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PMC ACTIVE twenty5.23i
The 23 has long been the most popular model in our range – now the Active twenty5.23i builds on that success, combing a combination of weight and refinement in a still-compact floorstanding form.
Already our best-selling model in passive form, the Active 23i adds an active crossover and 2x100W amplification in each speaker to create an elegant floor-standing design even more capable of filling medium-sized rooms with transparent, authentic dynamics and effortlessly extended bass. With the choice of finishes shared across the Active twenty5i range, it blends unobtrusively into any room: reviewer Chris Kelly said of the passive 23i, ‘Pair them with a high-quality amplifier and a good source and you will never regret your purchase,’ and that’s just what we’ve done with the Active 23i, building in the amplification for a ‘just add source’ music solution.
The Active twenty5i series, combined with a preamplifier or any streamer with a volume control, will create a neat, stylish, world-class music system.
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Compact yet authoritative, the ACTIVE twenty5.23i leans on its transmission-line design and per-driver amplification to deliver surprising low-end impact and confident control and articulation. It spreads a wide, well-focused soundstage and a refined treble that rarely sounds hard. As observed by Ed Selley, the active tuning tightens dynamics and opens system-building possibilities without sacrificing elegance.
Pros
- Authoritative, well-extended bass that outperforms expectations for a compact 140mm-woofer tower, thanks to transmission-line tuning and active amplification.
- Exceptional control and articulation — handles fast, congested passages with ease and consistent slam across volume ranges.
- Refined, non-fatiguing treble and a cohesive midband that make the speaker sound sweeter and more resolved in active mode.
- Handsome, compact cabinet with careful spikes and mounts that ease positioning and living-with compared with larger floorstanders.
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Cons
- Premium pricing is described as 'a little on the expensive side' compared with separate amp-plus-speaker alternatives.
- Not a fully self-contained system — requires a source/preamp with volume control (XLR or RCA inputs only), which may not suit buyers seeking an all-in-one speaker.
- Occasional slight masking of very fine bass detail due to the transmission-line's heft, where some competitors can resolve more micro-bass texture.
Sound Quality
93/100
Bass
93/100
Reviewers highlight the transmission-line design and active amplification yielding surprising low-end heft and extension (spec listed to 28Hz). The active 100W-per-driver implementation gives more low-end impact across the volume range, though a few comments note occasional slight masking of fine bass detail by the TL. Overall bass is authoritative and better than expected for a compact 140mm-woofer tower.
Mid
93/100
Midrange praised for coherence and musicality — the speaker 'finds the hook' across material and the active variant sounds sweeter and more open. Hand-over between tweeter and woofer (1.75kHz crossover) and transmission-line tuning produce a cohesive, present midband with very good timbral accuracy.
Treble
94/100
Top end described as improved in the active model: refined, detailed and rarely hard or forward while still retaining air and sparkle. The matched powered crossover and tweeter/amp balance reduce brightness without dulling, yielding an unflappable and polished treble performance.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
With careful positioning the 23i delivers a wider and more expansive soundstage than its narrow cabinet suggests. Imaging is stable and well layered though reviewers note some dependence on placement to achieve the best width/depth.
Dynamics
93/100
Control and articulation are singled out as 'hugely impressive,' handling fast, congested passages effortlessly. The active amps and reduced crossover loss translate to strong micro- and macro-dynamic ability and consistent slam without obvious compression.
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Build Quality
92/100
Described as handsome and well finished with notable attention to spikes and mounts on the 'i' models that ease positioning. PMC's transmission-line engineering and quality parts (19mm tweeter, 140mm long-throw cone, cast chassis) support a solidly engineered enclosure.
Features Connectivity
88/100
Active design with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs, powered crossover and per-driver 100W Class D amplification provide flexible, high-quality analog connectivity and integration into varied systems. It is not a fully self-contained, all-in-one speaker (requires a source/preamp with volume control), and lacks network/DSP streaming, which keeps the feature set focused but practical.
Value for Money
76/100
At £6,000 the reviewer calls the price 'a little on the expensive side' and suggests comparable amp-plus-speaker combos can offer more perceived bang for the buck. Performance is excellent, but pricing limits the value score versus peers and alternative system builds.
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