Short answer: the PSB Imagine T65. It ranks #61 of 188 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $2,699; the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 ranks #136, rated 3.7/5, and costs $4,798, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The PSB Imagine T65 is the better-sounding choice. 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.
Why pick the Focal Aria Evo X N°2: Solid bass with a deliberate mid-bass bump (80-120Hz) that gives extra thump and weight, extending to about 40-50Hz in-room. The tradeoff: Sounds very bright pointed directly at the listener: the tweeter comes in 5-6dB above the midrange with an unusually wide, roughly two-octave dip (1kHz-4kHz) leading into it, giving a laid-back, low-attack character even after toeing out ~20 degrees.
Buy the PSB Imagine T65. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| PSB Imagine T65 | Focal Aria Evo X N°2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,699 per pair | $4,798 per pair |
| Ranked | #61 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #136 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” titanium dome tweeter, 5.25” woven carbon fiber midrange, 2x 6.5” woven carbon fiber woofers | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” flax midrange, dual 6.5” flax midbass woofers |
| Crossover Frequency | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley | - |
| Dimensions | 38.8” x 8.4” x 13.5” (986 x 213 x 343 mm) | 40.7”H x 14.6”W x 11.6”D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) |
| Weight | 44.1 lbs (20 kg) each | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) | 8 ohms nominal (2.9 ohms minimum, Manufacturer specified; 3.4 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | 20-200W | 40-250W |
| Enclosure | Vented: dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 20kHz (±1.5dB, manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.29 | 4.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.51 | 6.82 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 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
PSB Imagine T65: $2,699 per pair PSB Speakers eBay
Same family: the PSB Imagine B50 (bookshelf, rated 3.7/5) and the PSB Imagine T54 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 4.2/5).
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
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Focal Aria Evo X N°2: $4,798 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Focal Aria Evo X N°1 (bookshelf, estimated 3.5/5), the Focal Aria Evo X N°3 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 4.3/5), the Focal Aria Evo X N°4 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 4.4/5) and the Focal Aria Evo X Center (center, estimated 3.7/5).
Pros: Solid bass with a deliberate mid-bass bump (80-120Hz) that gives extra thump and weight, extending to about 40-50Hz in-room. High sensitivity (measured 88.2dB) makes it easy to drive, and distortion is low throughout the range even at high output: the reviewer found only a minor compression “glare” around 4.5kHz at very high volumes, not a real concern. Directivity components (mid-range and tweeter) transition smoothly rather than abruptly, and the overall soundstage is wide and enveloping. Measured bass extension of 50Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 88.2dB.
Cons: Sounds very bright pointed directly at the listener: the tweeter comes in 5-6dB above the midrange with an unusually wide, roughly two-octave dip (1kHz-4kHz) leading into it, giving a laid-back, low-attack character even after toeing out ~20 degrees. Fixing this properly requires real EQ (a mini DSP or similar), not just toe-out or absorption alone; without EQ, expect it to sound bright for stereo listening. A mild dip around 200Hz makes male vocals sound slightly subdued. Narrow vertical directivity (about +/-15 degrees) means you need to stay close to tweeter-axis height. Impedance dips to 3.4 ohms (EPDR 1.4 ohms), so it wants a 4-ohm-capable amplifier, and requires a plinth for floor clearance since it’s bottom-ported.
Full Focal Aria Evo X N°2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.7”H x 14.6”W x 11.6”D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) |
| Drivers | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” flax midrange, dual 6.5” flax midbass woofers |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (2.9 ohms minimum, Manufacturer specified; 3.4 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 40-250W |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.82 |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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