In this review, we will be comparing Sonos Five and Alpha AM3, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Sonos and PSB. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonos Five and PSB Alpha AM3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonos Five and PSB Alpha AM3 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 Sonos Five and Alpha AM3 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonos Five |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
3 x 0.8-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 2.75-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Sonos Five features a 3 x 0.8" Dome Tweeter and 3 x 2.75" Cone Woofer . On the other hand, the Alpha AM3 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Sonos Five has a frequency range of whereas Alpha AM3 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of Hz, the Sonos Five can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha AM3's min frequency of 56Hz.
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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Sonos Five has a front firing port whereas Alpha AM3 has a rear firing ports. Sonos Five's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to PSB Alpha AM3 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 Sonos Five's and PSB Alpha AM3's external dimensions. Sonos Five has external dimensions of 201.6 x 363.5 x 174.6mm ( 7.9375 x 14.3125 x 6.875inch) whereas PSB Alpha AM3 has external dimensions of 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm ( 8.6875 x 5.1875 x 8.125inch) .
Sonos Five is 19.1mm shorter and 31.8mm less deeper than PSB Alpha AM3 but it is also 231.7mm wider.
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 Sonos Five is approximately 634.7cm2 / 98.4inch2 and base area of the PSB Alpha AM3 is approximately 272.0cm2 / 42.2inch2. The Sonos Five requires 133% more surface area than the Alpha AM3 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 Sonos Five weighs 6.40kg / 14.1lbs and the PSB Alpha AM3 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the Sonos Five 42% heavier than the Alpha AM3.
Here is a comparison of how Sonos Five and Alpha AM3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonos Five?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonos Five:
Wireless audio speaker 6.5-feet AC power cord Quickstart Guide Important Safety Information
What's in the Box of PSB Alpha AM3?
Here are the items that come with the Alpha AM3:
Powered speaker Passive speaker 2 Grilles AC power adapter (attached 45-inch DC cord) 4-feet AC power cord Remote control (PSR-1) 2 AAA batteries 8-feet Speaker cable 58-inch Stereo minijack cable 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Connection Diagram Warranty Card
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
201mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 Subwoofer Output |
Optional Wireless
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
| Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
20k Hz
vs
k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Base Surface Area |
272cm2 (131x206mm)
vs
634cm2 (363x174mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
1098USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
| General |
Sonos Five |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
| Brand |
Sonos |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
|
56-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
n/a |
70-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
16-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
44.1kHz |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
2.75" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
3 x 0.8" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
201.6mm (7.9") |
220.7mm (8.7") |
| Width |
363.5mm (14.3") |
131.8mm (5.2") |
| Depth |
174.6mm (6.9") |
206.4mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
6.40kg (14.1lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Matte Black, Matte White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
No |
microUSB |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
Optional Wireless |
No |
| Digital Input |
No |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |