In this review, we will be comparing Alpha AM3 and YU, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from PSB and Kanto. 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 PSB Alpha AM3 and Kanto YU first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
PSB Alpha AM3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 70-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Polypropylene Woofer
- 56-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:4.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.7" x 5.1875" x 8.125"( 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm )
Kanto YU Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 70-watt RMS( 140-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Kevlar Woofer
- 60-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.2 Bluetooth
- Weight:2.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.0" x 5.5" x 7.5"( 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Alpha AM3 and Kanto YU 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 Alpha AM3 and YU are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Kanto YU |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Alpha AM3 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the YU features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Alpha AM3 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas YU has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Alpha AM3 can go slightly deeper then the YU's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 Alpha AM3 and YU 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 PSB Alpha AM3's and Kanto YU's external dimensions. PSB Alpha AM3 has external dimensions of 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm ( 8.6875 x 5.1875 x 8.125inch) whereas Kanto YU has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm ( 8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) .
Kanto YU is 0.69999999999999mm shorter and 16.4mm less deeper than PSB Alpha AM3 but it is also 8.2mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha AM3 and Kanto YU in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha AM3 and Kanto YU 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 PSB Alpha AM3 is approximately 272.0cm2 / 42.2inch2 and base area of the Kanto YU is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2. The Alpha AM3 requires 2% more surface area than the YU 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 PSB Alpha AM3 and Kanto YU on a Media Console