In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by PSB. PSB Alpha T20 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the Alpha AM5 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Alpha T20 and PSB Alpha AM5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
PSB Alpha T20 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.75" Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 36-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-120watts
- Weight:11.89kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 869.0" x 8-5/16" x 9-13/16"( 869.0 x 212.0 x 250.0mm )
PSB Alpha AM5 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 55-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:9.75kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 292.1" x 6.75" x 11"( 292.1 x 171.5 x 279.4mm )
Alpha T20 and Alpha AM5 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 T20 and PSB Alpha AM5 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 T20 and Alpha AM5 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha T20 |
PSB Alpha AM5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the Alpha AM5 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Alpha T20 has a frequency range of 36-21k Hz whereas Alpha AM5 has a frequency range of 55-20k 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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 T20 and Alpha AM5 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 T20's and PSB Alpha AM5's external dimensions. 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) whereas PSB Alpha AM5 has external dimensions of 292.1 x 171.5 x 279.4mm ( 11.5 x 6.75 x 11inch) .
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 T20 and PSB Alpha AM5 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha T20 and PSB Alpha AM5 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 T20 is approximately 530.0cm2 / 82.2inch2 and base area of the PSB Alpha AM5 is approximately 479.2cm2 / 74.3inch2. The Alpha T20 requires 11% more surface area than the Alpha AM5 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of PSB Alpha T20?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha T20:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feet8 Spike feet8 Hex-nutsQuick Start GuideWarranty Card
What's in the Box of PSB Alpha AM5?
Here are the items that come with the 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
Number of Woofers 
High Frequency Response 
Speaker Type 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
3.5mm Connection