Polk Audio PSW505 12" Powered Subwoofer - Deep Bass Impact & Distortion-Free Sound, Up to 460 Watts, Easy Integration with Home Theater Systems, BLACK
Brand | Polk Audio |
Model Name | PSW505 |
Speaker Type | Subwoofer |
Special Feature | Built in microphone |
Recommended Uses For Product | For Televisions, For Computers |
About this item
- HEART-THUMPING MUSIC WITH DEEP, POWERFUL BASS – Polk's 12-inch Dynamic Balance Woofer sounds better because it is built better. Make your movies, music & sports experience thrilling
- ACCURATE SOUND REPRODUCTIONS – Be it delicate, melodious string music or solid blasts and booms from bombs and bullets, this subwoofer picks the subtleties between different kinds of sound correctly and reproduces them with absolute perfection
- DRIVEN BY IMMENSE 460-WATT POWER, the PSW505 gives HIGH PERFORMANCE IMPACTFUL SOUND WITHOUT ANY DISTORTION. While it blends with any speaker, it works best with Polk's Signature Series Speakers. Highly recommended for your home theater
- VERSATILE & FULLY LOADED – The front grille is detachable, and the back has a magnetically shielded LFE-input for noisy signal aversion, line- & speaker-level inputs and outputs, and a Phase Toggle Switch designed for running multiple subwoofers
- EASY TO INTEGRATE WITH EXISTING SYSTEMS – Hook up this sub to the receiver and upgrade your music sound instantly. Features continuously variable 60-120 Hz crossover and 25-125 Hz frequency response
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This Item Polk Audio PSW505 12" Powered Subwoofer - Deep Bass Impact & Distortion-Free Sound, Up to 460 Watts, Easy Integration with Home Theater Systems, BLACK | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | Currently unavailable. | $599.00$599.00 | -28% $179.88$179.88 List: $249.00 | -58% $248.99$248.99 List: $599.00 | $248.00$248.00 | -11% $400.17$400.17 List: $449.00 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Friday, Mar 29 | Get it as soon as Friday, Mar 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Sound quality | 4.0 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
Bass quality | 3.9 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
Value for money | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 |
Volume control | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.6 | — | — |
Quality of material | 4.4 | — | — | 4.6 | 4.5 | — |
Sold By | — | Huppins | Walts TV | Walts TV | Beach Camera Same Day Shipping | Amazon.com |
speaker size | 12 inches | 12 inches | 10 inches | — | 10 inches | 10 inches |
power source | — | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | AC | AC |
connectivity tech | — | wired, wireless | RCA | RCA | Coaxial | RCA |
speaker type | Subwoofer | Subwoofer | Subwoofer | Subwoofer | Subwoofer, Bookshelf, Coaxial | Subwoofer |
mounting type | Floor Standing | Tabletop | Floor Standing | Floor Standing | Shelf Mount, Floor Mount | Shelf Mount |
weight | 43 pounds | — | 32.5 pounds | 31 pounds | 21 pounds | 37.75 pounds |
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 18.2 x 15.2 x 16.2 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 43 pounds |
Manufacturer | Polk Audio |
ASIN | B000092TT0 |
Item model number | AM8505-A |
Customer Reviews |
3.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #160,255 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #203 in Home Audio Subwoofers |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | August 1, 2005 |
Speakers Maximum Output Power | 500 Watts |
Item Weight | 43 Pounds |
Charging Time | 15 minutes |
Number Of Items | 1 |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
Product Description
PSW505 features a sturdy Slot Load Vent that minimizes distortion, and a 300-Watt amplifier that powers a high-quality 12" long-throw woofer to deliver accurate, room-filling deep bass you crave for home theatre. A rotary volume control adjusts the volume of the subwoofer relative to the other speakers in the system and the unit offers a continuously variable low-pass filter, adjustable from 60-120 Hz. Accessible, professional-grade line- and speaker-level inputs, and speaker level outputs allow easy connection to any system for an instant sound upgrade. The subwoofer’s cool styling, with silver details and a real wood veneer adds a classic touch & blends in seamlessly with your room decor.
