In this review, we will be comparing Imagine X1T and XT60, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Imagine X1T and Polk XT60 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Imagine X1T | Polk XT60 |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Clay/Ceramic/Poly | 6.5" Bi-laminate paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-23k Hz | 38-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.30kg / 38.1lbs | 9.09kg / 20lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 34-1/2" x 8-1/4" x 14-7/8"
877.0 x 210.0 x 378.0mm | 36-9/16" x 9-1/16" x 9-15/16"
929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the PSB Imagine X1T and Polk XT60 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 |
Polk XT60 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Imagine X1T and XT60 are 2-way speakers.
PSB Imagine X1TPolk XT60
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 Imagine X1T |
Polk XT60 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 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 XT60 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
Imagine X1T has a frequency range of 35-23k Hz whereas XT60 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Imagine X1T can go slightly deeper then the XT60's min frequency of 38Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Imagine X1T and XT60 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 XT60's is at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the PSB Imagine X1T a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT60, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 200 watts RMS, though Imagine X1T is rated 20-200 watts and XT60 25-200 watts.
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
Imagine X1T features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. XT60 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB Imagine X1T's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Imagine X1T's and Polk XT60'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 Polk XT60 has external dimensions of 929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm (36-9/16 x 9-1/16 x 9-15/16inch).
PSB Imagine X1T is 21mm narrower and 52mm shorter than Polk XT60 but it is also 125mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Imagine X1T and Polk XT60 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Imagine X1T and Polk XT60 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 Polk XT60 is approximately 584.4cm2 / 90.6inch2. The Imagine X1T requires 36% more surface area than the XT60 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 Polk XT60 weighs 9.09kg / 20lbs. This makes the Imagine X1T 90% heavier than the XT60.
Here is a comparison of how Imagine X1T and XT60'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 speaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spiked Feet
- Wrench
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Polk XT60?
Here are the items that come with the XT60:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
877mm
vs
929mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-1/2-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Base Surface Area |
584cm2
vs
793cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
498USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Imagine X1T |
Polk Audio Monitor XT60 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
35-23k Hz |
38-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
Bi-laminate paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
877.0mm (34.5") |
929.0mm (36.6") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
231.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
378.0mm (14.9") |
253.0mm (10") |
| Weight |
17.30kg (38.1lbs) |
9.09kg (20lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - PSB Imagine X1T costs roughly 2.4x what Polk XT60 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | PSB Imagine X1T digs deeper - 35Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | PSB Imagine X1T is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Polk XT60 is easier to place; PSB Imagine X1T is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | PSB Imagine X1T: bi-amping; Polk XT60: Atmos drivers. Polk XT60 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk XT60 is cheaper - $498 against $1,200, about 59% less; arguably a different class. |
A PSB Imagine X1T B Polk XT60
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?
The usual trade-off: PSB Imagine X1T measures better, Polk XT60 costs about about 141% more% 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. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, PSB Imagine X1T is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $702 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.