PSB Imagine T Loudspeaker Reviewed
- By: HomeTheaterReview.com
- Category:
- Audio Reviews, Bookshelf Speaker Reviews, Equipment Reviews, Floor-Standing Speaker Reviews
- Resources & Links:
- PSB Speakers
- October 19, 2008
Introduction
When it comes to value for dollar loudspeakers, seemingly no one does it better than the Canadians. One manufacturer that proves this is PSB loudspeakers. PSB has a storied history of producing high-value, high-performance loudspeakers for consumers on a budget and even those who aren't but appreciate the fine craftsmanship and quality of PSB's entire line. The Imagine Series represents PSB's newest entry-level line of products. The Imagine T, reviewed here, is the largest in the line. It includes a bookshelf speaker, center channel and surround sound speaker. As far as entry-level lines go, the Imagine series is as basic as they come, offering a single SKU in each of the core categories, which is kind of nice and keeps it a bit simple for first-time buyers.
The Imagine T is a floor-standing design that measures in eight-and-a-quarter inches wide by 37 inches tall and 14 inches deep. It's a solid enough piece, weighing 40 pounds. The Imagine T's cabinet comes in either a black ash or cherry wood veneer, which is extremely stylish and very well put together for an overall visual presentation that defies its asking price of $2,000. The Imagine T is a two-way design featuring a single one-inch titanium dome tweeter mated to dual five-and-a-quarter-inch woofers. The speaker itself is dual-ported to help with overall bass output and to help the rather compact floor-standing speaker sound a bit more full range, though its reported frequency response is 38-23,000Hz. The Imagine T can be powered with as little as 20 watts, though it can handle much more and brings with it a fairly evenhanded four-ohm load.
High Points
• Compact footprint and quality construction make the Imagine T one of the more enticing and desirable budget speakers in the market today.
• The drivers, down to the binding posts, are all of the finest quality and far beyond what you're going to find on the competition.
• Very even sound is far from brittle or harsh at high volumes, with a low end that is surprisingly deep for a two-way design and composed when powered with today's average receiver.
• This is a great way to get true home theater performance without paying theater prices.
Low Points
• The stacked binding post configuration makes routing larger-gauge cables a bit more tricky, especially if you're using spade connectors.
• For larger listening environments or for truly energetic listening, the Imagine T's will require a sub (or two). There isn't one in the Imagine line of products yet, although PSB makes several subs that are affordable and would mate very well with the Imagine T.
Conclusion
For $2,000 a pair retail, PSB's new Imagine T tower loudspeakers are a terrific buy and a wonderful entry-level loudspeaker. Within their class, which is quite crowded with competitors these days, they are far from a "me too" entry and lead their class in many respects. While other speaker manufacturers may promise and show you more, the PSB Imagine Ts get on with the business at hand of producing rich, full, pleasing and natural sound for music and movies. If you're looking to finally get into the home theater game and are on a budget, I recommend you check out the Imagine Ts. You'll be happy you did.
Keywords
PSB, PSB Loudspeakers, PSB Imagine T Loudspeakers, Floor standing speakers, Paul Barton, Home Theater, Home Theater Speakers, Multi-channel, HDMI, Blu-ray, Budget speakers, Paradigm, Definitive Technology, NAD
- Wilson Audio Alexandria Loudsp...
- Acoustic Zen Adagio Loudspeaker...
- Aerial Acoustics Model 20T Loud...
- Aerial Acoustics Model 9 Loudsp...
- Aperion Audio Intimus 4T Tower ...
- Aperion Audio Intimus 6T Tower ...
- B&W Signature Diamond Loudspeak...
- Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 6000 Loud...
- Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 8000 Loud...
- Bowers & Wilkins 683 Loudspeake...
- Bowers & Wilkins 703 Floorstand...
- Bowers & Wilkins CT 700 Series ...
- Bowers & Wilkins XT4 Loudspeake...