From the Manufacturer
Have a big room? Have the need for BIG, life-like bass impact? Then the PSW505 is the subwoofer for you. More than a mere brute, the PSW505 is equally at home reproducing all the subtle nuance of a plucked string bass as it is belting out a rocket's roar. Full-featured and over-powered, the PSW505 will rock your world.
Key Features
- Slot Load Venting improves bass response. The wide, long slotted vent dramatically lessens turbulence, noise and distortion, creating precise, thunderous bass!
- Polk subs sound better because they're built better. Rock-solid MDF construction (including a 1 inch thick front baffle) suppresses enclosure panel resonance for distortion-free, accurate response.
- Big 12-inch Long Throw Driver for longer excursion and better linearity.
- Adjustable low pass crossover, phase switch and volume control allows perfect blending with any main speaker.
Why you should consider this product
Big subwoofer performance pure and simple. If you’re ready for room filling, chest-thumping high impact high performance bass, the PSW505 is the perfect choice.
Take a look inside this product
- Huge Hi-Roll Surrounds that support a true long throw driver.
- Most powered subwoofers are good for just gut-rumble and boom. Polk understands that you listen to music too so our subs are tight, precise and accurate.
- High current 300 Watt Continuous (460 Watt Dynamic) power amplifier.
- Adjustable low pass crossover, phase switch and volume control allows perfect blending with any main speaker.
- Auto on/off circuit that automatically turns your subwoofer on when it senses a program signal. When no signal is present, the amplifier turns off within 15 minutes.
- Unfiltered LFE input for use with low pass filtered subwoofer output jacks.
- Pro-grade 5-way binding posts speaker inputs and outputs.
- Magnetically shielded for safe, flexible placement next to a TV or video monitor.
Technology
Dynamic Balance® Woofer Design Polk perfected the method of analyzing a speaker's microscopic behavior with laser Interferometry. With that information in hand, Polk engineers select the ideal combination of materials, geometry and construction techniques to literally “tune out” unwanted resonance. The result is a subwoofer that delivers pure, distortion free deep bass.
Klippel Optimized Long Throw Woofer Using a state-of-the-art Klippel Distortion Analyzer, Polk engineers optimized the woofer's motor structure, voice coil alignment and suspension for longer excursion and greater linearity bringing you the best possible performance even at the most extreme listening levels.
Slot Load Venting improves bass response. The wide, long slotted vent dramatically lessens turbulence, noise and distortion, pouring out a tidal wave of precise, thunderous bass!
Rock-solid MDF construction (including a 1 inch thick front baffle) suppresses enclosure panel resonance for distortion-free, accurate response. Polk subs sound better because they're built better.
In the Box
- PSW505 subwoofer
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
Use with these products
Polk Audio RTi A Series of freestanding loudspeakers
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Technical Specifications
Driver Complements Subwoofer 1 - 12" Diameter (30.48cm)High excursion polymer composite cone with hi roll surround, shielded Electrical Overall Frequency Response 23Hz - 160Hz Lower -3dB Limit 28Hz Upper -3dB Limit 125Hz Crossover Variable low pass 60 - 125Hz, 4th order Inputs Speaker level 5-way binding posts, line level (filtered) and LFE (unfiltered) Outputs Speaker level Dimensions Cabinet Size 16-1/8" H x 15-1/8" W x 18-3/16" D
(40.96cm H x 38.42cm W x 46.20cm D) Enclosure Type Vented via slot loaded port Subwoofer Amplifier Specs Power Output 300 watts Continuous Average Output Dynamic Power Output 460 watts Shipping/Other Shipping Unit Each Shipping Weight 48.00 lbs. (21.77kgs) Speaker Warranty1 5 years parts and labor Subwoofer Amplifier Warranty1 3 years parts and labor 1To ensure a valid warranty, Polk loudspeakers must be purchased at an Authorized Polk Audio home or car loudspeaker Dealer (such as Amazon.com). (If you're not sure a dealer is "authorized," call Polk Audio at 1-800-377-7655, and ask us.) The warranty is not transferrable, that means it applies only to the original purchaser. If you purchase your speakers from a private individual, that product is considered "used" and has NO factory warranty, no matter what the seller implies. The warranty is VOID if the serial number of the speaker has been removed or defaced. If you have any questions about your warranty coverage, or you think you need service, call Polk Customer Service at 1-800-377-7655. We're here to help you get the most from your new speakers!
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality and value of the speakers. For example, they mention it sounds spectacular, has deep immersive tones, and extends the bass response of their system. Some are happy with noise. That said, opinions are mixed on quality, performance, power, size, and appearance.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the speakers. They mention that it sounds spectacular, has deep immersive tones, and extends the bass response of their system. That said, some say that it's a great subwoofer that fills their room with plenty of floor-shaking bass. Overall, customers are happy with the sound performance of the product.
"...The initial good news: no RF interference, no thumping, so it is clear that the RF shielding and bypassing in the sub-woofer's amplifier is well done..." Read more
"...The F12 comes in and man does this sub bang! Sounds sooo amazing right out of the box no break in period this subwoofer obliterates the Polk I had..." Read more
"...I have not made a single adjustment since the inital hookup. No more "cold" sound from the Yamaha, and no more worries about the JBLs lacking the..." Read more
"...what's crazy,,,,,,good Box enclosure,,,,Good Bass response and good sound quality however my Sub and others who have bought Polk Subs will in short..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the value of the speakers. They mention that it is amazing for the price, ridiculously cheap, and a popular budget subwoofer. They appreciate the 12 inch driver, which is worth the additional expense for the added bass extension. Overall, customers are happy with the performance and value of this product.
"...Oh...yes...the price was very good and delivery was on time, no damage, as usual from a fine company like Amazon." Read more
"...this again, but in the end I got an incredible subwoofer at an incredible price and I will be very happy once I get the new grill from Polk Audio...." Read more
"...This is the one, baby! This will do it for you and at a price that's so ridiculously low, that you literally can't go wrong...." Read more
"...12" (good, good), 350W (NICE, NICE), front firing (booo), budget friendly sub. I read some more reviews and make my mind up...." Read more
Customers like the noise the speakers make. They mention that it rattles things, and vibrates the floor. Some say that it sounds better and shakes the walls better than their old expensive sub woofer. Overall, most are satisfied with the noise produced by the speakers.
"I love this thing! It rattles my intestines when I listen to my music, and is amazing for movies as well...." Read more
"...For me, it's great. Rumbles shook the couch a bit, gun shots felt like they had life to them.Overall: very impressed...." Read more
"...It actually shakes my ceiling. No picture falling off the wall and all that other crazy stuff but once again, my theater room is 25x40...." Read more
"...My games sound utterly amazing and movies really BOOM and rattle after doing some Yamaha calibration and tweaking with the levels...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the speakers. Some mention that it's a really good sub at $200 bucks, substantial, and heavy. However, others say that the speaker mounts were falling apart, the cabinet was coming apart at the seams, and that it wasn't a good quality product.
"...Its HT use is still solid. It's had more of a chance to break in now, and so far, it sounds really good...." Read more
"...Design: The PSW505 is built a little better and the grill doesn't vibrate when bass is loud like the F12...." Read more
"...Later I found that sounds below 30 hertz this sub simply cannot reproduce, which is average for this price range...." Read more
"...The PSW505 is not "current", but it is recent, and has a strong set of reviews at several sites (including my favorite, Amazon) The price is the..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the speakers. Some mention that they are satisfied with the performance, producing superb results. However, others say that it just died.
"...This is a good thing since it means that the sub maintains a relatively flat response down to 25 Hz...." Read more
"...The speaker itself is not the problem - the board simply failed. Further online research revealed that I am not alone...." Read more
"...Now run it at little over 1/4 sounds nice. Gets better by the week. Prob had it 2 weeks now listing at about 1.5h/day av." Read more
"...I have started to notice the performance to drop off. It seems to clip at lower volumes now...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the power of the speakers. Some mention that the power is really impressive at 300 watts, and it provides enough power to drive the speaker. However, others say that either the speaker or the amp is going out.
"...Ok, back to business. This sub is definitely "overpowered" for a small room. It should do just fine in a medium sized room...." Read more
"...This Sub is powerful enough to overpower my BIC LRC (Left right center) Formula speakers...." Read more
"...Today I purchased a Jamo 12" powered sub. for around $250. Less Watts and less design features but I want to avoid poorly designed amp and my fingers..." Read more
"...Amazing power, depth, and tight bass sound. Will abolutely blow you away when set up properly in a surround sound setup...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the size of the speakers. Some mention that it's huge and powerful, while others say that it fills up the entire space. The size is quite adequate for medium to large rooms, while still others say it'll not fit on their entertainment center.
"...Which is a good thing. It feels reassuringly sturdy/massive...." Read more
"...It's huge and heavy and really delivers. The sound from the PSW505 reminds you of the bass that you feel when a band is playing at a wedding...." Read more
"...doing all I could to set it up for success, this thing is still just big, rumbly, and muddy...." Read more
"...Good for movies great for musicNot too bigHit frequencies in the high 40sGreat bang for the buck! Best sub for under $200..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the appearance of the speakers. Some mention that it looks nice and the build appears to be good. The specs on this sub looked pretty amazing compared to the normal subs that you find in this price range. However, others say that it still has design flaws which shorten its lifespan. They are certainly not the finest, but very competitive in their price. Some say that the input circuit has poor design and the power supply filtration is poor.
"...The specs on this sub looked pretty amazing compared to the normal subs that you find in this price range...." Read more
"...arrived safely (thank you UPS) and I found it to be a fine looking piece of equipment...." Read more
"...They are certainly not the finest, but very competitive in their price range. I have never had any problems with them." Read more
"...It has a nice black faux-wood finish.* It is LOUD...." Read more
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So far so good. I have had a chance to listen to more music, and I must say that this speaker is really pretty solid for music. I've listened to some orchestral, hip hop, rock and a variety of other music. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the bass response I got from this speaker. Its HT use is still solid. It's had more of a chance to break in now, and so far, it sounds really good.
I also noticed that the link I tried to provide did not show up. The review I was referring to was written by Ed Mullen. Just Google "Ed Mullen PSW505." Skip down to his in-room frequency response test. You will see that he found this subwoofer to be flat down to 25 Hz as well.
I also want to clarify how I am using the subwoofer. I have it positioned several inches away from the wall. I have the volume set to a little above 1/4 as it is far too powerful for the smaller room I have it in. I also have the AVR set to -3db for the subwoofers (I am using 2, but one of them is an older Klipsch I've had for years). I also rarely find occasion to crank my receiver to reference level (0db). Normally, the highest I go is about -10db with certain music. Movies are usually in the -25 to -20db region for me when I watch movies on this setup. I won't bother going into EQ settings, etc, since all of these values including the ones I've listed will change based on the room someone places their speakers in.
All in all, I highly recommend it for someone placing it in a smaller to medium sized room. A larger room might be questionable since single ported or slotted subs may struggle the harder you have to push them. However, it sounds great so far, and I am very pleased considering how little I paid for this thing.
**ORIGINAL REVIEW**
A LITTLE BACKGROUND:
I believe these are discontinued as Polk no longer lists a price for them on their website. That may also be a large reason for the price you can get this thing at (along with other factors I'd imagine such as the competition). This sub can't really compete in the $500 and up category any longer as it may once have been able to do. However, that does not mean it's a bad sub. In fact, for the price it can be had at now (at the time of purchase), you'd be hard pressed to find anything better.
It appears the sub retailed originally for close to $600. It can now be had for as little as $170-$180 from what I've seen. I wasn't really in the market for a new subwoofer, but when I saw the price this thing was at ($179.99), I was tempted and decided to do a bit of research. The specs on this sub looked pretty amazing compared to the normal subs that you find in this price range. Subs that are manufactured to actually sit in the $100-$250 price range are much lower in overall power as well as craftsmanship. Their frequency response and extension are usually much worse as well. Aesthetically speaking, this is definitely not the "prettiest" sub around, but it's not the ugliest either. Aesthetics matter to some people more than others depending on where the speaker will be placed, and who will be able to see it.
I would have preferred the entire speaker be black rather than the silver front where the actual driver is located. The grill covers this, but the silver outline you can see is distracting imo, especially since the rest of my set up is black. However, for $180, I can't complain that much. The sub definitely feels sturdy enough.
