JMN

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I received this as a gift several years ago. I heard this along with the YST-SW150 at a store and immediately liked how this model sounded more faithful to recordings than others in its price range (without the turning all the details into one continuous rumble, as I have noticed many cheap ported subs tend to do). I have used this sub in my main setup for a while now and have been quite satisfied. It gets used for both music and movies with only a few exceptions; for louder, more obnoxious bass I switch to a 10" DVC car sub in ported box powered by a Realistic SCR-4500. Unfortunately this setup cannot match the YST-SW90's clarity.

Strengths:
Range: it is pretty smooth up through higher bass notes while still providing a nice rumble around the 30Hz range. AND it gives you variable "high cut" frequency 50-150Hz.
Price: I recall that this was under $150 or so when I looked at it, but I'm not sure how much the final price was because I received it as a gift. I'd say it's a good value assuming below $150 at that time.
Other: Clear reproduction; great for rock music - drum kicks sound very natural.

Weaknesses:
Not the best choice for a large room or for loud music. I tend to use my other sub while listening to hip-hop or 4/4 techno. It's okay for LFE in movies. But if that's your primary concern, go for something larger and more powerful.

Similar Products Used:
Sony, one of the 8" SAW-models

Holmes_19

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.33 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $50.00 from friend

Summary:
This subwoofer is an amazing buy as i got it for only £50 and for any room it still fills the room nicely. I had to mess around with positions of the sub but after that i found that where ever i sit i can hear a nice sound from the sub in music and HT!!! For any one who wants a sub i think that this would be a very good investment as it will be as worht that much in later times.

Strengths:
Nice bass, especially the lows so who ever says that it can't get the lows very well are lying as when i sit at my desk it hits below 45hz very well

Weaknesses:
If i didn't have my four B&W 601 S3's i wouldn't be able to hear the high's that the B&W's bring

Similar Products Used:
Gale 80 sub also very good.

Price Paid:  $200.00 from best buy

Summary:
This sub is very good for the price. It has extremly tight bass and sounds good as long as you do not blast your music. I have two, one hooked up to my main system with a pair of Infinity speakers and a Sony reciever which is used to HT and music and also one in my room hooked to a pair of B&W 601S3 and a Technics reciever. I have not hooked them both up at the same time but I will next year when I move into my new house. Then I will add to this review. I would recommend this sub to anyone on a budget who still wants quality sound. I have listened to the sony also and it is loud but musically it does not compare.

Strengths:
Very tight bass, good price, great for music listeners,,, HT get 2

Weaknesses:
cannot play at loud levels

Price Paid:  $105.00 from best buy

Summary:
This sub has won me over from all of the options I've had. The only woofer to hit as tight as this one was the other Yamaha. No other woofer was as easy to place as this one. As far as "movie theater-type" bass that shakes and rumbles rooms/walls, you'll have to look into a JBL or Sony. This one was exactly priced to meet my needs and to live up to it's specs. I have a room which is 15'x15', and it is filled with rich bass. This would work in a small to medium room, but don't even think about a large room... you'll have to get two. The banana plugs/binding post are well suited for speaker attachments. I plan on skipping Sony's SAW-M40 and keeping this one. For 80W on an 8", it's as much as I'll need, and I even listen to rap and hip-hop, so that says enuff as far as lovin' lotsa' bass.

Strengths:
strong tight bass, plays very low, right placement causes rumble, good price, nice sleek design, controls placed for convenience... 80W? sounds understated... woofer does not distort as east like most do, and it's a spruce cone, auto "on" and "off" switch

Weaknesses:
8" woofer, could play lower, no "movie"/"music" switch

Similar Products Used:
Sony SAW-M20 50W, RCA downfiring 55W, Audio Source 50W, Yamaha YST-SW150 dual 8" 150W

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I've been watching movies for years without a subwoofer, so I don't feel the need to rumble my house apart. I also listen to music 10x as much as watch any TV so I was looking for something that would work best for music. I also wanted to hide it. This all being said, I am pretty impressed with how low and loud it goes for HT, and it works very well for music. I am very satisfied with it. My system is:

HK AVR350
Pioneer Elite DV36
Polk 5 front speakers
AR 215 surround

Strengths:
Not too rumbly, clean for music at normal volumes, fits well in tight spaces

Weaknesses:
Auto-off: it just sits and hums, won't go auto-on

Similar Products Used:
JBL PB10