Canada’s PSB Speakers — with a storied 45 year history — released the Alpha P5 bookshelf speakers several years ago. I reviewed them and was so impressed by their performance that I bought the review units for my office audio system. Despite the fact that I had just upgraded to a new pair of speakers only months prior. The PSB Alpha P5s were just that good. So I was pretty excited when I heard the news that the company was releasing a powered version. The PSB Alpha AM5 powered bookshelf speakers bring the experience of the Alpha P5s to those who don’t want to deal with connecting to an external amplifier.
They even upgrade the experience, with integrated Bluetooth streaming and a DSP that supports multiple listening modes.
PSB's Alpha AM5 powered bookshelf speakers.
Setup
When I unpacked the Alpha AM5 speakers, they looked extremely familiar. From the front, they are virtually indistinguishable from the Alpha P5s. Almost the exact same size, same driver setup, same metal grill. The only real difference is the input dial and status light on the powered versions. Around back is a different story.
PSB Alpha AM5 (L) beside the Alpha P5 (R) speaker showing the strong family resemblance.
The familiar bass port and binding posts are there (although in a slightly different position), but the back of the main speaker is peppered with inputs and outputs. More on that shortly. Setup is a matter of connecting the speakers using the included speaker wire, then plugging the power supply into the main speaker.
The Alpha AM5s offer a wide range of connectivity options.
Connectivity
You can connect virtually anything to these speakers, including a turntable, subwoofer, a PC or a TV. There are high quality analog and digital inputs provided. You can also connect to the Alpha AM5’s wirelessly using a mobile device and stream music over Bluetooth.
The appeal of powered speakers is that they cut the amplifier or receiver out of the equation. That saves a lot of space. The receiver in my office setup has a footprint of 17 inches by 13 inches... They also save money. The Alpha AM5s have a $200 price premium over the Alpha P5s, but you are likely going to be shelling out more than that if you purchase a standalone amplifier or receiver.
In other words, with the PSB Alpha AM5 powered bookshelf speakers you can have a very compact audio system with full 2-channel stereo audio, at a very affordable price compared to a traditional component stereo setup.
Add a turntable and these powered speakers make for a high quality and space-saving vinyl listening ... [+]
Audio Performance
Based on my experience with the PSB Alpha P5 speakers (you can read the review here), I was expecting good things from the Alpha AM5s. And I was not disappointed. In fact, if anything they performed even better than I thought they would. They produced same wide sound stage, crisp high end, solid mids, muscular bass and overall warm tone. The usual disclaimer applies about speaker placement and audio source impacting the audio, but listening to a record spinning on a turntable with speakers six feet apart was truly enjoyable. There was no sense of missing out because I wasn't plugged in to a standalone amplifier.
With 50W per channel of power on tap, they can get plenty loud as well.
However this is where things got interesting. Because the Alpha AM5s include their own Class D amplifier and DSP, they can go beyond bass and treble adjustments to also support different preset listening modes.
Some of these have specific purposes. For example, Enhance Dialog Clarity is useful for podcasts or if you connect a TV (that optical port is ideal for TVs or video streamers). Widesound offers an expanded soundstage, an effect that makes music sound more like it’s being played in a concert hall. You can also stick to Stereo mode that keeps things simple.
With at least some of these modes, I could swear that the Alpha AM5s were producing even more low end punch than my Alpha P5s. I asked a PSB product manager to confirm if I was indeed hearing a stronger bass response from these speakers and he replied:
“It would be fair and accurate to say that the bass output on these may be more pronounced than if the passive Alpha P5s were run through an amp at flat settings.”
PSB Alpha AM5 Key Specs:
- Bass reflex, 2-way powered bookshelf speakers
- 3/4-inch aluminum dome tweeter with ferrofluid neodymium magnet
- 5-1/4” cone woofer with rubber surround
- Frequency response 55Hz-20Khz
- Class D amplifier 50W x 2, built-in Phono pre-amp
- Multiple listening modes
- Inputs: 3.5mm AUX, RCA MM Phono, Optical, USB, Bluetooth with aptX
- Outputs: SUB Out, 5V USB Type-A charge port
- Rear-mounted volume control, front-mounted control dial and status light
- Includes 16 gauge speaker wire, remote control (with AAA batteries)
- Vinyl-covered MDF cabinets with tuned rear bass port, acoustically transparent perforated metal magnetic grills
- Available in Matte Black or Matte White
- Each speaker 6-3/4 x 11-2/5 x 9-1/2 inches, pair weighs 21.5 pounds
- MSRP $599
Recommendation
PSB Alpha AM5 powered speakers front and back.
I loved PSB’s Alpha P5s, and they are still at the heart of my office reference audio system. The combination of compact size, performance and affordable price have proven tough to beat. The Alpha AM5 powered bookshelf speakers are $200 more, but for that extra outlay you get all the benefits of the Alpha P5s, plus an integrated 100W amplifier, a wide range of inputs and outputs, and Bluetooth streaming.
My favorite affordable bookshelf speakers are now available as powered speakers. There’s not much more to say than that. If you’re in the market for some high-performance powered speakers, be sure to give these a listen.
