In this review, we will be comparing The Sevens and Alpha iQ, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and PSB. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch The Sevens and PSB Alpha iQ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch The Sevens Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 200-watt RMS( 400-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 6.5" Fiber-composite Woofer
- 39-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:9.03kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 416.0" x 8.125" x 13.1875"( 416.0 x 207.0 x 335.0mm )
PSB Alpha iQ Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 180-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Polypropylene Woofer
- 64-20kHz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:7.36kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 246.0" x 5.6" x 7.6"( 246 x 145 x 92mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch The Sevens and PSB Alpha iQ 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
Both The Sevens and Alpha iQ are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Klipsch The Sevens |
PSB Alpha iQ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
The Sevens features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Fiber-composite Woofer . On the other hand, the Alpha iQ features a 0.75" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
The Sevens has a frequency range of 39-25k Hz whereas Alpha iQ has a frequency range of 64-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the The Sevens can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha iQ's min frequency of 64Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both The Sevens and Alpha iQ have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Klipsch The Sevens's and PSB Alpha iQ's external dimensions. Klipsch The Sevens has external dimensions of 416.0 x 207.0 x 335.0mm ( 16.375inch x 8.125inch x 13.1875inch ) whereas PSB Alpha iQ has external dimensions of 246 x 145 x 92mm ( 9.7 x -5.6 x 7.6 inch ) .
Klipsch The Sevens is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 62mm wider, 170mm taller and 143mm deeper than PSB Alpha iQ.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch The Sevens and PSB Alpha iQ in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch The Sevens and PSB Alpha iQ Size and External Dimensions
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 Klipsch The Sevens is approximately 693.5cm2 / 107.5inch2 and base area of the PSB Alpha iQ is approximately 278.0cm2 / 43.1inch2. The The Sevens requires 149% more surface area than the Alpha iQ which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Klipsch The Sevens and PSB Alpha iQ on a Media Console