Sub question / comparison

Glowrdr

So I posted the Newegg polk deal earlier, and I've got myself thinking. I bought all new speakers, but I kept my original sub. Strictly looking at stats, I'm not seeing a huge difference. I've only ever had this sub, so I know nothing else. I signed up for a sub demo back in January, but have yet to experience anything else.

Currently I have a Sony SA-W3000, Frequency Response 20Hz-200Hz, 12", 180 Watts. How much of an improvement would I see with the PSW505 @ 23Hz-160Hz, 12", 460 Watts?

My Sony appears to have a better range (not that anything above the 160 means anything). It is also triple the power, but I can't say I'm currently lacking anything either.

I guess I'm just wondering if it's worth upgrading, or if my Sony is a decent sub to begin with? I can probably unload the Sony for $100 locally so that would be just over half the cost.

Geoff4rfc

Have you been looking at a lot of different subs? I have a similar set to you speaker wise with the exception of the sub. I have zero regrets with the mighty Empire other than I can't use all the power. This thing is AWESOME!! I tend to wonder if I'd been better with a pair of Legends, funny, usually it's the other way around.

Here's a link, take a look, see what you think, http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/

I love my Epik and would someday upgrade to a second if I obtain the room.

Gavin.Wright

I wouldn't expect the SA-W3000 to have any usable output anywhere close to 20hz. The plate amp it uses is rated at 100 watts into 6 ohms at 1% distortion 20hz-200 or 180 watts into 6 ohms at 80hz with 10% distortion...

Glowrdr

Gavin.Wright wrote: »

I wouldn't expect the SA-W3000 to have any usable output anywhere close to 20hz. The plate amp it uses is rated at 100 watts into 6 ohms at 1% distortion 20hz-200 or 180 watts into 6 ohms at 80hz with 10% distortion...

Makes sense. I know not all numbers are equal, they are just numbers. As mentioned before (and I didn't state it correctly) - I signed up for a polk sub demo. What I forgot to mention is that I never received the demo as of yet. I've never demo'ed a sub in the store (as futile as that would be anyways), and unfortunately I'm the only person I know with a house and/or enough disposable income to warrant purchasing anything outside of a HTiB.

I guess without some measuring equipment, I have no idea how low my sub hits. I'm kind of stuck in one of those situations that I just don't know any better. It's probably pretty absurd I'm even comparing Sony to Polk in the first place. With such a great deal, and a short time to jump on it - I'm almost certain I'm going to just blindly jump onto this and learn on my own.

Glowrdr

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

Have you been looking at a lot of different subs? I have a similar set to you speaker wise with the exception of the sub. I have zero regrets with the mighty Empire other than I can't use all the power. This thing is AWESOME!! I tend to wonder if I'd been better with a pair of Legends, funny, usually it's the other way around.

Here's a link, take a look, see what you think, http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/

I love my Epik and would someday upgrade to a second if I obtain the room.

I'd love any of the above, but unfortunately I'm not in the market for an $800 sub (even the $500 legend is a bit much). Pricewise, I can see why the Polk is a great buy. It's a third of the price, and all in all, it's very comparible to the legend. Granted, it's all just numbers again, but from what I can see - I would not spend an extra $300 for the Epik legend over the polk, but thats just me.

Geoff4rfc

What sub are you considering?

Glowrdr

The PSW505 for $180 over at the Egg. On sale till Sunday. I know it's always on sale, but this is the lowest it's ever been. Part of their early black friday sale.

Geoff4rfc

Looks like a pretty decent sub. I'd go check on the AVS forum, http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=618137 and ask around. I've heard things like "Polk subs sound like farts" from quite a few reviews. I've never heard any Polk subs personally and I've also heard certain lines of the Polk subs are definitely worth the price of admission.

So to me, it would look like there's a right way and a wrong way to go with the Polk sub area, I hope price doesn't become the deciding factor for you, but please excuse me up front, you may have already done your homework. Best of the hunt.

Be sure to post a review on how your new sub works for you.

Glowrdr

From what I understand, I believe the 505 is the diamond in the rough when it comes to Polk. I'm hoping some other people chime in though. In this specific instance, I do have to admit that price is definately the number one factor in this case. I either spend $180 now, or I keep what I have for a few years until I get the bug again. As you can see in my sig, I'm not always looking for the cheapest way to do things, but I'm also not made of money. Today happens to be one of the days I'm broke. lol

Geoff4rfc

I can totally relate, my amp came from selling off some of my race stuff, my sub came from tax return, otherwise, I'd be a wishin'.

