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Ten years ago, PSB introduced a radically different kind of low-cost
speaker, the now-famous Alpha — "legendary" is not too strong a word
for it. Stereophile called it "one of the greatest buys in audio,"
and The $ensible Sound termed it "the greatest loudspeaker bargain
of the past 20 years."
Paul Barton designed the original Alpha to do "the impossible" —
that is, to provide a convincing amount of what the very best speakers
offer at any size or price, but at very low cost and small size. The idea
was not to squeeze just a quart (or litre) into a pint pot, but to put
in the better part of a gallon. And the idea succeeded so well that the
Alpha not only spawned many imitators but also a whole family of PSB speakers,
first a shielded version, the AlphaA/V, and then a series of
either still smaller Alpha models for tighter spaces or specialized ones
for home theater use (as in two Alpha center channels and two Alpha SubSonic
subwoofers).
Now, ten years later, it's time for a new generation of Alphas.
They use new drivers and new modular construction to provide still more
performance-per-dollar, especially via a new aluminum-dome tweeter
that delivers silky, extended, and detailed high-frequency response. And
they look smashing, in a nicely 21st Century enclosure with black ash
or light cherry laminate finish, featuring, among other things, curved,
removable grilles. Their fit and finish is excellent, as far beyond the
expected at this price as their performance. So we think the new array
of Alphas, equally at home for music or movies, is going to make as many
waves as the original.
The new Alpha series really got its start last fall, with the introduction
of the sub-compact Alpha Intros (LR and CLR). These remarkable speakers
have gotten rave reviews, especially in home theater combinations with
our Alpha SubZero and SubSonic 5 subwoofers. You will find reviews and
other details on them at the bottom of this page.
But first, let's look at:
 This
is the direct descendant of the original Alpha. It's a beautiful-sounding
and graceful-looking compact monitor. (The "B" is for "Bookshelf size.")
Even smaller than the original, it's in fact just a bit bigger than our
popular Alpha Mini. Combining a new 5-1/4-inch polypropylene "Alpha woofer"
with the new 3/4-inch anodized aluminum-dome tweeter just introduced in
the Alpha Intros, it comes in black ash or light cherry laminate.
The added performance of the Alpha B for its price is the product of an
idea taken from the design of our best selling Image Series. The idea
was to extend performance-for-price by employing modular, molded design,
and by amortizing the cost of usually more expensive drivers through the
use of large quantities over an entire series, rather than a smaller number
in a model or two. Applying both of these concepts to the new Alphas,
using drivers to be shared in common in different ways, once again helps
create startling performance-per-dollar, and the painstaking execution
of the modular design also makes for a speaker that's a sleek and graceful
fit in today's audio/video listening/viewing rooms.
The Alpha B offers still more convincing detail on music and movies than
its predecessor. While it still has the same desirable Alpha neutrality
of overall sound, with little or no "colour" of its own, it has an even
more revealing midrange, and its highs are so extended and smooth that
they make the identifying harmonics of musical instruments as evident
as from many far more expensive speakers. This new Alpha is superb at
rendering the acoustic environments in which recordings were made.
What the performance of Alpha B offers is, overall, the level of clarity
and definition (produced both by high-frequency extension and carefully
designed tonal balance) that allows reproduced musical instruments to
sound convincingly like themselves, and, second, a wide-enough dynamic
range to go from a whisper to a crescendo at lifelike volume in a room
of moderate size without distortion or audible strain. The excellent,
stable imaging that was a product of the original Alpha's good high-frequency
response with wide dispersion is improved further in the Alpha B with
its carefully maintained production tolerances. It gets even more from
a very modest presence in a room. And all of its musical qualities also
produce a home theater speaker with great definition of complex movie
sound, one whose bass characteristics make for a smooth blend with either
of the two Alpha SubSonic subwoofers. It is shielded for use right next
to a TV monitor when needed. And for those who want to wall mount their
speakers, it comes with both a keyhole mounting slot and threaded brass
inserts.
All in all, the contents of this new Alpha's gallon-in-a-pint-pot are
even sweeter, and they come in a noticeably more handsome container.
 Home
theater is this speaker's reason for being. Using two of the same 5-1/4-inch
bass driver used in the Alpha B, the new Alpha C can be used either as
a center-channel speaker, as a front speaker for those who want even more
bass than the surprising amount in the Alpha B, or as an entire, perfectly
matched surround quintet.
The combination of the two polypropylene-cone, rubber-surround woofers
and the new Alpha 3/4-inch aluminum-dome tweeter helps the Alpha C achieve
both the definition and the power-handling needed for delivering the complex
center effects and dialogue in today's movies. It also provides, whether
for stereo music or surround movies, both the scope and the detail needed
for complex orchestral music. Low frequencies are solid, and dynamic range
is excellent. This is a speaker that's highly musical, highly intelligible
for dialogue, and robust enough for any likely use.
Whether for center, front, or all-around-the-room use, the Alpha C makes
wall-mounting simpler with both a pair of keyhole slots and a full set
of threaded brass inserts. And if you are one of the few but passionate
people who want something other than black in a center-channel speaker,
the C is available in light cherry as well as black ash. The fit and finish
is superb, even more noticeably so than the Alpha B in this larger speaker
system.
