PS Audio Introduces the Aspen FR30 Loudspeaker

[Ron Resnick]

Paul McGowan, owner of PS Audio, Is very proud of what his design team has achieved with this new loudspeaker, the Aspen FR30.

aspen Series – PS Audio

www.psaudio.com

I think this is a very interesting design, with a lot of elements to like.

As this is, I believe, the smallest model in this product line, I am eager to see Paul's top-of-the-line model.

Maybe the top-of-the-line model will invert another FR30 on top to achieve a D'Appolito array configuration? Or maybe locate the woofers in front to fire forward? Or maybe a line array of the planar magnetic or ribbon drivers parallel to the front-firing mid-bass drivers?

I suspect that Paul will not perceive the market demand to justify such a gargantuan effort, but these drivers seem to be very carefully engineered and maybe could be used to create a state-of-the-art, four column, all-front firing, re-imagined Infinity IRS V. I'm thinking of a midrange/tweeter cabinet with parallel vertical line arrays of the top two drivers and a vertical line array of the mid-bass drivers, and a separate woofer enclosure festooned with the woofers, or with the woofers and the passive radiators.

 

[Nemal1]

They are very different from the original “AN” models previewed on Paul’s earlier you tube videos. Seems like a lot of potential movement on the flimsy looking base unless they are designed that way?
not sure how long it will be before arriving in the uk

 

[bryans]

They are very different from the original “AN” models previewed on Paul’s earlier you tube videos. Seems like a lot of potential movement on the flimsy looking base unless they are designed that way?
not sure how long it will be before arriving in the uk

Yes the base/stand is designed that way.

 

[Solypsa]

Not sure if I have seen "high compliance drivers" used in marketing-speak before

 

[gds7368]

And you get a full month of in-home demo to decide if they sound good in your room. I really liked the AN model at RMAF a couple years back

 

[bryans]

Hard to beat an in-home demo!

 

[dan31]

Nice to seem them bring these to market. Nice 30 day trial.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Paul McGowan, owner of PS Audio, Is very proud of what his design team has achieved with this new loudspeaker, the Aspen FR30.


View attachment 86016

aspen Series – PS Audio

www.psaudio.com

I think this is a very interesting design, with a lot of elements to like.

As this is, I believe, the smallest model in this product line, I am eager to see Paul's top-of-the-line model.

Maybe the top-of-the-line model will invert another FR30 on top to achieve a D'Appolito array configuration? Or maybe locate the woofers in front to fire forward?

Very nice.i like the design of them.i would expect these speakers to sound very good as Paul McGowan has a lot of experience in designing speakers.

 

[Gregadd]

Is not 30 day demo standard for mail order?

 

[bryans]

Is not 30 day demo standard for mail order?

It is for PS Audio.

 

[psalvet]

The speakers are a triumph of industrial engineering. I'm not sure how well they'll be accepted by spouses. Children might love them enough to compete tipping them over. I was hoping for a less pricey first entry fitting the PS Audio reputation for affordable performance. It was not to be.

Publishing Sold Out rounds is a great marketing idea. However, it's ultimately misleading if you don't show how many speakers are in each round. Lower versions are promised, but how will the sound be different? Paul's said not all drivers will be the same.

Failing to sell enough may require a further increase in the price of PS Audio electronics across the board. I'll be waiting to read reviews. Mainstream print publications are not likely to be critical. The amount of background and storytelling in many of their reviews is often the real review and will tell the real story. I expect YouTube reviewers will at least try to get their hands on them.

I'm hoping the sound of the Aspen FR30 supports the claims made so far. We have enough hyperbole. I would love to see real innovation in speaker technology.

 

[Michael Davitt]

The speakers are a triumph of industrial engineering. I'm not sure how well they'll be accepted by spouses. Children might love them enough to compete tipping them over. I was hoping for a less pricey first entry fitting the PS Audio reputation for affordable performance. It was not to be.

Publishing Sold Out rounds is a great marketing idea. However, it's ultimately misleading if you don't show how many speakers are in each round. Lower versions are promised, but how will the sound be different? Paul's said not all drivers will be the same.

Failing to sell enough may require a further increase in the price of PS Audio electronics across the board. I'll be waiting to read reviews. Mainstream print publications are not likely to be critical. The amount of background and storytelling in many of their reviews is often the real review and will tell the real story. I expect YouTube reviewers will at least try to get their hands on them.

I'm hoping the sound of the Aspen FR30 supports the claims made so far. We have enough hyperbole. I would love to see real innovation in speaker technology.

If an Aspen falls in the forest, does anyone hear it ?

 

[Michael Davitt]

And you get a full month of in-home demo to decide if they sound good in your room. I really liked the AN model at RMAF a couple years back

View attachment 86034

Are the Speakers fully broken in before the end of the 30 day Trial ?

 

[bryans]

Are the Speakers fully broken in before the end of the 30 day Trial ?

Not sure how many hours is required to break in. But I can tell if I like a speaker if given 30 days in my home.

 

[Sa-dono]

The speakers are a triumph of industrial engineering. I'm not sure how well they'll be accepted by spouses. Children might love them enough to compete tipping them over. I was hoping for a less pricey first entry fitting the PS Audio reputation for affordable performance. It was not to be.

Publishing Sold Out rounds is a great marketing idea. However, it's ultimately misleading if you don't show how many speakers are in each round. Lower versions are promised, but how will the sound be different? Paul's said not all drivers will be the same.

Failing to sell enough may require a further increase in the price of PS Audio electronics across the board. I'll be waiting to read reviews. Mainstream print publications are not likely to be critical. The amount of background and storytelling in many of their reviews is often the real review and will tell the real story. I expect YouTube reviewers will at least try to get their hands on them.

I'm hoping the sound of the Aspen FR30 supports the claims made so far. We have enough hyperbole. I would love to see real innovation in speaker technology.

Expect Fremer to gush!

They’ve gone a little too industrial for my liking. First, they released the “microwave” P20. Now, look at a white FR30 directly from the side, and tell me they didn’t add the matching refrigerator.

 

[wil]

I've never liked the PSA aesthetics. Bland on Bland.

 

[Ronboco]

I went over to PS audio last Friday to listen to the FR 30s. I wanted to see how they compared to my system. Their dedicated room appeared to be much better dimensionally than mine with some absorption and diffusion. They had all the top of the line PS audio electronics. I am an inexperienced listener but I was really quite disappointed with what I heard. They used the 1/3 rule with speaker placement and there was plenty of space on each side but the soundstage width barely reached the the speakers. Image was ok. I was expecting a much larger scale within that size of room. There was some toe in towards the listening position. One thing I didn’t do was push the volume up very much. Was this a mistake ? Does volume alone help achieve a bigger soundstage and scale?

 

[Ronboco]

I forgot to mention if there are any audiophiles in Colorado who would like to come over for a listen I would love to have a more experienced ear let me know what they think.

 

[bryans]

Oh wow I was just in Denver 2 weeks ago and spoke with PSA. I was told their demo room wasn't open to visitors. I guess I was a bit early. I'm starting to consider my next speaker move and plan on giving them a listen.

 

[bryans]

I forgot to mention if there are any audiophiles in Colorado who would like to come over for a listen I would love to have a more experienced ear let me know what they think.

Now not to start a forum war but I don't buy into needing to have an experienced ear, etc. Either you like something or you don't. If you sat down and didn't like the speakers they aren't for you, plain and simple. Your ears are just fine.