subs: psw505 vs Klipsch Synergy 12in

Lietuvis91

the Klipsch Synergy 12in sub is on sale at new egg for $262, the polk psw 505 is $250 so roughly the same price.

Static power looks the same(300watts) but dynamic is higher on the Klipsch (650w) vs Polk (460w), giving the klipsch the upper hand.

Frequency response however, looks better on the polk (23Hz - 160Hz) vs Klipch (24-120Hz)

So anyway, I need a sub, and I'm a bit confused?! look slike a good deal on the Klipch, which initially costs more, possibly indicating it's slight superiority, but what do I know. Has anyone here ever compared the two subs? Is there much of a difference?

My HT setup is in my sig and the room is about 18ft X 12ft

Lietuvis91

ooops, did i post this in the wrong section?

grimmace19

You are in the right area. I have 2 of the klipsch's and I think they are pretty good. Certainly not the most music or the best on the market but it gets low and loud. Since we have roughly the same setup, I think you would be pretty happy with the Klipsch. But if you are into matching then the polk is the right choice.

Also, keep in mind that the klipsch is down-firing and the polk is front. Do you have pets? Kids? anything that would make the down-firing an advantage? Once I put the klipsch's onto some pieces of granite the sound improved a lot over the carpeting so keep that in mind if you have hardwood or carpet floors.

cnh

You have your specs off there.

The Klipsch is good to 24hz +/-3db

The Polk is good to 28hz +/-3db

If one goes by specs alone the Klipsch will sound louder and play lower and you can hear the difference because it is more the 3db (28-24=4db that's a hearable difference).

One caveat. The Polk sub is IMO better with music by a margin, because the Klipsch is BUILT primarily for that HT BANG and BOOM...you can see it in its construction...a heavy duty fiber woofer that can pound but is 'slow' to recover, and a larger BOX that resonates a bit too much but is OK, again for LFE effects. I agree with Grimmace19...if it's HT you're after get the Sub-12. If you listen to more music...go with POLK!

cnh

grimmace19

Most likely an easier decision now that newegg jacked up the klipsch price to 350...

Lietuvis91

thanks guys! appreciate the input.

I do have a dog, but he's pretty mature and not destructive, so i don't see that as a big problem. I also have wood floors. After doing research all day on subs I'm seriously thinking about putting this purchase off until i can shell out the $475 for a 10in SVS. Seems like that's the best bang for the buck sub all around.

Oh and the coupon code to get the Klipsch for $262 is
Coupon Code: EMCYVYZ22

expires 7/3 supposedly

anyway, i will keep looking around for a good deal on something decent, but i'm begining to think i just need to do the svs and be done with it.

grimmace19

Most likely a good call on holding off. Neither sub is a bad choice (heck i have 2 of them) but from all the good things I hear on the forum about SVS and the other sub makers it's best to wait it out and get something you know you will be happy with. Once I win the lottery I will make sure to buy a few JL Gotham's.

Lietuvis91

cnh wrote: »

You have your specs off there.

The Klipsch is good to 24hz +/-3db

The Polk is good to 28hz +/-3db

If one goes by specs alone the Klipsch will sound louder and play lower and you can hear the difference because it is more the 3db (28-24=4db that's a hearable difference).

cnh

i got the stats i posted on newegg, so maybe they are wrong then?

Lietuvis91

grimmace19 wrote: »

Most likely a good call on holding off. Neither sub is a bad choice (heck i have 2 of them) but from all the good things I hear on the forum about SVS and the other sub makers it's best to wait it out and get something you know you will be happy with. Once I win the lottery I will make sure to buy a few JL Gotham's.

yeah, i'm going to sleep on this...

it pains me to have to shell out $500 on the svs sub, when i know I can get away with just paying half that with polk or Klipsch. But... you get what u pay for most of the time, so ... it is probably worth it.

the coupon expires 7/3 so i got another day to make up my mind...

do you have the 2 subs on the same system? how big is the room?

mdaudioguy

After I ordered my "big" sub, I started to think I'd lost my mind. I had never considered paying that much for a sub, relative to what I spent on my speakers. Once I began using it, I had no doubts. If I were buying now, I'd probably go Epik, Hsu, or SVS.

I have the smaller Klipsch in a smaller room, and it's nothing spectacular, but certainly more than adequate. Good luck!

98Badger

Check out the classifieds on the audioholics forum. There is currently a 10" SVS for $350 + shipping. Might be worth looking in to depending on how close you are. I have no affiliation with the seller. Offer a little less than the asking price and see what happens.

grimmace19

Yes, I have 2 of them in my main system. The room is something like 14x18 but opens up into the kitchen. I have each of them at about 1/3rd for volume and sometimes it's still too loud.

