1.888.955.6000
 
 
1-888-955-6000
crutchfield.com
Crutchfield

Free Shipping on Everything

60-Day Money-Back Guarantee  |  Lifetime Tech Support

PSB Alpha PS1

Powered desktop stereo speaker system

Zoom
  • PSB Alpha PS1

    Front

  • PSB Alpha PS1

    Angled view

  • PSB Alpha PS1

    Back

  • PSB Alpha PS1

    Pictured in a desktop audio system

Item# 760ALPHPS1 offer details

By buying this product you'll earn up to 300 Rewards points.

When you sign up for a Crutchfield account, you’ll be enrolled in Crutchfield Rewards. You’ll earn one point for every dollar you spend on gear from us. You can turn your points into Rewards Cards that you can use toward future purchases. You can sign up for an account now, or after you complete your purchase (you’ll get credit for the points either way).

 
PSB

Our take on the PSB Alpha PS1

by Dave Bar

Fantastic PSB sound in a compact design

The compact PSB Alpha PS1 powered speaker system can fit on even the most space-challenged desks and bring your music to life with surprising punch. To be honest, we're not really too surprised. That's because PSB conducts rigorous testing and research at Canada's National Research Council to ensure all their speakers deliver outstanding performance in the real world. No tricks here, just solid, thoughtful engineering for refined, true-to-life sound. Add in the beautiful high-gloss finish, and you have a speaker that's ready to impress.

PSB Alpha PS1 powered speakers

Turn your desktop into a concert hall

Despite their tiny footprint, these speakers have the power to fill a small- to medium-sized room with rich, robust sound. They each feature a 3-1/2" metalized polypropylene woofer and 3/4" aluminum dome tweeter designed to deliver the same smooth response off to the sides of the speaker as directly in front. This allows the Alpha PS1s to "disappear" while projecting a large and detailed soundstage. And the speakers' rounded shape provides maximum internal volume for better bass response.

Quick and simple set up

Hooking up these speakers is easy and straightforward. RCA and minijack inputs let you listen to music from your computer or a portable player, like an iPod®, or another audio source. A line-level subwoofer output makes it easy to expand  your system to include an optional powered subwoofer. The Alpha PS1 also includes a 2 x 20-watt power amplifier built into the left speaker, so you just make a simple connection between the left and right speakers using the included cable. The universal power supply with both EU and US power cords works with any AC voltage, making it convenient for world travelers.

Highlights:

  • powered multimedia stereo speakers
  • two 20-watt amplifiers built into left speaker
  • frequency response: 80-22,000 Hz
  • each speaker features:
    • one 3/4" aluminum dome tweeter
    • one 3-1/2" metalized poly cone woofer
    • acoustically engineered ABS cabinet with UV coating
  • rear-mounted volume control
  • rear-panel minijack input for connecting an audio source
  • rear RCA stereo line-level input
  • rear USB power output allows you to charge a connected device (does not support audio transfer)
  • RCA mono subwoofer line output
  • outboard power supply and power cord included
  • 4-1/2"W x 7-11/16"H x 7-9/16"D (each)
  • warranty: 5 years speakers, 1 year amplifier
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee
Shop all PSB Computer Speakers
     

    Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

    Features and Specs

    Features and Specs
    Pieces in System
    Loading...
    2
    Wireless
    Loading...
    No
    Video Shielded
    Loading...
    No
    Tweeter Type
    Loading...
    Dome
    Tweeter Size (inches)
    Loading...
    0-3/4
    Midrange size (inches)
    Loading...
    N/A
    Woofer size (inches)
    Loading...
    3-1/2
    Woofer Composition
    Loading...
    Polypropylene
    Powered Subwoofer
    Loading...
    No
    Power Output (Watts)
    Loading...
    20
    Frequency Response
    Loading...
    80-22k Hz
    Height (inches)
    Loading...
    7-11/16
    Width (inches)
    Loading...
    4-1/2
    Depth (inches)
    Loading...
    7-9/16
    Parts Warranty
    Loading...
    5 Years
    Labor Warranty
    Loading...
    5 Years

    Product Research

    Product Research
    What's in the box?

    Download owner's manual

    • Active speaker
    • Passive speaker
    • AC power adapter (with attached 4' DC cord)
    • Two 4' AC power cords (US/EU)
    • 6.5' PowerLink cable
    • 6.5' Stereo minijack cable
    • Quick Start Guide

    Our Product Research Team

    At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

    Features

    Alpha PS1 Powered Speakers: The PSB Alpha PS1 Power Speakers combine PSB's most popular Alpha Series speaker design with a built-in amplifier to make a versatile desktop solution with enough acoustic output for a small to medium sized room. The Alpha PS1 Powered Speakers are true hi-fi speakers engineered to upgrade today's audio and desktop listening experiences. Benefiting from forty years of proven acoustic excellence, these speakers use highly efficient amplifiers and state-of-the-art circuitry to create a powerful full-range system, transforming your favorite audio files into desktop concert.

    True-to-Nature Sound: The Alpha PS1 Powered Speakers are engineered for the true-to-nature sound for which PSB is known. Many small speakers employ tricks like exaggerating the treble or falsely boosting bass to overcome limitations and poor performance, but not so with the Alpha PS1. Using sound research and exhaustive testing at Canada's National Research Council in the nation's capital of Ottawa, the PSB team has designed the Alpha PS1 with extremely smooth and refined sound. You'll be pleasantly surprised by its output capability and solid tuneful bass response compared to that of the Alpha PS1's diminutive size. The response off to the sides of the speaker has the same smooth response as the sound directly in front, making the Alpha PS1s acoustically "disappear" by projecting a large and exquisitely detailed sound image.

    Two-Way Speaker Design: Each PSB Alpha PS1 Powered Speaker houses a 0.75" aluminum dome tweeter and a 3.5" metalized polypropylene cone woofer with a rubber surround and oversized magnet structure. The tweeters utilize an acoustical waveguide to deliver, more even high frequency response. The polypropylene woofers provide accurate, detailed midrange/midbass.

    Digital Amplifier: The Alpha PS1 Powered Speakers are powered by highly efficient 20-watt x 2-channel RMS (40W x 2ch Peak) Class D amplifier which is built into the left speaker.

    Bass Reflex Enclosure: The Alpha PS1 Powered Speakers feature an acoustically engineered ABS cabinet with UV coating. This bass reflex enclosure features a tuned slot port on the rear of the cabinet which extends low bass response.

    Rear-Mount Volume Control: The PSB Alpha PS1 Power Speaker (Left) features a rear-mounted rotary volume control.

    Analog Inputs: The PSB Alpha PS1 Power Speaker (Left) is fitted with a stereo RCA input and stereo minijack (3.5mm) input to connect an external audio source; such as your MP3 player, smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer, or TV. 

    Subwoofer Output: For those dynamic lows, a subwoofer output (mono-RCA) on the rear-panel of the left speaker allows you to connect a powered subwoofer.

    USB Charging Port: The Alpha PS1 Powered Speaker (Left) is equipped with a USB (type-A) power port to charge your USB-enabled device; such as your smartphone or tablet. The USB charging port is rated at 5V/500mA.

    AC Power Supply: The Alpha PS1 Powered Speakers operate off of standard household AC current using the supplied universal power supply. The AC power adapter plugs into the left speaker, while the 6.5' PowerLink cable connects power to the right speaker.

     

    Product Reviews

    Review this product
    Great Gear Giveaway rewards card

    Submit a review and you will be entered to win a $150 gift card

    Crutchfield Great Gear Giveaway Official Sweepstakes Rules

    Reviews for the PSB Alpha PS1

    Average Customer Review:

    5 people say:

    Review this product:

    Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences about this product. Please be sure to focus your comments on the product itself. Read our Review Guidelines for more information.

