Short answer: the Focal Theva N°2, if you are buying new. The Focal Chora 816 ranks higher than the PSB Imagine T65 (#26 vs #61 of 188 floorstanding speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Focal Theva N°2, is rated 4.4/5 at $999 and is still sold new.
The PSB Imagine T65 is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. 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. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.29 against 4.30 for the Focal Chora 816. Its bass reaches about 47Hz before falling 3dB, against 60Hz for the Focal Chora 816. 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.
The case for the Focal Chora 816: CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally even on-axis response with nice bass extension and high sensitivity. The tradeoff: Some messiness appears between 500Hz-2kHz on-axis, including a dip around 550Hz.
Buy the Focal Theva N°2, the replacement for the discontinued Focal Chora 816; it is rated higher for sound quality than the PSB Imagine T65.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| PSB Imagine T65 | Focal Chora 816 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,699 per pair | $900 per pair used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #61 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #26 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 | 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofer, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter |
| 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 11.8”W x 15.3”D (1033.8 x 299.7 x 388.6 mm) |
| Weight | 44.1 lbs (20 kg) each | 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Recommended Power | 20-200W | - |
| Enclosure | Vented: dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 20kHz (±1.5dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.29 | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.51 | 6.37 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, front |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Focal Chora 816:
- KEF Blade Two Meta vs Focal Chora 816
- Focal Chora 816 vs MoFi SourcePoint 888
- Revel F328Be vs Focal Chora 816
- KEF R5 Meta vs Focal Chora 816
- Revel F226Be vs Focal Chora 816
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Polk Audio Reserve R700
- PSB Imagine T65 vs JBL HDI-3600
- PSB Imagine T65 vs JBL Studio 698
- 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 Arendal 1961 Tower
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Infinity Primus 360
- See all 41 comparisons
Focal Chora 816: $900 per pair used Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Focal Theva N°2, ranked lower, estimated 4.4/5.
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally even on-axis response with nice bass extension and high sensitivity. Predicted in-room response is very good aside from a peak around 8kHz. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees is typical and fairly controlled. Distortion is very low at 86dB SPL/1m and still usable at 96dB SPL/1m. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91dB.
Cons: Some messiness appears between 500Hz-2kHz on-axis, including a dip around 550Hz. Vertical directivity narrows a little, so listening height matters more than with a coincident design. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows a fair bit of resonances lingering across the midrange. Distortion rises substantially in the 1-2kHz region at 96dB SPL/1m. Minimum impedance dips to about 3.9 ohms. Discontinued.
Full Focal Chora 816 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.3”D (1033.8 x 299.7 x 388.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofer, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.37 |
| Weight | 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons