PSB Imagine XA Dolby Atmos Module Speaker (Pair) at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The Imagine XA is a 2-way Dolby Atmos height module speaker from PSB Speakers (Pickering, Ontario, Canada), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. The first PSB speaker to receive official Dolby Atmos certification, the Imagine XA was developed in direct collaboration with Dolby Laboratories and rigorously tested at Canada's National Research Council (NRC) in Ottawa under the guidance of PSB founder Paul Barton. Its upward-firing driver array pairs a 1" ferrofluid-cooled titanium dome tweeter with a 4" clay/ceramic reinforced polypropylene woofer in an acoustic suspension enclosure, achieving a frequency response of 100Hz to 23kHz on-axis and an in-room sensitivity of 87dB. Designed to sit atop existing floor-standing or bookshelf speakers, the Imagine XA adds fully functional Dolby Atmos height channels to any system from 5.1.2 through 7.1.4 and beyond, without requiring ceiling installation. Sold as a pair. AVForums awarded the Imagine XA a Highly Recommended Award with a score of 9 out of 10.

Dolby Atmos Upward-Firing Technology and NRC Acoustic Research

The Imagine XA operates on the principle that a precisely controlled upward-firing driver, angled at approximately 30 degrees toward the ceiling, can reflect audio off a flat reflective ceiling surface and arrive at the listener from above, creating a perceptual overhead effect without physical overhead speaker placement. This technique is defined in Dolby's Atmos Enabled Speaker specification, which prescribes exact requirements for driver angle, frequency response, directivity pattern, and height-cue filtering. PSB engineered the Imagine XA to meet or exceed every element of this specification, using measurement data from the National Research Council's anechoic facilities in Ottawa to validate the speaker's ceiling-reflection behaviour before final voicing. The outcome is a speaker that Dolby itself selected to demonstrate Dolby Atmos Multi-channel Surround at trade and press events, a distinction that reflects the XA's accuracy against the format's own technical benchmarks.

Waveguide Grille and Sealed Cabinet Design

Two engineering details distinguish the Imagine XA from generic Atmos add-on modules. First, the grille is not optional: it contains a precisely shaped waveguide foam insert that modifies the tweeter's dispersion pattern to match Dolby's directivity specification for height-channel speakers. Removing the grille alters the speaker's high-frequency directivity and degrades Atmos height imaging accuracy. Second, the Imagine XA uses an acoustic suspension (sealed) cabinet rather than a ported design, a choice that provides tighter, better-controlled bass response and eliminates port noise at the upward-firing angle. The sealed enclosure also makes the XA compatible with a wider range of placement positions and reduces sensitivity to the orientation changes that occur when the speaker is placed on surfaces of varying heights. At 6.5 lbs per unit, the compact sealed cabinet is light enough to sit securely atop virtually any quality bookshelf or floorstanding speaker when the included anti-slip strips are applied.

Integration with PSB Imagine X Series and Third-Party Systems

The Imagine XA was purpose-built to achieve seamless tonal integration with PSB's Imagine X Series speakers, including the Imagine XB bookshelf, XC center channel, X1T and X2T floorstanding, and the surround models. Its driver technology inherits characteristics from PSB's flagship speaker lines, ensuring that timbre and tonal balance match across all channels of a mixed Imagine X system. At the same time, AVForums and AVS Forum reviewers confirmed that the Imagine XA integrates effectively with speakers from other manufacturers, as the Dolby specification it meets is format-level rather than brand-specific. Whether installed above PSB Imagine X towers, third-party bookshelf speakers, or wall-mounted as standalone height modules via the included brackets, the Imagine XA maintains the upward-firing geometry and Dolby Atmos target response required for accurate height imaging.

Key Features

• Dolby Atmos Certified: The Imagine XA is the first PSB speaker to receive official Dolby Atmos certification, engineered to precisely meet Dolby's specifications for driver angle, directivity, frequency response, and height-cue filtering.
• NRC-Validated Performance: Driver design, crossover, and final voicing were completed and verified at Canada's National Research Council in Ottawa, the same acoustics facility PSB has used since 1974 for all speaker development.
• 4" Clay/Ceramic Reinforced Polypropylene Woofer: The injection-moulded woofer uses clay and ceramic particle reinforcement for enhanced cone rigidity, accurate mid-bass reproduction, and low distortion across the height-channel frequency range.
• 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter with Ferrofluid Cooling: The tweeter uses a ferrofluid-cooled titanium dome with a Neodymium magnet structure and integrated heat sink for extended power handling and distortion-free high-frequency output.
• Functional Waveguide Grille: The grille contains a precision-shaped foam waveguide insert that must remain attached during use; it modifies tweeter dispersion to match Dolby's Atmos directivity specification and is integral to correct height imaging performance.
• Acoustic Suspension (Sealed) Cabinet: The sealed enclosure delivers tightly controlled bass response at the upward-firing angle and eliminates port noise, supporting accurate Atmos height reproduction across a wide range of placement heights.
• 5-Way Gold-Plated Binding Posts: Heavy-duty bi-wire and bi-amp capable terminals accept bare wire, banana plugs, spades, lugs, and pin connectors for flexible connection to Dolby Atmos-compatible AV receivers.
• Speaker-Top and Wall-Mount Flexibility: Anti-slip rubber strips allow secure placement atop floor-standing or bookshelf speakers of any brand; wall-mounting brackets are also included for standalone height channel installation.
• DTS:X Compatible: Although certified for Dolby Atmos, the Imagine XA is equally effective as a height channel speaker for DTS:X object-based surround soundtracks.
• Voiced by Paul Barton at the NRC: Final sonic voicing was performed by PSB founder Paul Barton using NRC measurement data, applying the same psychoacoustic research methodology used across PSB's full speaker lineup.
• Sold as a Pair: The Imagine XA is sold as a stereo pair, providing both left and right height channels required for a minimum Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 configuration.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 5-way gold-plated binding posts (rear panel, per unit): accepts bare wire, banana plugs, spade lugs, pin connectors
• Bi-wire and bi-amp capable via dual binding post pairs
• Connect to Dolby Atmos-compatible AV receiver height channel outputs

