In this review, we will be comparing Imagine X1T and BW 603, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Imagine X1T and B&W 603 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
PSB Imagine X1T Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer
- 35-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-200watts
- Weight:17.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 877.0" x 8-1/4" x 14-7/8"( 877.0 x 210.0 x 378.0mm )
B&W 603 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer
- 6" Midrange
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:24.14kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 985.0" x 7.4" x 13.3"( 985.0 x 190.0 x 340.0mm )
What size room are the PSB Imagine X1T and B&W 603 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 Imagine X1T |
B&W 603 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Imagine X1T and B&W 603 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Imagine X1T is a 2-way design whereas the BW 603 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
PSB Imagine X1T |
B&W 603 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Imagine X1T features a 1" titanium with neodymium magnets Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz. On the other hand, the BW 603 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
Imagine X1T has a frequency range of 35-23k Hz whereas BW 603 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Imagine X1T can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the BW 603's min frequency of 48Hz.
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Imagine X1T and BW 603 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Imagine X1T sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the BW 603's is at 88.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine X1T a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 603, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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.
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
Both Imagine X1T and BW 603 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
PSB Imagine X1T's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Imagine X1T has a front firing port whereas BW 603 has a rear firing ports. PSB Imagine X1T's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 603 with its rear-firing 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 Imagine X1T's and B&W 603's external dimensions. PSB Imagine X1T has external dimensions of 877.0 x 210.0 x 378.0mm ( 34-1/2 x 8-1/4 x 14-7/8inch) whereas B&W 603 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 190.0 x 340.0mm ( 38.7 x 7.4 x 13.3inch) .
B&W 603 is 20mm narrower and 38mm less deeper than PSB Imagine X1T but it is also 108mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Imagine X1T and B&W 603 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Imagine X1T and B&W 603 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 Imagine X1T is approximately 793.8cm2 / 123.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 603 is approximately 646.0cm2 / 100.1inch2. The Imagine X1T requires 23% more surface area than the BW 603 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 Imagine X1T weighs 17.30kg / 38.1lbs and the B&W 603 weighs 24.14kg / 53.1lbs. This makes the BW 603 40% heavier than the Imagine X1T.
Here is a comparison of how Imagine X1T and BW 603's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of PSB Imagine X1T?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Imagine X1T:
Floor-standing speakerGrille4 Rubber feet4 Spiked FeetWrenchQuick Start GuideWarranty Card
What's in the Box of B&W 603?
Here are the items that come with the BW 603:
Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille Plinith (base) 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed) 4 Rubber feet 4 Spike feet 4 Hex-nuts 4 Screws 4 Washers 4 Lock-washers Two-piece foam port plug Hex-key Manual Bowers & Wilkins brochure Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
877mm
vs
985mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
646cm2
vs
793cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
PSB Imagine X1T |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
35-23k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
877.0mm (34.5") |
985.0mm (38.8") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
378.0mm (14.9") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Weight |
17.30kg (38.1lbs) |
24.14kg (53.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, White, Oak |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |