Yamaha YST SW205 Subwoofers

Yamaha YST SW205 Subwoofers 

DESCRIPTION

- Advanced Active Servo technology: a complementary amplifier/speaker system utilizing negative impedance feedback in the amp and a Helmholtz resonator in the speaker to provide strong and accurate bass from small speakers.
- High amplifier power assures enough power to deliver movie theater-like bass effects and the 8-inch spruce cone driver translates the power into clear bass sound.
- Front panel controls make it easy to see the settings and make adjustments when necessary.
- Bass selector tailors the subwoofer's output for video or music at the touch of a switch.
- Subwoofer is magnetically shielded so it can be placed near a TV monitor or receiver without fear that it will degrade the picture.
- Continuously variable high-cut filter allows the subwoofer's output to be matched to the other speakers in the system and room's acoustic for a seamless presentation.
- Volume control permits the perfect matching of the subwoofer's output to be overall volume of the system.
- Signal sensing on/off detects an audio signal and decide whether the subwoofer's power should be turn on/off.
- Phase normal/reverse witch makes it easy to phase the subwoofer with the other speakers in your system.
- Dual inputs allow the versatile subwoofer to accept either line level or speaker level input signals.
- Heavy-duty three-way speaker terminals accept banana plug and a variety of other connectors, as well as speaker wire.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 10  
[Jul 31, 2003]
Eddie
AudioPhile

Strength:

Everything!!

Weakness:

None to speak of.

I purchased this sub about a month ago and to date am very impressed by the performance of this unit. It produces very deep clean bass for small to large rooms. If you have a large room and want alot of bass then you might consider a sub with a 12"-15" woofer with more power. But in my living room 16'/16 it shakes the walls put is pleasing to the ear not boomy but as with any sub you should take the time to set up the unit so it will perform correctly.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha HTR5490,Cambridge soundworks ensemble IV, Yamaha SW45,Harmon Kardon DVD5

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 16, 2003]
AH786
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Good for music, price, nice controls.

Weakness:

Distorts on DVD's when deep bass is required, could be louder and more punchy

I bought this sub to handle low frequencies that my bookshelfs couldnt reach. For music, it is good, bass is strong and clear. the controls are top class and very useful. For DVD's, I guess it is decent, nothing special. I have a 65WPC reciever and this sub is rated at 130W, so I thought the sub would easily handle the bass, this was not always the case. most of the time it was fine in movies, however when the deep/rumbling bass started to hit in it couldnt cope, it just distorts. I think the best thing to do would be to replace the box and speaker, this is what some1 I know did to his SW205, and on a 120WPC sony reciever it sounds amazing. he put in a 12" speaker and a terminator box and used the original amp and wiring. Overall I think its a decent sub, for music id recommend it, however if you watch DVD's alot, then get something else.

Similar Products Used:

none

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jun 13, 2003]
ciscokid1970
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

good musical response switch for music or movie mode clean amp, no hum tall and narrow takes up lesss space

Weakness:

cabinet could be sturdier, but not bad for $180

I was looking for a sub to help my B&W 601 bookshelf speakers with the stuff below 70Hz. I went and bought 4 subs in the $200 range from local stores: Sony SAW-m500 $200 Yamaha SW205 $210 Radio shack RCA SW120P $130 B&W as1 $225 I burned them in for 8 hours at mid volume using the Stereophile test cd 3. Worst was Sony it was big, boomy, un-even and cabinet resonated at loud volumes. the polk was musical but it had a limited frequency range so it is only good if you have really small satellite speakers. the Radio shack was actually pretty good for the money. It did not go very low for a 10 inch though. Was a little musical and cabinet was not bad for the price. The yamaha has a button that allows you to put it in music or movie mode. I put it in music mode. It was very musical, and seemed to have a very flat response to about 35hz when it started to drop off. It kept up ok with the bass coming out of my bookshelfs. The only drawback was the cabinet resonated at very loud volumes. But for average listening was very nice. The best sound came out of the B&W as1. Wierd since it only had a 6.5 inch woofer! very tight fast bass, cabinet was not as stiff as I would have liked it though. Belended perfectly with my bookshelfs. It also has a switch that lets you choose between movie and music mode. But it does not have a frequency selector? And I had to crank the volume all the way up to get it to match the other subs. I decided to look around for a better deal on the Yamaha 205 and found it for $180 delivered from jandr...great deal, get em while you can. Perfect sub for music with bookshelfs.