    Your email won't be visible. Please use the email address that is associated with your order.
    (e.g., JohnD) Your review will be signed using the display name and location
    (e.g., Charlottesville, VA)

    Click on a star to rate the overall product on a scale of 1-5
    1500 characters left
    Attach a YouTube Review
    Crutchfield Video Review Guidelines
    • Only submit videos that you made or are authorized to use.
    • Do not submit videos that contain music, video or visuals that are copyrighted and belong to someone else.
    • Please see our Review Guidelines for more information.
    500 characters left
    500 characters left
    Filter by rating:
    Sort by:
    Showing: 1-5 of 5
    View page: 1
    5 out of 5

    Great speakers great deal

    Written By BM, New York on Sunday, May 19, 2013
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    These speakers are the best purchase I've made in a long time - in fact I like them so much that I recently bought a second pair. They have very clear sound and are a much better deal for the $$ than the Bose equivalent at the same price point. (companion series). Indeed, for certain music they rival the much more expensive B&W speakers on my home stereo system.
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    5 out of 5

    Just plain awesome computer speakers

    Written By CMM, VT on Monday, March 18, 2013
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    I bought these speakers as a replacement for M-audio AV30's - which I had for 5+ years and they went south (left channel fried - common issue it appears). I also recently purchased a DAC for the first time (audioengine D1- also from Crutchfield) - which I have paired w/ these new PSB's. When I first plugged the PSBs in to my Win-7-64b PC (core i7-870 cpu), and ramped up the volume on the D1 - just one word - Wooooooooooooooooow. One of the first songs I listened to was The Nazarene by Michael Card... the vocals were stunningly good. I've played a lot of various music through the PS1's - christian, instrumental, rock, pop, etc. -- all work well IMO. These easily dust the AV30's. They play clean at low volume too. One some songs, they could sure use a little more "oomph" as another reviewer pointed out... but in most cases, for computer use, I don't need much in the way of volume. For me, the bass is quite good too (I'm not a bass fiend - I simply like all freq. ranges to be represented accurately). Treble and mid's are excellent as well. Highly recommended.
    Pros:
    Clean, accurate sound. Impressive vocals. Superb sound from a small speaker. 5 year warranty.
    Cons:
    No speaker grills (only the tweeter is protected by a plastic cover). Volume control on back of left speaker (workable for me since I just use the vol. control on my D1 DAC ... I have the D1 planted on top of the lef speaker - using poster putty, works quite well) .... if you don't have a DAC -- quite a pain IMO having the vol. control on the back.
    1 out of 1 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    4 out of 5

    Great with a flaw for desktop use

    Written By highstream, Bozeman, MT on Thursday, February 28, 2013
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    The Audiostream review (linked on the PSB site) caught it mostly dead on: - "the PS1s sound exceptionally clean, clear and crisp" - "throw out a huge and stable sound image both horizontally and vertically" - "All frequencies sound very evenly handled" - "eminently musical and involving to listen to for any kind of music" - "Think smooth" (tweeter) and "delicate" (overall)

    and then: "if I had one wish I'd wish for a bit more heft. A tad more weight to the lower and upper-lower frequencies"

    Compared to the slightly bass enhanced and Class A amp of the Audioengine A5+, the PS1s are a little cool, but oh so transparent and not at all grating, unless it's there on the recording. Nonetheless, that lack of heft is a big drawback for me and, I suspect, will be for lots of other desktop users that don't want to add a subwoofer. Heft is important element of dynamics, and is lost when drums and bass don't quite sound (sufficiently) complete, i.e., like drums and bass, as they don't with the PS1s. if PSB had extended this quality of sound down towards 50 or 60 Hz, I would have gladly accepted a somewhat larger speaker and paid another $50-100. Maybe the next version? That said, the PS1 is appealing in lots of ways - I haven't decided yet - and certainly the right size for a desktop.
    Pros:
    clean, transparent, delicate, lots of dynamics, sounds like music, does especially well on acoustic music and with smaller groups
    Cons:
    lack of satisfying bass extension sufficient for a 2.0 desktop application
    3 out of 3 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    4 out of 5

