Back in the day, the PSB Imagine B is one of the top bookshelf speaker choices for audiophiles who want a high-performance stand-mounter that is friendly to their wallets. The Imagine B is the largest bookshelf model in the series and will be suitable for small listening rooms or to be used as surround speakers. No matter how you want to use these loudspeakers, you will still need a matching amp to drive them.
Depending on your requirements or the roles you have set for these stand-mounters, you can either go with an integrated amplifier or AV receiver. The amps must be compatible, matching, and able to drive the PSB Imagine B efficiently. This is why before we can work out a list of the best amplifiers to go for, we must first learn more about the Imagine B bookshelf speakers.
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Sound Characteristics and Limitations of PSB Imagine B
The PSB Imagine B is quite a compact-sized bookshelf speaker and still has an impressive frequency response of 52Hz to 23kHz (+/-3dB). It is quite unexpected coming from a stand-mounter with just a 1″ (25mm) titanium dome tweeter and a 5.25″ (133mm) woofer. This could also mean the rear-firing bass port of the Imagine B is working really hard and we might want to be cautious not to place them too near to the walls. Placing them nearer to rear/side walls might reinforce the bass output which will also affect the tonal balance. You might want to do some trial and error with the distancing between the speaker and the walls so as to find the optimal speaker position for your PSB Imagine B.
The speaker sensitivity of the PSB Imagine B inside a typical listening room is pretty high especially for a stand-mounter at this price point. In a listening room, the speaker sensitivity is 89dB, and when tested inside an anechoic chamber, the sensitivity of the Imagine B is at 87dB. The nominal impedance is 8 Ohms (min. 4 Ohms) which is great. The recommended amplifier power is from 20-150 Watts and based on these specs alone, these give us plenty of amp choices to go for but will be limited by the amplifier prices though.
More Details at Amazon – PSB Imagine B Pair (Gloss White)
We were taken by surprise by the level of clarity of the highs which the PSB Imagine B speakers possess. We can clearly hear the details including the subtleties. The high-frequency reproduction is crisp and clear, it is bright sounding but never sounded too harsh until it is unbearable. The highs do outshine the midrange by a little and the upper mids can be a little recessed at times. Still, the musical instruments sounded snappy and detailed, it is kind of fun listening to them. There’s a hint of warmth in the midrange reproduction as well and it has a smooth delivery.
Overall bass performance is meaty and solid, more pronounced than expected, not to mention, it could dig deep into the bass extension. The solid bass sound quality does lack a bit of texture and details but the weight of the low frequency is definitely one of the better ones in this price range. To tame the bass response, you might want to pull the PSB Imagine B further away from the walls. The sonic characteristics of the Imagine B stand-mounters do make them suitable to be part of a home theater system. You will require an active subwoofer to help reproduce the subsonic bass frequencies.
Another aspect which we find the PSB Imagine B loudspeakers are good at will be the sound staging, it is rather generous when it comes to size and scale. The stereo imaging is good for the money and they will be ideal speakers for a high-quality entry-level stereo setup. They do scale well with power but need to be cautious with partnering amps that have bright-sounding treble. Due to the amount of breathing space these stand-mounters need, they might not be suitable as part of a desktop setup or for nearfield listening unless you have plenty of space in front of your table. We will now share with you the list of the best matching amps to go for and you can find them below.
PSB Imagine B Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2-Way (Rear-firing port)
- Drive Units: 1″ (25mm) Titanium Dome Tweeter, 5.25″ (133mm) Ceramic reinforced Polypropylene Cone Woofer
- Frequency Response: 52Hz-23kHz (+/-3dB)
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 20W to 150W
- Sensitivity: 89dB
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 190mm x 324mm x 305mm | 7.5″ x 12.8″ x 12″
- Weight: 7.8kg (17.2lbs)
Best Amps to match with PSB Imagine B
Marantz PM8006 will be an amazing amp choice for the PSB Imagine B speakers if you want to add more warmth and musicality to the overall sound reproduction. With an amplifier power output of 70 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms (100WPC into 4 Ohms), the PM8006 will be able to drive the Imagine B bookshelf speakers with ease. The Marantz PM8006 is also a great choice for listeners who require a high-quality Phono EQ stage. The warmish sonic characteristics of the Marantz integrated amplifier also help to ease down the brightness of the speakers, not to mention, bringing the mids of the PSB Imagine B a little forward.
