PSB B25
By Michael Wong
April 2006
PSB B25 loudspeakers. $799.
The two-way loudspeaker has long been a living embodiment of the “less is more” philosophy so adored by many high end audio manufacturers. Some of the most beloved speakers of all-time like the Rogers LS 3/5a and Spendor BC-1 have been two-way designs combining the basic tenets of simplicity in design with excellence in implementation.
Canadian company PSB’s new B25 is a stand mounted monitor speaker. Known elsewhere in the world as part of PSB’s upper entry level “Image” range, that sub-branding is not used in New Zealand for obvious reasons. The B25 is a replacement for the model 2B that so captivated The Editor in the December 2002 issue.
Basic array
The B25 has a basic two driver array in a front ported, bass reflex design. Highs are handled by an aluminium 25mm Ferro fluid cooled dome. The mid/bass duties fall to a 165mm metalized polypropylene cone. The crossover point is 2.5 kHz. Both drivers are magnetically shielded, making them suitable for close placement to a video monitor.
Construction is similar to the earlier 2B with a vinyl covered wooden box of moderate dimensions (400mm high, 216mm deep and 303mm deep). The front continues using two piece plastic mouldings for the driver surrounds. On the back we have a nice single set of multi-way binding posts filled with the usual EU mandated anti-banana plug fillers. Dark cloth covered plastic grilles are supplied to protect the drivers.
Build quality is excellent with the speaker being assembled to very high standards. The only flaw I found was a slightly misaligned PSB badge on one of the grilles.
Buyers are offered a choice of the all-black finish or a light maple with contrasting silver/grey plastic driver surrounds. The review samples were supplied in the classy black ash finish.
Ever so humble
The humble two-way speaker has the potential to reap large sonic benefits from forgoing multiple driver arrays and their accompanying complicated crossovers. The primary advantage is a seamless, coherent sound from the two drivers, the oft-quoted “cut from one cloth”, where the resulting speaker’s drivers sound like one driver instead of several in the same box.
The B25 lives up to these expectations. This relatively small speaker produces a big, big sound reminiscent of a larger speaker system.
The soundstage starts behind the plane of the speakers and is nice and wide, capable of extending well beyond the speaker’s lateral boundaries. Height is a little compressed with images stopping about 30cm above the tweeter level, while depth is good. Transparency and dimensionality aren’t quite in the giant-killer class but are perfectly adequate.
There isn’t the spooky three-dimensionality or the reach-out-and touch-it immediacy of more expensive speakers but musicians and their instruments are reproduced with a good sense of palpability and realism. Think Row D instead of Row A.
From the high frequencies down to the upper bass the speakers are as neutral and coherent as you could expect for the money. 
Highs have good extension and clarity with no sign of the peakiness or propensity for tizz that have afflicted some past efforts at metal dome tweeters. There’s none of the high frequency roll-off that often accompanies low cost speakers.
The midrange is smooth, with a very slight added glow as the frequencies descend. The crossover point is undetectable, indicating a well sorted crossover that doesn’t appear to suffer from lack of bi-wiring capability. The bass doesn’t descend to stygian depths, nor was it expected to with a 165mm driver, but what is present carries good weight and articulation. All it needs is a little more slam and definition.
Pleasant and listenable
Dynamically the PSB’s lean towards the soft side. Initial transients are somewhat muted and the music seems a tad slow. The result is music that appears couched in a protective cloak of politeness. This politeness makes the speaker pleasant and listenable in an enjoyable manner.
The polite disposition means the speaker won’t take umbrage with the typical budget sources and amplifiers it is likely to be matched with. Thrill seekers and flat earthers who live for a pacey, exciting sound best look elsewhere.
A lot to like
Still, there’s a lot to like about this PSB. It’s well designed and well built, sounds pretty good and sells for a fair price. This speaker doesn’t push any performance boundaries but will be more than acceptable for the majority of listeners. That it doesn’t seem the giant slayer that the 2B was is more an indication of how far mainstream speakers have developed since the 2B rather than any intrinsic failing of the B25.
For your nearest PSB dealer
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