Subwoofer question: PSW505 vs. DIY

Dobermann

Long time since I posted here....

I'm running a cheap 5.1 Polk setup (M20, R15, CSM) with a Denon AR-590 receiver. It's certainly not high-end but it makes me happy and since my HT room is so small it works well for the most part.

But I am not happy at all with the subwoofer (PSW10). It seems to bottom out and distort a lot and just doesn't give the punch-in-the-gut feeling I'm looking for.

I see the PSW505 can be had for some pretty fair prices nowadays and it has a lot of good reviews. I'm wondering how good it actually is.....I remember the PSW10 getting good reviews too.

Alternatively, I could drive the 2 hours into Ohio and visit Parts Express for a Dayton kit. Any others thoughts or alternatives? I really can't do more than 300 bucks.

Dobermann

Any recommendations on placement would be great as well. The room is kind of funky: roughly 12x15, but there's a walk-through on the left side that throws everything off.

geebolt

Can't speak for the PSW10, but I went to a 505 from a PSW12 and got a big improvement.

mudwrx

Don't have much to compare to, but I do have the 505. It is very impressive, especially for the price. Bass sounds deep and clean, can definitely shake the walls.

I like that it has a separate volume control, low pass and phase setting. It also has an auto on/off feature (turns on when it receives a signal, shuts itself off after 15 seconds of inactivity or something like that).

As far as placement, a lot of that is personal choice. Closer to a corner is liked by most people I think, but this thing has got enough oomph to me it is fine just against the wall.
Some will say to place it in different areas of the room and sit where you would normally sit when listening, moving the sub around until you find the placement you like best.

Good luck!

Dobermann

Thanks, it seems like the 505 may be a good bet.

The room has always been a problem, but there's nothing I can do about it without major modifications to the house itself. I'll just have to hope the subwoofer can overcome it.

mole'

anonymouse wrote: »

The 505 is a decent sub, but you have a tough space if you have an open area. You would have to go pretty high up the Dayton kit chain to do better than the 505 - it currently can be had for awesome prices.

If you are handy, and just buy the driver and amp from PE, then you can build a large cabinet - and larger cabinets can yield some impressive results with a decent driver.

Now in terms of placement, put that sub in your chair - actually exactly in your listening position is best, and connect it with a long cord to your receiver and listen to some bass tracks at normal volume. Walk around the room to find the spot at which the bass is most articulate. There may be more than one spot. Now take your sub and place it there (assuming aesthetics work - otherwise choose next best spot etc.) For the long sub cord you will need for this, TV coaxial cable should work just fine, but you will need to solder on RCA connectors.

link to PE plese?

RyanJoz

mole' wrote: »

link to PE plese?

http://www.parts-express.com/home.cfm

Dobermann

OK, what about the PSW505 as opposed to the BIC American V-1220?

The Polk is more powerful (300 watts vs. 200) but the BIC is down-firing, which I think would go a long way towards eliminating some of the placement problems. The BIC is also about 60 bucks cheaper, but that's not a huge concern as long as I don't go over my budget - aka the amount my wife will allow me to spend.

rnzinser

I would look at the BIC Acoustech PL-200 as a good option in that price range, a little shopping and it can be had for around $280. It will definitely be a better performer than the 505.