As far as specs go, this is a sub with $600 specs being sold for less than $200. Even though it is an older model, you will not beat it for the price with any sub normally marketed in this price range. The subs that will compete with it are the ones you find on sale such as the BIC F12 which is also a sub that once carried a higher MSRP ($499). It also currently carries a price tag below $200 (at least at the time that I received this sub which is early June 2013). Of course, these prices are always subject to change. I found others that might be comparable specs wise within the $150-$250 price range as well.
I read a lot of reviews ranging from before ordering to after I pulled the trigger on this one. You will find a mix of opinions regarding this sub especially compared to other subs within the same price range. I also read a few comments from people that claimed this sub did not go very low on the bass spectrum and has a severe roll off below 30-35 Hz. One of the reasons I saw that some people recommended the BIC F12 over this sub was because of its extension down to 25 Hz (at least its rated extension).
Some people were basing this off of what they read while others had listened to the sub and drawn their own conclusions. I also read a review that claimed there is a lot of port noise or "chuffing" when this sub tries to extend below about 35 Hz. Anyway, this was a concern for me, so I decided to do some frequency response testing to verify the in-room extension of this sub after I received it. While 35 Hz is actually pretty low, it's terrible for a subwoofer intended for HT use. It might be ok for music if the sub is responsive enough, but even this depends on the type of music you listen to and the extension you expect. You often have to sacrifice clarity, "tightness," and responsiveness for deeper extension especially with ported subwoofers.
Anyway, as I stated, these kinds of statements had me second guessing whether or not the Polk PSW505 was the right subwoofer for me even at the price since it would be used for a mix of movies as well as music, so I decided to do some experimentation of my own. The first thing people must remember is that many subs will extend lower than their rated frequency response. The problem is that the rated "lowest" response is typically where you begin to see (and hear) dramatic roll off which means the bass frequencies below that point will have less and less energy until the speaker essentially cannot produce the sounds anymore.
Another thing to consider is the size of the room you are installing the subwoofer in, and you must take care where you place the sub and how you calibrate it using whatever tools you have at your disposal: AVR (Audyssey ), parametric EQ, etc. I find that it is often better to keep ported or slotted subs at least several inches away from the wall if not more. It reduces "boominess", improves overall bass response across the spectrum relative to the selected listening position (essentially keeps the sub from sounding like a "one-note" wonder), and keeps the bass clean sounding. Contrary to what many people may think, walls and windows rattling is not the sign of a "good" subwoofer as it usually serves to distort the sound of the bass you can hear if anything. It's also very distracting. Moving the sub away from the wall typically remedies this along with the sense that the sub is only good at producing a certain frequency and nothing else. In other words, it improves the "musical" aspect of the subwoofer. /end rant
Ok, back to business. This sub is definitely "overpowered" for a small room. It should do just fine in a medium sized room. It may be enough for some larger rooms as well, but once you start to get to very large rooms, you should be looking at speakers/amplifiers/etc that are in a completely different league (and price range) if you want proper in-room response and sufficient SPL. I purchased this subwoofer for a smaller room for which it is more than powerful enough.
It's paired with Polk Monitor 40's used for front L/R, CS1 Center, OWM3 surrounds, and an Onkyo TX-NR709 receiver. It's a respectable budget system for a smaller listening room, and I've had most of this gear for a little while. I also have an older Klipsch KSW 12 set up with this system which is a far more capable sub than many seem to give it credit for if positioned and calibrated properly.
Essentially, I saw the price of the PSW505 as an opportunity to add a second subwoofer to this lower budget arrangement for my small listening room which would allow me to even out bass response in the room. 2 subs are better than one not because of higher perceived loudness per se even though you can probably achieve this if that is your goal, but because they can better even out the in-room bass response and fill the room with bass while creating cleaner, more responsive bass in the process. They tend to eliminate the peaks and valleys of in-room response you often get with only one subwoofer (the "if I sit/stand in this corner the bass sounds best, but if I sit/stand in that corner or over there, the bass seems to disappear" effect). They also broaden the listening area allowing for a larger "sweet spot."
SO HOW DID IT DO?
