At CES last month, PSB gave a sneak peak at its new Dolby Atmos-enabled speaker module. Today at ISE, the company officially unveiled the up-firing Imagine XA module, which is designed to sit atop and sonically match the Imagine X floorstanding and bookshelf models to add the height element in Dolby Atmos soundtracks. (The speaker module could actually sit atop any flat-top speaker, and it also comes with a wall-mount bracket.) The Imagine XA will be available in March for $499/pair.

From PSB Speakers
PSB Speakers has announced their first Dolby Atmos enabled speaker modules, the Imagine XA. Purpose-built to fit on top of PSB's Imagine X floor-standing and bookshelf speakers, the Imagine XA can instantly create a variety of Dolby Atmos configurations from 5.1.2 to 7.1.4 and beyond with an existing home cinema system by adding a new overhead audio dimension to music and movie soundtracks. The Imagine XA comes complete with wall mount bracket and anti-slip strips and will be available in March 2016 at a U.S. MSRP of $499 per pair.

PSB Imagine XA
Specifically designed to be the height speaker in a Dolby Atmos enabled system, the Imagine XA can be added to any existing floor-standing or bookshelf speaker to create a true, sonic atmosphere. Dolby Atmos moves sound around, even above you, immersing listeners in all the excitement and lifelike realism of music and movies. The XA speaker, finished in simulated black ash, can be secured to the top with anti-slip strips or wall mounted with the supplied mounting bracket.

Working with Dolby, and using advanced acoustic research uncovered at Canada's famous National Research Council, PSB developed the Imagine XA with a very precise frequency and directivity response that perfectly matches Dolby's specs. Not only does this mean the Imagine XA's advanced driver technology and crossover design will produce a lifelike Dolby Atmos experience, it also integrates perfectly with almost any home cinema system for the best possible 3D imaging.

To achieve the required performance for the Dolby Atmos application, custom-designed drivers were created for Imagine XA utilizing technology from PSB flagship models. The tweeters are titanium dome with ferrofluid cooling and a neodymium magnet structure. Woofers are clay/ceramic reinforced injection molded polypropylene cones. The advanced crossover design and distinctive wave-guide grille dial the Imagine XA precisely into the specified Dolby Atmos target function. Speaker terminals are 5-way gold plated binding posts.

Like all PSB speakers, final voicing is performed by Founder and Chief Designer Paul Barton at Canada's famed National Research Council. PSB's research has discovered how listener preferences can be integrated into a wide range of speaker designs for many different applications, yet all featuring consistent sound quality that is natural and lifelike.

"Dolby Atmos takes home cinema sound to a completely new level by adding the 3rd dimension of height to the two-dimensional front/back left/right 5.1 sound mix." stated Paul Barton, Founder and Chief Designer of PSB Speakers. "Our team worked closely with Dolby engineers to meet and exceed their specs, which when properly implemented can move 'sound objects' like the sound of a bird in a tree above or the swoosh of an arrow past your face, delivering moving audio around the room with pinpoint accuracy. We believe the effect of the Imagine XA is totally convincing and really elevates the Home Cinema experience to new heights."

For more than forty years, PSB has been best known for producing superbly engineered, critically acclaimed products over a wide range of price points and applications. At the same time, the company has also established a reputation for delivering remarkable value in home theater speakers with the Imagine XA and Dolby Atmos being just the latest example.

Key Features of PSB Imagine XA:
• Selected for Dolby Atmos demonstrations in the Dolby booth at ISE
• Meets or exceeds stringent Dolby Atmos specification
• Can transform current home theater system to a variety of Dolby Atmos configurations
• Can be placed on top of any quality speaker or wall mounted (bracket included)
• Designed to sonically integrate with other Imagine speakers
• Custom-designed drivers utilizing technology from PSB flagship models
• Final voicing performed by Paul Barton at Canada's famed NRC

Additional Resources
• CES 2016 Show Report and Photo Slideshow at HomeTheaterReview.com.
• PSB Intrduces Innovative M4U 4 In-Ear Monitor at HomeTheaterReview.com.