- Canton Chrono SL 580 DC Loudspe...
- Canton Reference 3.2 DC Loudspe...
- Definitive Technology Mythos ST...
- Dynaudio Sapphire Loudspeaker R...
- Floorstanding and Audiophile Lo...
- Home Theater Review 2009 Best o...
- Infinity Cascade Model Nine Lou...
- Infinity Classia Series C336 Lo...
- JBL ES90 Loudspeakers Reviewed...
- JBL Project Array 1400 Array Lo...
- JBL Project Everest DD66000 Lou...
- JBL Studio L Series L890 Floors...
- JBL WEM-1 Wireless Expansion Mo...
- KEF Muon Floorstanding Loudspea...
- Klipsch RF-52 Floorstanding Lou...
- MBL 101 Loudspeakers Reviewed...
- Magnepan MG 3.6 Planar-Magnetic...
- Magnepan MMG Floor-Standing Spe...
- MartinLogan CLX Electrostatic L...
- MartinLogan Purity Hybrid Elect...
- MartinLogan Spire Hybrid Electr...
- MartinLogan Summit Loudspeakers...
- MartinLogan Vantage Hybrid Elec...
- MartinLogan Vista Hybrid Electr...
- Meridian DSP5200 Digital Active...
- Meridian DSP8000 Digital Active...
- Monitor Audio Silver RS6 Loudsp...
- Nola Viper Reference II Loudspe...
- PSB Imagine T Loudspeaker Revie...
- Paradigm Monitor 7 Floorstandin...
- Paradigm Reference Studio 100v4...
- Paradigm Signature S8 v.2 Louds...
- Paradigm Studio 100 5.1 Speaker...
- Parker Audio 95MK II Loudspeake...
- Quad Super System Reviewed...
- Revel Concerta F12 Floorstandin...
- Revel Performa F52 Floorstandin...
- Revel Ultima Salon2 Loudspeaker...
- Totem Acoustic Wind Design Loud...
- Vandersteen 1c Loudspeaker Revi...
- Vandersteen 5A Loudspeaker Revi...
- Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby...
- Vienna Acoustics Schonberg Loud...
- Wilson Audio Series 2 Alexandri...
- Wilson WATT Puppy Version 8 Lou...
- Wisdom Audio Sage Series Speake...
Featured Audio-Video News
Experiencing Your Dream Home Theater While On Vacation -
It isn't any news that the economy is in the dumps. Morphing your living room, garage or basement into the...
Latest Floor-Standing Speaker Reviews
Parker Audio 95MK II Loudspeakers Reviewed -
Chances are you've never heard of or seen a pair of Parker Audio 95MK II loudspeakers. Because of that fact, you're probably thinking they're some sort of uber-esoteric, high-end, ultra-expensive loudspeakers from some designer's garage in Munich. Well, you'd be... Click for more...
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand Loudspeaker Reviewed -
The Beethoven Baby Grand from Vienna Acoustics sits just below the Beethoven Grand in the Grand lineup of loudspeakers. The Baby Grand starts at $3,995 a pair for Maple, Cherry and Piano Black finishes and jumps to $4,400 a pair... Click for more...
Vienna Acoustics Schonberg Loudspeaker Reviewed -
Vienna Acoustics makes some of the finest looking loudspeakers available today and the Schonberg Loudspeaker, reviewed here, is no exception. Retailing for $1,495 a pair, clad in either silver or piano black lacquer, the Schonberg's are a design tour de... Click for more...
Magnepan MG 3.6 Planar-Magnetic Loudspeaker Reviewed -
There are good speakers. There are great speakers. However, few speakers are able to surpass mere greatness and cement themselves as the stuff of legend. Unless you're talking about the Magnepan MG 3.6 of course, which I am, and yes,... Click for more...
