In this review, we will be comparing SONIK 5 and Imagine X2T, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from DALI and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI SONIK 5 and PSB Imagine X2T first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
DALI SONIK 5 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Wood fiber Woofer
- 39-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:10.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 824.0" x 9-13/16" x 10-9/16"( 824.0 x 250.0 x 269.0mm )
PSB Imagine X2T Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 30-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-200watts
- Weight:23.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1020.0" x 9" x 16-3/4"( 1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI SONIK 5 and PSB Imagine X2T compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SONIK 5 is a 2-way design whereas the Imagine X2T is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
DALI SONIK 5 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.2-inch
|
SONIK 5 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Wood fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the Imagine X2T features a 1" titanium with neodymium magnets Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
SONIK 5 has a frequency range of 39-26k Hz whereas Imagine X2T has a frequency range of 30-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Imagine X2T can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SONIK 5's min frequency of 39Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SONIK 5 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Imagine X2T which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SONIK 5 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Imagine X2T's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine X2T a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI SONIK 5, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
SONIK 5 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SONIK 5 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Imagine X2T.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Imagine X2T features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SONIK 5 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB Imagine X2T's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
SONIK 5 has a rear firing port whereas Imagine X2T has a front firing ports. PSB Imagine X2T's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to DALI SONIK 5 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare DALI SONIK 5's and PSB Imagine X2T's external dimensions. DALI SONIK 5 has external dimensions of 824.0 x 250.0 x 269.0mm ( 32-7/16inch x 9-13/16inch x 10-9/16inch ) whereas PSB Imagine X2T has external dimensions of 1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm ( 40-1/8 x 9 x 16-3/4inch) .
DALI SONIK 5 is 196mm shorter and 157mm less deeper than PSB Imagine X2T but it is also 21mm wider.
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 DALI SONIK 5 is approximately 672.5cm2 / 104.2inch2 and base area of the PSB Imagine X2T is approximately 975.5cm2 / 151.2inch2. The SONIK 5 requires 31% less surface area than the Imagine X2T which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.