Lietuvis91

mdaudioguy wrote: »

After I ordered my "big" sub, I started to think I'd lost my mind. I had never considered paying that much for a sub, relative to what I spent on my speakers. Once I began using it, I had no doubts. If I were buying now, I'd probably go Epik, Hsu, or SVS.

I have the smaller Klipsch in a smaller room, and it's nothing spectacular, but certainly more than adequate. Good luck!

hey how do you like that DSW microPRO 2000?

I looked at the specs... 1200w of CONTINUOS power... and only 8inch :eek:

Same price as the SVS, but much more compact... I'm strating to reconsider...

dang... too many choices :mad:

Lietuvis91

98Badger wrote: »

Check out the classifieds on the audioholics forum. There is currently a 10" SVS for $350 + shipping. Might be worth looking in to depending on how close you are. I have no affiliation with the seller. Offer a little less than the asking price and see what happens.

thanks man, I will have to contact the guy to see what's up...

Lietuvis91

grimmace19 wrote: »

Yes, I have 2 of them in my main system. The room is something like 14x18 but opens up into the kitchen. I have each of them at about 1/3rd for volume and sometimes it's still too loud.

ok, so your room is exactly the same size as mine. Mine also opens up to a dining room. I think 1 higher end sub will do for me for now.

Lietuvis91

this emotiva 12 inch sub is looking pretty good too for the price $359 shipped

http://emotiva.com/ultra_sub12.shtm

apparently a reputable brand.

cnh

Lietuvis91 wrote: »

i got the stats i posted on newegg, so maybe they are wrong then?

Polk lists two stats for that sub...one is at 3db the other is 'overall' frequency response. Newegg sometimes plays loose with their stats on Polk speakers. If you look the PSW505 up on Polk's site you can find confirmation of the 3db low. One should compare frequency limits with the SAME tolerances...hence the Klipsch plays lower.

But as said above there are some even better used subs available and some B-stock SVS, etc. Which are definitely worth a look.

A word of warning though. Sub upgraditis is always around the corner..you get a PSW505 or the Klipsch, then you want the SVS PB12, You have the SVS PB12...you want 2 ULTRAS, then something even 'better' and before you know it you're running a REFRIGERATOR SUB...2-3000+ watts 10K watt peak...18 and 15" drivers and almost 400 lbs?

Stay in your budget and buy something you can live with for a while!

cnh

Lietuvis91

i like your advice, you are exactly right about the upgrade bug....

and that is why I kind of want to get something reasonable, nice, fitting for my setup and don't look back...

this emotiva is really looking good right about now... $360 shipped, looks like a good compromise between the polk/klipsch and svs... I'm getting close to making a decision I think...

mdaudioguy

Lietuvis91 wrote: »

hey how do you like that DSW microPRO 2000?

I looked at the specs... 1200w of CONTINUOS power... and only 8inch :eek:

Same price as the SVS, but much more compact... I'm strating to reconsider...

dang... too many choices :mad:

I love the micropro 2000, so much so that I now have 2 of them. However, these are (for me) music-only subs for a 2-channel rig I'm running. I do believe that they'd perform quite admirably in a smaller room for HT, but IMHO, if you want the real HT experience, you need something bigger and badder. Something that can play low, with some authority.

Lietuvis91

ok guys, pulled the trigger on this emotiva:

http://emotiva.com/ultra_sub12.shtm

it's a new brand, seems fairly highly regarded and the sub being on sale +free shipping really makes this a good deal in my opinion.

Plus I need a more music friendly sub and whatever HT performance I get out of it will be better then no sub. Will let u know what I think when I get it.

mtb_and_ht

Lietuvis91 wrote: »

ok guys, pulled the trigger on this emotiva:

http://emotiva.com/ultra_sub12.shtm

it's a new brand, seems fairly highly regarded and the sub being on sale +free shipping really makes this a good deal in my opinion.

Plus I need a more music friendly sub and whatever HT performance I get out of it will be better then no sub. Will let u know what I think when I get it.

I will keep an eye out for that report on the Ultra 12. My 16 year old son has been nagging me to upgrade the sub in his room and the little scammer has been browsing specs for the Ultra 10 and 12. Needless to say, he is in love what Emotiva claims to offer. It's pretty bad when your kid is running around with a SPL meter in his backpack!

Lietuvis91

mtb_and_ht wrote: »

I will keep an eye out for that report on the Ultra 12. My 16 year old son has been nagging me to upgrade the sub in his room and the little scammer has been browsing specs for the Ultra 10 and 12. Needless to say, he is in love what Emotiva claims to offer. It's pretty bad when your kid is running around with a SPL meter in his backpack!

you've got a smart kid, Definitely something to be proud of!

I'll keep u guys posted.