PMC TwoTwo 6 or not.

[Arpangel]

Just seen a pair of these for sale at my usual dealer, just wondering if I should take the chance, cabinets are a a bit "dinged" but otherwise fine.
They are a reasonable price, just not sure about the sound, but it would seem like a good way to upgrade my monitors.

[Arpangel]

Just got a reply, they are in great shape, no issues, they belonged to a mastering engineer who had them checked over by PMC, looks like I’ll have to have them, no excuses not to.

[Martin Walker]

The very best of luck with your purchase Tony, and here's hoping that your initial reaction is a good one, and that your continuing thoughts remain similarly positive.

Martin

[Albatross]

I don't record anymore, but back in the day I always thought that if I had speakers that gave me a good mix that travelled well then that was good enough. I found that a pair of acoustic solutions bookshelf speakers from Argos and my home-made mono grot box did the trick. I have other speakers and some reasonable near-field monitors, but those little Argos jobs were fantastic. Rocky, folky poppy stuff though.

[Arpangel]

I don't record anymore, but back in the day I always thought that if I had speakers that gave me a good mix that travelled well then that was good enough. I found that a pair of acoustic solutions bookshelf speakers from Argos and my home-made mono grot box did the trick. I have other speakers and some reasonable near-field monitors, but those little Argos jobs were fantastic. Rocky, folky poppy stuff though.

Why did you have to post this!?
You know what I’m like, I’m also scared of getting them and thinking "and?"
The trouble is I also know people who have monitored on all sorts of crap, and never had complaints about their mixes, like me!
If you’re in a professional world charging money you can’t monitor on Behringer's, simply from a reputation and image point of view, but I’m not in that world, so the jury is out.

[adrian_k]

Maybe buy them, run them for a while, if you like them great, if not sell them? You’ll probably lose on the deal but it’s only money and you’ll surely learn something and have fun in the process. They look impressive anyway

[Arpangel]

Maybe buy them, run them for a while, if you like them great, if not sell them? You’ll probably lose on the deal but it’s only money and you’ll surely learn something and have fun in the process. They look impressive anyway

Good thinking!

[rggillespie]

One very happy user here, I bought mine secondhand and have had no regrets at all. I had starter monitors and decided to upgrade, though they were great, equator d5s I think they were. I bought some Neumann's that everyone here raves about and really disliked them, the bigger 2 way ones. That seems to be my experience with Neumann speakers that I've heard, I find them dull and dry and a fatiguing listen. No doubt accurate and excellent, but I've accepted they just aren't for me. I was able to send them back and I looked around and based on their hifi reputation plus I had heard and liked their LB1 speakers, I shelled out for the PMC's secondhand and its been wonderful. Just as immediately I knew the Neumann's weren't for me, the PMCs certainly were. I have only compliments for them and its never crossed my mind to upgrade. The only issue I have had is on turning them on they don't come on, happen twice in about 9 years. Never really understood it I think some kind of failsafe has kicked in. I just unplug and reconnect and its sorts itself out. I contacted them the first time and they were very quick to respond and helpful. Really can't think of anything I don't like about them, highly recommended!

[Bob Bickerton]

The trouble is I also know people who have monitored on all sorts of crap, and never had complaints about their mixes, like me!
If you’re in a professional world charging money you can’t monitor on Behringer's, simply from a reputation and image point of view, but I’m not in that world, so the jury is out.

My view is that there's more to it than just creating a good mix. It's also to do with enjoying the music you're making - whilst at the same time being able to make a good call on the mix.

I've never owned Yamaha NS-10s but when I've heard them, I didn't enjoy the sound, even though they had a reputation for creating good mixes.

My own journey is that I started off with Alesis Monitor one's. They were pretty good for the price and are still used in the lounge for TV playback some 30 years later. I then upgraded (and it was an upgrade) to PMC TB2a speakers, which I really enjoyed, but then I started to have issues with the amps and so bought a pair of PMC Result6s, again a good speaker that both worked for critical mixing and also pleasant to listen to. Shortly after that I bought a pair of Neumann KH80s for location recording, but ended up enjoying the sound stage so much I decided to use them in the studio (though would have to check the bottom end with headphones). Following which I recently upgraded to KH120IIs to get the bottom end out of the speakers.

