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Sonos Five vs PSB Alpha AM3 Comparison

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Sonos Five

Powered Bookshelf |

Sonos Five
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PSB Alpha AM3

Powered Bookshelf | 56-20k Hz

PSB Alpha AM3
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Sonos Five Sonos Five
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PSB Alpha AM3 PSB Alpha AM3
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Sonos Five
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PSB Alpha AM3
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Sonos Five vs PSB Alpha AM3 Speaker Comparison

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.

Sonos Five Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • Integrated Amplifier
  • 3 x 0.8" Dome Tweeter
  • 3 x 2.75" Cone Woofer
  • Frequency Response
  • 16-bit Max Depth / 44.1kHz Max Sample Rate
  • App Control Feature
  • Weight:6.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 201.6" x 14.3125" x 6.875"( 201.6 x 363.5 x 174.6mm )

PSB Alpha AM3 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 70-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
  • 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 4" Polypropylene Woofer
  • 56-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
  • Weight:4.50kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.7" x 5.1875" x 8.125"( 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm )

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.


**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

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

Sonos Five
Alpha AM3
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Sonos Five
PSB Alpha AM3
Min
Average
Max

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
Sonos Five
PSB Alpha AM3
Min
Average
Max

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

  • Reasons to choose Sonos Five over PSB Alpha AM3
    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

    Reasons to choose PSB Alpha AM3 over Sonos Five

    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 vs 634cm2 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
    Sonos Five vs PSB Alpha AM3 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    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

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