That's really the question isn't it? First, I discovered that the in-room response of this subwoofer is quite good. It can get down to 20 Hz, but the roll off is quite apparent; you can audibly tell it's losing energy especially as it drops below 25 Hz. This sub is by no means limited to 30-35 Hz. It does not produce loud port noise and chuffing below 35 Hz as I read in one review (at least I haven't had that problem). The stated total frequency response of this sub from Polk is 23-160 Hz. The lower -3dB limit is stated to be 28 Hz (which is where it should start to roll off). This seems to be pretty consistent with my testing with it being difficult to audibly hear the difference between 25-35 Hz in a sweep of that frequency range (meaning that you probably won't be able to hear the loss of energy down to the 25 Hz region). This is a good thing since it means that the sub maintains a relatively flat response down to 25 Hz.
The bass is clean and powerful. Some equalization may be necessary to achieve optimum performance and flatten out the response up to between 50-120 Hz depending on where you choose to cross the frequency out, but this sub definitely handles the lower frequency spectrum quite respectably. It is much more powerful than the Klipsch sub I have it paired with. I had to drop the volume on this sub quite a bit so it would sit nicely and evenly with the Klipsch and not overpower the rest of the system. The KSW 12 has similar frequency response, but it doesn't match up with the power this PSW505 is capable of producing. I expected this since the Klipsch sub's RMS output is 105 watts whereas the RMS rating for this PSW505 is 300 watts. The Klipsch is definitely suited to smaller rooms (possibly medium sized rooms). It's great for the smaller room I have it in. The PSW505 is really overkill for the room I have it in and should easily work in a larger room.
I noticed an audible dip in energy as I passed 120 Hz up to about 140 Hz which again is consistent with the rated upper -3dB limit of 125 Hz for this speaker and the crossover setting I used on the AVR low pass filter which I set to 120 Hz. This tells me that the bookshelfs I'm using aren't handling the upper mid bass as nicely as I'd like. However, I plan to get some floor standers eventually which should make it easy to even out that part of the spectrum. At that point, I will probably lower the crossover to between 60-80 Hz for the subs since any good floor standers should be able to produce that bass range respectably enough. This in no way reflects badly on this sub as it shouldn't be responsible for that part of the spectrum anyway.
I tested things out with a few scenes from movies such as Fellowship of the Ring which has some great bass in the opening battle scene as well as about midway through the movie when they are in the caves and the skeleton is pushed down the well. This sub handled those scenes quite nicely and got some nice extension on them. I also checked out some scenes in Kingdom of Heaven. There are a few battle scenes with some really nice bass and rumble. I sampled a variety of music and found the sub to be adequate. I personally think having a set of higher range woofers to handle the upper end of the bass spectrum (60-200 hz or so, maybe 80-120 at least) is preferable to tasking ported subwoofers with this task (or even wide slotted subs such as this PSW505).
I often find ported subs lack the articulation and responsiveness that upper mid bass requires. This is just a personal preference. I prefer subs such as this one to stay in the lower bass regions from 80 Hz and down (maybe 100 Hz and down in some applications). Unfortunately, I cannot do that while using bookshelf speakers since the Polk Monitor 40s really don't handle the mid bass as well as I'd like. They are great speakers. I love the way they sound, but to get the response I want, I'm left with either getting some floor standers with built in 6.5 to 10 inch woofers that can handle that upper bass region better or investing in two more sealed subwoofers which are more likely to handle that upper bass region better than the ported (or slotted) subs I am currently using. Again, this is just a personal preference. I listen to a variety of music, so "boom" is not the only thing I care about. However, I do listen to music that has "boom" and bass that extends quite low. This sub reproduces that bass very well and is more than adequate for bass 80 Hz and below, even possibly 100 Hz and below.
If anyone is interested, here is a nice review that seems to be spot on with my experience as well: [...] Read the section on in-room frequency response and you will see that the reviewer also found this sub to be flat to 25 Hz (which is about what you can expect from almost any 10-12" sub below the $500 price point).
FINAL VERDICT:
This subwoofer is simply a steal at the price I got it at: $179.99. You probably won't do significantly better until you hit roughly above the $500 price point. It simply blows away any subwoofer that was actually manufactured to sit in the MSRP range of $99-$250. This is essentially a "$600" sub priced at around $200. I'm guessing these prices are due to the subwoofer being end of life. It still sounds much better than its current price tag would suggest. If you can get this subwoofer below $200, grab it and don't look back. Once you start hitting $250 and higher, I would recommend maybe stretching your budget a bit and looking at other subs.