I have listened to Behringer monitor speakers (can't remember the model number but they were 6") and sure you COULD mix on them, but you might CHOOSE not to

I'd say if music is important to you (which it clearly is), treat yourself to something to make the whole process more enjoyable, you deserve it.

Bob

[James Perrett]

I've never owned Yamaha NS-10s but when I've heard them, I didn't enjoy the sound, even though they had a reputation for creating good mixes.

I have a pair of NS-10s here and my reaction to them is the same as yours. There are other speakers that can do the same thing as NS-10s but in a much more pleasant and accurate way.

[Arpangel]

I’ve just bought them, looking forward to using them, I’m not jumping to any conclusions, I’ve got to give myself time to get used to them.

[RichardT]

I’ve just bought them, looking forward to using them, I’m not jumping to any conclusions, I’ve got to give myself time to get used to them.

Yes, good idea.

[Arpangel]

I’ve just bought them, looking forward to using them, I’m not jumping to any conclusions, I’ve got to give myself time to get used to them.

Yes, good idea.

I really don’t care, they’ve got to be better than my Behringer’s, if it’s not "night and day" fine, I’m not going to do my usual and freak out, what have I got to loose? they "will" be better in a lot of respects, I just can’t be bothered to chop and change so they are staying whatever.

I'd say if music is important to you (which it clearly is), treat yourself to something to make the whole process more enjoyable, you deserve it.

Bob

Absolutely, that’s what I said to myself.

[adrian_k]

Enjoy!

[tacitus]

Well, that didn’t hurt, did it? Do report back. I’m thinking of having a pair of prodigy1s for location monitoring and looking professional. The reason I’m looking at them is I could get them in my cycle-based* recording kit (I think) but not the two two 6s (I also think). I’ll probably dither for long enough not to have to make that choice, or find an offer I can’t refuse.

* talk of cycle-based does not assume I will be cycling to every gig. It’s just my shorthand for a set of gear that doesn’t need hours to sort, load, set up, operate, tear down, pack up, bring home and pack away. But having “notional panniers” doesn’t half tighten one’s resolve!

I do actual work on recordings with my main Lintons, Dali Fazon sats and subs, Dali Oberons and the iMac’s built-in speakers. I’ll probably use the Quad ESL 57s when they’re set up and running. Plus my various actual monitors like the ancient Mackie 824s and newer Focal Alpha 80s. Plenty of scope for total confusion, a commodity I specialise in, or, if you insist, “in which I specialise”.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I bought some Neumann's that everyone here raves about and really disliked them... I shelled out for the PMC's secondhand and its been wonderful.

I dont doubt your preferences, but I find it most odd. I've always found the Neumanns and PMCs to share a very similar, generally neutral sound character, and the very opposite of fatiguing — I listen to both for many hours every day.

[rggillespie]

'I dont doubt your preferences, but I find it most odd.' It was awhile ago Hugh Robjohns but it was unexpected to me, I had high hopes as Neumann seemed a blue chip option. Initially I thought they were out of phase and I spoke with the dealer and we went through a few things that didn't seem to be it. They sounded detailed yes but flat and grey sounding. I played them in and tried to get used to the new sound but it just wasn't for me. I went back to my £350 equators and they sounded to me better. The neumanns went back to the dealer and I bought the pmcs from them secondhand. If someone with your level of experience thinks they should sound somewhat similar, it must have been a faulty pair or setup issue perhaps. Very happy where I ended up anyway and congratulations on your purchase Arpangel.

[Bob Bickerton]

Yes, something sounds quite odd about that setup.

Comparing the Neumann KH120s with say the PMC Result6s, sure there would be perceived differences, but generally in the same ball park. I particularly like the Neumann’s sound stage which for acoustic music, especially complex stuff like orchestral, delivers detail and a sense of listening ‘into’ the mix. Detailed and neutral, but also non-fatiguing.

Room acoustics can play a big part and I’m lucky to have a treated room.

Bob

[Hugh Robjohns]

My 2013 review of the smallest twotwo monitors is here:

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/pmc-twotwo-5-6

The larger twotwo 8 came later and was the best of the trio imho, but the twotwo 5 and 6 were very welcome replacements for the DB1 and TB2 and raised the benchmark for small monitors.

The twotwo range was PMC's second generation of DSP speaker and the first released in their own name. (The first generation was made for Digidesign, and much was learned from that project).

