Short answer: the PSB Imagine T65, if you are buying new. The KEF R5 Meta ranks higher than it (#14 vs #61 of 188 floorstanding speakers, 4.6/5 vs 4.3/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the PSB Imagine T65 is still sold new at $2,699.
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 $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.
The KEF R5 Meta is the more accurate pick. 12th generation 5” Uni-Q coaxial driver array with Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) delivers remarkably smooth, controlled horizontal (±50°) and vertical directivity with near-identical off-axis tracking. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.33 against 5.29 for the PSB Imagine T65. Watch for: Low-frequency extension (F3 of 52Hz, F10 of 38Hz) requires pairing with a dedicated subwoofer crossed over at 80Hz for high-output home theater or bass-heavy music performance.
Buy the PSB Imagine T65 if you want one new; the KEF R5 Meta is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| PSB Imagine T65 | KEF R5 Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,699 per pair | $3,999.99 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #61 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #14 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 | 1 in. vented aluminum dome tweeter with MAT, 5 in. aluminum cone midrange, two 5.25 in. hybrid aluminum cone woofers |
| Crossover Frequency | 600Hz & 2000Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley | - |
| Dimensions | 38.8” x 8.4” x 13.5” (986 x 213 x 343 mm) | 42.2”H x 10.7”W x 13.6”D (1073 x 273 x 346 mm) |
| Weight | 44.1 lbs (20 kg) each | 54 lbs (24.5 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer specifies 4 ohms minimum) | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 20-200W | - |
| Enclosure | Vented: dual rear slot ports, individual woofer chambers | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 52Hz (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) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.29 | 6.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.51 | 8.07 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How KEF R5 Meta compares with other leading options:
- KEF Blade Two Meta vs KEF R5 Meta
- MoFi SourcePoint 888 vs KEF R5 Meta
- Revel F328Be vs KEF R5 Meta
- Revel F226Be vs KEF R5 Meta
- KEF R5 Meta vs JBL 4367
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
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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KEF R5 Meta: $3,999.99 per pair Discontinued eBay
Same family: the KEF R3 Meta (bookshelf, rated 4.6/5), the KEF R7 Meta (larger floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 4.6/5), the KEF R11 Meta (larger floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 4.4/5), the KEF R2 Meta (smaller center, rated 4.3/5) and the KEF R6 Meta (larger center, rated 4.2/5).
Pros: 12th generation 5” Uni-Q coaxial driver array with Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) delivers remarkably smooth, controlled horizontal (±50°) and vertical directivity with near-identical off-axis tracking. Exceptional frequency response linearity through the midrange and treble that takes extremely well to minor parametric EQ adjustments. Constrained Layer Damping cabinet construction and flexible rear ports minimize enclosure resonances and port turbulence. Deliberately tuned low-frequency roll-off profile permits boundary-adjacent room placement near front walls without boomy acoustic buildup. Measured bass extension of 52Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
Cons: Low-frequency extension (F3 of 52Hz, F10 of 38Hz) requires pairing with a dedicated subwoofer crossed over at 80Hz for high-output home theater or bass-heavy music performance. High-frequency radiation above 7kHz shows a mild on-axis taper (1-2dB downward slope), performing best when listened to 10-20° off-axis. Moderate sensitivity (~86dB SPL average) requires a clean, robust 4-ohm capable amplifier to drive high dynamic peaks without clipping. Discontinued.
Full KEF R5 Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 42.2”H x 10.7”W x 13.6”D (1073 x 273 x 346 mm) |
| Drivers | 1 in. vented aluminum dome tweeter with MAT, 5 in. aluminum cone midrange, two 5.25 in. hybrid aluminum cone woofers |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.07 |
| Weight | 54 lbs (24.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons