In this review, we will be comparing Alpha P3 and S10, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from PSB and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB P3 and Polk S10 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB P3 | Polk S10 |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Polypropylene | 4" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-21k Hz | 67-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-80 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.23kg / 4.9lbs | 2.73kg / 6lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 8.4" x 5.0" x 6.1"
214.0 x 127.0 x 155.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the PSB P3 and Polk S10 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 |
Polk S10 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Alpha P3 and S10 are 2-way speakers.
PSB P3Polk S10
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 |
Polk S10 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4-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 S10 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Alpha P3 has a frequency range of 57-21k Hz whereas S10 has a frequency range of 67-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the Alpha P3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S10's min frequency of 67Hz.
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Alpha P3 and S10 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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.
S10 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas Alpha P3 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the S10.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Alpha P3 features 5-way post type posts and S10 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB P3's 5-way post terminals
Polk S10's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Alpha P3 and S10 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 P3's and Polk S10'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 Polk S10 has external dimensions of 214.0 x 127.0 x 155.0mm (8.4 x 5.0 x 6.1inch).
PSB P3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 5mm wider, 9mm taller and 31mm deeper than Polk S10.
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 Polk S10 is approximately 196.9cm2 / 30.5inch2. The Alpha P3 requires 25% more surface area than the S10 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Polk S10 weighs 2.73kg / 6lbs. This makes the S10 22% heavier than the Alpha P3.
Here is a comparison of how Alpha P3 and S10's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
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 Polk S10?
Here are the items that come with the S10:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Woofer Size |
4.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
57 Hz
vs
67 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
214mm
vs
223mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
196cm2
vs
245cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
279USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Alpha P3 |
Polk Audio Signature S10 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Satellite speakers |
| Power Range |
10-80 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
57-21k Hz |
67-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
223.0mm (8.8") |
214.0mm (8.4") |
| Width |
132.0mm (5.2") |
127.0mm (5") |
| Depth |
186.0mm (7.3") |
155.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
2.23kg (4.9lbs) |
2.73kg (6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
Meddite MDF |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black Ash |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | PSB P3 digs deeper - 57Hz against 67Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Polk S10 takes more power (100W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk S10 is easier to place; PSB P3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. PSB P3 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk S10 is cheaper - $199 against $279, about 29% less. |
A PSB P3 B Polk S10
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 67Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk S10 much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $80 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.