In this review, we will be comparing F501E and Imagine X2T, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Fyne Audio and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F501E and PSB Imagine X2T first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F501E | PSB Imagine X2T |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" | 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-34k Hz | 30-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 150 W watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.80kg / 39.2lbs | 23.60kg / 51.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 38.74" x 9.84" x 11.57"
984.0 x 249.9 x 293.9mm | 40-1/8" x 9" x 16-3/4"
1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F501E 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* |
Fyne Audio F501E |
PSB Imagine X2T |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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
Both F501E and Imagine X2T are 3-way speakers.
Fyne Audio F501EPSB 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 |
Fyne Audio F501E |
PSB Imagine X2T |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x 6-inch
|
2 x 6.2-inch
|
F501E features a " Tweeter and x 6" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 250 Hz, 1700 Hz. 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
F501E has a frequency range of 36-34k 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 F501E's min frequency of 36Hz.
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
F501E and Imagine X2T have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 dB.
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.
Imagine X2T can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas F501E has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Imagine X2T.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Imagine X2T features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. F501E 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
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 Fyne Audio F501E's and PSB Imagine X2T's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F501E has external dimensions of 984.0 x 249.9 x 293.9mm (38.74 x 9.84 x 11.57inch) 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).
Fyne Audio F501E is 36mm shorter and 132.1mm less deeper than PSB Imagine X2T but it is also 20.9mm wider.
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 Imagine X2T needs about 33% more floor or shelf area. PSB Imagine X2T is 132mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. PSB Imagine X2T is 36mm taller.
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 Fyne Audio F501E is approximately 734.5cm2 / 113.8inch2 and base area of the PSB Imagine X2T is approximately 975.5cm2 / 151.2inch2. The F501E requires 25% 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 Fyne Audio F501E weighs 17.80kg / 39.2lbs and the PSB Imagine X2T weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs. This makes the Imagine X2T 33% heavier than the F501E.
Here is a comparison of how F501E and Imagine X2T's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
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
 High Frequency Response |
34k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
984mm
vs
1020mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
734cm2
vs
975cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.2 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Fyne Audio F501E |
PSB Imagine X2T |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30 - 150 W watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-34k Hz |
30-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.2" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
250 Hz, 1700 Hz |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
984.0mm (38.7") |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
249.9mm (9.8") |
229.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
293.9mm (11.6") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
17.80kg (39.2lbs) |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Fyne Audio F501E 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 36Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | PSB Imagine X2T takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Fyne Audio F501E is easier to place; PSB Imagine X2T is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | PSB Imagine X2T: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | PSB Imagine X2T is cheaper - $1,500 against $1,799, about 17% less. |
A Fyne Audio F501E 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 Fyne Audio F501E 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 36Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Fyne Audio F501E the better fit for a small room, and PSB Imagine X2T for a large 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.