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1303 Review
42 Karma

Review on πŸ”Š Immerse in Rich Walnut-Heightened Audio Experience with PSB Alpha T20 Tower Speaker by Justin Pavelko

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Great relaxed sound PSB

This is my third pair of PSB speakers. I like the sound of Paul Burton. It's creamy and pleasant. You can listen for hours without getting tired. The first pair of PSB speakers I owned were Image 4Ts. These were towers with 2 woofers and 2 tweeters. They had a powerful sound but with the typical smooth quality. I've listened to speakers that cost two to three times the price of the Image 4T, but kept coming back to them for the sound. I ended up buying them and using them for a decade and a half. Lastly, I'm using PSB's new Alpha P5 bookshelf speakers with stands. They had the same great PSB sound but in a smaller size and price. They are amazing. However if you want to build a 2 channel system (as opposed to a 5 or 7 channel surround system) I would recommend upgrading to T20 towers like I did. They occupy essentially the same footprint and when you add in the cost of some good P5 stands you're in T20 territory in terms of value. And boy, the T20 is a sound upgrade. Here's my full review: // GREAT SOUND: Seriously guys, the PSB sound is fat as butter. They shine with genres like jazz and folk. But they also work well with hip-hop and rock. You just won't get the clout you expect from brands like Klipsch. And I'm okay with that, because I find that sharper settings lead to ear fatigue over time. SOUND STAGE: What's remarkable about the T20 and its younger P5 siblings is the room-filling soundstage you get, even if they don't have the bass you'd expect from much larger speakers. TRAIL: I live in the city, in a long, narrow terraced house. By stacking a pair of smaller woofers on top of each other, PSB saves a lot of width with the T20. This keeps their footprint and profile slim and easily squeeze into my narrow house. This design also works well if you want to position something on the sides in a limited space, e.g. a TV, or if you want your speakers to blend in a bit with your decor. about MDF. I definitely wish they were solid wood and would happily pay for a 'signature' solid wood edition. I just hate the cheap look and durability of veneered furniture. The stitching on my T20s with walnut trim is showing and I don't like it. The P5s I have are finished in black ash and I would recommend that finish over walnut anytime. It's just that black ash looks less "fake". Also, while the magnetic grids were useful and attractive, the PSB appliques were all crooked. They stick and don't seem to stay in place over time, making the whole thing look cheap. While the idea of the bare diffusers adds some flair to my OCD, I can remove the grilles and live without them. Overall I think these speakers are well below their cost for the sound quality they offer. I recommend anything with the PSB label if you're looking for great sound at an affordable price.

Pros
  • Satisfied so far
Cons
  • Will write later