Mirage M-760 any better than PSB Century 800i?

[GTSSportCoupe]

Always on the hunt for something better!

I have two sets of PSB 800i. One connected to Sansui AU519, the other to Yamaha AX900U. Really enjoy these setups. But always open to discovering something better!

Recently, a pair of very clean Mirage M-760 have come up locally for $100. Good deal really. I'm tempted of course.

These Mirage speakers are essentially the same basic design as the PSB ones I have (in terms of drivers specs). But the Mirage boxes weigh 50% more and are a bit larger. Not sure about crossover differences, etc.

I guess wondering if anyone has heard both types of speakers? Thoughts? I do have a set of Mirage M-360 which I do really like; but they image about the same as my PSBs. Is the M-760 basically the same but with an extra woofer?

(on an aside, I picked up some free Advent Prodigy 2's with rotten woofer foam surrounds (otherwise mint). While waiting for new surround kits, I put another set of 8" woofers in just to try the speakers out. I was stunned by the imaging of these! Very amazed considering the basic components and unassuming design. This put me on the hunt again for something better than the PSBs, but just as big!

 

[Audiofilio]

I think they are surprisingly a bit different - from my memory of the PSBs. I think the PSBs were tighter on the bass front but the tweeter was less smooth than the 760s. Both are good. I think the 760s have greater potential if you recap - per below.

Mainly I'm replying to say I really hope you pull the trigger on the 760s and try recapping them! I just did this with a pair that came free with some Adcom amps as they sounded and looked rough and the owner thought they were not worth keeping. I decided it was worth throwing $80 worth of caps at them after reading AK rave reviews.. and all I can say is wow. Beautiful! I'm guessing they are even better than stock sound as they original crossovers are pretty sad - they must have cut corners on cost there. So while at it I added some nice bypass caps ($10 each). Man I'm telling you they play delicate jazz like my electrostats. They are very efficient surprisingly. Simple crossovers and light weight woofers and this vifa tweeters are very easy loads and sound wonderful at low volumes. I put them in my small bedroom assuming they were on their way out the door and well they aren't now. My B&W DM640s are out the door (even with their recapping that helped too).

If you're interested I can send list of caps from PE and photo of crossover before and after. Was quick and dirty and a bit tough given small boards but so worth it.

 

[wmgwizard]

I have a pair of 760's for about 10 years now. Many others have come and gone, but IMO, these are keepers.

One of the few speakers I have owned over the years that I didn't feel a sub was necessary.

The bipolar design helps provide an immersive soundstage provided the speakers are set up properly.

Can listen for hours and never feel fatigued, always smooth and satisfying.

YMMV

 

[urarnut]

I think they are surprisingly a bit different - from my memory of the PSBs. I think the PSBs were tighter on the bass front but the tweeter was less smooth than the 760s. Both are good. I think the 760s have greater potential if you recap - per below.

Mainly I'm replying to say I really hope you pull the trigger on the 760s and try recapping them! I just did this with a pair that came free with some Adcom amps as they sounded and looked rough and the owner thought they were not worth keeping. I decided it was worth throwing $80 worth of caps at them after reading AK rave reviews.. and all I can say is wow. Beautiful! I'm guessing they are even better than stock sound as they original crossovers are pretty sad - they must have cut corners on cost there. So while at it I added some nice bypass caps ($10 each). Man I'm telling you they play delicate jazz like my electrostats. They are very efficient surprisingly. Simple crossovers and light weight woofers and this vifa tweeters are very easy loads and sound wonderful at low volumes. I put them in my small bedroom assuming they were on their way out the door and well they aren't now. My B&W DM640s are out the door (even with their recapping that helped too).

If you're interested I can send list of caps from PE and photo of crossover before and after. Was quick and dirty and a bit tough given small boards but so worth it.

Sending you a PM for recap details. The M 760's are the ugly ducklings of my collection. Their soundstage is totally immersive. Should I really recap these?

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

I think they are surprisingly a bit different - from my memory of the PSBs. I think the PSBs were tighter on the bass front but the tweeter was less smooth than the 760s. Both are good. I think the 760s have greater potential if you recap - per below.

Mainly I'm replying to say I really hope you pull the trigger on the 760s and try recapping them! I just did this with a pair that came free with some Adcom amps as they sounded and looked rough and the owner thought they were not worth keeping. I decided it was worth throwing $80 worth of caps at them after reading AK rave reviews.. and all I can say is wow. Beautiful! I'm guessing they are even better than stock sound as they original crossovers are pretty sad - they must have cut corners on cost there. So while at it I added some nice bypass caps ($10 each). Man I'm telling you they play delicate jazz like my electrostats. They are very efficient surprisingly. Simple crossovers and light weight woofers and this vifa tweeters are very easy loads and sound wonderful at low volumes. I put them in my small bedroom assuming they were on their way out the door and well they aren't now. My B&W DM640s are out the door (even with their recapping that helped too).

If you're interested I can send list of caps from PE and photo of crossover before and after. Was quick and dirty and a bit tough given small boards but so worth it.

Thank-you so much for you help. Unfortunately last I looked at my post, no one had replied, and it's only now that I found your response. In the mean time, those minty Mirage 760's have sold. :-(

I'll keep my eye out for others. But of course there are always tempting things that seem to pop up like this. Good thing my garage has room to store more sets of speakers, haha.

So back to loving my PSB's. They really are some fantastic speakers. Match my Yamaha AX900U perfectly to create some very clean un-colored sound.

One spec I found for the PSB 800's seems to indicate frequency response of +/- 1.5dB 48Hz-20kHz. Pretty amazing accuracy; and I believe it's possible given what I hear.

 

[simplynuts]

Friend gave me a pair of the m760 and would like the list of caps on the crossover. Haven't played them yet. Does the ferro fluid need replacing on these? Thank you. These are heavy.