Klipsch RF-52 Floorstanding Loudspeakers Reviewed -
Part of its diverse Reference Series of slightly upmarket loudspeakers featuring a staggering twenty models, the Klipsch RF-52 Floorstanding Loudspeaker sits second from the bottom in its six-model floorstanding class (RF-83, RF-63, RF-82, RF-62, RF-52, RF-10). The $658.00 per pair... Click for more...
Home Theater Review 2009 Best of Awards -
For the first time, Home Theater Review com's editors have picked a select list of the best gear from many of our AV equipment categories. The winners are picked subjectively by our staff. In today's economy, value matters - this... Click for more...
Canton Chrono SL 580 DC Loudspeaker Reviewed -
OK, I admit it. I am attracted to tall, slim and beautiful...loudspeakers. No surprise, then, that the new Canton Chrono SL 580 DC floorstanding loudspeaker recently caught my eye. (Actually, I've also gotten attached to petite and plus-size models--of loudspeakers,... Click for more...
Totem Acoustic Wind Design Loudspeaker Reviewed -
The Totem Acoustic Wind Design is a unique-looking floor-standing loudspeaker that combines a rakish appearance with extremely high-quality drivers and construction. At $13,995 per pair suggested retail, the made-in-Canada Totem Wind Design is clearly a high-end loudspeaker - and looks... Click for more...
Dynaudio Sapphire Loudspeaker Reviewed -
Danish loudspeaker company Dynaudio is one of the few manufacturers that is both a supplier of raw drivers, and a provider of complete, high-end loudspeakers for consumer and professional audio. (They also supply drivers and systems for automobiles.) As such,... Click for more...
Meridian DSP5200 Digital Active Loudspeaker -
Meridian is well known among audiophiles and music lovers as a company offering audio components and loudspeakers that aspire to the highest of high-end performance. The company created something of a sensation in the audiophile world with the introduction of... Click for more...
Latest Floor-Standing Speaker Reviews
Parker Audio 95MK II Loudspeakers Reviewed -
Chances are you've never heard of or seen a pair of Parker Audio 95MK II loudspeakers. Because of that fact, you're probably thinking they're some sort of uber-esoteric, high-end, ultra-expensive loudspeakers from some designer's garage in Munich. Well, you'd be... Click for more...
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand Loudspeaker Reviewed -
The Beethoven Baby Grand from Vienna Acoustics sits just below the Beethoven Grand in the Grand lineup of loudspeakers. The Baby Grand starts at $3,995 a pair for Maple, Cherry and Piano Black finishes and jumps to $4,400 a pair... Click for more...
Vienna Acoustics Schonberg Loudspeaker Reviewed -
Vienna Acoustics makes some of the finest looking loudspeakers available today and the Schonberg Loudspeaker, reviewed here, is no exception. Retailing for $1,495 a pair, clad in either silver or piano black lacquer, the Schonberg's are a design tour de... Click for more...
Magnepan MG 3.6 Planar-Magnetic Loudspeaker Reviewed -
There are good speakers. There are great speakers. However, few speakers are able to surpass mere greatness and cement themselves as the stuff of legend. Unless you're talking about the Magnepan MG 3.6 of course, which I am, and yes,... Click for more...
Klipsch RF-52 Floorstanding Loudspeakers Reviewed -
Part of its diverse Reference Series of slightly upmarket loudspeakers featuring a staggering twenty models, the Klipsch RF-52 Floorstanding Loudspeaker sits second from the bottom in its six-model floorstanding class (RF-83, RF-63, RF-82, RF-62, RF-52, RF-10). The $658.00 per pair... Click for more...
Home Theater Review 2009 Best of Awards -
For the first time, Home Theater Review com's editors have picked a select list of the best gear from many of our AV equipment categories. The winners are picked subjectively by our staff. In today's economy, value matters - this... Click for more...
Canton Chrono SL 580 DC Loudspeaker Reviewed -
OK, I admit it. I am attracted to tall, slim and beautiful...loudspeakers. No surprise, then, that the new Canton Chrono SL 580 DC floorstanding loudspeaker recently caught my eye. (Actually, I've also gotten attached to petite and plus-size models--of loudspeakers,... Click for more...
