm not sure it's all about speaker efficiency either.

[@harrisarp3841]

Hi there!!!!From PMC site "We use both our own, and Bryston amplifiers" .

[@Na5tyify]

Are not most PMC transmission line, I thought that was their thing?

[@-syN]

Great review chaps! May I ask what amplifier you used them with?

[@Hi-FiRiff]

We used a Chord TT2 as the preamp and a humungous Musical Fidelity MX8 as the power amp... ridiculous overkill, but David has not managed to contact Geoff Capes to remove the MF from his living room! Mike

[@007soedal]

On the Trevor Horn album, Lady Blackbirds "slave to the rhythm" is just plain fantastic!

[@Hi-FiRiff]

It's the stand-out song on the album for me. Mike

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I didn’t like the floor standing version as a pmc owner myself. I preferred totems bison towers. I also suspect I’d prefer the totem loon to these bookshelf’s too.

[@robertgough5804]

What would we call naim sbl’s? Great riff!

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

Is that a Rush symbol I see behind yous 😊

[@markrfitness9830]

Hey great Riff guys! I had the pleasure of listening to these today in Marylebone, I was amazed by the clarity and sound stage! They made some tunes sound like I’d quite never heard them before, most of all they made me smile throughout the listening session. I went in to the hifi shop to inquire and to see if they had the Mission 750’s. I wonder if you guys have heard these or will be listening to them? I grew up listening to my dads 770’s in fact he’s keeping them for me, although at the moment to big for our apartment. I have a Rotel A11 tribute with a Rel T zero sub. The Missions have that nostalgia, but these sounded really good, very different. Do you think they would compare to the Mission 750s?

[@markrfitness9830]

I just watched your acoustic energy ae500, man I need to listen to these 😅

[@oliverbeard7912]

If Dennis Waterman is good enough,so is Rick Astley. 😊

[@GeorgeFrideric71]

Thank you for this. Any thoughts about using these with a Rega Brio? Power-wise, sound-wise?

[@marcholliday616]

I've had a pair of these on loan with my brio - power and sound wise no problem

[@gdwlaw5549]

I would be really nice if you could recommend a good budget setup…

[@MrVinylista]

What sort of price range did you have in mind, and would it be analogue or digital based?

[@gdwlaw5549]

I would prefer an analogue system up to £2.000. I really think people get back into HiFi for Vinyl in my experience. I have added digital sources later on having abandoned CD 5 years ago. We have a brand new shop selling Viny and Hifi. They're selling to people that have never had a setup before. They sell Musical Fidelity and ProJect. It's an interesting subject for sure.

[@analogueman5364]

Also need to establish the budget. Your notion of a budget system might be different to mine or anyone else's.

[@gdwlaw5549]

@@MrVinylistain one of your previous presentations you mentioned any system with a Rega 3 turntable under 1.500£. I agree.

[@gdwlaw5549]

@@analogueman5364 before and after divorce would be my answer:-)

[@blackgrape73]

I understand the sound signature will differ but are these better than the AE500? Cheers for the review btw.

[@MrVinylista]

Different. The AE500 is arguably the better all rounder, more grown up sounding yet still very enjoyable. The prodigy1 goes full on for rhythm and dynamics, and seems inferior tonally. It's more fun but a less well-rounded design. Both great, IMHO. Which is better depends on your system and your music tastes. Can you expand?

[@blackgrape73]

@@MrVinylista thanks for the response. I will be running a streaming system in my games room/man cave, with the idea for the speakers to sit fairly close to the front wall and try and fill a 4 x 5m room with as much quality sound as possible! System wise I will initially be running them from a network streamer/dac as a source (Eversolo DMP-A6) into Class D Amplification. I’ll probably upgrade to half decent A/B amplification in the future. My music taste varies greatly (Pink Floyd to Drum & Bass) so sounds like the AE500 might be the better option, however the flexibility of being able to position the Prodigy 1’s close to the front wall also has its merits! Decisions decisions..

[@MrVinylista]

@@blackgrape73 Certainly if you're going to stick with Class D, I'd go for the PMCs - as Class D often sounds rhythmically quite pedestrian and these will pep the sound up. If you go for a light, bright, tight Class AB then I think the AEs would work slightly better, with a more complete, tonally balanced sound. Nice problem to have, though!

[@jimfarrell4635]

White gloves, preferably stolen from a mime who has been unmercifully beaten up for his mime crimes. Best way to handle speakers.

[@DaleWhitlam-ni5wp]

Great review as always, thanks. Wonder why David can never go more than 5 minutes without a drink ?

