In this review, we will be comparing Imagine X2T and RP-5000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Imagine X2T and Klipsch RP-5000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Imagine X2T | Klipsch RP-5000F |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-23k Hz | 35-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 watts | up to 125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 23.60kg / 51.9lbs | 16.36kg / 36lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40-1/8" x 9" x 16-3/4"
1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm | 36-3/16" x 8-1/8" x 14-5/16"
920.0 x 207.0 x 364.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the PSB Imagine X2T and Klipsch RP-5000F 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 X2T |
Klipsch RP-5000F |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Imagine X2T is a 3-way design whereas the RP-5000F is a 2-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.
PSB Imagine X2TKlipsch RP-5000F
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 X2T |
Klipsch RP-5000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.2-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Imagine X2T features a 1" titanium with neodymium magnets Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2200Hz. On the other hand, the RP-5000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800 Hz.
Frequency Response
Imagine X2T has a frequency range of 30-23k Hz whereas RP-5000F has a frequency range of 35-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Imagine X2T can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-5000F's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 X2T and RP-5000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Imagine X2T sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RP-5000F's is at 96 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-5000F a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Imagine X2T, 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.
Imagine X2T can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas RP-5000F has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the Imagine X2T.
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
Both Imagine X2T and RP-5000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
PSB Imagine X2T's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Imagine X2T has a front firing port whereas RP-5000F has a rear firing ports. PSB Imagine X2T's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-5000F with its rear-firing port.
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 X2T's and Klipsch RP-5000F's external dimensions. PSB Imagine X2T has external dimensions of 1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm (40-1/8 x 9 x 16-3/4inch) whereas Klipsch RP-5000F has external dimensions of 920.0 x 207.0 x 364.0mm (36-3/16 x 8-1/8 x 14-5/16inch).
PSB Imagine X2T is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 100mm taller and 62mm deeper than Klipsch RP-5000F.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Imagine X2T and Klipsch RP-5000F in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Imagine X2T and Klipsch RP-5000F 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 X2T is approximately 975.5cm2 / 151.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-5000F is approximately 753.5cm2 / 116.8inch2. The Imagine X2T requires 29% more surface area than the RP-5000F 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 X2T weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs and the Klipsch RP-5000F weighs 16.36kg / 36lbs. This makes the Imagine X2T 44% heavier than the RP-5000F.
Here is a comparison of how Imagine X2T and RP-5000F'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 X2T?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Imagine X2T:
- Floor-standing speaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spiked Feet
- Wrench
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-5000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-5000F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (installed)
- Grille (installed)
- 2 Terminal jumpers (installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
6.2 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
920mm
vs
1020mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
753cm2
vs
975cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1038USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Imagine X2T |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-5000F |
| Brand |
PSB |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
up to 125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-23k Hz |
35-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.2" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
1800 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
920.0mm (36.2") |
| Width |
229.0mm (9") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
426.0mm (16.8") |
364.0mm (14.3") |
| Weight |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
16.36kg (36lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, 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 |
A generation apart: Klipsch RP-5000F is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | PSB Imagine X2T digs deeper - 30Hz against 35Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RP-5000F is more sensitive (96dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | PSB Imagine X2T takes more power (200W vs 125W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch RP-5000F is easier to place; PSB Imagine X2T is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | PSB Imagine X2T: bi-amping; Klipsch RP-5000F: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-5000F sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch RP-5000F is cheaper - $1,038 against $1,500, about 31% less. |
A PSB Imagine X2T B Klipsch RP-5000F
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?
PSB Imagine X2T is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 45% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch RP-5000F looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the PSB Imagine X2T appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 35Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch RP-5000F much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, PSB Imagine X2T has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Klipsch RP-5000F is the easier speaker to get right.
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.