In this review, we will be comparing Concept 50 and Imagine X2T, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Q Acoustics and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics Concept 50 and PSB Imagine X2T first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Q Acoustics Concept 50 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5" Paper composite Woofer
- 42-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 90.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:22.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 40-3/8" x 16-7/16" x 12-9/16" ( 1025.0 x 418.0 x 319.0mm )
PSB Imagine X2T Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 30-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-200watts
- Weight:23.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 40-1/8" x 9" x 16-3/4" ( 1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm )
What size room are the Q Acoustics Concept 50 and PSB Imagine X2T 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* |
Q Acoustics Concept 50 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 Q Acoustics Concept 50 and PSB Imagine X2T 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 Concept 50 is a 2-way design whereas the Imagine X2T 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 |
Q Acoustics Concept 50 |
PSB Imagine X2T |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.2-inch
|
Concept 50 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
Concept 50 has a frequency range of 42-30k Hz whereas Imagine X2T has a frequency range of 30-23k 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 Concept 50's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
Concept 50 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Imagine X2T which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Concept 50 sensitivity is rated at 90.5 dB and the Imagine X2T's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics Concept 50 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. 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.
Concept 50 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Concept 50 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Imagine X2T.
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
Imagine X2T features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Concept 50 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB Imagine X2T's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Concept 50 has a rear firing port whereas Imagine X2T has a front firing ports. PSB Imagine X2T's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Q Acoustics Concept 50 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 Q Acoustics Concept 50's and PSB Imagine X2T's external dimensions. Q Acoustics Concept 50 has external dimensions of 1025.0 x 418.0 x 319.0mm ( 40-3/8 x 16-7/16 x 12-9/16inch) whereas PSB Imagine X2T has external dimensions of 1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm ( 40-1/8 x 9 x 16-3/4inch) .
PSB Imagine X2T is 189mm narrower and 5mm shorter than Q Acoustics Concept 50 but it is also 107mm deeper.
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 Q Acoustics Concept 50 is approximately 1333.4cm2 / 206.7inch2 and base area of the PSB Imagine X2T is approximately 975.5cm2 / 151.2inch2. The Concept 50 requires 37% more surface area than the Imagine X2T which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.