In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by PSB. PSB Alpha AM5 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Alpha T20 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Alpha AM5 and PSB Alpha T20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Alpha AM5 and Alpha T20 are members of PSB's Alpha series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Alpha AM5 and PSB Alpha T20 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 AM5 and Alpha T20 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha AM5 |
PSB Alpha T20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Alpha AM5 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the Alpha T20 features a 0.75" anodized aluminum with front waveguide Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Alpha AM5 has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz whereas Alpha T20 has a frequency range of 36-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Alpha T20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha AM5's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 AM5 and Alpha T20 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 AM5's and PSB Alpha T20's external dimensions. PSB Alpha AM5 has external dimensions of 292.1 x 171.5 x 279.4mm ( 11.5 x 6.75 x 11inch) whereas PSB Alpha T20 has external dimensions of 869.0 x 212.0 x 250.0mm ( 34-3/16 x 8-5/16 x 9-13/16inch) .
PSB Alpha AM5 is 40.5mm narrower and 576.9mm shorter than PSB Alpha T20 but it is also 29.4mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha AM5 and PSB Alpha T20 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha AM5 and PSB Alpha T20 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 AM5 is approximately 479.2cm2 / 74.3inch2 and base area of the PSB Alpha T20 is approximately 530.0cm2 / 82.2inch2. The Alpha AM5 requires 10% less surface area than the Alpha T20 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of PSB Alpha AM5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha AM5:
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 PSB Alpha T20?
Here are the items that come with the Alpha T20:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feet8 Spike feet8 Hex-nutsQuick Start GuideWarranty Card