You could take a look at the Hsu STF-2 although I don't know how significant a step-up this would be. You may also want to check out the VTK-1 MK2, but again, I'm not sure how much of a performance gain you will get for the difference in price. I would suggest looking at the VTK-2 MK4. The price is higher, but it should be worth it. You could also look at the SVS PB-1000. These are more expensive subs, but they should provide a sufficiently superior experience as well. Beyond that, you are getting into some serious money and into a class of subwoofer that this sub is not really intended to compete with.
At less than $200, you can't really beat the PSW505 from what I've seen (and heard). As you push closer to $250 and especially higher than that, I think it's worth it to add a bit more to the budget and step up to something a bit better.
**Update, 28 Dec 2011, still flexin' my windows in my basement and taking names....just ordered another one because was running this and a 6.5 klipsch sub in each corner, will go 2 PSW505's. Tip...you can catch them onsale late at night like one day a month for $170. Oh also 2 weeks ago the pizza man said "last week what were you watching?? When I came to the door I could fell the bass in my chest." That would be dark night with a PSW505 and an Okyno 809 reciever....thanks
Purchased this sub at the same time I purchased a BIC F12. Will update with
more info but basically ran them the same hours before testing (about 15 on music and movies), watch same 20-30min of exact movie scenes(Inception, Star wars, Matrix reloaded, Dark Knight, did testing "slow, C weight, blabla with meter from my friends father who is "Carver, Paradigm" Audophile type.
Design: The PSW505 is built a little better and the grill doesn't vibrate when bass is loud like the F12. The F12 is a little higher but the PSW505 seems about 15lbs heavier.
Bottom line, this PSW505 produced a way higher SPL with the same settings than the F12, much higher.
My basement theater room is 25 wide by 40' deep. Placed both subs in same location, 1 foot from intersection of north and west walls. Sony 820 receiver connected subwoofer out, receiver on -3db SW setting volume 32, 40 and 42.
This Sub is powerful enough to overpower my BIC LRC (Left right center) Formula speakers. The F12 couldn't do that without going to 3/4 volume and shaking the grill and sounding like it was working 2 hard. The PSW505 at about 5/8 volume shakes my entire north wall, the window, the ceiling and the south wall about 35 feet away from the sub.
F12 did sound a bit better for punch deep bass songs like "murder gram" by LL Cool J, and "eat em up L". On movies F12 sounds nice, but PSW505 sounds like IMAX.
It's like comparing a 50 cal. to a cannon (PSW505). Both will do damage but the PSW505 does the most. Also with the PSW the bass is "thick enough" to where the M16 shots in Inception kinda scares me, with the F12 no.
F12 is good tho' but the Polk, you can play that thing and your walls will submit before the sub.
So anyway the F12 is going back to Amazon tomorrow.
FYI most people who review subs are upgrading from a HTIB (home theater in a box) so they will like the sound of anything, I have a 8" Klipch, sub12 Klipsch, 6.5" klipsch from my 300 HD surround system, some 8" off brand, 2 subs in my living room, 2 fosgate punch classics in my car, etc, etc, so I know what Im talking about when it comes to bass.
Like someone said, this Polk isn't something for apartment dwellers or people who share walls with neighbors! It actually shakes my ceiling. No picture falling off the wall and all that other crazy stuff but once again, my theater room is 25x40.
I will edit with db meter readings I did over the last 2 days.
One more thing, you can run 2 subs from 2 dif manufactures at the same time, did it with the Polk and F12 and the Polk and one of my Klipsch subs. Just place them in a room perpendicular to each other and also one will have to have phase set to 0 and one to 180.
5 starts because for a $200 and something sub this thing scares me. Not 5 stars compared to $900 600watt RMS subs.
Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black)
BIC America F12 12-Inch 475-Watt Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
edit: When I first connecting this sub, I got little bass and port noise, took about 5 days of playing it about 1-2h a day before it started to really "do work" but every day it got better and better with thicker bass at a lower volume.
