In this review, we will be comparing NS-F150 and Alpha T20, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Yamaha and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Yamaha NS-F150 and PSB Alpha T20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Yamaha NS-F150 | PSB Alpha T20 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft dome | 0.75" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Cone | 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-30k Hz | 36-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-180 watts | 15-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.20kg / 24.6lbs | 11.89kg / 26.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40.5" x 7.875" x 14.25"
1028.7 x 200.0 x 362.0mm | 34-3/16" x 8-5/16" x 9-13/16"
869.0 x 212.0 x 250.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Yamaha NS-F150 and PSB Alpha T20 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* |
Yamaha NS-F150 |
PSB Alpha T20 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both NS-F150 and Alpha T20 are 2-way speakers.
Yamaha NS-F150PSB Alpha T20
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Yamaha NS-F150 |
PSB Alpha T20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
NS-F150 features a 1" Soft dome Soft dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Cone Woofer. On the other hand, the Alpha T20 features a 0.75" anodized aluminum with front waveguide Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
NS-F150 has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz whereas Alpha T20 has a frequency range of 36-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Alpha T20 can go slightly deeper then the NS-F150's min frequency of 37Hz.
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
NS-F150 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Alpha T20 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. NS-F150 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Alpha T20's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the PSB Alpha T20 a more sensitive speaker compared to Yamaha NS-F150, 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.
NS-F150 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas Alpha T20 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the NS-F150.
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
Alpha T20 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. NS-F150 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB Alpha T20's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Yamaha NS-F150's and PSB Alpha T20's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-F150 has external dimensions of 1028.7 x 200.0 x 362.0mm (40.5 x 7.875 x 14.25inch) whereas PSB Alpha T20 has external dimensions of 869.0 x 212.0 x 250.0mm (34-3/16 x 8-5/16 x 9-13/16inch).
PSB Alpha T20 is 159.7mm shorter and 112mm less deeper than Yamaha NS-F150 but it is also 12mm 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 Yamaha NS-F150 is approximately 724.0cm2 / 112.2inch2 and base area of the PSB Alpha T20 is approximately 530.0cm2 / 82.2inch2. The NS-F150 requires 37% more surface area than the Alpha T20 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 Yamaha NS-F150 weighs 11.20kg / 24.6lbs and the PSB Alpha T20 weighs 11.89kg / 26.2lbs. This makes the Alpha T20 6% heavier than the NS-F150.
Here is a comparison of how NS-F150 and Alpha T20'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 Alpha T20?
Here are the items that come with the Alpha T20:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Spike feet
- 8 Hex-nuts
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
760USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
869mm
vs
1028mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
530cm2
vs
724cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Yamaha NS-F150 |
PSB Alpha T20 |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-180 watts |
15-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-30k Hz |
36-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1028.7mm (40.5") |
869.0mm (34.2") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
362.0mm (14.3") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Weight |
11.20kg (24.6lbs) |
11.89kg (26.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Yamaha NS-F150 is the newer design, against a 2019 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (37Hz vs 36Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
PSB Alpha T20 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
PSB Alpha T20 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
A |
Yamaha NS-F150 takes more power (180W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
PSB Alpha T20 is easier to place; Yamaha NS-F150 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
PSB Alpha T20: bi-amping. PSB Alpha T20 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($760 vs $799 a pair). |
A Yamaha NS-F150
B PSB Alpha T20
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 Alpha T20 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Yamaha NS-F150 the better fit for a small room, and PSB Alpha T20 for a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Yamaha NS-F150 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, PSB Alpha T20 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.