In this review, we will be comparing Alpha AM3 and YU4, 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 YU4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Alpha AM3 | Kanto YU4 |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 70-watt RMS | 70-watt RMS (140-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Polypropylene | 4" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-20k Hz | 60-20k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 48 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 4.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs | 2.50kg / 5.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.6875" x 5.1875" x 8.125"
220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm | 8.7" x 5.5" x 7.5"
220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Alpha AM3 and YU4 are 2-way speakers.
PSB Alpha AM3Kanto YU4
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Kanto YU4 |
|
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 YU4 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 YU4 has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Alpha AM3 can go slightly deeper then the YU4's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Alpha AM3 and YU4 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
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 PSB Alpha AM3's and Kanto YU4'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 YU4 has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm (8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch).
Kanto YU4 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 YU4 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha AM3 and Kanto YU4 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 YU4 is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2. The Alpha AM3 requires 2% more surface area than the YU4 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 YU4 on a Media Console
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 PSB Alpha AM3 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs and the Kanto YU4 weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs. This makes the Alpha AM3 80% heavier than the YU4.
Here is a comparison of how Alpha AM3 and YU4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of PSB Alpha AM3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha AM3:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 2 Grilles
- AC power adapter (attached 45-inch DC cord)
- 4-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (PSR-1)
- 2 AAA batteries
- 8-feet Speaker cable
- 58-inch Stereo minijack cable
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Connection Diagram
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Kanto YU4?
Here are the items that come with the YU4:
- Remote with Batteries
- Power Cord
- Speaker Wire (16′)
- 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5′)
- 8 x Rubber Feet
- Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
450USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Height |
220mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
266cm2
vs
272cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Subwoofer Output |
Wired
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
| General |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Kanto YU4 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
56-20k Hz |
60-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
140-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
220.7mm (8.7") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Width |
131.8mm (5.2") |
140.0mm (5.5") |
| Depth |
206.4mm (8.1") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Weight |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
2.50kg (5.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
microUSB |
Charge only |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
No |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical (2) |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | PSB Alpha AM3 digs deeper - 56Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | evenly matched | Similar onboard amplification (70W vs 70W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Kanto YU4: a sub output. PSB Alpha AM3 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($449 vs $450 a pair). |
A PSB Alpha AM3 B Kanto YU4
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 Alpha AM3 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.