PSB Alpha B1 Bookshelf Speakers – Attractive Black Ash

PSB Alpha B1 Bookshelf Speakers – Black Ash Finish, Like New with Original Packaging

One of Canada’s most acclaimed compact bookshelf speakers, the PSB Alpha B1 has earned its legendary status over decades as the reference model for monitor speakers. This particular pair is exceptionally well-preserved in Black Ash finish with original packaging intact, making them a pristine example of one of the most-reviewed and best-selling audiophile bookshelf speakers ever manufactured.

Manufactured in Canada, the PSB Alpha B1 represents exceptional value and engineering from one of North America’s most respected independent speaker manufacturers. This pair has been tested and verified working. Cosmetically, these speakers present in like new condition with pristine Black Ash finish, intact aluminum detachable grilles, and original packaging intact.

Performance & Design:

The PSB Alpha B1 is a true two-way design engineered at Canada’s national acoustic research laboratories for precision and consistency. The speaker employs a 5.25-inch injection-molded metalized polypropylene woofer with a damped rubber surround paired with a 0.75-inch ferrofluid-cooled aluminum dome tweeter equipped with an acoustical waveguide for exceptionally smooth, even frequency response throughout the listening room.

The crossover network operates at 3kHz with third-order slopes, utilizing air-cored and ferrite-cored inductors paired with carefully selected capacitors to ensure seamless integration between drivers. This six-element crossover design is one of the reasons the Alpha B1 achieves such cohesive, natural sound reproduction across all frequencies.

The frequency response extends from 65Hz to 21,000Hz with 91dB sensitivity, allowing the B1 to perform beautifully with amplifiers ranging from 10 to 90 watts. The 6-ohm nominal impedance (4 ohms minimum) presents an easy, amplifier-friendly load for vintage receivers and modern integrated amplifiers alike. The bass-reflex design with a 1.5-inch rear-firing port brings bass response down below 60Hz with minimal port noise, providing substantial low-frequency extension for a speaker of this compact size.

Stereophile magazine awarded the Alpha B1 “2007 Budget Product of the Year,” praising its tonal neutrality, smooth tweeter response, and exceptional transient accuracy. The tweeter’s ferrofluid cooling ensures consistent performance across frequency and temperature extremes, while the woofer’s metalized polypropylene cone provides excellent moisture resistance and long-term reliability.

Renowned for Dialogue and Music:

The Alpha B1 has earned consistent acclaim for its ability to render vocals with stunning clarity and naturalness. The midrange presentation is described by reviewers as “lovingly, not ruthlessly revealing”—combining musicality with detail retrieval that justifies its status as one of the most-reviewed bookshelf speakers ever manufactured. The speaker excels across all musical genres, from delicate chamber music and jazz vocals to orchestral works and acoustic recordings.

The tight, accurate bass response coupled with the refined tweeter makes these speakers particularly effective for critical listening, music reproduction, and home theater applications where dialogue clarity is paramount. The sensitive 91dB rating means even modest amplifiers deliver dynamic, engaging sound without strain.

Cabinet Construction & Aesthetics:

The PSB Alpha B1 features high-quality MDF cabinet construction with internal bracing and molded plastic front and rear baffles, each with internal ribs that add structural rigidity while minimizing cabinet resonance and coloration. The cabinet measures 7.125 x 11.875 x 9.75 inches with weight of 10.2 lbs each, making them ideal for bookshelf placement, speaker stands, or desktop use in compact listening spaces.

The Black Ash wood-grain vinyl finish provides a clean, understated aesthetic that complements virtually any décor and integrates seamlessly into both vintage and modern systems. The finish is robust and resistant to dust and minor wear, maintaining its appearance over years of use.

The magnetically shielded cabinet allows safe placement near CRT televisions without picture distortion, a valuable feature for integrated home theater systems or older entertainment setups. The removable aluminum grilles with perforated mesh design minimize acoustic diffraction while allowing easy driver inspection and maintenance.

Eight self-adhesive rubber feet provide stable placement on any surface without slipping or marring finishes, while the keyhole slot and dual 1/4-20 threaded inserts allow optional wall mounting (though rear-port design benefits from open back placement for optimal bass response).

Five-Way Gold-Plated Binding Posts:

The speakers feature premium 5-way gold-plated binding posts that accept bare wire (up to 12-gauge), pin connectors, spade connectors, banana plugs (single or dual), providing complete flexibility for integration into any speaker cable system. Color-coded red/black terminals simplify proper polarity connection.

Heritage & Collectibility:

The PSB Alpha Series represents a remarkable achievement in audio engineering—the original Alpha introduced in 1992 sold over 50,000 pairs, establishing itself as one of the best-selling audiophile bookshelf speakers of all time. Successive iterations (A/V model, and the current B1) have maintained the same design philosophy: exceptional performance-to-price ratio without sacrifice to musicality or build quality.

The fact that this pair arrives in original packaging with no signs of previous use makes them especially desirable for collectors and purists who prioritize preservation of original condition and maximum shelf presence.

Key Features & Specifications:

True two-way bookshelf/standmount speaker design

Made in Canada – PSB’s national acoustic research laboratories

Frequency response: 65Hz–21,000Hz (±3dB)

Sensitivity: 91dB @ 1m (listening room)

Nominal impedance: 6 ohms (4 ohms minimum)

Power handling: 10–90 watts recommended

5.25-inch injection-molded metalized polypropylene woofer with damped rubber surround

0.75-inch ferrofluid-cooled aluminum dome tweeter with acoustical waveguide

3kHz crossover with third-order slopes (6-element network)

Bass-reflex design with rear-firing 1.5-inch port

High-quality MDF cabinet with internal bracing and rigid plastic baffles

Black Ash wood-grain vinyl finish

Magnetically shielded (safe for CRT TV proximity)

Five-way gold-plated speaker binding posts (color-coded)

Aluminum detachable/removable grilles (acoustically transparent)

Keyhole slot and dual 1/4-20 threaded inserts for optional wall mounting

Eight rubber self-adhesive feet included

Like new cosmetic condition with original packaging intact

Thoroughly tested; both speakers verified working

Dimensions (W x H x D): 7.125 x 11.875 x 9.75 inches (178 x 299 x 247mm)

Weight: 10.2 lbs (4.6kg) each

Stereophile 2007 Budget Product of the Year

5-year manufacturer’s warranty

Ideal For:

Music enthusiasts and vinyl collectors seeking reference-quality compact speakers with exceptional dialogue clarity, smooth high-frequency response, and accurate bass reproduction. The Alpha B1’s compact size makes them ideal for apartments, studios, desktops, and smaller listening rooms where full-range floor-standing speakers would be inappropriate. These speakers are equally at home in dedicated 2-channel systems and as surround speakers in home theater installations. Audio purists value the proven track record and consistent reviews across three decades of critical listening, while the original packaging preserves maximum resale potential.

Backed by Radique Audio’s 90-day warranty and our perpetual trade-back policy, you can purchase with confidence.

Asking $245 CAD (pair)