Short answer: the PSB Imagine T65. It ranks #61 of 188 floorstanding speakers by sound quality (rated 4.3/5) at $2,699 and is still sold new; the JBL Studio 590 ranks #178 (rated 2.8/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The JBL Studio 590’s replacement, the JBL Studio 698, is rated 4.3/5.
The PSB Imagine T65 is the more accurate 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 4.49 for the JBL Studio 590. 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.
What the JBL Studio 590 does well: Pretty deep bass. Watch for: 3dB peak at 1.7kHz, about a 4dB peak from 8k to 13k, going to be bright up top.
Buy the PSB Imagine T65. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Studio 590 is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| PSB Imagine T65 | JBL Studio 590 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,699 per pair | $2,000 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #61 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #178 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 | 2x 8” (200mm) PolyPlas cone woofers, 1x 1” (25mm) Teonex dome tweeter on Bi-Radial horn (2.5-way) |
| Crossover Frequency | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley | - |
| Dimensions | 38.8” x 8.4” x 13.5” (986 x 213 x 343 mm) | 49.7”H x 12.7”W x 16.3”D (1263.0 x 322.0 x 413.0 mm) |
| Weight | 44.1 lbs (20 kg) each | 107.8 lbs (48.9 kg) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) | 6 ohms nominal (5 ohms measured minimum, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 90.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by 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) | 48Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 20kHz (±1.5dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.29 | 4.49 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.51 | 6.22 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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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
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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JBL Studio 590: $2,000 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Studio 698, ranked higher, rated 4.3/5.
Same family: the JBL Studio 530 (bookshelf, rated 3.3/5) and the JBL Studio 520C (center, rated 3.4/5).
Pros: Pretty deep bass. CEA2034 spinorama is flat on-axis at a high level, with high sensitivity around 89-90dB. Predicted in-room response is good aside from a dip between 800Hz-1.5kHz. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is good outside of the 8.5kHz resonance. Measured bass extension of 48Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 90.3dB.
Cons: 3dB peak at 1.7kHz, about a 4dB peak from 8k to 13k, going to be bright up top. Just okay vertical off axis. Really bad resonance at 8.5kHz, which shows up as a sharp distortion spike at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) reveals many fine resonances across the midrange and treble. At 96dB SPL/1m the midrange and treble get notably messier, with broad distortion elevation from 2-8kHz. Discontinued.
Full JBL Studio 590 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 49.7”H x 12.7”W x 16.3”D (1263.0 x 322.0 x 413.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 8” (200mm) PolyPlas cone woofers, 1x 1” (25mm) Teonex dome tweeter on Bi-Radial horn (2.5-way) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (5 ohms measured minimum, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 90.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.49 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.22 |
| Weight | 107.8 lbs (48.9 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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