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AudioSource SW-15
AudioSource SW-15
129 reviews
 4.36 of 5
MSRP: $ 400.00

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Rating
Reviewed by:
funko
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
April 23, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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Review 1 of 129

Price Paid:  $150.00 from cmart

Summary:
i have nothing new to sayabout this sub, i agree with all the positive reviews this sub is GREAT for home theater with the mods (i did all of them with parts experss) i even bought spray dampener to spray the areas not covered by the dampening sheets. however this sub is not detailed to catch the subtlies in music

Strengths:
rumbles without boom with mods in home theater use

Weaknesses:
the cheapo driver isn't good enough for music, but this can be remedied by upgrading the driver to a tempest or dayton dvc

Similar Products Used:
cheapo teac 100watter that cheesy bose bass module that sounds terrible klipsch ksw-50


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Rating
Reviewed by:
zombielust
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
March 21, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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Review 2 of 129

Price Paid:  $179.00 from amazon.com

Summary:
This is an excellent sub for the price. Do not pass it up. As all other reviews have mentioned, the mods are necessary for this product to become a well rounded work hourse sub. I have found that this sub is best for Home Theater use. I use a smaller 8" sub for listening to music. Anyway...To increase bass punchiness and help the speaker to react faster and more responsive to incoming signals, I would suggest adding these modifications. Part numbers are listed. Most of my materials were found at www.partsexpress.com. 1)8 - vinyl sound damping sheets (part#268-030) place them on the top and bottom and the sides as well as the back near the amplifier. 2)Use poly-fill (#260-317) to cover the top, bottom, sides and corners. I used 2 1lb bags. Stapling is the best option for fixing the material to the inside. 3)Spike the sub with part (#240-715). This will also help from the vibrations transferring from the enclosure to the floor and cause undesired rattling around the house. It will also keep the box from moving around. 4)Use 10-gauge speaker wire to connect the amplifier to the speaker driver on the inside. This will prevent the wire bridge between the amp and speaker from bottlenecking and causing the amp to over heat. 5)Keep 2-Amp Slow-Blow fuses on hand. Package of 4 at Radio Shack for $2.25 - product number 270-1064. When inserting a new fuse, turn-off and unplug the amp. Also, the fuse needs go into the fuse cap and then inserted in the amp. These few and inexpensive mods will greatly improve the performance of the sub. It only takes minutes a few dollars. Adding these mods also gives you a better appreciation for the subwoofer. One other reviewer mentioned that adding the mods to the sub will help you bond with it. This is very true. So if you enjoy these types of projects, go for it.

Strengths:
Great value, solid bottom.

Weaknesses:
Have to add the mods to get out what it should have already had. AudioSource could have easily added these mods them selves while keeping the cost down.

Similar Products Used:
none


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Wayne Loder
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
February 7, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

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Review 3 of 129

Price Paid:  $110.00 from U-Bid

Summary:
I've got the Audiosource hooked up with a home theater system that includes JBL Northridge speakers and a Marantz 4200 receiver. I'm one of the lucky persons who has an ADC subsonic synthesizer from back in the 1970s. It basically takes any low note one octave lower than it is (completely adjustable as to how much effect you produce). I figured out a way to hook it up to the subwoofer, even though it's really intended for two speakers. I liked the sound of the Audiosource without all the modifications everyone has mentioned. However, don't expect to crank it with hard, hard bass at loud levels without it heating up and possibly blowing a fuse. With the ADC hooked up,and cranking out "The Theme from Shaft," that's what happened. When I tried to replace it with a new fuse, something happened and I ended up having to send in the amp, which was easy to remove. Audiosource not only replaced the amp, but also the speaker, just on the off chance there was a short in it. While the amp was gone and the speaker off (which I did not have to send back), I stapled polyfoam purchased for $6 from Meijers throughout he speaker and added some extra general fill, just to satisfy my curiosity about how much better it is with the polyfoam in place. I have to admit the sound is really sweet now--much better than it was. My home theater system is downstairs and with the ADC on, The other day I watched an old Star Wars movie on tape with my 10 year-old son (you've got to start them off right). I couldn't believe the effects in the low bass area. I had to be hitting 25 hertz notes(or lower) with no problem at all. The effects were unreal. Yeah, I could probably have bought a $500 or $600 subwoofer and knocked the plaster off my walls a little better, but I'd be deaf by then, so what's the point. As it is, my wife suggested that on the next Star Wars movie, I might want to crank down the sound. When your wife complains and she's on a different floor of the house, that's certainly the mark of a good subwoofer.

Strengths:
Can hit any low note you want--if you can find it in your music.

Weaknesses:
Watch that the amp doesn't overheat and keep some extra fuses on hand. Put in the polyfoam to smooth out the sound and make it more musical.

Similar Products Used:
None in last 20 years.


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Hobie
(Casual Listener)

Review Date
January 16, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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Review 4 of 129

Price Paid:  $149.00 from Amazon

Summary:
Needed to replace my burned up KLH Sub. Found Amazon had this SW15 AudioSource sub for $149.00 with no shipping. With the good reviews I read and the price why not? Well it is as all the reviews said. It will rattle your teeth and all the wifes stuff on the walls! Its a little boomy but with the mods. that everone says to do for about $5.00 its one heck of a good deal. It also came with a set up CD that helped dial this puppy in.

Strengths:
Great price, 5 year warranty, 15 inch sub,

Weaknesses:
Big, a little boomy (but can be fixed)

Similar Products Used:
KLH SW910 Sub (peace of crap) JBL, Sony, POlk


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Rating
Reviewed by:
rcord
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
December 16, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

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Review 5 of 129

Price Paid:  $120.00 from Ubid

Summary:
Bought this sub from Ubid at an exceptional price. I was in the market for a 15-inch subwoofer because nothing else would do. I like deep bass, on occasion, that I can feel. Make sure you do the mods (about $50) with the sound dapening material and polyfill or egg carton shaped material to reduce standing waves. This sub sounds really good although I have to turn the gain down a bit so it meshes with my other speakers. The wife gets upset when I turn up the gain (the house shakes). I don't know how it sounds without the mods as I performed them as soon as I got it. I Love this Sub!

Strengths:
Lots of Power (Will Boom if you want it to) Auto switch on the back turns the sub off when not in use, no more getting up to turn it on. Price

Weaknesses:
Pretty Big, but what do you expect for a 15" Sub.

Similar Products Used:
Cerwin Vega 15" Woofer.


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