A synchronous permanent magnet machine includes a permanent magnet arrangement for producing a magnetic field having a flux density distribution that is approximately sinusoidal. The permanent magnet arrangement includes a permanent magnet pole with both low and high energy-product magnets. The permanent magnet pole includes a low energy-product magnet and a high energy-product magnet which have different directions of magnetization, or a disposition of low/high energy-product magnets within the permanent magnet pole is asymmetric with respect to the central region of the permanent magnet pole.