Short answer: the PSB Imagine T65 for bass weight, the Polk Audio Reserve R700 if midrange clarity does. The T65’s three-way design with dual 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers delivers strong, extended low end, but Erin flagged a noticeable midrange and crossover dip that affects dialogue and vocal clarity, though a couple bands of EQ smooth it out. The R700’s weakness is high-frequency compression that rises sharply between 96dB and 102dB.
Buy the Polk Audio Reserve R700. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $301 less than the PSB Imagine T65.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Audio Reserve R700 | PSB Imagine T65 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,398 per pair | $2,699 per pair |
| Ranked | #33 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #34 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 26Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 2x 8” polypropylene cone woofers, 1x 6.5” turbine cone midrange, 1x 1” Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter | 1” titanium dome tweeter, 5.25” woven carbon fiber midrange, 2x 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers |
| Weight | 102.1 lbs (46.3 kg) | 44.1 lbs (20 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing | - |
| Dimensions | 45”H x 12.6”W x 16.9”D (1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3 mm) | 38.8” x 8.4” x 13.5” (986 x 213 x 343 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.38 | 5.29 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.83 | 6.51 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley |
| Recommended Power | - | 20-200W |
| Enclosure | - | Vented: dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers |
| Frequency Response | - | 28Hz - 20kHz (±1.5dB, manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Polk Audio Reserve R700: $2,398 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Three-way design with a 1” ring radiator tweeter, 6.5” mid-range, and dual 8” mid-bass drivers in a ported, down-firing cabinet. On-axis frequency response holds within about ±2dB across most of its range, with genuinely deep bass extension (F3 40Hz) reaching into the mid-30s Hz in-room. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70°, giving a strong, enveloping stereo width and stage-extension effect on well-recorded tracks. Good low-level dynamics: solid bass thump at quiet listening volumes without over-accentuation. Strong distortion and compression control through the bass and midrange. Real nominal impedance closer to 4 ohms than the marketed 8 ohms, so with the right amplifier it can be driven hard: a $3,000 two-channel integrated brought out significantly more life than a budget $300 unit could. Excellent value at its roughly $1199/pair, ranking among the reviewer’s top picks under $2,500; outperforms the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-8000F II in bass extension and overall smoothness. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87.5dB.
Cons: Compression in the high frequencies rises sharply between 96dB and 102dB output: a real limitation only at very high volumes (around 100dB at 3 meters), but a clear step down from pricier ($5,000+) towers. Horizontal directivity mismatch around 4-5kHz, where the tweeter flares wider than the midrange, can sound a bit forward, especially noticeable when toed out further into the room; sidewall absorption or curtains help tame it. Harmonic distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 7kHz at 96dB output, possibly contributing to that same forward quality at high volume. Narrow vertical sweet spot (about ±15° from the tweeter axis), typical of non-coaxial tower designs: more of a consideration for multi-row home theater seating than single-row listening. The ring-radiator tweeter narrows noticeably above about 7-8kHz, and toeing the speaker out more than about 20° causes the top end to fall off quickly. Needs at least 2 feet of clearance from the rear wall to avoid boomy, exaggerated bass, since it lacks the bass-shelf tuning some rivals use to allow closer wall placement. Compared to the pricier KEF R5 Meta, has narrower horizontal (and much narrower vertical) directivity, so seating flexibility is more limited.
Full Polk Audio Reserve R700 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 45”H x 12.6”W x 16.9”D (1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 8” polypropylene cone woofers, 1x 6.5” turbine cone midrange, 1x 1” Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.83 |
| Weight | 102.1 lbs (46.3 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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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 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
- PSB Imagine T65 vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Polk Reserve R500
- PSB Imagine T65 vs JBL HDI-3600
- PSB Imagine T65 vs JBL Studio 698
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Infinity Primus 360
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Arendal 1961 Tower
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Q Acoustics 5040
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