PSB 300 bookshelf speakers - good condition made in Canada pick up skokie IL

made in Canada, * Rear-ported bass reflex design * impedance 8 Ohm * 6 1/2" polypropylene woofer, * 3/4" dome tweeter * 5-way gold-plated binding posts * Sensitivity: 91 dB * 80W - max120 Watts (continuous) * Recommended amp: 20-120 WPC * 8-1/2" x 14-1/2" x 9-1/2 " * original retail in 1996 was $330 March 2000 SoundStage magazine article A Day at the NRC With Paul Barton of PSB Speakers by Doug Schneider The Canadian loudspeaker industry rose from humble beginnings to worldwide prominence in the 1980s. Today it is renowned for producing some of the finest products in the world. Paradigm, Mirage, Energy and PSB are the largest of the many manufacturers in Canada and have become the cornerstone of the industry. Their products are sold worldwide, have gained acclaim from reviewers and consumers, and stand second to none in their respective markets. However, the industry’s status did not rise by accident. The history of each of these companies holds a common thread -- Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Humble beginnings for PSB. . .and for me If asked to pick name one designer who is synonymous with the Canadian industry, most would likely choose Paul Barton. His initials, combined with his wife Sue's, compose the company name, PSB Speakers, whose products have sold now for more than a quarter century. Barton has personally overseen all of the loudspeaker development since PSB's creation in 1972. PSB is a name with which I am very familiar. The first pair of loudspeakers that I purchased in 1981 were PSB Avantés, which opened my eyes to the audio world. They were modestly priced bookshelf speakers that sold for about $400 at the time. My initiation to buying speakers was obviously a good one. These speakers' longevity in my system is a testament to Barton's ability to design musically satisfying loudspeakers at affordable prices. When I traded my Avantes in some six years later, the dealer resold them within a day! PSB's reputation carries weight. In fact, one of the original Avante models is still in use at the NRC for monitoring what goes on inside the anechoic chamber. It is shown in the photo, right, perched atop the cabinets. PSB has transformed into a speaker company with worldwide clout. The product line is vast and is still targeted at the affordable market. With speakers like the Alpha Mite, priced at $169 per pair, to the $2899 glossy-finished Stratus Gold i, there are plenty to choose from. PSB speakers are equally suitable for two-channel audio or multichannel home-theater use. PSB and the NRC Since 1974, Barton has been using the world-class measurement facilities of the NRC. According to Barton, up until about 1980 he could basically come and go as he pleased since very few, if any, other companies used the NRC like PSB did. Times changed. As companies learned of this incredible resource, they, too, began developing there. The 1980s witnessed the highest level of loudspeaker activity at the NRC. Almost every major Canadian company tested their loudspeakers in the NRC’s anechoic chamber, and plenty of research was taking place. Today, Paradigm, Mirage and Energy have their own facilities, but Barton still loves using the NRC. There are a number of reasons, some obvious, some not. The NRC's facilities are still top-notch and readily accessible. He knows the place, the people, and all of the equipment like the back of his hand. Therefore, there is a familiarity and consequent efficiency that is evident when Barton works at the NRC. However, there are the not-so-tangible aspects too. Barton loves the "collegial atmosphere" of the NRC and the wealth of knowledge within its walls. It’s a place of research, development and inspiration.