When launched a pair of twotwo 6s retailed at £4200, so serious and capable professional monitors speakers.

They were designed for use on console meter bridges and could sound a little thin in free space, but the DSP tweakability has sufficient range to balance the tonality in any position, albeit manually rather than with a clever room correction app.

Don't be afraid to experiment with both horizontal and vertical orientation, with different toe angles, and with tweeters on the inside and outside of the pair — as well as distances to the local boundaries. The sound and imaging can be varied a lot. Once the best physical set up is found for imaging and room modes, the tonal balance can be tweaked for extension and neutrality.

I have to say that while the twotwos were very competent and capable, they aren't my favourite PMC monitors. I had both the Neumann KH310 and ATC SCM25 here at the time I reviewed the PMCs... and I chose to buy the KH310 purely on merit (cost was irrelevant as all three were offered at very similar prices to me).

Normally, I'd be confident in saying the twotwo6 is a very big step up from B Truths... but I know Tony's ears work very differently to mine so I await the comments with baited breath....

[ajay_m]

In untreated rooms (or partially treated rooms) I would imagine though that some monitors just don't 'gel' with the room. Also of course, position matters as well as whether or not they are on decent stands, and I think there is also a psychological element. If you expect to be blown away and then you're not, because the monitors are not flattering the source material but simply presenting it as it is, that will make a huge difference to first impressions.

I have found that recorded applause is an incredibly revealing test of monitor colouration - you can listen to source material and A:B between two sets of monitors and convince yourself that they sound very similar, then play some applause and immediately you hear significant differences in colouration that simply weren't perceptible with conventional musical source material. I am not quite sure why this seems to work so much better than white or pink noise, but it certainly seems to, at least for me. I think it is because we know how it ought to sound but as well the bandwidth is quite wide but with significant transient spikes as well.

[Arpangel]

My 2013 review of the smallest twotwo monitors is here:

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/pmc-twotwo-5-6

The larger twotwo 8 came later and was the best of the trio imho, but the twotwo 5 and 6 were very welcome replacements for the DB1 and TB2 and raised the benchmark for small monitors.

The twotwo range was PMC's second generation of DSP speaker and the first released in their own name. (The first generation was made for Digidesign, and much was learned from that project).

When launched a pair of twotwo 6s retailed at £4200, so serious and capable professional monitors speakers.

They were designed for use on console meter bridges and could sound a little thin in free space, but the DSP tweakability has sufficient range to balance the tonality in any position, albeit manually rather than with a clever room correction app.

Don't be afraid to experiment with both horizontal and vertical orientation, with different toe angles, and with tweeters on the inside and outside of the pair — as well as distances to the local boundaries. The sound and imaging can be varied a lot. Once the best physical set up is found for imaging and room modes, the tonal balance can be tweaked for extension and neutrality.

I have to say that while the twotwos were very competent and capable, they aren't my favourite PMC monitors. I had both the Neumann KH310 and ATC SCM25 here at the time I reviewed the PMCs... and I chose to buy the KH310 purely on merit (cost was irrelevant as all three were offered at very similar prices to me).

Normally, I'd be confident in saying the twotwo6 is a very big step up from B Truths... but I know Tony's ears work very differently to mine so I await the comments with baited breath....

Very interesting Hugh, my set-up here is this, they will be about two feet from a wall, and well away from corners, on tall stands about ear height.
I don’t really have room to use them horizontally, but I’ll give it a try.
I’m looking forward to them, they are arriving Thursday, I’m going to give them a decent chance, even if I don’t think positively straight away I’m not going to stop using them, I think I need to listen to them for a good few sessions to really get used to them, I’m just going to read your review.

[Arpangel]

I was told the last owner of these PMC's was Katie Tavini, quite a track record.

[RichardT]

I was told the last owner of these PMC's was Katie Tavini, quite a track record.

I hadn't heard of her. But on her website is a picture that tallies completely with what you say Tony.

https://www.katietavini.co.uk/

I wonder what she got to replace them with?

[Albatross]

Looks like here she is with a pair.

[Drew Stephenson]

I was told the last owner of these PMC's was Katie Tavini, quite a track record.

I hadn't heard of her. But on her website is a picture that tallies completely with what you say Tony.

https://www.katietavini.co.uk/

I wonder what she got to replace them with?

PMC 6-2s
Pic here for anyone on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DReYJGtCGPz/