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PSB Alpha Loudspeaker System Review

by Ken Stein last modified September 18, 2006 20:00
PSB Alpha Loudspeaker System Review

PSB Alpha Loudspeaker System

Summary

  • Product Name: Alpha Loudspeaker System
  • Manufacturer: PSB
  • Performance Rating: StarStarStarhalf-star
  • Value Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Review Date: September 18, 2006
  • MSRP: $2205
Specifications

Specifications PSB Alpha T1

Specifications PSB Alpha C1

  • Freq. Resp.: 55 Hz-21 kHz (±1.5dB)
  • Sensitivity (1W@1m): Anechoic Chamber 89 dB, Typical Listing Room 91 dB
  • Crossover: 3.3kHz
  • Impedance: 8-ohms (6-ohm min)
  • Power handling: 15-120W
  • Weight: 29lbs
  • MSRP: $599/pair
  • Freq. Resp.: 62 Hz-21 kHz (±3dB)
  • Sensitivity (1W@1m): Anechoic Chamber 90 dB, Typical Listing Room 92 dB
  • Crossover: 3kHz
  • Impedance: 8-ohms (6-ohm min)
  • Power handling: 10-120W
  • Weight: 15.9lbs
  • MSRP: $229/ea

Specifications PSB Alpha B1

Specifications PSB Subsonic 5i

  • Freq. Resp.: 65 Hz-21 kHz (±3dB)
  • Sensitivity (1W@1m): Anechoic Chamber 89 dB, Typical Listing Room 91 dB
  • Crossover: 3kHz
  • Impedance: 8-ohms (6-ohm min)
  • Power handling: 15-80W
  • Weight: 8.8lbs
  • MSRP: $279/pair
  • Freq. Resp.: 30 Hz-150 Hz (±3dB)
  • SPL (100Hz max): 109 dB
  • Amplifier Power (continuous): 150W
  • Amplifier Power (dynamic): 225W
  • Amp Design: BASH Class H Discrete MOSFET
  • Acoustic Design: 10” (250mm) Grey polypropylene cone, rubber surround
  • Dimensions: 12.375” x 16.5” x 14.825”
  • Weight: 31.1lbs
  • MSRP: $549/ea

Pros

  • Excellent imaging and sound stage
  • Narrow front baffle
  • Good value

Cons

  • Hard to remove metal grills
  • Compress at high volumes
  • Rear vents on C1 & B1

Introduction

With such a vast number of speaker manufacturers it is easy to overlook any one of them. I have heard of PSB speakers but never had the opportunity to listen to them nor did I ever pay much attention to their reviews. PSB, which stands for “Paul & Sue Barton”, is a company that has been around since the seventies and according to Paul, before that unofficially. Paul, like me, was a Do-It-Yourselfer when he made his first speakers with his father. He took the next step when he started selling speakers to students at a nearby college. He later officially started PSB and did all the designs himself. Not until recent years did Paul petition the help of David Smith to be the company’s Director of Product Development because of the large growth that PSB has undergone. The driving philosophy behind PSB is clearly Performance and Value. Their main goal is to offer high performance at reasonable costs and the Alpha Series falls into the entry level “In Room” speaker.
  1. PSB Alpha System Build Quality
  2. PSB Alpha System Setup
  3. PSB Alpha System Listening Tests
  4. PSB Alpha System Conclusion