PSB P3 vs Cambridge SX-50 Comparison

Speaker to replace

Change

PSB P3

Passive Bookshelf | 57-21k Hz

CHECK PRICE

Change

Cambridge SX-50

Passive Bookshelf | 50-22k Hz

CHECK PRICE

PSB P3

See at AMAZON

Cambridge SX-50

See at AMAZON

PSB P3

See at AMAZON

Cambridge SX-50

See at AMAZON

PSB P3 vs Cambridge SX-50 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Alpha P3 and SX-50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from PSB and Cambridge Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of PSB P3 and Cambridge SX-50 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

PSB P3 Key Specs

2-way Design

0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter

4.5" Polypropylene Woofer

57-21k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:10-80watts

Weight:2.23kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 223.0" x 5-3/16" x 7-5/16"( 223.0 x 132.0 x 186.0mm )

Cambridge SX-50 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Dome Tweeter

5.25" Treated paper Woofer

50-22k Hz Frequency Response

90 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:10-100watts

Weight:3.00kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 225.0" x 6.3" x 9.4"( 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm )

What size room are the PSB P3 and Cambridge SX-50 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*	PSB P3	Cambridge SX-50
Near-field	Average	Average
Small Room	Good	Good
Mid-size Room	Average	Average
Large Room	Poor	Poor
Very Large Room	Bad	Bad

(* 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB P3 and Cambridge SX-50 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Drivers

Both Alpha P3 and SX-50 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	PSB P3	Cambridge SX-50
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	0.75-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 4.5-inch	1 x 5.25-inch

Alpha P3 features a 0.75" anodized aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the SX-50 features a 1" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Treated paper Woofer .

Frequency Response

Alpha P3 has a frequency range of 57-21k Hz whereas SX-50 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the SX-50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha P3's min frequency of 57Hz.

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

Alpha P3

SX-50

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

PSB P3

Cambridge SX-50

Min

Average

Max

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.

Impedance and Sensitivity

Alpha P3 and SX-50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Alpha P3 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the SX-50's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Cambridge SX-50 a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB P3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Alpha P3

SX-50

Min

Average

Max

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.

Alpha P3 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Alpha P3 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the SX-50.

Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Alpha P3 features 5-way post type posts and SX-50 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

PSB P3's 5-way post terminals

Cambridge SX-50's 5-way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Alpha P3 and SX-50 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.

Cambridge SX-50 Port

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 P3's and Cambridge SX-50's external dimensions. PSB P3 has external dimensions of 223.0 x 132.0 x 186.0mm ( 8-3/4 x 5-3/16 x 7-5/16inch) whereas Cambridge SX-50 has external dimensions of 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm ( 8.8 x 6.3 x 9.4inch) .

Cambridge SX-50 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 29mm wider, 2mm taller and 54mm deeper than PSB P3.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB P3 and Cambridge SX-50 in scale.

Comparison image of PSB P3 and Cambridge SX-50 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 P3 is approximately 245.5cm² / 38.1inch² and base area of the Cambridge SX-50 is approximately 386.4cm² / 59.9inch². The Alpha P3 requires 36% less surface area than the SX-50 which gives it a small advantage 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 P3 and Cambridge SX-50 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 P3 weighs 2.23kg / 4.9lbs and the Cambridge SX-50 weighs 3.00kg / 6.6lbs. This makes the SX-50 35% heavier than the Alpha P3.

Here is a comparison of how Alpha P3 and SX-50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

PSB P3

Cambridge SX-50

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of PSB P3?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha P3:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

8 Self-adhesive rubber feet

Quick Start Guide

Warranty Card

What's in the Box of Cambridge SX-50?

Here are the items that come with the SX-50:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

8 Self-adhesive feet

2 Foam port inserts

Installation Guide

Reasons to choose PSB Alpha P3 over Cambridge Audio SX-50

Height	223mm vs 225mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	245cm² vs 386cm²	Takes less floor space

Reasons to choose Cambridge Audio SX-50 over PSB Alpha P3

Max Input Power	100 watts vs 80 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity	90 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size	5.25 inches vs 4.5 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	50 Hz vs 57 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	22k Hz vs 21k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Price per pair*	199USD vs 279USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

PSB P3 vs Cambridge SX-50 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	PSB Alpha P3	Cambridge Audio SX-50
Brand	PSB	Cambridge Audio
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	10-80 watts	10-100 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	90 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	4 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	57-21k Hz	50-22k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	4.5"	5.25"
Woofer Composition	Polypropylene	Treated paper
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	0.75"	1"
Tweeter Type	Hard-Dome	Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	3000Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	223.0mm (8.8")	225.0mm (8.9")
Width	132.0mm (5.2")	161.0mm (6.3")
Depth	186.0mm (7.3")	240.0mm (9.4")
Weight	2.23kg (4.9lbs)	3.00kg (6.6lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF, Wood-grain vinyl	MDF/Woodgrain vinyl
Available Colors	Walnut,Black Ash	Black
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	28-30"	28-31"
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	No	No
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years