PSB Passif 50 is a 2-way Passive Radiator Bookshelf speaker by PSB. It was released in 2022. It features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" cast aluminum basket, paper cone Woofer. Passif 50 also employs one 8-inch passive radiators. The speaker has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz and a sensitivity of 87 dB. PSB Passif 50 has an MSRP of 2499$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the PSB Passif 50 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 | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
PSB Passif 50 Lifestyle
Frequency Response of the PSB Passif 50 Speaker
PSB Passif 50 has a Frequency response range of 50-20k Hz and Power Range of 30-200 Watts watts. With a minimum frequency of 50 Hz, Passif 50 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how Passif 50's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the PSB Passif 50?
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 3000$ (Pair), there is only one Passive Bookshelf speaker that have the deeper bass levels than the PSB Passif 50's 50Hz:
Crossover frequency of the PSB Passif 50?
The crossover frequency of the Passif 50 is set to 1800Hz. 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 Passif 50's nominal impedance level is
6 ohms but can go down to as low as
4 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
87 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 6 Ohms makes the PSB Passif 50 a relatively difficult to drive speaker compared to more frequently found 8 ohms speakers from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
89dB of the PSB Passif 50 is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the PSB Passif 50 plays in your room →
Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →
Minimum Impedance of the PSB Passif 50
Even though the nominal impedance of the Passif 50 is 6 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to PSB is 4 ohms PSB Passif 50 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
What amplifier does the PSB Passif 50 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
13–200 W
per channel into 6 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $3,000, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
Passif 50 has 5-Way post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
PSB Passif 50 Back View
PSB Passif 50's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
PSB Passif 50 External Dimensions and Weight
PSB Passif 50 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 26 x 11 x 10-inch (660 × 280 × 254mm ).
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 Passif 50 is approximately 712.0cm2 / 110.4inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of PSB Passif 50, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
PSB Passif 50 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the PSB Passif 50 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
PSB Passif 50 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe PSB Passif 50 weighs 13.70kg / 30.1lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Passif 50's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $3000
PSB Passif 50 on a Stand
Cabinet type and Materials
PSB Passif 50 has a
Passive Radiator type cabinet and a open-grain walnut veneer finish.
Available colors
PSB Passif 50 is available in Open-Grain Walnut.
Wall Mounting
Passif 50 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the PSB Passif 50 come with a Grille?
Passif 50 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. Since the included grille of the Passif 50 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
PSB Passif 50 with Grille
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the PSB Passif 50.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find 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.
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the PSB Passif 50 speaker:
Official Brochure for PSB Passif 50
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the PSB Passif 50 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for PSB Passif 50
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.