PSB Alpha P5 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by PSB. It features a 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 55-21k Hz and a sensitivity of 89 dB. PSB P5 has an MSRP of 449$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the PSB P5 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Average |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | Bad |
(* 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.)
PSB's Alpha Series of Loudspeakers
Alpha P5 is a member of PSB's Alpha series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
PSB Alpha Series Speakers
PSB Alpha Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the PSB P5 Speaker
PSB P5 has a Frequency response range of 55-21k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 10-90 watts. With a minimum frequency of 55 Hz, Alpha P5 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with PSB P5, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $500. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how Alpha P5's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Crossover frequency of the PSB P5?
The Crossover frequency of the Alpha P5 is set to 2500Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
PSB P5's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
4 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
89 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so PSB Alpha P5 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
89dB of the PSB Alpha P5 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise.
Minimum Impedance of the PSB P5
Even though the nominal impedance of the Alpha P5 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to PSB is 4 ohms PSB Alpha P5 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the PSB P5:
Input Type
Alpha P5 features 5-way post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
PSB P5 Back View
PSB P5 External Dimensions and Weight
PSB P5 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 11-3/8 x 6-3/4 x 10inch (289.0 x 172.0 x 254.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of PSB P5 is approximately 436.9cm2 / 67.7inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of PSB P5, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
PSB P5 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the PSB P5 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
PSB P5 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
WeightThe PSB P5 weighs 4.61kg / 10.1lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Alpha P5's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $500
Cabinet type and Materials
PSB P5 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF, Wood-grain vinyl finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
PSB P5 comes with
8 Self-adhesive rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on. It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
PSB P5 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Available colors
PSB P5 is available in Walnut and Black Ash.
Wall Mounting
Alpha P5 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the PSB P5 come with a Grille?
Alpha P5 comes with Magnetic grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.
What's in the Box of PSB P5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha P5:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Quick Start Guide Warranty Card
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the PSB Alpha P5.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the PSB Alpha P5, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for PSB P5
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the PSB Alpha P5 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for PSB P5
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.