It's versatile, effective, and — like the Alpha B — one of the
great bargains in audio/video.
 This
one is the surprise Alpha — the first Alpha tower model.
In this case, the aim is spread the Alpha idea of amazing performance-per-dollar
to a small tower model that will fit both the musical and home theater
needs of people who would like to slip high performance into a listening/viewing
room with limited space. Since many listeners have been using the compact
Alphas on stands, the new Alpha T enters new territory and essentially
builds in not only its own elegant stand but the added bass that comes
both from an additional driver and a greater enclosure volume. So the
same effective space usage required for the original Alphas on stands
results here in more of everything for which the Alpha idea has become
famous. And for households with active toddlers, it's a more stable room
element than a compact speaker on a stand.
An elegant but unimposing presence in either black ash or light cherry
laminate finish, the Alpha T fits very wide range, great dynamics, and
a very musical character into a very slim footprint that should make it
at home in many different room configurations. As you would expect, it
can handle still more power than the Alpha B (although the latter is no
weakling in that department). And with two drivers handling both the bass
and midrange, its room coverage is excellent. The same tweeter used in
the other new Alphas lends its high definition and "airy" high-frequency
extension.
Like the Alpha B, the new tower model has a musical signature that allows
you to hear more of the original recording venue. As a home theater speaker,
it can stand up with great definition to very demanding movie sound. Like
our floor-standers in other series, it is neutral and well-balanced musically,
calling attention to what it plays rather than how it does it. It's tall
and slim for an Alpha, but it's a welcome member to the family.
That's the story on these new members of our new Alpha Series. But the
real story begins when you hear them for yourself. We urge you to check
your nearest PSB dealer for their presence. If they haven't arrived yet,
they should be there soon.
The Alpha S bipolar surround speaker is now in good supply at PSB
dealers. It combines two Alpha aluminum-dome 3/4-inch tweeters with two
3-1/2-inch polypropylene-cone, rubber-surround drivers in a compact enclosure
that mounts easily on a wall. Its bipolar design combines excellent diffusion
with pinpoint placement of highly localized effects on the surround channels.
The diminutive speakers shown below take the concept of ultra-compact
speakers to new heights of performance. In line with the central Alpha
idea of breaking new ground, the Alpha Intros redefine what this
category of speakers can do. They are versatile and handsome new mini-speakers
with performance that is just amazing for their size and cost.
Specifications for the Alpha B, C, T,
and S.
Alpha Owner's Guide for the new Alpha Series available in PDF format:
English (144K),
French (156K),
Spanish (156K).
There are two Alpha Intro models: the Intro LR and the Intro CLR.
The former measures just 4-1/4 x 6-3/4 x 6-1/4 inches, while the latter
comes in at 4-1/4 x 9-3/4 x 6-1/4 inches. Both speakers use the same new
3/4-inch anodized aluminum-dome tweeter, and a new 3-1/2-inch mini-woofer
with polypropylene cone and rubber surround. The Intro LR uses one woofer
and places the tweeter above it (when used vertically), while the Intro
CLR uses two woofers and places the tweeter between them.
The CLR is equally at home as a center channel, main, or surround speaker,
and the LR can go to front or rear equally easily. The basic idea here is
to offer speakers that will mix and match in lots of ways for lots of uses
in home theater, stereo, and desktop multimedia — and produce real
satisfaction in all of them. They pack what we think is maximal attainable
performance into ultra-compact speakers that are outstanding in visual design
and have amenities you would associate with much more expensive systems.
Both models come in textured black or white, have structural, molded front
baffles and backs mounted on MDF cabinet sleeves, and they sport removable,
color-matched, perforated aluminum grilles. Both have video shielding to
allow placement on top of or right next to a TV set or computer monitor.
Grilles on or grilles off, they look unmistakably 21st Century, and in the
grilles-off mode you can surprise your friends with the presence of a real
(and superb-sounding) aluminum-dome tweeter.
Intro LRs are impressive right next to you on a desktop or at home-theater
distance. They never sound gritty or forced close-up, and the same qualities
that make them welcome in that use also make them sound excellent at a greater
distance for music or home theater.
The CLR was originally conceived as a center-channel model, but it quickly
became obvious that it would do even more. It provides the "heft" everyone
wants for home theater, the detail needed for center-channel use, and the
musicality and balance that front speakers need both for stereo and home
theater use. For the latter, it can be used all around, or just in the center,
or front and center with the LRs as surrounds.
To support the versatility of both Alpha Intro models, their back panels
include rear keyhole slots for direct wall-mounting, plus threaded brass
inserts that easily secure the speakers to Omnimount brackets, Vogel Sat-5
brackets, or our matching Alpha Into stands. Screw bosses for alternative
mounting brackets provide still another option, and five-way, gold-plated
binding posts accommodate any likely speaker cable.
Specifications
for the Alpha LR and CLR
Alpha Owner's Guide for the new Alpha Series available in PDF format:
English (144K),
French (156K),
Spanish (156K).
And remember to look at and listen to the remarkable Alpha Intro LR
and CLR, beginning with the Alpha Intro
Page, and our two Alpha SubSonic
subwoofers |
