In this review, we will be comparing L200 and Alpha P3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and PSB. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk L200 and PSB P3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk L200 and PSB P3 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk L200 and PSB P3 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 L200 and Alpha P3 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Polk L200 |
PSB P3 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
L200 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the Alpha P3 features a 0.75" anodized aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
L200 has a frequency range of 46-38k Hz whereas Alpha P3 has a frequency range of 57-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the L200 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha P3's min frequency of 57Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
L200 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Alpha P3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L200 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. L200 sensitivity is rated at 85.5 dB and the Alpha P3's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the PSB P3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L200, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
L200 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Alpha P3 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 120 watts less than the L200.
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
L200 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Alpha P3 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both L200 and Alpha P3 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 Polk L200's and PSB P3's external dimensions. Polk L200 has external dimensions of 399.0 x 213.0 x 339.0mm ( 15-11/16 x 8-3/8 x 13-5/16inch) whereas PSB P3 has external dimensions of 223.0 x 132.0 x 186.0mm ( 8-3/4 x 5-3/16 x 7-5/16inch) .
Polk L200 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 81mm wider, 176mm taller and 153mm deeper than PSB P3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk L200 and PSB P3 in scale.
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 Polk L200 is approximately 722.1cm2 / 111.9inch2 and base area of the PSB P3 is approximately 245.5cm2 / 38.1inch2. The L200 requires 194% more surface area than the Alpha P3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
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 Polk L200 weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs and the PSB P3 weighs 2.23kg / 4.9lbs. This makes the L200 348% heavier than the Alpha P3.
Here is a comparison of how L200 and Alpha P3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk L200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L200:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles Cleaning cloth Owners Manual Online Registration
What's in the Box of PSB P3?
Here are the items that come with the Alpha P3:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Quick Start Guide Warranty Card
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Height |
223mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
245cm2 (132x186mm)
vs
722cm2 (213x339mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
279USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Polk Audio Legend L200 |
PSB Alpha P3 |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
PSB |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
30-200 watts |
10-80 watts |
Sensitivity |
85.5 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
46-38k Hz |
57-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
4.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
Tweeter Type |
Ring Radiator |
Hard-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
3000Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
399.0mm (15.7") |
223.0mm (8.8") |
Width |
213.0mm (8.4") |
132.0mm (5.2") |
Depth |
339.0mm (13.3") |
186.0mm (7.3") |
Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
2.23kg (4.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
Walnut,Black Ash |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
28-30" |
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 |