PSB Imagine Series Review

[Sound_Hound_SA]

Hey everyone,

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Schalk, the importer of PSB, NAD, Bluesound and Dual in Midrand. My initial reason for stopping by was to collect some Node Icons for customers who had placed orders. However the visit turned into something much more than just a pickup trip.

While there I had the opportunity to sit down and experience the PSB Imagine setup, featuring the T65 floorstanders paired with a NAD C399 stereo integrated amplifier. From the very first listen, I was completely hooked. The sheer musicality, clarity and overall balance of the system caught me off guard. Instantly my mind started racing comparing them to other speakers in their price range, analyzing their performance and questioning how PSB had managed to create such a remarkable sound signature.

The Decision: A Full 7.0 PSB Setup​

Long story short I didn’t leave empty-handed. Instead I placed an order for a full 7.0 PSB setup:

• T65 Floorstanders for the fronts
• PWM2 for the center channel
• PWM1 for the surrounds

This wasn’t just a spontaneous buy as I’ve had a wide range of speakers in my setup over the years, many of which ended up as demo units for customers. But there was something about the PSB sound that resonated with me in a way few other speakers have.

First Impressions: Stereo and AVR Performance​

For the initial test run, I hooked up the PSBs to a Rotel RB-1552 MkII power amplifier, driven by an Anthem MRX 1140 via pre-outs. Nothing too "end-game"—these are mid tier components with the rotel sitting on the entry level side of things, a combo of sorts if you will.

Firing up Tidal (Tidal Connect) I was immediately in awe of how cohesive and engaging the T65 floorstanders sounded in stereo mode. The clarity, depth and natural tonality were impressive but what truly blew me away was their performance in a home theater AVR setup even in just two channel stereo mode.

Schalk mentioned that the T65s need some playtime to reach their full potential. If they sound this good straight out of the box and I can only imagine what’s in store once they’re fully broken in!

Enter the Valve Audio Predator & Van Den Hul Upgrades​

Fast forward to Sundway Dayne stopped by, bringing along some Van Den Hul goodies and a Valve Audio Predator amplifier. After giving the system a listen in its original setup, he was already quite impressed with the PSB’s performance.

Then came the real fun. We unpacked the Valve amp and Van Den Hul speaker & RCA cables. I didn’t have a dedicated streamer on hand, so I quickly unboxed a new Node Icon to complete the chain. Thanks to my kids’ creativity, we used a nice round table to place the Valve Audio Predator on and then ran the cables directly from the Valve amp to the speakers this was done because my cable runs are from the the back of the room to the front so naturally we had to have the setup closest to the speakers to test the pre terminated VDH cables, we added VDH RCA connections from the Node Icon into the Valve amp.

We let the system warm up, gave it some playtime, grabbed a quick coffee and then sat down for some serious listening.

The Moment of Truth: Listening Session​

Once the system was properly warmed up we cued up some reference tracks and wow. I was absolutely speechless!!! The effortless way the PSBs reproduced music, especially when paired with the Van Den Hul cables and the Valve amp, was nothing short of breathtaking.

This isn’t to say that other components or cables wouldn’t yield a fantastic sound but the synergy between this simple setup without breaking the bank was something special. This was a system that any audiophile could live with happily for years.

Some key takeaways from our listening session:

• Imaging & Soundstage – Voices were locked dead center and thanks to precise laser-guided speaker placement, the imaging was razor-sharp.
• Bass Response – The T65s deliver tight, controlled bass. Forget the need for a subwoofer with these floorstanders!
• Midrange Clarity – Rich, pronounced mids gave vocals and instruments a lifelike quality that many speakers struggle to achieve.
• Potential for Growth – If these speakers sound this good already and I can only imagine how they will open up further with more playtime.

A Salute to PSB​

This post isn’t about pushing sales(Okay maybe a little as I am a PSB dealer) it’s about giving credit where it’s due. PSB has done something remarkable with these speakers and I genuinely feel that they deserve more attention. It’s rare that a speaker excites me this much but the Imagine Series is something special, and at the asking pricing vs the sound they achieve I feel that PSB are within their right to ask for more than what they currently sell for however that plays in the consumers favour!

For anyone considering new speakers, do yourself a favor don’t just glance over PSB. Come and give them a listen. Experience it firsthand.

Home Theater Performance & Overall Value​

While this was primarily a stereo listening session, I’ve also put the T65s through their paces in a movie setup and they perform just as phenomenally.

From a value-for-money perspective, it’s hard to fault PSB:

• Build Quality – Solid and refined, these speakers feel premium.
• Packaging & Mounting Kit – Everything was thoughtfully packaged and easy to set up.
• Seamless Integration – Whether in stereo or home theater, these speakers deliver.

I’m super chuffed to be a PSB dealer and only wish I had given them more consideration earlier. Luckily with Schalk’s new showroom in Midrand, we now have access to even more gear for demos, plus my own Imagine Series demo room.

If you’re serious about great sound, come have a listen you might just walk away as surprised as I was. In addition we are now proud to be VDH dealer as well!

 

[naks]

 

[optimus]