Sound & Vision (2019-04)

test report

I THINK of PSB’s entry-level
Alpha Series speakers as being
the loudspeaker equivalent of
the Toyota Corolla. The Alphas
may not be the sexiest speakers
around, but they do offer solid
engineering, long-term reli-
ability, and excellent perfor-
mance at a very reasonable
price. Speakers from PSB’s now
sadly discontinued flagship
Synchrony line have served
as my personal home theater
reference for over a decade,
so you could call me a bit of a
fanboy. As you might expect,
that means I’m also interested
in seeing what the company
can deliver when keeping costs
down is part of the equation.
Launched at CES 2019, PSB’s
new Alpha models represent
the line’s second complete
revision since the originals were
introduced way back in 1991.
Clearly, chief designer Paul
Barton isn’t the sort of guy who
shakes things up just to launch
new finishes or change cabinet
styling. Barton’s pragmatic
approach means that he’ll only
make revisions when he can
deliver a beer product while
maintaining PSB’s reputation
for excellent value. Each design
decision is validated through
extensive blind listening tests
at the Canadian National
Research Council’s state-of-
the-art testing labs in Oawa
using a mixed panel of trained
and untrained listeners. This
methodology, which combines
objective testing with the
subjective responses of a
group rather than the personal
biases of a single rock star-type

designer, accounts for the

neutral sound quality of PSB’s

speakers.

For the new Alpha Series,

Barton has made changes to

both the cabinet construction

and internal damping. While

cabinets with internal stiffening

braces are unusual at this

price level, the new Alphas are

not just well-braced, but built

Alpha

Ad Infinitum

Now in their third

generation, PSB

Alpha Series

speakers feature

all-new cabinets

and drive units

throughout the

full lineup.

By Michael Trei

PSB ALPHA T20 SPEAKER SYSTEM

RATING

Speakers

PERFORMANCE

BUILD QUALITY

VALUE

RATING

Subwoofer

PERFORMANCE

FEATURES

BUILD QUALITY

VALUE

(^60) [ April May 2019 [soundandvision.com