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This is a reprint of my PMC EB1i speaker review from July 2008. I still own these fabulous speakers and enjoy them every day. My opinion of their performance hasn't changed in nearly 7 years of enjoying them. This PMC speaker model is no longer manufactured which only serves to make it that much more valuable to me. I have no plans to ever let the PMC EB1i speakers leave my home.
This is a recent photo showing my living room system as it is today. ![]() July 24, 2008 The PMC EB1i speakers are in the system and have been making sweet music now for one week. I have had quite a bit of interest in them so here are some of my thoughts. The PMC EB1i speakers are the newest release of this excellent studio monitor enhanced for home use. The i series upgrades to the original EB1 design include the new PMC/SEAS developed Sonolex soft doomed tweeter, a redesigned crossover network to accommodate the tweeter's extended frequency range, a new internal box type cavity off the bottom of the transmission line that acts as resonant filter to further reduce low frequency distoration, thicker cabinet material with stronger internal bracing, and furniture grade real wood veneer (Cherry or Walnut) on all four sides and the top of the cabinet. There is a 1 1/2" thick piano black plinth on the bottom of the speakers that accommodate the provided adjustable flat feet or adjustable spikes. I ordered my PMC EB1i's in Cherry, then waited for the speakers to be manufactured in Great Britain and shipped to the US. It took almost six weeks from the time I placed my order until I had them in my home. Was the wait worth it? Absolutely! The PMC EB1i speakers are incredible performers. It took about five days for them to break in playing them 24/7, but from day one they have been a knock out. Acoustical instruments like guitar, saxaphone, trumpet, xylophone, piano, flute, and upright bass appear out of thin air in the room. Both male and female voices are so natural you expect to be able to physically touch someone or catch a scent of perfume. Electric guitars, drums and cymbals are crystal clear. The dynamic range of these speakers is nothing short of startling. When a trumpet blasts, a drum snaps, cymbals crash, or a guitar rips into a lead, you know you are listening to very special speakers. An instrument's note that deminishes into silence seems to linger in the air until it vaporizes. Speakers........what speakers. They just step out of the way. What's left is pure music. I am very pleased with my pair of PMC EB1i speakers as if you couldn't tell. Before they arrived I was somewhat worried I might not be satisfied with the bass performance since the bottom is handled by 10" carbon fiber and Nomex piston drivers loaded at the mouth of a transmission line tunnel. (I had been using two 15" powered subs). Let me assure you, with the transmission line design (rated down to 19Hz), these speakers have a rock solid, extremely deep and plentiful bottom end. I feel no loss with the subs gone. The bass is stronger, quicker and visceral. Leading edge transients on double bass strings are audible and accurate. Very pleasant indeed. Until yesterday I had been powering the EB1i speakers with a McIntosh C2200 preamp and a MC275 MkV tube power amp. As long as I didn't try to push the volume level, the MC275's output was adequate, although I felt I could easily use two MC275's bridged. Yesterday I hooked up my McIntosh MC352 power amp to the EB1i speakers and now have unlimited dynamic range at what ever volume level I can comfortably stand to listen. I had the big blue meters bumping 350 watts per channel and the PMC's sounded sweet, clear, and dynamic. No one left the room and everyone was smiling. That's always a good sign. There are seperate input terminals for the woofer, mid range, and tweeter. The EB1i speakers can be powered in any number of ways. They are actually pro monitors dressed up for the home. They are solid, clean, and deliver a thrilling performance. The cherry veneer is well done and blends in with my living room décor. Here in the U.S.A., PMC is not yet widely known, primarily because of a small marketing and dealer network but that is changing. In Great Britain and surrounding European countries PMC is a highly regarded speaker manufacturer. For years their primary focus has been designing and manufacturing speakers for the recording and broadcast industries world wide. In the past few years they have been applying that knowledge and expertise to developing speakers that embrace the home audio market. I can guarantee you, anyone listening to my system and thinking about new speakers in the price range of $16K will find themselves seriously considering PMC EB1i speakers for their sound system. These speakers perform well beyond their price point , demonstrating for all they are serious reproducers. I am very pleased with my new PMC EB1i speakers.
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Dan ![]() STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 04-11-2015 at 10:54 AM. |
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Fantastic system Dan, I can just imagine how great it sounds. It is great to see someone stick with a speaker they love. We often change components just for the sake of it.
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@Dan.. I'm glad some of the recent discussion as given cause to republish. Fine, fine speakers and system. AS always well written thoughts, you truly are an inspiration to the hobby and the desire to buy more speakers
![]() p.s. hows that MS750 holding up? |
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Beautiful set up Dan and great review. Love PMC.
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McIntosh C2200 pre, MC275 power, JBL 4429 speakers, Schiit Gungnir DAC and VPI Classic 2 w/ 2m black cart. |
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Dan, your living room system and PMC EB1i's still looks great, bet it still sounds great also. I loved my EB1i's when I owned them. Do you have the grill covers on for the picture or do you usually keep them on? I always kept mine off since I preferred the sound that way and so that the sun wouldn't fade the cabinetry unevenly.
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Paul Harbeth 40.3 XD, Sound Anchor stands w/ Stillpoints, Luxman M900 & C900, Aurender N20, Jay's Audio CDT3 - MK3 CD player, Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC, Shunyata Everest, Altaira |
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Paul.......I leave the grills on. The primary purpose of doing that is to provide a first line of defense against damage to the midrange and tweeter domes, especially with the speaker in the photo. It is in a traffic area. On occasion I will remove the grills for a listening session. And yes, the system sounds excellent and I still love the PMC EB1i speakers.
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Dan ![]() STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
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Still a wonderful looking system Dan.
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Rob.......Thank you. The living room sound system still provides me with many hours of wonderful music. I am just as thrilled with the PMC EB1i speakers today as the day I unboxed them. They are excellent.
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Dan ![]() STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
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Great looking setup
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McIntosh C48 McIntosh MC1201's McIntosh MC275 MonoBlocked X4 McIntosh MC250 X2 McIntosh MC7104 Classic Bob Crites Cornscala DBX Venu360 Technics SL-1200MK2PK Klipsch KP-600s Concert system Schiit Yggdrasil Klipsch Cinema KPT-684's modified Custom PC music player |
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JC.......Thank you. This sound system and the PMC EB1i speakers continue to provide me with countless hours of listening pleasure. The first thing every morning on my way to the kitchen to brew coffee I power up the living room system. I usually enjoy solo piano as I enjoy my fresh brewed coffee and pastry. This system typically gets three to four hours of use each day. The evenings see me in the studio enjoying that system. The performance of both sound systems are exactly where I wish them to be. It has been quite awhile now since I have had any urge to add, subtract, or change anything. Color me a happy listener.
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Dan ![]() STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
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