26 Oct 2011 edit:
Ok so here are the SPL readings I took:
with Sony 820 receiver vol at 32 the F12 produced 91.5db the PSW505 94db SPL....SPL w/o a sub on my system at vol. 32 is 65dba. That's with the subs hooked up exactly the same way but polk just under 1/2 volume crossed over at 90 and F12 just over 1/2 gain crossed over at 90. Location was each sub 2ft from Northwest corner of theater room (25x40)
with polk at 1/2 volume, and vol. 40 on sony receiver Polk hit 101.5 SPL, little over 1/2 (like one dash) hit 105 SPL. F12 same Vol hit 95 SPL both crossed over at 90 htz.
just as a comp, my HD300 6.5 sub at 40 hits 82db SPL.
at vol. 20. the Polk hit 92db SPL, the F12 86 db
at vol 30. the Polk hit 103 db and F12 98 db (sitting slightly to the left of test done at vol 32 above).
Songs to test: "respect" by Notorious BIG (should here a low to high rumble on each bass hit)
"Murdergram" LL cool J
"Eat-em Up L" LL cool J
"phone numbers" Whiz Khalifa - this song has some fast low bass hits that the F12 got each one clearer than the Polk.
"get em girls" Cam'ron
"booming system" LL cool J - particularly the part where he spell "C O O L I N"
a bunch of random top 40 songs and a few limp biskit songs and the movies above.
So anyway I got this to feel the bass in my chest while watching movies and provide some low end for music. If you're only listening to music get the F12, if you want to feel gun shots in movies get the PSW505. I couldn't even imagine using 2 PSW505's!
**Update 28 Oct 2011** Switch my output on my bluray to bitstream HD versus PCM to let my sony 810 reciever decode the sound and the LFE signal came on the reciever when watching movies and the bass just got real!!! Now run it at little over 1/4 sounds nice. Gets better by the week. Prob had it 2 weeks now listing at about 1.5h/day av.
Top reviews from other countries
If you want good speakers, by them from a company that only does speakers because they don’t compromise on quality.
Samsung sells speakers but they also make phones, TVs, trucks and tractors. Same for Sony.
Polk audio components have always satisfied my auditory senses. I have used the Polk Audio car speakers for a very long time. It took about two and a half weeks for the 505 to arrive.
The first impression of the 505 when it arrived, "Damn, it's so big! Where do I fit this in my tiny Mumbai apartment bedroom?"
Lol! It has to be! It's a 12" subwoofer. Then there was the voltage issue! This damn thing runs on 110V. (Though I was informed by the seller before confirming the order). Ordered a heavy duty step down voltage transformer from Amazon again as my local market shops did not have any step down transformer that had a 500kVA output rating or higher. Another week went by, by the time I received the step down transformer.
Then after unboxing it and hooking it up to the AVR, I had to spend some time tweaking around with the freq filter and the volume knobs behind the 505. It took few days and testing out on various kinds of media to arrive at a setting that sounds best for my room.
If you do not set up the 505 as per your room acoustics and likings, it can become extremely boomy or can become too dry. But once the optimisation is done, it is now performing better than my expectations. The bass response is deep and distinct clear, attacks at right places and does not cloud rest of the frequencies from the small speakers. Music sounding good while movie watching is a different experience now altogether.
All in all an awesome investment. Am very happy with the output of the 505. Window panes and my cupboard doors now need some padding to get rid of the vibrations!
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Long term review (July 2018):
Finally, I am done with setting up the home theatre. I have paired this subwoofer with Polk Audio RTi A7s & one CSi A4. Now movie viewing is an experience. But there has been a small mishap. I shifted my house recently and this subwoofer stopped working all of a sudden few days back. I reached out to the seller here for a copy of the invoice & to inquire on the warranty terms. Seller sent across the invoice promptly but happily ignored the warranty inquiry. Polk audio products come with a 3 years company warranty. On reaching out to Polk audio in USA, they connected me to the Mumbai distributor who in turn connected me to the service centre. Now I am declined warranty service because this product was imported from the USA and international warranty is not recognised in India.
So guys, if you are ordering the same, please make it sure that it is the official Indian distributed model. Please refrain from getting this imported or else the warranty is going to be an issue.
UPDATE Aug 22: Now my woofer is out of order. They are now shipping me a replacement woofer but said it will take 2 to 3 weeks. I can't believe Polk actually produced such a low quality product.