[@tonyhodgkinson2569]

Because he's thirsty, just a thought.

[@dougg1075]

Astley has some pipes man. That is a cool song

[@enrico-nx1ow]

very nice review, these or the Prodigy 5 for a room of 17feet x 13,3feet ????

[@fernandobarra1763]

I love your show!!!! Do they sound better than Quad Revela 1? I have heard revela 1 and I found impressive!!!

[@MrVinylista]

Different! The Revela is a far better all rounder - deeper bass, sweeter, more extended treble, more detailed midband. But it's not as much fun as the prodigy1, which is super fast and dynamic but far less able in absolute terms. The QUAD is certainly more grown up and complete as a speaker, but the PMC is a cheeky little imp that brings a smile to one's face!

[@darrenlomax1283]

How do they compare to DALI MENUET?

[@bigblueocean]

Keep hoping that Trevor will rerecord the first buggles album for the 21st Century. So many relevant themes there.

[@MrVinylista]

I think that first Buggles album is already pretty much perfect. He did perform it live at the Supper Club in London with the original musicians, plus members of 10cc, OMD and Propaganda, about 15 years ago. I was there, and it was one of the best live gigs I've ever been to. I would love it if he could release that as a live album. All the same, I'd certainly buy a 'reimagined' version for the 21st century. As you say, the lyrics are great. Like Trev, I'm a huge JG Ballard fan and much of that Buggles album feels like excerpts from his novels set to music. Dystopian science fiction set to jaunty seventies electro pop - what's not to like?

[@bigblueocean]

@@MrVinylista it's one of my favourite albums of all time and presages what the eighties were to bring in a really interesting way. I agree it's a thing of perfection.. But still.... It could also be seen though a 21st century lense.

[@gdwlaw5549]

This is the Top Gear of HiFi shows …

[@Hi-FiRiff]

Is that good or bad? :-) Mike

[@gdwlaw5549]

@@Hi-FiRiff very good. I’m not really into cars….but enjoyed the show with Clarkson and co…

[@amok281]

Mike I think you meant Sara stands as the PMCs are larger than Kans.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

Would you believe, they don't fit on the Kan stands without taking off the spikes!. They are extremely narrow, but admittedly deeper than my Kans. Mike

[@kjbunnyboiler]

Evening gents👍👍

[@michaelevans7015]

Evening!

[@bw8827]

You guys never showed the rear. For me, I avoid any speaker with bi-wire/bi-amp terminals. It meant searching elsewhere for such info.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

What a dreadful oversight. Only one set of binding posts on the PMC's. Mike

[@REX4340]

Can't believe David still has NS1000's🤗

[@Hi-FiRiff]

He's such a fossil (said Mike with his Quad electrostatics).

[@Loke2112]

I have been looking and looking for the right pair of speakers and found these guys. Doing a deep dive and found your video. My favorite band of all time, and it’s not even close is RUSH. Is it GOD or is it ODD that you have their symbol between the two of you? I hope RUSH sounds great on this set. Maybe I even pray they will.

[@respondent5226]

Please compare kef ls50meta

[@JohnSmith-of4vh]

Enjoy some TUNES! They will improve your head cold........

[@jdekong3945]

Hello folks

[@michaelevans7015]

Evening!

[@kjbunnyboiler]

+1 for “cry for help”

[@damianzaninovich4900]

Too much fish n chips could be the reason for the greasy fingers David a naive American’s stereotypical view of the world might say.

[@katebush8415]

can you talk about consumerism problem in audio communities? I swear everyone is just a clueless consumer in this hobby and has no knowledge of physics or electronics, just buys whatever big name company puts out. Not to mention all these products are designed by people with no knowledge also, speaker and amplifier design peaked long ago, this is just companies after your money. "oooo I this sounds like this and this sounds like that I should open a youtube channel and talk about how different these scam products are and recommend them to people"

[@jimfarrell4635]

And, I guess you, Kate are the one exception in a sea of morons. I look forward to your extensive range of superlative, life changing hifi products at budget prices.

[@TheDjcarlos67]

And the winner of the most idiotic comment of the year competition goes to…

[@analogueman5364]

​@jimfarrell4635 you really are very funny. Fabulous response to a pointless and daft comment.

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Eejit.

[@thomasalexand]

Luddite springs to mind. Let's go back to living in caves, shall we? 🙄

[@Bartmanblues]

Owned PMC’s happy they’re gone.

[@zjzozn]

Replaced by Amstrad’s

[@MrVinylista]

@@zjzozn LOL

[@PhotographyInFlight4183]

Oh dear, if I may, the reason your happy their gone? I was seriously considering these speakers.