I've only had two subs already, an Onkyo and an Energy, I started looking at HSU, Bic, SVS and some others. Finally, the choice is obvious. The Epiks are sealed and have dual drivers. I'm only using 1/3rd volume on the sub and the EQ has it set to 2/3rds on the AVR and my wife still gives me crap when she's upstairs. If I really want to get yelled at, I just put in TRON and let'er rip.

I'm really curious now about your selection, talk to you soon.

Drenis

The 505 will be a noticeable improvement over the Sony. However, it won't touch what a Legend can do as mentioned earlier.

I myself, want dual Legends but am not as fortunate to acquiring them.

jbooker82

Or you can wait unitl the DSW Pro 660WI goes on sale for $349. It is more than the PSW505 but is a better sub yet.

tommyt21

I have been watching the Outlaw and ED site. They both seem to have great Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales from what the google archives show. I have PSW505 currently. Before you jump the gun and determine $300 is what your limit is, do your research and buy it right the first time or you will end up like me spending more money in the long run. I went Psw10($99) then to PSW505($229)in a year and a half because each was cheap and I thought I would be happy.WRONG ! I now will most likley get a Outlaw lfm-1 EX from which I understand I will be entering a whole new category of bass. If I had done it right the first time i would have saved $300. :sad:

Glowrdr

Yeah, I think my 2 options at this point are: Check with a buddy of mine that bought (and returned) some gawd awful pioneer 8" sub for $160. If I can sell him mine for $80, everyone is happy. Then I can "upgrade" my sub for $100 basically. Otherwise maybe I'll wait for tax returns or see if xmas brings me a nice bonus this year, and maybe up the ante to the ~$500 mark.

Possible that both solutions work out. If I get the 505, that could get me by for the next year or so. The price is right, and I can always offload it for a breaking even point I'm sure. If I don't sell my other sub, then the choice will have been made for me. Not that I don't have the money for it, but you are all right. Buy once and be done. That's why I went with the SC-37 instead of the pre/pro direction. I will be happy for now, and can upgrade and be happy later.

BeefJerky

I would go for the PSW-505. I've listened to a few different Sony subs, including that same model, and they all had one thing in common: extremely boomy, inaccurate bass. Sure, they could get fairly loud, but then it's just a larger quantity of boomy, inaccurate bass. The SA-W3000 was in my mother's system, and even she noticed it, and she couldn't care less about sound quality. I replaced it with a budget Velodyne VX-10, and she is much happier with it. It doesn't go as loud or as deep, but it does deliver surprisingly well controlled bass for a budget model. Plus, now I don't have to hear her complain all the time about the "boomy" bass.

Yeah, definitely go for the PSW-505, or save for a better sub as you mentioned.

P.S. I gave the Sony sub to a friend who just wanted loud, boomy bass. He's happy with it, but his wife hates it. Thankfully, she doesn't blame me! :cheesygrin:

agco

dsw 550 pa has my vote. Nice

Glowrdr

Damn you people and your peer-pressuring ways. I think I'm going to take my own advice and just get the 660wi. Go big or go home right? I tried to take the cheap (505) way out, and figured if I didn't mind the Sony - the 505 would be an improvement and I would never know what I was missing (still).

Well, now I'm figuring it out. lol. I really do think the $350 is right near the top of my pricepoint though, so I haven't started doing the Epik/Polk comparisons yet. I think the 660 is mroe than enough, and it will provide me with a happy place in my ignorance.

Probably pull the trigger later tonight (I'm in a poker league, so I may just have a little bonus too after the game). Anyone else think this is some sound thinking? I'm happy about it, and I know that's 90% of the battle.

(BTW - I told my buddy that I'd sell him my Sony for $80, he said he'd give me $100)

Geoff4rfc

Sounds like you have a plan, who knows, if the poker game pays off huge, you could go SVS Ultra.

BeefJerky

And, if it pays off REALLY HUGE, then you could be me an SVS Ultra as well! :cheesygrin:

Glowrdr

So, pulled the trigger and I'll have the sub in 3 days. As far as poker - no such luck for tonight. Bad beat. I had pocket 7/8, and my opponent at pocket 8's. Got a 7/7/8 on the river, plus a couple of throw away cards. Went all in, and lost. Damn.

Oh well - what do you do?

jbooker82

What did you get. PSW505 or DSW Pro 660WI?

Glowrdr

The 660wi

I was "approved" for the 505, but the wife will never know the difference. lol

Geoff4rfc

Congratulations!!! I was prepared to offer you $100 for your oppo to help you with your sub purchase

jbooker82

You will be happy you went with the 660.

Glowrdr

I just found the 660wi for $329 on Amazon, free shipping. Might check and see how far my order is with Newegg.