Totem Acoustic Wind Design Loudspeaker Reviewed -
The Totem Acoustic Wind Design is a unique-looking floor-standing loudspeaker that combines a rakish appearance with extremely high-quality drivers and construction. At $13,995 per pair suggested retail, the made-in-Canada Totem Wind Design is clearly a high-end loudspeaker - and looks... Click for more...
Dynaudio Sapphire Loudspeaker Reviewed -
Danish loudspeaker company Dynaudio is one of the few manufacturers that is both a supplier of raw drivers, and a provider of complete, high-end loudspeakers for consumer and professional audio. (They also supply drivers and systems for automobiles.) As such,... Click for more...
Meridian DSP5200 Digital Active Loudspeaker -
Meridian is well known among audiophiles and music lovers as a company offering audio components and loudspeakers that aspire to the highest of high-end performance. The company created something of a sensation in the audiophile world with the introduction of... Click for more...
Latest Equipment Reviews
Mapleshade Time-Correcting Maple Bedrock Speaker Stands Reviewed -
For ages the adage with bookshelf and/or monitor speakers has always been getting the tweeter or tweeter/midrange as close to ear height will yield the best results. Of course proper placement in a room as well as in relation to... Click for more...
Mapleshade Samson V.1 Equipment Rack Reviewed -
Seemingly everyone makes an equipment rack of some form or another these days with varying degrees of success, however for best results you're better off going with a third party or specialty equipment rack. The problem with going with an... Click for more...
Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition Universal Player Reviewed -
Oppo Digital's first Blu-ray player the BDP-83 entered the market in mid 2009 to numerous accolades. A mere half year later, Oppo Digital, not satisfied with the untapped performance potential of the player, released the BDP-83 Special Edition reviewed here.... Click for more...
Parker Audio 95MK II Loudspeakers Reviewed -
Chances are you've never heard of or seen a pair of Parker Audio 95MK II loudspeakers. Because of that fact, you're probably thinking they're some sort of uber-esoteric, high-end, ultra-expensive loudspeakers from some designer's garage in Munich. Well, you'd be... Click for more...
Bel Canto e. One S300iu Integrated Amplifier Reviewed -
Integrated amplifiers have always been an effective and affordable way to get into two-channel audio. However, in recent years, integrated amplifiers have come into their own, offering performance and simplicity that even high-end separate systems have trouble matching. Case in... Click for more...
Bel Canto e.One S300 Power Amplifier Reviewed -
Stereo amplifiers have been a staple since music went from single speakers to two-way back in the day. Over the years, we've seen stereo amplifiers go from simple, manageable black boxes to over-the-top, larger-than-thou space heaters for the home and... Click for more...
OmniMount Link Series A/V Stands Reviewed -
As its name suggests, OmniMount's Link Series is a modular line of A/V stands that you can mix and match to craft the exact entertainment solution you need. You can also add on as your system grows. The Link Series,... Click for more...
Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v.5 Bookshelf Speaker Reviewed -
I've been a fan of Paradigm for years, owning and enjoying seemingly every speaker in their product line from the awesome and affordable Atoms to their flagship Signature S8s. Over the years there have been two Paradigm speaker designs that... Click for more...
Bel Canto REF 1000M Mono Amplifier Reviewed -
When one thinks of a 500-Watt mono amplifier you probably picture a large, heat sink clad hunk of steel that weighs more than the car you drove it home in and probably costs more too. What if I told you... Click for more...
OmniMount VideoBasics TV Mounts Reviewed -
You've spent the extra money to buy an ultra-thin HDTV. The last thing you want to do is hinder the minimalist look by mating the TV with a bulky wall-mount. OmniMount designed the VideoBasics line of flat-panel TV mounts with... Click for more...





Comment on this article
0Post a Comment