DanTana1

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.75 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I went to BestBuy to really buy the Sony for $99.00 that I read so many good reviews about. I was able to audition several suboofers incuding the $474.00 Klipsch, $299.00 Polk 8" subwoofer and a couple others. The only sub that outperformed the PSW10 was the Klipsh SUB-12 and not by much. The Klipsch had more reserve than the Polk but both seem to go down as low, it wes very close to my ears a virtual tie. The Sony and 8" Polk were not even close, I really wanted to like the Sony but Polk was so much better and I was able to get an open box for $149.00 so that sealed the deal. The $474.00 Klipsch would of been nice but it was also a very large box and would of been somewhat hard to place.

I actually find the Polk PSW10 to be very musical, it seems to blend in very well with my setup. It has bass that is very tight and not boomy. I hooked mine up via the speaker cables and read that is the way to do it because of the better volume level and it worked for me. I do find that if you turn the volume all the way up it will get a little muddy and distort some, and it then starts to overpower the music not blend in well. I'm still in the process of tweaking the settings but I find that I seem to have some reserve power left over. I have both volume and crossover about one half to two-thirds. I'm listening to the Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour and it seems to be able to hit all the notes with no problem. I put on some dance and rap FM stations on my Denon TU-1500RDS and it was able to hit the lows with a strong and authoritative beat. I'm impressed with how well controlled the bass is, it doesn't seem to get sloppy unless you go overboard with the settings.

I put on the movie MI-III and the scene where they were rescuing the female agent then the subsequent holicopter chase my kids probably gave the best description when they said wow you can feel it. I'm not one to play my music or movies at the peak of my amp can allow a Sony TA-F700ES but a comfortable level and like my bass to augment and not overwhelm my materal. I'm watching Pearl Harbor right now and it sounds and feels like in the theater.

I've had Infiity Kappas with 10" woofers and this subwoofer goes lower and harder than they did. While this may not be the most auidiophile or loudest or lowest subwoofer it is also very affordable and will in my opinion deliver about 90% of the performance for a fraction of the cost of the most expensive subwoofers there are. If your looking to buy one just audition them yourself side-by-side and then decide.

The reason I'm giving 5 out of 5 is for value and performance for the dollar. It held it's own in the showroom against a $474.00 Klipsch.

mg196

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Reading Joon's review, I can't think of ANYONE who turns up their sub all the way. SOunds like you are TRYING to destroy it!!

I based my 5/5 rating on this being a lower-powered, entry level sub. I am not comparing it to the $500+ dollar subs!!

I have a small living room and a modest home theater setup, so I dont really need more than 100wpc. I was looking for a sub that could give me tremendous power with clarity and a "focused" punch. This sub performs all those tasks without a problem! It definitely "sounds" like it performs well above its stated wpc rating.

I only have the sub level turned up to about 5, and whether I am watching my Led Zep or Who DVDs, or that legendary first scene in Fellowship of the Ring, the walls shake and picture frames rattle. Explosions burst into my living room without being muffled or distorted. During the day if my wife is watching MTV or the Food Network, the bass gently accents whatever sounds are coming out of the main speakers without ever overpowering them, or forcing me to change the volume level of the sub.

It is built like a rock (I purchased mine in the scratch & dent store - only a tiny nick) and matches my other Polk speakers' cherry finish perfectly.

My uncle likes to spend a lot of money on his a/v setup, and I always laugh to myself when I see him fiddling w/ or cursing at his $750 sub! I know that back in my living room, this puppy is just waiting for me to pump some audio thru it and I wont have to do a thing...other than dust it off occasionally.

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Joon

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.65 of 5, 17.00 votes

Price Paid:  $179.00 from Tweeters

Summary:
Makes me mad when you can buy an entire hometheater system with 5 speakers and DVD player that has a subwoofer thats sounds better for 300 bucks and I spent 170 for just a subwoofer that sounds crappy in comparison.

I am not happy with this subwoofer but I deal with it because I don't want to spend anymore money on a better subwoofer. I am wondering if I should have just listened to myself instead of the sales person at Tweeters and bought a Sony subwoofer for 99.00 instead. It can't be that much worst than this one.

Strengths:
Non. Its a very weak subwoofer that has a lot of distortion if you turn it all the way up. The bass on the low volume is non-existant to high volume dull rumble shakes the floors not the ear drum. It adds no punch to the drummer or car crash.

Weaknesses:
Its a very weak subwoofer that has a lot of distortion if you turn it all the way up. The bass on the low volume is non-existant to high volume dull rumble shakes the floors not the ear drum. It adds no punch to the drummer or car crash.

Similar Products Used:
I wish I have tried others before I bought this one.

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Price Paid:  $179.00 from Tweeters

Summary:
Don't expect audiophile qaulity. This is the type of subwoofer you want to set it and forget it. The volume control in the back should be set low to mid range. Anything higher than you will get distorted bass. Keep the volume and frequency range dials at mid range and try not to be too disappointed. It does make a slight difference than not having a sub woofer. It adds a little more rumble in the atmosphere. Just don't expect it to jump start your heart.

Strengths:
Low price. Although Sony makes one at 100 Watts for 99.00 not sure of quality VS Polk.

Weaknesses:
Disappointed with sound quality. Just keep in mind that the subwoofer is to just add a little more presence to your sound not to take over like a Ghetto blaster. If you are looking for concert or night club thump....you better spend a few hundred more.

bogart

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.57 of 5, 7.00 votes

Price Paid:  $265.00 from AV Corner

Summary:
This sub is one of the best sounding in it's range. The strong built and stylish looks, complements the traditional box with a modern touch of titanium faceplate. The sound is tight and clear and worth for the bucks.

Strengths:
The strong built, looks and sound and of course the prestige of the name Polk.

Weaknesses:
No LFE out, not magnetically shielded.