In this review, we will be comparing Dymension DM40 and Imagine X2T, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive Dymension DM40 and PSB Imagine X2T first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive Dymension DM40 | PSB Imagine X2T |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" 2 x Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 4.5" Polypropelene | 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-23 kHz | 30-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-250 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.30kg / 38.1lbs | 23.60kg / 51.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 37.4" x 10.3" x 10"
950 x 261 x 255 mm | 40-1/8" x 9" x 16-3/4"
1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive Dymension DM40 and PSB Imagine X2T 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* |
Definitive Dymension DM40 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Dymension DM40 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.
Definitive Dymension DM40PSB Imagine X2T
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive Dymension DM40 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 6.2-inch
|
Dymension DM40 features a 1" aluminum oxide 2 x Hard-Dome Tweeter and 4 x 4.5" Polypropelene 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
Dymension DM40 has a frequency range of 55-23 kHz 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 Dymension DM40'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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
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
Dymension DM40 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Imagine X2T 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 Dymension DM40 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Dymension DM40 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Imagine X2T's is rated at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine X2T a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive Dymension DM40, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Dymension DM40 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Imagine X2T has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Dymension DM40.
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.
Definitive Dymension DM40
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Imagine X2T features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Dymension DM40 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive Dymension DM40's Binding post terminals
PSB Imagine X2T's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Definitive Dymension DM40's and PSB Imagine X2T's external dimensions. Definitive Dymension DM40 has external dimensions of 950 x 261 x 255 mm (37.4 x 10.3 x 10.0 in) 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).
Definitive Dymension DM40 is 70mm shorter and 171mm less deeper than PSB Imagine X2T but it is also 32mm 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 Definitive Dymension DM40 is approximately 665.6cm2 / 103.2inch2 and base area of the PSB Imagine X2T is approximately 975.5cm2 / 151.2inch2. The Dymension DM40 requires 32% less surface area than the Imagine X2T 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 Definitive Dymension DM40 weighs 17.30kg / 38.1lbs and the PSB Imagine X2T weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs. This makes the Imagine X2T 36% heavier than the Dymension DM40.
Here is a comparison of how Dymension DM40 and Imagine X2T's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Definitive Dymension DM40
What's in the Box of Definitive Dymension DM40?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dymension DM40:
- 4 Adjustable hard floor glides
- 4 Adjustable carpet spikes
What's in the Box of PSB Imagine X2T?
Here are the items that come with the Imagine X2T:
- Floor-standing speaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spiked Feet
- Wrench
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
950mm
vs
1020mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
665cm2
vs
975cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.2 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology Dymension DM40 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-250 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-23 kHz |
30-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6.2" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropelene |
Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
2 x Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
950.0mm (37.4") |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
261.0mm (10.3") |
229.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
255.0mm (10") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
17.30kg (38.1lbs) |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Definitive Dymension DM40 is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | PSB Imagine X2T digs deeper - 30Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | PSB Imagine X2T is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | PSB Imagine X2T is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Definitive Dymension DM40 takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Definitive Dymension DM40 is easier to place; PSB Imagine X2T is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | PSB Imagine X2T: bi-amping. Definitive Dymension DM40 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | PSB Imagine X2T is cheaper - $1,500 against $1,998, about 25% less. |
A Definitive Dymension DM40 B PSB Imagine X2T
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?
PSB Imagine X2T is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Definitive Dymension DM40 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. 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 Definitive Dymension DM40 the better fit for a very large room, and PSB Imagine X2T for a mid-size room.
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.