psb Speakers Passif 50 - Tower
The Passif 50 marries retro walnut charm with an exceptionally open, natural presentation: its three-dimensional midrange, expansive soundstage, and rhythmic bass bring recordings to life without fatigue. Hifi Pig praised its engaging musicality and imaging, while StereoNET found its relaxed, textured balance especially rewarding across long listening sessions.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
90/100
Build Quality
91/100
Value for Money
91/100
Pros
Natural, relaxed and richly textured tonal balance makes long listening sessions easy and involving.
Strong vocal presence, layered midrange detail and convincing instrument placement.
Broad, deep soundstage with impressive imaging for its price and size.
Beautifully finished retro cabinet, woven grille and real walnut veneer create a premium sense of ownership.
Cons
Deep-bass output is limited for bass-heavy music; listeners seeking subterranean extension may want a subwoofer.
Best imaging requires thoughtful placement, little or no toe-in, and listening near tweeter height.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
Reviewers consistently describe an inviting, even-handed and musically involving presentation, combining neutral tonal balance with strong detail and an unusually spacious presentation. It is particularly well suited to long listening sessions, vocals, jazz, acoustic music and vinyl, although some listeners found it less analytical or forceful than larger alternatives.
Bass
88/100
For a 6.5-inch two-way with an 8-inch passive radiator, bass is widely praised as solid, rhythmic and well controlled, with satisfying slam and good low-end detail. It does not reach truly deep bass for demanding loud metal or electronic material, and several reviewers suggest a subwoofer for listeners who want full subterranean extension.
Mid
93/100
The midrange earns especially strong praise for its substance, natural texture and convincing vocal reproduction. Reviewers highlight silky yet detailed voices, strong tonal depth and a three-dimensional presentation that keeps vocals clearly focused without becoming aggressively forward.
Treble
89/100
Treble is generally clear, extended and lively, with strong resolution and sparkle that avoids obvious fatigue. There are differing views on its ultimate character: some hear a sweet, relaxed top end, while others note a slightly reverberant quality, upper-mid energy or less-than-last-word refinement.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
Most reviewers find the Passif 50 unusually capable of creating broad, deep and well-layered images, with precise centre focus and convincing instrument placement. It can image well without fussy positioning, but optimum width and scale still benefit from careful setup, little or no toe-in, and listening near tweeter height.
Dynamics
88/100
The speaker is repeatedly described as lively, rhythmic and engaging, capable of carrying both subtle shifts and crescendos with ease. One reviewer found it less overtly vigorous than some rivals, while another noted that a powerful amplifier with good bass control helps it give its best.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
The real open-grain walnut veneer, attractive woven grilles and anniversary detailing receive consistent praise, while reviewers describe the cabinet as solid and carefully finished. Fit and finish, driver surrounds and binding posts all make a premium impression, although one comparison felt some more expensive rivals offered stronger overall fit and finish.
Value for Money
91/100
At approximately $2,499 USD, £2,499 or €2,999 per pair depending on market, reviewers broadly consider the Passif 50 competitive and well justified among premium standmount rivals. Multiple reviews call it great or very good value, citing its musical performance, engaging character and ability to compete with costlier speakers.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
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Specifications
- On Axis @ 0° ±3dB
- 50 - 20,000Hz
- On Axis @ 0° ±1 1/2dB
- 70 - 16,000Hz
- Off Axis @ 30° ±1 1/2dB
- 70 - 10,000Hz
- LF Cutoff -10dB
- 30Hz
- Anechoic Chamber
- 87dB
- Listening Room
- 89dB
- Nominal
- 6 Ohms
- Minimum
- 4 Ohms
- Recommended
- 30 - 200 Watts
- Program
- 200 Watts
- Tweeter (Nominal)
- 1" (25mm)Black Anodized Aluminium Dome withFerrofluid and Neodymium Magnet
- Woofer (Nominal)
- 6.5" (165mm)cast aluminum basket, paper cone,and filleted rubber surround
- Crossover
- 1,800Hz, L4
- Design Type
- 2 way with passive radiator
- Size Without Stands (H x W x D)
- 660mm x280mm x254mm "(26"x11" x10")
- Size With Stands (H x W x D)
- 870mm x280mm x254mm(34" x11" x10")
- Weight
- 30.3 lbs (13.7kg) per speaker
- Finish
- Open grain walnut veneer
- Features
- Retro-styled open-grained walnut veneer enclosure and dedicated speaker stands Magnetically attached woven cloth grilles 50th anniversary design touches, including original PSB logo and pull tab on the grille, and rear-panel plaque that reads "Passif 50 - 1972-2022," adorned by a maple leaf Felt surrounding the tweeter minimizes edge diffraction Bi-wirable/bi-ampable five-way gold-plated binding posts
Manufacturer's Description — psb Speakers
Celebrating 50 Years of Audio Excellence
The PSB Passif 50 Standmount Loudspeaker, an Anniversary Edition, combines retro charm with contemporary audio prowess. Crafted to celebrate 50 years of PSB Speakers, it echoes the legendary Passif I and Passif II models. Immerse yourself in rich, true-to-nature sound with a touch of nostalgia and cutting-edge technology.
Our legacy of exceptional sound
PSB was built upon a foundation of performance and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. The Passif 50 continues that legacy. Featuring a 1" titanium dome tweeter with ferrofluid damping and neodymium magnet, it crafts a wide, deep soundstage with exceptional imaging. The 6.5" woofer and 8" passive radiator ensure precise bass reproduction. This marriage of advanced technologies with a vintage-looking speaker design results in a harmonious audio experience, delivering True to Nature sound.
Honouring a heritage. Embracing the future.
While the Passif 50 pays homage to its classic predecessors, it introduces modern refinements. Sold in mirror-imaged pairs, this configuration elevates imaging precision with both tweeters strategically positioned inside the soundstage. Its heavily braced enclosure is meticulously designed, with mitered joints for enhanced fit and finish, minimizing cabinet vibrations. Including dual five-way binding posts allows for versatile bi-wiring or bi-amping options, quickly adapting to your preferred audio setup.
Backed by research and experience
The Passif 50 is a testament to PSB's five decades of acoustic research and design excellence. It promises tonal fidelity, spatial realism, and effortless dynamics at all volumes, representing years of audio innovation. Made for music lovers, this classic stand-mount speaker faithfully reproduces music as intended by the creators, ensuring pure, uncolored sound.
A vintage aesthetic and timeless design
The Passif 50's vintage elegance shines with its open-grained walnut veneer enclosure and magnetically attached woven cloth grille. Its warm walnut veneer enclosures, along with anniversary edition touches like a front grille pull tab featuring PSB’s original logo and a rear-panel plaque commemorating “Passif 50 – 1972-2022,” reflect its nostalgic charm. Coupled with state-of-the-art technology, this retro design pays homage to the past, welcomes the future, and delivers the quality you expect from PSB.
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Authorized dealers for psb Speakers Passif 50 - Tower
- Holt Hill — online and in-store — Andover, Massachusetts, United States (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
- Alpha Stereo — in-store — Plattsburgh, New York, United States (website)
- Area Hifi — online and in-store — L'Eixample, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- Art Sonique — France (website)
- Ash Forest Hi Fi — online and in-store — Kingston, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Audible Images — in-store — Melbourne, Florida, United States (website)
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Audio Advice — online and in-store — Raleigh, North Carolina, United States (website)
and 87 more verified dealers