PSB Passif 50 Anniversary Speakers

PSB Passif 50 Anniversary Edition Standmount Speakers at Vinyl Sound Buffalo NY

The PSB Passif 50 is a limited Anniversary Edition standmount loudspeaker celebrating 50 years of PSB Speakers (1972–2022), designed as a modern interpretation of the original Passif I and Passif II models that established PSB's reputation for true-to-nature sound. Available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, New York, the Passif 50 is a two-way design with passive radiator, incorporating a 1" black anodized aluminum dome tweeter with ferrofluid damping and neodymium magnet, and a 6.5" cast aluminum basket woofer with paper cone and filleted rubber surround, crossed over at 1,800Hz. The Passif 50 delivers a frequency response of 50Hz to 20,000Hz (±3dB) with an LF cutoff of 30Hz (−10dB), 87dB anechoic sensitivity (89dB in-room), and a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Dedicated speaker stands are included, bringing the total height to 34". The Passif 50 is sold in mirror-imaged pairs with tweeters positioned on the inner edges of the soundstage for enhanced imaging precision. The Passif 50 is part of Vinyl Sound Buffalo's full loudspeaker collection, which includes bookshelf, floorstanding, and standmount speakers from leading audiophile brands.

Driver Configuration and Acoustic Design

The PSB Passif 50 uses a two-way driver configuration with a passive radiator rather than a ported bass reflex enclosure, allowing the 8" passive radiator to extend low-frequency output without the port noise or room placement constraints associated with rear-firing ports. The 1" black anodized aluminum dome tweeter — a deliberate departure from the titanium domes used in PSB's Imagine and Synchrony series — delivers a warmer, vintage-appropriate high-frequency character with ferrofluid damping and neodymium magnet for extended power handling. The 6.5" woofer uses a cast aluminum basket for rigidity, a paper cone for natural tonal balance consistent with the speaker's musical heritage, and a filleted rubber surround. Felt surrounds the tweeter to minimize edge diffraction. The crossover point is 1,800Hz using a Linkwitz-Riley 4th-order network. Dual five-way gold-plated binding posts support bi-wiring and bi-amplification.

Cabinet Construction and Anniversary Design Details

The Passif 50 cabinet is constructed with heavily braced MDF and mitered joints for enhanced fit, finish, and reduced cabinet resonance, finished in open-grain walnut veneer that references the original Passif models of the 1970s. The magnetically attached woven cloth grille features PSB's original 1972 logo and a pull tab on the front, while the rear panel carries a commemorative plaque reading "Passif 50 – 1972–2022" adorned with a maple leaf. The Passif 50 is supplied in mirror-imaged pairs — left and right cabinets are non-identical, with tweeters positioned on the inside edges when placed in a standard stereo configuration, reducing inter-channel interference and improving center-image focus. Dedicated speaker stands are included as standard, raising the tweeter to the correct seated ear height at a total system height of 34".

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PSB Passif 50 and why is it an Anniversary Edition?

The PSB Passif 50 is a standmount loudspeaker released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of PSB Speakers, founded in 1972 by Paul Barton. The Passif 50 pays tribute to PSB's original Passif I and Passif II standmount models from the 1970s, combining period-appropriate aesthetics — open-grain walnut veneer, paper cone woofer, woven cloth grille — with modern driver technology, passive radiator bass loading, and contemporary crossover design. Anniversary design details include PSB's original 1972 logo on the grille and a commemorative rear plaque.

What is a passive radiator and how does it differ from a ported speaker?

A passive radiator is an undriven speaker driver — a cone with a surround but no voice coil or magnet — mounted in the cabinet and tuned to resonate at the same frequency as a conventional port. When the active woofer moves, the passive radiator moves in sympathy, extending bass output without the airflow noise associated with a ported enclosure. The PSB Passif 50's 8" passive radiator allows it to reach 30Hz at −10dB from a relatively compact cabinet, with lower port chuffing than an equivalent bass reflex design.

Why are the PSB Passif 50 speakers sold as mirror-imaged pairs?

The Passif 50 is sold as a mirror-imaged pair — the left and right cabinets are non-identical, with the tweeter positioned on the inner edge of each speaker when placed in a standard stereo configuration. This places both tweeters closer to the centre of the soundstage, reducing the distance between the two high-frequency sources and improving center image focus, stereo imaging precision, and channel separation compared to a conventional symmetrical pair.

What amplifier does the PSB Passif 50 require?

PSB recommends 30 to 200 watts per channel for the Passif 50. The nominal impedance is 6 ohms with a minimum of 4 ohms, making the Passif 50 compatible with most integrated amplifiers of 30 watts or more per channel. The 87dB anechoic sensitivity (89dB in-room) is moderate, and the Passif 50 pairs particularly well with tube amplifiers and warmer-voiced solid-state integrated amplifiers suited to its vintage-inspired tonal character.

Do the PSB Passif 50 speakers include stands?

Yes. Dedicated speaker stands are included with the PSB Passif 50 as standard equipment, raising the total system height to 34" and positioning the tweeter at the correct seated ear height for optimal listening. No additional stand purchase is required.

Can the PSB Passif 50 be bi-wired?

Yes. The Passif 50 features dual five-way gold-plated binding posts supporting bi-wiring and bi-amplification. Removing the supplied jumpers and connecting separate cable runs or amplifier channels to the high-frequency and low-frequency binding post pairs allows independent signal routing to each section of the crossover.

Where to buy PSB Passif 50 Anniversary Edition speakers in Buffalo NY?

The PSB Passif 50 Anniversary Edition is available from Vinyl Sound, an authorized PSB Speakers dealer in Buffalo, New York. Vinyl Sound offers in-store demonstration, expert system matching, and shipping across the continental United States. Contact Vinyl Sound Buffalo by phone or email to check current availability and arrange a listening appointment.