Similar Products Used:

too many to list

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 25, 2003]
vovkinson
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

size

Weakness:

Boomy,Not for movies, not for music, muddy bass.

I was looking for a little sub to extend a low response of my AEGIS EVO ONE bookshelf speakers and unfortunately came across this sub. I’m not going to make a long story here. It’s just a shame! The worst sub I’ve ever known and listen to. Extra boomy and indistinctive sound ever. I’ve just thrown it away even not trying to sell it to anybody. If you expect something good from this speaker, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.

Similar Products Used:

none

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Dec 27, 2002]
parisis
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Value. Adjustments (on the Front!!!) Solid not boomey bass. Measured strong to @40HZ with Radio Shack meter.

Weakness:

None yet

I replaced my Cult favorite Radio Shack SW12 Passive sub with this unit. My old Kenwood Amp went bad and its hard to find a small affordable amp these days to drive the sub. Compared the sw205 to the Sony 12in everone talks about and a small 8in Boston Acoustic. I onlty use the sub for Movies so I was not interested in paying a fortune. I have Paradigm 5SE's as my mains and I am more than happy with them. I was really surprised when I got it home. The adjustments allowed me to tailor the bass response to exactly hoe I like it . I set the crossover at about 80 and the volumn at about half and left it on the music setting. I tried it on some music and actually liked it on the Last of the Mohicans sountrack. I may play with it more. Watched K-12 the Widowmaker and the low end was there when it needed to be. Very impressed . especially for the money

Similar Products Used:

Radioshack sp12

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 17, 2002]
mgmarkham
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

One of the greatest strenths of this sub, is that it is compact, and it can kick out some decent sound. That said, it is not the best, but not the worst. The controls on the front are very useful, and I have no problems with the auto off, as long as the sub is connected to the LFE output of my A/V Amp.

Weakness:

I haave trialed better fubs, like the paradime 1000, but they are big.

My home cinema setup is in my front room, hence much of what I was tring to do was to allow a good home cinema sound whilst not having used too much space.

Similar Products Used:

Paradime

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 09, 2002]
DWestfahl
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

ability to blend. Tight bass sounds. Low Price at etronics.com

Weakness:

As noted elsewhere it does not do too great in the very low range around 25Hz. Not tremendously loud as some people might prefer.

I bought this to enhance my Denon/Mission mini system that I use to listen to music and for watching movies. It blends very well, so much so that I have to turn it off occaisionaly to remember what the system used to sound like. I then promptly turn it up because it sounds so sweet. This means that it is not obtrusive or overpowering as might be preferred for techno/dance music, but its great for Jazz Rock or Classical music. It''s a definite improvement for movies over not having a sub woofer, but I''ve certainly heard better subs.

Similar Products Used:

The only other sub I''ve used is a M&K K-9, which is much nicer and much more expensive. It belongs to my mother-in-law, and me being a college bum, I can''t afford one.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 03, 2001]
Ian Ko
Casual Listener

Strength:

Cheap and you can adjust the frequency range

Weakness:

May need 2 subwoofer for movies.

Brand new at $148.00(without tax/shipping), I want this subwoofer for music and movies. Music sounded great with this subwoofer. For Movie is good (but lacks the 3D so probably would need another subwoofer) The loudness is not the problem, I live in an apartment and I know my neighbors can hear the vibration because they too crank up their speakers.

One thing I do notice when I got it. For a half hour of pushing buttons and hooking/unhooking wires, the sub would not work...so my friend and I just took a break (given up).

When we got back the woofer started pumping the bass. Not sure why. So make sure to change the auto standby to 'No'

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Nov 24, 2001]
Todd Kovacic
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Value for money, asthetics, music and movie modes

Weakness:

Starts to struggle at really low frequencies

A great product to buy when on a budget. Can handle most jobs asked of it. Usually you get what you pay for. In this instance you get just a little bit more. A lot better than any other subwoofer in its price range. Clear and smooth sound until frequencies around 20-25hz.

Yamaha do make great gear.

Similar Products Used:

USAudio Subwoofer

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 08, 2001]
mojo sk8
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

good value

Weakness:

starts distorting around 25 hz

it is good but it is not very good.

Similar Products Used:

paradigm

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 1-10 of 10  

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