PSB Imagine XC Center Speaker

Affordable High-Performance Center Speaker

The PSB Imagine XC center channel speaker is a two-way system in a dual-woofer horizontal format with a pair of 5-1/4" woofers and 1" titanium tweeter. PSB engineered the Imagine XC to maximize performance in multichannel systems. Its clean lines and slim cabinet design will suit today’s ultra flat TVs. It matches the timbre of the other Imagine X models for ultimate flexibility when setting up a home theater system.

The Imagine XC shares the injection-molded, clay/ceramic-filled polypropylene designs of the Imagine X towers and XB bookshelf speakers. It includes dual magnets and rubber surrounds. The critically tuned cabinet employs a rear-facing port for high sensitivity and extended bass response.

Pure Titanium Tweeter Dome

The 1" dome tweeter combines a high stiffness-to-mass ratio for ultra-fast transients and extended response without break-up until way beyond audibility. The high-temperature voice coil with ferrofluid cooling allows for high SPLs without compression, and the rare-earth neodymium motor magnet gives high sensitivity and accurate response at the lower end of its response range. A carefully engineered phase plug (the little plate in front of the dome) extends high frequency response and helps control the inevitable high frequency break-up mode while protecting the delicate dome from prying fingers.

The Imagine X Series

True-to-nature sound is the design goal of all PSB speakers, and the Imagine X Series brings a new level of realism to these affordable new speakers. Imagine X applies the latest speaker materials and technology to PSB’s most popular speaker models. PSB’s designers focused on simplicity – distilling sound to its purest essence – in order to bring listeners the experience that they really love.

Acoustic Research Makes the Difference

Through many years of research at the National Research Council Canada (NRC), home to one of the world’s most advanced acoustical laboratories, the design team at PSB Speakers has learned not only what people love to hear, but also how they hear it in a room. Critical to the Imagine X design is this research into human perception of sound using double-blind listening tests.

Double-blind testing removes any listener bias to provide the most accurate test results. It allows PSB to understand what is most important to listeners and allows the company to create the ideal blend of performance and price for every application.

"PSB was the first company to use the NRC for loudspeaker development in 1974, and we remain the most active user of the facility today," notes Paul Barton, PSB Founder and Chief Designer. "Our experience with the NRC – how we interpret the data and implement it into the design of our Imagine X speakers – sets us apart from other speaker manufacturers. It has allowed us to focus on our primary goal, which is delivering real sound for real people."

According to Barton, "By conducting carefully controlled blind speaker tests, then measuring all the speakers to see what sonic characteristics appealed to the listeners in the tests, we were able to figure out what matters and what doesn't."

Unmistakable True-to-Nature Sound

There are four models in the PSB X Series, but only one objective: to reproduce the most accurate sound available for the money. Imagine X models are all carefully matched in timbre, giving you flexibility to combine any of the models to work together in many different rooms and system setups.

• Two-way center channel speaker system
• Rear port, bass reflex design
• Woofer: 2 x 5-1/4" Injection molded clay/ceramic reinforced polypropylene cone drivers with rubber surround and dual magnets
• 1" Titanium dome tweeter with ferrofluid cooling
• Heavy duty 5-way gold plated binding posts
• Crossover: 1,800Hz, LR4
• Black ash wood grain finish

• Frequency Response: On Axis @ 0°±3 dB, 50-23,000 Hz; On Axis @ 0°±1 1/2 dB, 65-20,000 Hz; Off Axis @ 30°±1 1/2 dB, 65-10,000Hz; LF Cutoff -10 dB, 45 Hz
• Sensitivity: Anechoic chamber, 88 db; listening room, 90 dB
• Impedance: Nominal, 8 ohms; minimum, 4 ohms
• Input Power: Recommended, 20-150 watts; program 150 watts
• Internal volume: 0.58 cu ft (16.4L)
• Gross Dimensions: 19-1/8" wide, 6-3/4" high, 11-1/8" deep
• Weight: 19.8 lbs.