PSB P3 vs PSB Alpha C10 Comparison

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PSB P3

Passive Bookshelf | 57-21k Hz

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PSB Alpha C10

Passive Center Channel | 55-21k Hz

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PSB P3

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PSB Alpha C10

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PSB P3

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PSB Alpha C10

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PSB P3 vs PSB Alpha C10 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by PSB. PSB Alpha P3 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Alpha C10 is a Center Channel speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of PSB P3 and PSB Alpha C10 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	PSB P3	PSB Alpha C10
Design	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	0.75" Hard-Dome	3/4" dome with front waveguide
Woofer	4.5" Polypropylene	2 x 5.25" textured polypropylene
Frequency response	57-21k Hz	55-21k Hz
Sensitivity	87 dB	90 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Power range	10-80 watts	15-120 watts
Weight	2.23kg / 4.9lbs	7.73kg / 17lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	8-3/4" x 5-3/16" x 7-5/16" 223.0 x 132.0 x 186.0mm	6-3/4" x 17-3/4" x 10" 172.0 x 451.0 x 254.0mm

Alpha P3 and Alpha C10 are members of PSB's Alpha series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

PSB Alpha Series History

Model	Body	Frequency	Sensitivity	Impedance	Woofer
PSB P3	Bookshelf	57-21k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	1 x 4.5"
PSB Alpha T20	Floor-standing	36-21k Hz	90 dB	8Ω	2 x 5.25"
PSB P5	Bookshelf	55-21k Hz	89 dB	8Ω	1 x 5.25"
PSB Alpha C10	Center Channel	55-21k Hz	90 dB	8Ω	2 x 5.25"

What size room are the PSB P3 and PSB Alpha C10 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	PSB Alpha C10
Near-field	Average	Poor
Small Room	Good	Average
Mid-size Room	Average	Good
Large Room	Poor	Average
Very Large Room	Bad	Poor

(* 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.)

The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.

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

Drivers

Both Alpha P3 and Alpha C10 are 2-way speakers.

PSB P3

PSB Alpha C10

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 P3	PSB Alpha C10
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	0.75-inch	3/4-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 4.5-inch	2 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 Alpha C10 features a 3/4" anodized aluminum dome with front waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" textured polypropylene Woofer.

Frequency Response

Alpha P3 has a frequency range of 57-21k Hz whereas Alpha C10 has a frequency range of 55-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Alpha C10 can go slightly deeper then the Alpha P3's min frequency of 57Hz.

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

Alpha P3

Alpha C10

Min

Average

Median

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.

Impedance and Sensitivity

Alpha P3 and Alpha C10 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 Alpha C10's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the PSB Alpha C10 a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB P3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Alpha P3

Alpha C10

Min

Average

Median

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.

Alpha C10 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Alpha P3 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the Alpha C10.

Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays on a real amplifier.

Which plays louder on your amplifier?

Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are considering, and watch both numbers move.

Amplifier — change this

Distance

Playing as

PSB P3

PSB Alpha C10

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Alpha P3 features 5-Way post type posts and Alpha C10 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

PSB P3's 5-way post terminals

PSB Alpha C10's 5-Way post terminals

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 P3's and PSB Alpha C10'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 PSB Alpha C10 has external dimensions of 172.0 x 451.0 x 254.0mm (6-3/4 x 17-3/4 x 10inch).

PSB P3 is 319mm narrower and 68mm less deeper than PSB Alpha C10 but it is also 51mm taller.

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 PSB Alpha C10 is approximately 1145.5cm² / 177.6inch². The Alpha P3 requires 79% less surface area than the Alpha C10 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

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 PSB Alpha C10?

Here are the items that come with the Alpha C10:

Center-channel loudspeaker
Grille
4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
Quick Start Guide
Warranty Card

Reasons to choose PSB Alpha P3 over PSB Alpha C10

Base Surface Area	245cm² vs 1145cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	279USD vs 449USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose PSB Alpha C10 over PSB Alpha P3

Max Input Power	120 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
Number of Woofers	2 vs 1	More woofers
Low Frequency Response	55 Hz vs 57 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Height	172mm vs 223mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

PSB P3 vs PSB Alpha C10 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	PSB Alpha P3	PSB Alpha C10
Brand	PSB	PSB
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Center channel speaker
Power Range	10-80 watts	15-120 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	90 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	4 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	57-21k Hz	55-21k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	2
Woofer Size	4.5"	5.25"
Woofer Composition	Polypropylene	textured polypropylene
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	rubber
Tweeter Size	0.75"	3/4"
Tweeter Type	Hard-Dome	dome with front waveguide
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	3000Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	rear	n/a
Physical Specs
Height	223.0mm (8.8")	172.0mm (6.8")
Width	132.0mm (5.2")	451.0mm (17.8")
Depth	186.0mm (7.3")	254.0mm (10")
Weight	2.23kg (4.9lbs)	7.73kg (17lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF, Wood-grain vinyl	n/a
Available Colors	Walnut,Black Ash	Walnut
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	28-30"	n/a
Grille	Yes	Yes
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	No	n/a
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years

Verdict

Siblings in PSB's Alpha series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.

Area	Better	Why
Bass	evenly matched	Much the same reach (57Hz vs 55Hz).
Amplifier needs	B	PSB Alpha C10 is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier.
Headroom	B	PSB Alpha C10 takes more power (120W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room.
Size	depends	PSB P3 is easier to place; PSB Alpha C10 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Type	depends	A Passive Bookshelf against a Passive Center Channel - a different job rather than a better one.
Price	A	PSB P3 is cheaper - $279 against $449, about 38% less; arguably a different class.

A PSB P3 B PSB Alpha C10
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?

The usual trade-off: PSB Alpha C10 measures better, PSB P3 costs about 38% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate PSB P3 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and PSB Alpha C10 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, PSB Alpha C10 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, PSB P3 is the easier speaker to get right.

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.