What's in the Box

• PSB Imagine XA Dolby Atmos Module Speakers (pair)
• Wall-mounting brackets and hardware (per unit)
• Anti-slip rubber strips for speaker-top placement
• Waveguide foam grilles (must remain attached during use)

Awards and Critical Recognition

• Highly Recommended Award (9/10), AVForums: "In testing the Imagine XAs delivered an impressively immersive audio experience with both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks. The speakers were able to reflect sounds off the ceiling with admirable precision, so that the audio genuinely emanated from above."
• Selected by Dolby Laboratories to demonstrate the Dolby Atmos Multi-channel Surround specification at industry events.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PSB Imagine XA?

The PSB Imagine XA is a 2-way Dolby Atmos certified upward-firing height module speaker from PSB Speakers, a Canadian audio brand based in Pickering, Ontario. Sold as a pair, each unit houses a 4" clay/ceramic reinforced polypropylene woofer and a 1" ferrofluid-cooled titanium dome tweeter in a sealed acoustic suspension enclosure. The driver array fires upward at approximately 30 degrees to reflect sound off the ceiling, creating perceived overhead audio in Dolby Atmos systems from 5.1.2 to 7.1.4 and beyond. It was the first PSB speaker to receive official Dolby Atmos certification and was developed in partnership with Dolby using acoustic research from Canada's National Research Council.

How does the PSB Imagine XA compare to the Klipsch RP-500SA or KEF R50 as a Dolby Atmos height module?

The PSB Imagine XA, Klipsch RP-500SA, and KEF R50 each take a distinct engineering approach to the Dolby Atmos height module category. The Klipsch RP-500SA uses a Tractrix Horn-loaded tweeter and spun-copper IMG woofer for high efficiency and the bright, forward presentation associated with the Klipsch Reference Premiere house sound. The KEF R50 applies KEF's Uni-Q coincident driver array to the upward-firing format, prioritising point-source dispersion consistency. The PSB Imagine XA was developed directly in collaboration with Dolby and validated at Canada's NRC to meet Dolby's own technical specification with a precisely engineered waveguide grille that is integral to the speaker's Atmos performance. Dolby itself selected the Imagine XA for format demonstrations, a practical endorsement of its accuracy against the specification's requirements.

Does the PSB Imagine XA work with DTS:X as well as Dolby Atmos?

Yes, the PSB Imagine XA is fully compatible with DTS:X object-based surround soundtracks. DTS:X uses the same upward-firing speaker configuration as Dolby Atmos for height channel reproduction, and the Imagine XA's driver geometry and frequency response meet the height-channel requirements for both formats. AVS Forum reviewers confirmed effective DTS:X performance alongside Dolby Atmos during extended listening sessions. The Imagine XA is not compatible with the Auro-3D format, which uses a fundamentally different speaker placement architecture.

Why must the grille always be attached to the PSB Imagine XA?

The grille on the PSB Imagine XA contains a precision-shaped waveguide foam insert that is acoustically functional, not merely decorative. This insert modifies the tweeter's high-frequency dispersion pattern to match Dolby's directivity specification for Atmos height-channel speakers, ensuring that the majority of acoustic energy is directed toward the ceiling at the correct angle for ceiling reflection. Removing the grille changes the tweeter's dispersion behaviour and reduces the accuracy of the overhead height image perceived by the listener. PSB and Dolby both specify that the grille must remain in place during use for the speaker to perform to its Dolby Atmos certification standard.

Can the PSB Imagine XA be placed on top of non-PSB speakers?

Yes, the PSB Imagine XA is designed to work atop speakers from any quality brand, not exclusively PSB Imagine X Series models. The included adhesive anti-slip rubber strips provide a stable, vibration-isolating interface between the XA's base and any speaker cabinet top surface. The wall-mounting brackets also allow the Imagine XA to be installed as standalone height channel speakers independent of any main speaker placement. AVS Forum and AVForums reviewers confirmed successful integration with speakers from other manufacturers without tonal or imaging issues, as the Imagine XA's Dolby Atmos certification is format-level rather than brand-dependent.

What AV receiver do I need for the PSB Imagine XA in Toronto?

Any AV receiver with Dolby Atmos decoding and dedicated height channel outputs will drive the PSB Imagine XA. The XA presents an 8-ohm nominal load and 87dB in-room sensitivity, making it an easy drive for any current Atmos-capable receiver. Popular pairings include units from Denon, Marantz, Yamaha, Anthem, and NAD. For Canadians building a full PSB Imagine X system, Vinyl Sound in Toronto carries a full range of compatible AV receivers and can advise on matching amplification for 5.1.2, 7.1.4, and more ambitious Atmos configurations.

Where can I buy the PSB Imagine XA in Toronto or Canada?

The PSB Imagine XA Dolby Atmos Module Speaker is available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound is an authorised PSB Speakers dealer serving the Greater Toronto Area and customers across Canada, with expertise in Dolby Atmos system design, speaker placement, and AV receiver matching. Visit Vinyl Sound in Toronto or shop online at vinylsound.ca to order the Imagine XA pair.