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PSB Imagine X1T vs Jamo C 97 II Comparison

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PSB Imagine X1T

Passive Floor-standing | 35-23k Hz

PSB Imagine X1T
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Jamo C 97 II

Passive Floor-standing | 32-24k Hz

Jamo Concert 9 Series C 97 II
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PSB Imagine X1T PSB Imagine X1T
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Jamo C 97 II Jamo C 97 II
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PSB Imagine X1T
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Jamo C 97 II
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PSB Imagine X1T vs Jamo C 97 II Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Imagine X1T and C 97 II, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and Jamo.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of PSB Imagine X1T and Jamo C 97 II 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 )

Jamo C 97 II Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Tweeter
  • 6" Midrange
  • 3 x 6" Composite Woofer
  • 6" Midrange
  • 32-24k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:50-180watts
  • Weight:24.55kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1070.0" x 9-3/4" x 15-13/16"( 1070.0 x 248.0 x 402.0mm )

What size room are the PSB Imagine X1T and Jamo C 97 II 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 Jamo C 97 II
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 Jamo C 97 II 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 C 97 II 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 Jamo C 97 II
Driver Setup 2-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - 1 x 6-inch
Woofer 2 x 5.25-inch 3 x 6-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 C 97 II features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6" Composite Woofer .

Frequency Response

Imagine X1T has a frequency range of 35-23k Hz whereas C 97 II has a frequency range of 32-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the C 97 II can go slightly deeper then the Imagine X1T's min frequency of 35Hz.

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

Imagine X1T
C 97 II
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

PSB Imagine X1T
Jamo C 97 II
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

Imagine X1T is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the C 97 II which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Imagine X1T sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the C 97 II's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine X1T a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo C 97 II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Imagine X1T
C 97 II
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.

Imagine X1T can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas C 97 II has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Imagine X1T.

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 C 97 II features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

PSB Imagine X1T Terminals
PSB Imagine X1T's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Jamo C 97 II Terminals
Jamo C 97 II's Posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Imagine X1T has a front firing port whereas C 97 II 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 Jamo C 97 II 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 Jamo C 97 II'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 Jamo C 97 II has external dimensions of 1070.0 x 248.0 x 402.0mm ( 42-1/8 x 9-3/4 x 15-13/16inch) .

Jamo C 97 II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 193mm taller and 24mm deeper than PSB Imagine X1T.

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 Jamo C 97 II is approximately 997.0cm2 / 154.5inch2. The Imagine X1T requires 20% less surface area than the C 97 II which gives it a small advantage 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 Jamo C 97 II weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the C 97 II 42% heavier than the Imagine X1T.

Here is a comparison of how Imagine X1T and C 97 II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
PSB Imagine X1T
Jamo C 97 II
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of PSB Imagine X1T?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Imagine X1T:
  • Floor-standing speaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 4 Spiked Feet
  • Wrench
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Warranty Card
  • What's in the Box of Jamo C 97 II?

    Here are the items that come with the C 97 II:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Outrigger feet
  • 4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 8 Machine screws
  • 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
  • Hex-key
  • User Manual
  • Important Safety Instructions
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose PSB Imagine X1T over Jamo Concert 9 Series C 97 II
    Max Input Power 200 watts vs 180 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 90 dB vs 89 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Port Position Front vs Rear Gives more flexibility placing close to walls
    Height 877mm vs 1070mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 793cm2 vs 997cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 1200USD vs 1378USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Jamo Concert 9 Series C 97 II over PSB Imagine X1T

    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Woofer Size 6 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Number of Woofers 3 vs 2 More woofers
    Low Frequency Response 32 Hz vs 35 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 24k Hz vs 23k Hz Generates higher frequency
    PSB Imagine X1T vs Jamo C 97 II Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General PSB Imagine X1T Jamo Concert 9 Series C 97 II
    Brand PSB Jamo
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-200 watts 50-180 watts
    Sensitivity 90 dB 89 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 6 ohms
    Impedance 4 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 35-23k Hz 32-24k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 3
    Woofer Size 5.25" 6"
    Woofer Composition Clay/Ceramic/Poly Composite
    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") 1070.0mm (42.1")
    Width 210.0mm (8.3") 248.0mm (9.8")
    Depth 378.0mm (14.9") 402.0mm (15.8")
    Weight 17.30kg (38.1lbs) 24.55kg (54lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood-grain MDF/Wood-grain vinyl
    Available Colors Black Black
    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

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