Resource
PSB Speakers
Canadian loudspeaker brand founded by Paul Barton in 1972, with a design history tied to National Research Council psychoacoustics research. Its range connects conventional and powered speakers, installation-friendly designs, subwoofers and headphones, while measurement and controlled listening are explicit parts of its stated development method.
About this resource
PSB Speakers was founded in 1972 by Paul Barton, with its name referring to Paul and Sue Barton. The company page places it in Pickering, Ontario, and traces its beginnings to speaker kits and experimentation with drivers and cabinets. Its account links a 1974 meeting with researcher Floyd Toole to a long-running interest in how listeners perceive reproduced sound. [2]
The National Research Council connection is important to its engineering story. PSB describes combining anechoic measurements, room measurements and controlled listening tests rather than relying only on an individual designer’s impressions. It frames loudspeaker development around the interaction between speaker, listener and room. Those methods explain the brand’s approach without making its “True to Nature” positioning an objectively proven sound-quality ranking. [2]
Current entry points include conventional hi-fi speakers, powered speakers and headphones. The homepage highlights Alpha AM3 and AM5 powered models, the Passif 50 standmount and the slim PWM on-wall range. Alpha iQ adds BluOS-based streaming and multiroom operation, while RoomFeel is described as a headphone-oriented application of its research. These families cover different installation and connectivity needs, so a self-contained powered system should be distinguished from passive speakers requiring separate electronics. [1]
Where to buy
Availability varies by region and retailer. Authorized dealers are listed on the official PSB Speakers website.
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Verification sources
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