Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Tower. It ranks #27 of 73 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $1,900; the PSB Imagine T65 ranks #34, rated 4.3/5, and costs $2,699, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the Arendal 1961 Tower: Exceptional output cleanliness for a slim tower: Erin measured under 1% THD to about 100Hz at 96dB/1m and only crossed 3% near 80Hz, while compression was better than several physically larger competitors. The catch: Erin measured F3 at 62Hz and F10 at 43Hz, so the four woofers prioritize clean output over deep extension; a subwoofer remains necessary.
What the PSB Imagine T65 does well: Three-way design with dual 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers delivers genuinely strong, extended low end for a $2699 tower: among the better performers Erin has measured in this price class. The catch: Noticeable dip in the midrange/crossover region that Erin flagged as affecting dialogue and vocal clarity, though he notes a couple bands of EQ smooths it out.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Tower. It is rated higher for sound quality than the PSB Imagine T65 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Tower | PSB Imagine T65 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,900 per pair | $2,699 per pair |
| Ranked | #27 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #34 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 26Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal; dips below 4 ohms (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) |
| Drivers | Four 5.5-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided soft dome | 1” titanium dome tweeter, 5.25” woven carbon fiber midrange, 2x 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers |
| Enclosure | Sealed HDF | Vented: dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.83 | 5.29 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.25 | 6.51 |
| Dimensions | 33”H x 6.4”W x 11.2”D (837.5 x 163 x 285 mm) (without feet) | 38.8” x 8.4” x 13.5” (986 x 213 x 343 mm) |
| Weight | 39.5 lbs (17.9 kg) each | 44.1 lbs (20 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley |
| Recommended Power | - | 20-200W |
| Frequency Response | - | 28Hz - 20kHz (±1.5dB, manufacturer specified) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Arendal 1961 Tower: $1,900 per pair Arendal Sound eBay
Pros: Exceptional output cleanliness for a slim tower: Erin measured under 1% THD to about 100Hz at 96dB/1m and only crossed 3% near 80Hz, while compression was better than several physically larger competitors. The response and listening window are broadly neutral, early-reflections and sound-power directivity are well controlled, and the waveguided dome supports stable imaging. A sealed HDF cabinet, four 5.5-inch woofers and a ten-year warranty provide serious theater-grade engineering in a tiny footprint. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.5dB.
Cons: Erin measured F3 at 62Hz and F10 at 43Hz, so the four woofers prioritize clean output over deep extension; a subwoofer remains necessary. Sensitivity is a moderate 86.5dB and impedance dips below four ohms, which may challenge budget AVRs even though a competent power amplifier has no issue. The optimal axis is roughly 5° above the tweeter and radiation begins narrowing around 1.3kHz, so seat height and toe-in deserve attention.
Full Arendal 1961 Tower review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 33”H x 6.4”W x 11.2”D (837.5 x 163 x 285 mm) (without feet) |
| Drivers | Four 5.5-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided soft dome |
| Enclosure | Sealed HDF |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal; dips below 4 ohms (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.83 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.25 |
| Weight | 39.5 lbs (17.9 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
PSB Imagine T65: $2,699 per pair PSB Speakers eBay
Pros: Three-way design with dual 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers delivers genuinely strong, extended low end for a $2699 tower: among the better performers Erin has measured in this price class. Distortion shows a clean second-order character with clear separation from third-order all the way up to 96 dB, indicating a well-controlled motor. Compression data shows enhancement rather than compression below about 50-60 Hz, so the bass can sound louder as you turn it up rather than choking off. Wide, forgiving vertical listening window (about ±25°) thanks to the 3-way layout, giving more seating and placement flexibility than most towers. Plenty of dynamic headroom for home theater use or a two-channel system: 100W drove it comfortably in Erin’s room. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.1dB.
Cons: Noticeable dip in the midrange/crossover region that Erin flagged as affecting dialogue and vocal clarity, though he notes a couple bands of EQ smooths it out. Some horizontal dispersion mismatch (about 10-15° of ballooning between 1-3 kHz) between the midrange and tweeter can add extra perceived attack or detail if your room’s sidewalls are reflective. Dips to 4 ohms, so it wants an amplifier comfortable driving a 4-ohm load. Distortion climbs above 3% around 60 Hz at 96 dB, though it’s benign second-order distortion.
Full PSB Imagine T65 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 38.8” x 8.4” x 13.5” (986 x 213 x 343 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” titanium dome tweeter, 5.25” woven carbon fiber midrange, 2x 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers |
| Enclosure | Vented: dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 20kHz (±1.5dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) |
| Recommended Power | 20-200W |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.29 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.51 |
| Weight | 44.1 lbs (20 kg) each |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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