    Great little speaker

    Written By E the Key, LA, CA on Monday, February 25, 2013
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    Overall, these are great little speakers. Really great. The finish is fantastic. The build quality seems very high. More importantly, the sound is really transparent. These PSBs are extremely musical. Miles ahead of the Logitech speakers I was using before. You can really hear the music with these babies. I am just a little disappointed with the low end, of which there is very little. Maybe this isn't fair. It's great that a sub out is included. I think it will take a sub to get a full, rich sound. If I could give them 4 1/2 I would.
    Pros:
    Very musical, transparent sound. Build quality. Finish. Subwoofer out.
    Cons:
    These are small speakers and as such are missing low-end.
    1 out of 1 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    5 out of 5

    PSB Alpha PS1

    Written By John P., Burnsville, NC on Saturday, January 12, 2013
    Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
     
    Great little near-field speakers! I am driving them out of a my Mac, into a Cambridge Audio DacMagic and then into a Music Hall ph25.2 pre-amp. They are very accurate, and natural sounding. I have them on small stands to get them to ear level and am using the sub out to run a yamaha subwoofer. I find a slight toe-in adds a little depth to the soundstage.
    Pros:
    Price/performance Sound
    Cons:
    "Pop" sound when waking up. Not a big deal, but I could do without it.
    2 out of 2 people found this helpful
    Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
     
    1-5 of 5

    Accessories

    Add accessories for the PSB Alpha PS1

    Monster® iCable® 800 Stereo mini patch cable
    3 people say 
    Your Price: $24.95
    Add to Cart
    Monster MusicConnect™ Stereo mini-to-RCA adapter cable
    20 people say 
    Your Price: $19.95
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest Evergreen Stereo mini-to-mini cable with 3.5mm plugs (0.6 meter/2 feet)
    2 people say 
    Your Price: $26.00
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest Evergreen Stereo mini-to-RCA adapter cable (0.6 meter/2 feet)
    5 people say 
    Your Price: $26.00
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest Golden Gate Stereo mini-to-mini cable with 3.5mm plugs (0.6 meter/2 feet)
    1 person says 
    Your Price: $56.00
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest Golden Gate Stereo mini-to-RCA adapter cable (0.6 meter/2 feet)
     
    Your Price: $56.00
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest Big Sur Stereo mini-to-mini cable with 3.5mm plugs (0.6 meter/2 feet)
    3 people say 
    Your Price: $89.00
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest Big Sur Stereo mini-to-RCA adapter cable (0.6 meter/2 feet)
     
    Your Price: $89.00
    Add to Cart
    Monster Cable Stereo Audio 400i Stereo interconnect cables with RCA plugs (4 meters/13.2 ft.)
    2 people say 
    Your Price: $59.95
    Add to Cart
    Monster Cable Stereo Audio 200i Stereo interconnect cables with RCA plugs (2 meters/6.6 ft.)
    7 people say 
    Your Price: $29.95
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest Evergreen Stereo interconnect cable with RCA plugs (0.6 meter/2 feet)
    11 people say 
    Your Price: $26.00
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest Golden Gate Stereo interconnect cable with RCA plugs (0.6 meter/2 feet)
    5 people say 
    Your Price: $56.00
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest Big Sur Stereo interconnect cable with RCA plugs (0.6 meter/2 feet)
     
    Your Price: $89.00
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest G-Snake Stereo interconnect cables with RCA plugs (2 meters/6.6 feet)
    22 people say 
    Your Price: $29.99

    After $20.00 Savings

    Add to Cart
    Monster Cable® Digital Life™ High-Speed Mini 1.5-ft. USB cable (Type A to Mini Type B)
     
