PSB Alpha, "The Amazing" Bookshelf Speakers From Up North

PSB Speakers was founded in 1972 by Paul and Sue Barton in Waterloo, Canada.  PSB has been successfully pushing the boundaries of hifi audio since introducing the "PSB Canadian Sound" to the world at that time.  With the goal of reproducing the timbre of natural instruments as closely as possible, PSB employed quality components from Philips Audio Labs in Denmark, and the product line was born.

The original PSB Alpha ran from 1991-1994 and is  a two-way, rear-ported mini-monitor designed by Paul Barton at Canada's National Research Council (NRC). The speaker's engineering focused on maximizing neutral frequency response and tonal accuracy within a compact, budget-friendly package. Its cabinet design featured a dense MDF enclosure, measuring approximately 12x9x9 inches, and incorporating a rear-facing reflex port to extend low-frequency performance while maintaining a small footprint.

The original Alpha utilized a two-way driver complement designed for balanced, uncolored sound. It featured a 6.5” polymer-coated fiber woofer with a rubber surround, handling mid-bass frequencies, paired with a 0.5” polymer dome tweeter with ferrofluid cooling. The drivers were linked by a simple, effective crossover network (crossed at roughly 3kHz) that managed the phase transitions efficiently. This driver configuration provided a claimed nominal impedance of 8 ohms, making the speaker easy to drive for budget-level amplifiers and receivers of the era.

These little speakers are quickly becoming a “budget classic.” The fit-anywhere size, combined with a classic and unassuming look work perfectly with any interior.  And the sound they produce is surprisingly even-tempered.  This set are finished in a rare gloss black which has been maintained and still looks clean and crisp.

Demos are encouraged in Andover, MA.

$99/pair (plus applicable shipping and/or MA sales tax)