In this review, we will be comparing Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf and Alpha P5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Aperion and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf and PSB P5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf | PSB P5 |
|---|
| Brand | Aperion
United States · founded 1998 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 0.75" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" | 5.25" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-30k Hz | 55-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-80 Watts watts | 10-90 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.54kg / 10lbs | 4.61kg / 10.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.8" x 7.1" x 7.9"
299.7 x 180.3 x 200.7mm | 11-3/8" x 6-3/4" x 10"
289.0 x 172.0 x 254.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf and PSB P5 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf |
PSB P5 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf and Alpha P5 are 2-way speakers.
Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" BookshelfPSB P5
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf |
PSB P5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf features a 1" Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woofer. On the other hand, the Alpha P5 features a 0.75" anodized aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf has a frequency range of 45-30k Hz whereas Alpha P5 has a frequency range of 55-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha P5's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Alpha P5 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Alpha P5's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the PSB P5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf can handle a max power of 160 watts RMS, whereas Alpha P5 has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf features 5-way post type posts and Alpha P5 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB P5's 5-way post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf's and PSB P5's external dimensions. Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf has external dimensions of 299.7 x 180.3 x 200.7mm (11.8 x 7.1 x 7.9inch) whereas PSB P5 has external dimensions of 289.0 x 172.0 x 254.0mm (11-3/8 x 6-3/4 x 10inch).
PSB P5 is 8.3mm narrower and 10.7mm shorter than Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf but it is also 53.3mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
PSB P5 needs about 21% more floor or shelf area. PSB P5 is 53mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf is approximately 361.9cm2 / 56.1inch2 and base area of the PSB P5 is approximately 436.9cm2 / 67.7inch2. The Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf requires 17% less surface area than the Alpha P5 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf weighs 4.54kg / 10lbs and the PSB P5 weighs 4.61kg / 10.1lbs. This makes the Alpha P5 2% heavier than the Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf.
Here is a comparison of how Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf and Alpha P5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf
What's in the Box of PSB P5?
Here are the items that come with the Alpha P5:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
 Max Input Power |
160 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
361cm2
vs
436cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
289mm
vs
299mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf |
PSB Alpha P5 |
| Brand |
Aperion |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-80 Watts watts |
10-90 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-30k Hz |
55-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
299.7mm (11.8") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
| Width |
180.3mm (7.1") |
172.0mm (6.8") |
| Depth |
200.7mm (7.9") |
254.0mm (10") |
| Weight |
4.54kg (10lbs) |
4.61kg (10.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut,Black Ash |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
28-30" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf digs deeper - 45Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | PSB P5 is more sensitive (89dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | PSB P5 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf takes more power (160W vs 90W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($449 vs $449 a pair). |
A Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf B PSB P5
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Aperion Novus N5B 5.25" Bookshelf the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.