More Info at Amazon – Marantz PM8006 Integrated Amplifier with Phono-EQ for Vinyl Playback
As mentioned earlier, the PSB Imagine B speakers scale well with power and the Peachtree Audio Nova150 is the integrated amplifier for the job. The Nova150 has a rated output power of 150 Watts into 8 Ohms and has a plethora of features to boot. If you are planning to integrate your stereo sound system to be part of a home theater setup then you will be delighted to know that the Peachtree Audio Nova150 has an HTB feature. Furthermore, the amp doesn’t add any brightness to the overall sound reproduction, allowing us to crank up the volume of the speakers without worries.
More Details at Amazon – Peachtree Audio Nova150 with DAC (Gloss Ebony Mocha)
If you want a budget integrated amp with plenty of built-in features and enough amplifier power to drive the PSB Imagine B stand-mounters, then perhaps you might want to take a look at the Denon PMA-600 NE. It is an entry-level integrated amp with an affordable price tag and comes with features such as a D/A converter, MM Phono EQ, Bluetooth support, and more. Another notable feature that will come in handy will be the dedicated subwoofer output for you to connect to a powered sub for more powerful bass performance. The Denon PMA-600 NE has an easy on the ears sound quality and will match well with the PSB Imagine B.
More Info at Amazon – Denon PMA-600NE Amp | 70W x 2 Channels
The multi-award-winning Cambridge Audio CXA81 will be an excellent amp choice for your PSB Imagine B especially for listeners who want an energetic music performance. This is an integrated amplifier with amazing music timing and snappy pacing, providing an engaging music presentation with plenty of music details to boot. With 80 Watts RMS power, the CXA81 has no issue driving the PSB Imagine B stand-mounters. There are modern features that you can rely on such as the ESS Sabre ES9016K2M D/A converter, Bluetooth connection (aptX HD), etc. This is a lively amplifier and you might hear them out first to see it is not overly bright for you.
More Info at Amazon – Cambridge Audio CXA81 Stereo Amp Built-in DAC
Planning to set up a home theater system? The Marantz SR5015 is a fine AVR choice to match with your PSB Imagine B speakers. The SR5015 is a 7.2Ch 8K AV receiver and has a power output of 100 Watts into 8 Ohms (2 channels driven) which is more than enough to efficiently drive the Imagine Bs. Marantz SR5015 is a great choice for listeners who prefer a more musical-sounding AVR and want a smoother music delivery with a more tightly controlled bass performance. This 8K AVR doesn’t add brightness to the treble and you can also further tone it down by using the wide array of sound settings.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz 8K Ultra HD AV Receiver SR5015
For a more all-rounded AVR, you might want to take a look at the Denon AVR-X2700H which is also a 7.2 channel 8K receiver. The midrange prowess of the AVR-X2700H will help bring forward the mids of the PSB Imagine B and make it sound more full-bodied. It is also able to smoothen the hard edges a little, allowing you to enjoy your listening experience for longer hours. If you prefer an AVR with similar sonic characteristics as the PSB Imagine B then you might want to check out the Sony STR-DN1080 instead. This is a 7.2 channel AVR but doesn’t have 8K support like the rest of the mentioned AV receivers. If cinematic visuals are not a priority then the STR-DN1080 is certainly worth your time to audition it.
More Details at Amazon – Denon AVR-X2700H 8K Ultra HD 7.2 Channel AV Receiver
More Details at Amazon – Sony STR-DN1080 7.2-ch AV Receiver 4K HDR
To Conclude
You can also use the integrated amp as your home theater sound system but do get the ones with a subwoofer output such as the Denon PMA-600 NE, Cambridge Audio CXA81, etc. A powered subwoofer is an essential part of an HT system and it provides the subsonic bass impact, delivering low frequencies which the PSB Imagine B speakers lack. It is recommended to audition the amps first before making the purchase so as to find out if you like the sound quality been produced when paired with the PSB Imagine B bookshelf speakers.
