Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 S2 + Marantz Stereo 70s vs. PSB Alpha iQ

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🎥 Camera: John Darko / Olaf von Voss
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💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan

0:00 The setup
3:55 The specifics
7:43 The subwoofer
11:01 The swap-out

Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 S2

PSB Alpha iQ

PSB AST-25 stands

Topping D10s

Marantz Stereo 70s

Solid Steel SS6

Cables and power products by AudioQuest

Room treatment by Vicoustic

Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, which are indicated with a '🛒'.

#project #marantz #psb

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[nickroden]

One of my favorite things about your channel John is your lack of Shocked YouTuber Face. Keep up the great work.

[assai]

I favor passive as my main system for several reasons. If anything goes wrong with actives, the whole setup is out of business. If you want to upgrade, you have to start from scratch.

Most important for sound quality is the room, matching speakers and their correct positioning. Therefore if you master this part of your system, it will outlast any other component upstream. Nearfield on a desk is another story…

[InsaneHomer]

Just bought the Box 5 S2 (white) with a Marantz Cinema 70s and absolutely love the combo. Thanks for the help with choosing.

[sultantoure]

Thank you Darko for your time and job. Happy new year health and joy !

[ryami]

John, I'd love you to do a follow-up video/article where you provide a comparison with the original Speaker Box 5. Are the improvements only incremental/marginal? The originals are _less than half the price of the S2_ (!!!), which would make them _unbelievable_ value if the S2 are already one of the best in their price bracket.

[BobbyBass-xi]

Thanks for the video. The biggest difference in my experience is the shorter warranty in the active speaker electronics and the issues that will arise when the amp(s) in the active speaker need repair or replacement. Much easier to replace an external power source if needed. Separate passive speakers and amps last much longer without issues in my experience. Peace, love and music!

[sean_heisler]

I'm liking the subtle filter you guys put on top of the video, really nice. Sort of a subtle matte.

[DynotoeTube]

The major reason to go for separates is that a bad capacitor won't take out your amp, your speaker, your dac and your streamer all at once. Way to risky.

Plus if you want to upgrade any of them you have to throw them all out.

[k-doggy]

You're missing a third and in my opinion best option. True actives containing just the amplification and crossovers with outboard DAC/preamp/streamer.

[Pressure_]

A delightfully nuanced video. I went for the middle ground - active Genelec 8331s, with external streaming (via a computer), and analogue sources via a Focusrite converter. At some point I’d like a passive system as well!

[bananamanx]

Thank you for the review. Just got studio 70s for 680 euro which seemed like a good deal and will pair it with the new elac debut 3.0 6inch bookshelves which people are raving about. Hope that it will go well together.

[Wuppie]

@13:40
How is connecting al your sources, power and output via several cables to one loudspeaker - which often stands at a distance from your lowboard, 'cleaner and tidier'? 🤔

[alanschenk]

Having been burned by Sonos, with their active speakers ultimately being considered electronic components rather than speakers, I have taken a view that the passive speakers with separate components “old school approach” is the better solution for those people not wishing to change out speakers very often.

Buy the best passive speakers you can afford and change out components as technologies change. A good analogy is high end camera gear, buy the best lens you can afford and change out the camera body as resolution increases. Provided the camera resolution is not limited by the lens.

[klotzey]

would have loved to see the wiim amp as the swap out - making it a 1000€ system which sounds like THE point to start a hifi journey! anyways - great video, as always. love your production quality and especially your take on things.

[adsph]

Another concise review with great detail. Well done John. Thank you.

[itsPenguinBoy]

For me really the benefit of separates is longevity and flexibility - being able to only replace the parts you want or need to replace feels way more logical to me than a couple of mystery boxes.

[jasonholding]

Thanks John. I have been waiting for a video like this for a while as I have been having a debate with myself about which option to go with.

I am glad you added the third Segway with the Powernode. I was hoping there might be another "what if" moment by reducing the cost if the upstream equipment further (using a Wiim Amp) and I creasing the cost/quality of the passive speakers.

Everyone's user case is different and budget determines our choices too. This video has helped me decide on the separates selection but also because it does give an upgrade path.

[dal]

Thank you for the entertainment John! I'm on the active side (KEF) and probably will never go back. Upgrade path: Kii 7's 😍

[TonyMacina]

Passive for me! Means I can grow or shrink my system as space changes but keep the amp/dac and just change the speakers without a concern for changing the streaming options

[carterleynes]

Ive been installing speakers in custom luxury homes for over 20 years. Started off with plenty of passive speakers but I can tell you in the last few years, the vast majority of speakers installed are Sonos active speakers and in-ceiling/in-wall passive speakers powered by Sonos Amps. These are for people who can afford any kind of speaker but they all choose Sonos - the Gold standard audio systems in luxury and everyday homes.