    Your Price: $19.95
    Add to Cart
    Monster Cable® Digital Life™ High Speed USB cable (Type A to mini Type B) (3 ft.)
    1 person says 
    Your Price: $24.95
    Add to Cart
    Panamax SP8-AV Power line conditioner and surge suppressor
    13 people say 
    Your Price: $69.99
    Add to Cart
    Panamax MD2-RCA Space-saving surge suppressor for a powered subwoofer
     
    Your Price: $69.99
    Add to Cart
    Panamax MD2 Space-saving surge suppressor with two outlets
    3 people say 
    Your Price: $39.99
    Add to Cart
    Monster Power AV 800 Surge suppressor
    13 people say 
    Your Price: $49.95
    Add to Cart
    Monster Power AV 600 Surge suppressor
    5 people say 
    Your Price: $24.95
    Add to Cart
    Monster Cable® 400sw Subwoofer cable (4 meters/13.2 feet)
    15 people say 
    Your Price: $39.95
    Add to Cart
    Monster Cable® 600sw Subwoofer cable (4 meters/13.2 feet)
    13 people say 
    Your Price: $59.95
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest SUB-1 Subwoofer cable (3-meter/9.8 feet)
    3 people say 
    Your Price: $138.99
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest SUB-3 Subwoofer cable (3-meter/9.8 feet)
     
    Your Price: $294.99
    Add to Cart
    AudioQuest SUB-X Subwoofer cable (2-meter/6.6 feet)
    7 people say 
    Your Price: $69.00
    Add to Cart
    PSB SubSeries 300 Powered subwoofer
    1 person says 
    Your Price: $999.99
    Add to Cart
    PSB SubSeries 200 Powered subwoofer
    2 people say 
    Your Price: $649.99
    Add to Cart
    PSB SubSeries 125 Powered subwoofer
    1 person says 
    Your Price: $449.99
    Add to Cart
    PSB SubSeries™ HD8 Ultra-compact powered subwoofer
     
    Your Price: $1,099.99
    Add to Cart
    PSB SubSeries™ HD10 Compact powered subwoofer
     
    Your Price: $1,499.99
    Add to Cart

    Smart people protect with SquareTrade- The best warranty at the best price

    SquareTrade Warranty
    SquareTrade Warranty 3 Year Warranty
    Your Price: $38.99
    Add to Cart
    SquareTrade Warranty
    SquareTrade Warranty 3 Year Warranty with spill/drop protection
    Your Price: $54.99
    Add to Cart

    In business since 1999, SquareTrade is the largest independent warranty provider in the U.S.

    100% parts and labor - no deductibles

    All mechanical and electrical failures covered, includes normal wear and tear.

    Your item's repaired or the full item price returned withing 5 days

    Runs concurrent with manufacturer's warranty

    Rated 5-stars by consumers

    Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH) guards you against life's little mishaps, whether you drop your MP3 player on the street or spill coffee on your camera.

    ADH must be added to your Care Plan at the time of Care Plan purchase; it cannot be added retroactively. ADH coverage begins on the 31st day after the item's purchase - issues in the first 30 days are not covered.

    For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the PSB Alpha PS1, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/S-WUi9RnYKRra/p_760ALPHPS1/PSB-Alpha-PS1.html ).

    Recommended Accessories See more accessories

    Your featured item

    PSB Alpha PS1
    PSB Alpha PS1
    Powered desktop stereo speaker system
    $299.99
    In Stock
     
     

    Protect your gear with an extended warranty

    Add 3 Year Warranty
    Square Trade Warranty
    $38.99
    In Stock
     
     
    Accidental Damage Handling
    $16.00
    In Stock
     
     
    Add selected to cart
     

    Get live, personalized service from an expert

    Crutchfield Advisor: Hi there.

    Crutchfield Advisor: We're happy to answer questions or provide additional info about this item.

    Advisors also available at 1-888-600-3963

    • Front

      PSB Alpha PS1
    • Angled view

      PSB Alpha PS1
    • Back

      PSB Alpha PS1
    • Pictured in a desktop audio system

      PSB Alpha PS1