Short answer: the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+. It ranks #22 of 56 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $999; the PSB Imagine T65 ranks #26 and costs $2699, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ side: High-value three-way tower with strong output and unusually deep usable sealed-room bass for the price. Set against that: The nominal 4-ohm system approaches 3 ohms near 100Hz in Erin’s measurement, so a high-current amplifier is preferable.
The case for the PSB Imagine T65: Three-way design with dual 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers delivers genuinely strong, extended low end for a $2,699 tower - among the better performers Erin has measured in this price class. The tradeoff: 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 Emotiva Airmotiv T2+. It ranks higher for sound quality than the PSB Imagine T65 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ | PSB Imagine T65 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999/pair | $2,699 |
| Ranked | #22 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #26 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 26Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 89.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | Approximately 3 ohms minimum near 100Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) |
| Drivers | 32mm folded-ribbon tweeter; 5.25" midrange; dual 8" woofers | 1" titanium dome tweeter, 5.25" woven carbon fiber midrange, 2x 6.5" woven carbon fiber woofers |
| Dimensions | 42.7"H x 12.2"W x 12.3"D | 38-13/16"H x 8-3/8"W x 13.5"D (986 x 213 x 343mm) |
| Weight | 56.9 lb each | 44 lbs each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Crossovers | - | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley |
| Recommended Power | - | 20-200W |
| Bass Reflex | - | Dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers |
| Frequency Response | - | 28Hz - 20kHz (±1.5dB, manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Q Acoustics 5040 vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- ELAC DF63 vs Klipsch Heresy IV
- Arendal 1961 Tower vs Morel Avyra 633
- Revel Concerta2 F35 vs PSB Imagine T65
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs PSB Imagine T65
The Two Speakers In Full
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+: $999/pair Emotiva
Pros: High-value three-way tower with strong output and unusually deep usable sealed-room bass for the price. Erin measured F3 at 62Hz and F10 at 32Hz, with sensitivity just under 90dB/2.83V/1m. Dual 8-inch woven-fiber woofers relieve the 5.25-inch midrange, and the 32mm folded-ribbon tweeter provides broad horizontal coverage. Approximately +/-2.5dB response linearity, solid cabinet bracing and low compression allow substantial playback levels; the gradual low-frequency roll-off integrates well with either room gain or a subwoofer.
Cons: The nominal 4-ohm system approaches 3 ohms near 100Hz in Erin’s measurement, so a high-current amplifier is preferable. Horizontal and especially vertical directivity through the midrange/tweeter transition is less uniform than the best waveguided or coaxial designs; listener height and nearby reflections matter, and EQ cannot correct the narrowing mismatch. The large rear-ported cabinet needs placement clearance, and its deep F10 should not be confused with flat 30Hz output at cinema levels.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 42.7"H x 12.2"W x 12.3"D |
| Drivers | 32mm folded-ribbon tweeter; 5.25" midrange; dual 8" woofers |
| Impedance | Approximately 3 ohms minimum near 100Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 89.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 56.9 lb each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs JBL HDI-3600
- Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs Polk Audio Reserve R700
- Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs Q Acoustics 5040
- Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs KEF R11 Meta
- Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs Revel Concerta2 F35
- Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs ELAC DF63
- Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs Revel F206
- Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs JBL Studio 698
- See all 14 comparisons
PSB Imagine T65: $2,699 The Audio Factory
Pros: Three-way design with dual 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers delivers genuinely strong, extended low end for a $2,699 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.
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) |
| Bass Reflex | Dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers |
| Crossovers | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley |
| Dimensions | 38-13/16"H x 8-3/8"W x 13.5"D (986 x 213 x 343mm) |
| Drivers | 1" titanium dome tweeter, 5.25" woven carbon fiber midrange, 2x 6.5" woven carbon fiber woofers |
| 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) |
| Weight | 44 lbs each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Q Acoustics 5040
- PSB Imagine T65 vs ELAC DF63
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Polk Audio Reserve R700
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Polk Reserve R500
- PSB Imagine T65 vs JBL HDI-3600
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Definitive Technology BP-9020
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Arendal 1961 Tower
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Infinity Primus 360
- See all 15 comparisons