The PSB sound
Contents
As with the PSB AM3 and PSB Alpha IQ that your author tested, it is easy to hear that the tuning is calm and peacefull. This Alpha P5 also has a warmer, more generous, rounded sound. This is mainly in the mid/bass. That tuning is no doubt audible to a trained ear. And also the – for us – ‘mild treble’ (treble roll-off; we estimate after 15 KHz approximately) is noticeable, because there is a little less “air” in this speaker than in, say, an Elac or Focal. However, that also depends on taste and acoustics whether that is bad or not.
In the end, it is a sound. And a sound that many people will like, because there is absolutely no sharpness audible.
Everyone’s friend
PSB obviously has a target audience in mind that is looking for a “nice sound”. A signature that makes everything just sound nice. TV should sound nice, radio and also a bluetooth source or high-res. And frankly, PSB has done that well. The Alpha P5 just does a nice overall job.
Does that have consequences? Yes, of course. But what else would you expect for 399 Euros a pair? Is the resolution unprecedentedly good? No, but good for the price. Plus: we hear plenty of details. Is the imaging super sharp in width and depth? No. But the image is big and on-point enough. And that size adds to the experience.
What can make the image a little more focussed is playing with the toe-in (which actually always works). Adding more toe-in makes the image sharper. However, a big image is also nice because it again increases the sweet spot. We actually see these speakers in a media room near the TV. And gaming consoles, for example. In other words, more people need to enjoy sound. And then a larger image with a large sweet-spot is desirable. These PSBs definitely do that well.
Overall
We were able to listen to these PSBs on a daily basis for a few weeks. We also got a subwoofer with them. But honestly: we simply didn’t need it. And because we were eager to experience what it’s like to live with a “budget-friendly” pair of speakers, we left the sub in the box. Deliberately.
These PSBs deliver a very complete sound that the price-conscious enthusiast – and really just a music lover – will really enjoy. We have not missed any warmth, bass , detail or “musicality” in the weeks these PSBs have been playing. And that’s saying something!