In this review, we will be comparing Antal Ez and Imagine X2T, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Triangle and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Esprit Antal Ez and PSB Imagine X2T first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Esprit Antal Ez | PSB Imagine X2T |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Double ferrite fibreglass | 2 x 6.2" Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-22k Hz | 30-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 60-200 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 27.10kg / 59.6lbs | 23.60kg / 51.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42-15/16" x 7-7/8" x 13-9/16"
1090.0 x 200.0 x 345.0mm | 40-1/8" x 9" x 16-3/4"
1020.0 x 229.0 x 426.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez 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* |
Triangle Esprit Antal Ez |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Antal Ez and Imagine X2T are 3-way speakers.
Triangle Esprit Antal EzPSB Imagine X2T
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Triangle Esprit Antal Ez |
PSB Imagine X2T |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.2-inch
|
Antal Ez features a 1" Titanium dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Double ferrite fibreglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 215Hz and 2500Hz. 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
Antal Ez has a frequency range of 40-22k 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 Antal Ez's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
Antal Ez and Imagine X2T have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Antal Ez sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Imagine X2T's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez 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 Antal Ez has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 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 Antal Ez and Imagine X2T 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
Both Antal Ez and Imagine X2T have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Triangle Esprit Antal Ez's and PSB Imagine X2T's external dimensions. Triangle Esprit Antal Ez has external dimensions of 1090.0 x 200.0 x 345.0mm (42-15/16 x 7-7/8 x 13-9/16inch) 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).
Triangle Esprit Antal Ez is 29mm narrower and 81mm less deeper than PSB Imagine X2T but it is also 70mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
PSB Imagine X2T needs about 41% more floor or shelf area. PSB Imagine X2T is 81mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Triangle Esprit Antal Ez is 70mm taller.
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 Triangle Esprit Antal Ez is approximately 690.0cm2 / 107.0inch2 and base area of the PSB Imagine X2T is approximately 975.5cm2 / 151.2inch2. The Antal Ez requires 29% less surface area than the Imagine X2T which gives it a small advantage 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 Triangle Esprit Antal Ez weighs 27.10kg / 59.6lbs and the PSB Imagine X2T weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs. This makes the Antal Ez 15% heavier than the Imagine X2T.
Here is a comparison of how Antal Ez and Imagine X2T'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 come with the Imagine X2T:
- Floor-standing speaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spiked Feet
- Wrench
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6.2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
690cm2
vs
975cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1020mm
vs
1090mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1980USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Esprit Antal Ez |
PSB Imagine X2T |
| Brand |
Triangle |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
60-200 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
40-22k Hz |
30-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.2" |
| Woofer Composition |
Double ferrite fibreglass |
Clay/Ceramic/Poly |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
215Hz and 2500Hz |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1090.0mm (42.9") |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
229.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
345.0mm (13.6") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
27.10kg (59.6lbs) |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
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: Triangle Esprit Antal Ez 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 | B | PSB Imagine X2T digs deeper - 30Hz against 40Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Triangle Esprit Antal Ez is more sensitive (92dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | PSB Imagine X2T takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Triangle Esprit Antal Ez is easier to place; PSB Imagine X2T is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Triangle Esprit Antal Ez: bi-amping; PSB Imagine X2T: bi-amping. Triangle Esprit Antal Ez sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | PSB Imagine X2T is cheaper - $1,500 against $1,980, about 24% less. |
A Triangle Esprit Antal Ez B PSB Imagine X2T
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 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 40Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Triangle Esprit Antal Ez the better fit for a very large room, and PSB Imagine X2T for a mid-size room.
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.