Did Polk Screw Me?

MtnXfreeride

I bought a PSW125 back on 11/14/2011. In February of 2012 the amplifier stopped working so I sent it to Polk and they sent me a replacement on 2/07/12. My first impression after installing the board was that the sub wasn't as loud as before, but I usually keep it pretty low at half volume so I thought nothing more about it unless I was in a blast music kinda mood. I honestly couldnt tell for sure it wasn't as loud since I hadn't turned it up all the way in the 3 months I owned it because of where I lived.

A few days ago I was in a "blast music" kinda mood and turned my system up (sub at half gain still) and there was no booming so I checked out the sub and sure enough the amp isn't working again.

I called Polk, its out of warranty and will cost something around $125+shipping to replace. No thanks.. it'll just break again if it broke 2x already.

I figured I may as well take the amp out and look at it for obvious issues today and what I noticed after pulling the plate off and googling some things is that my board looks like its from a PSW110 not a PSW125. The piece of plastic its mounted on says PSW125V2 but I cannot find a single picture of a PSW125 board online that only has 1 large capacitor... and every single PSW110 picture Im finding online has 1 large capacitor and everything lines up perfectly with my board.

Can anyone help me verify what this amp board is?






Im seeing this guy with a PSW125 now, which also has at least 2 large capacitors which looks like every other PSW125 board Ive come across:
http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/121147/psw125-where-is-the-fuse-see-pix

tonyb

Can't help ya there, but the sub is out of warranty so not much you can do now. Not worth fixing imho as these subs sell used in working condition all day for under 100 bucks on most any craigslist.

MtnXfreeride

tonyb wrote: »

Can't help ya there, but the sub is out of warranty so not much you can do now. Not worth fixing imho as these subs sell used in working condition all day for under 100 bucks on most any craigslist.

Its just frustrating that I only had the sub I paid for ~3 months before getting an inferior product...
I am hoping someone can confirm this and Ill ask Polk if they will make it right.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
Welcome to Polk's forum, I'm sorry you had a problem with your subwoofer. I've sent a copy of this thread to Polk's CS manager and asked if there was something that could be done for you.
Regards, Ken

Joey Ward

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

Hello,
Welcome to Polk's forum, I'm sorry you had a problem with your subwoofer. I've sent a copy of this thread to Polk's CS manager and asked if there was something that could be done for you.
Regards, Ken

Thanks Ken for helping out. Best to you

MtnXfreeride

Thanks for looking into this Ken.

Easy Runnin

Paper work is your friend, you should have held on to it. Do you still have you packing slip? Does the packing slip match the amp you have? Why didn't you check your paper work in 2012 when it didn't sound right? Sounds like you screwed yourself when you went blast mode.

That being said, if it was my company and my tracking information confirmed we send the wrong amp I would certainly take care of you. Even if the warranty expired.

Inspector 24

Buy it nice or buy it twice?

Perhaps time to upgrade to a higher quality subwoofer with a better warranty?

jeremymarcinko

The psw110 back plate shows 1.25a and the psw125 is labeled 1.6a...right near power cable connection. Maybe that helps.

polkfarmboy

I had a power problem in my last place I fried 4 ps3's ,2 xbox 360s and a plasma tv. I got an electrician in and he was dumb and replaced a few burnt wires and outlets. Everytime I plugged in my panamax the fusebox would be making noises like it was bringin Frankenstein's monster to life with a fifty fifty chance of trippin the breakerbox.

teekay0007

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I had a power problem in my last place I fried 4 ps3's ,2 xbox 360s and a plasma tv. I got an electrician in and he was dumb...

polrbehr

teekay0007 wrote: »

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I had a power problem in my last place I fried 4 ps3's ,2 xbox 360s and a plasma tv. I got an electrician in and he was dumb...

I see a Christmas song in there somewhere...

tonyb

or a country music song.

ZLTFUL

DSkip wrote: »

They wouldn't let him on the stage with those skinny jeans. In fact, he may not even make it through the back door.

Hermitism

MtnXfreeride wrote: »

I bought a PSW125 back on 11/14/2011. In February of 2012 the amplifier stopped working so I sent it to Polk and they sent me a replacement on 2/07/12. My first impression after installing the board was that the sub wasn't as loud as before, but I usually keep it pretty low at half volume so I thought nothing more about it unless I was in a blast music kinda mood. I honestly couldnt tell for sure it wasn't as loud since I hadn't turned it up all the way in the 3 months I owned it because of where I lived.

A few days ago I was in a "blast music" kinda mood and turned my system up (sub at half gain still) and there was no booming so I checked out the sub and sure enough the amp isn't working again.

I called Polk, its out of warranty and will cost something around $125+shipping to replace. No thanks.. it'll just break again if it broke 2x already.

I figured I may as well take the amp out and look at it for obvious issues today and what I noticed after pulling the plate off and googling some things is that my board looks like its from a PSW110 not a PSW125. The piece of plastic its mounted on says PSW125V2 but I cannot find a single picture of a PSW125 board online that only has 1 large capacitor... and every single PSW110 picture Im finding online has 1 large capacitor and everything lines up perfectly with my board.

Can anyone help me verify what this amp board is?

Hello, I'm not sure if my info will help, but I purchased a new PSW125 in 2008. The volume knob was never pushed past approx. 45%. A couple months out of warranty the amp went out and I purchased a new one through Polk. The amp that arrived didn't look the same, the screw holes didn't match up perfectly, the thick IEC power cords was replaced with a thin dinky cord with a C7 connection, and the seperate LFE input was missing. Upon hooking it up, I immediately noticed a lack of power compared to the original. I contacted Polk, but they assured me that it was the correct part and that they had changed amps for that model.

I dug up a couple pics I took back then. Here is a pic of the original from the rear:


And here is a pic of both together:


Last year I replaced my thin power cord to my AVR with a thick Pangea cord and immediately noticed more bass in my front speakers. Perhaps the lack of power we both experienced is due to the dinky power cord they now use. I'm sure someone here will have input on that theory, as I'm no expert. But I definitely experienced a lack of power or loudness as you did. Did your replacement amp look the same as the original?

mrbigbluelight

Are those spring clips I'm looking at ?!

tonyb

mrbigbluelight wrote: »

Are those spring clips I'm looking at ?!

China....lol

Inspector 24

Uhh, yeah? They're cheap low end subs.

drselect

Save your time, effort and money up and go buy a sub from a different manufacture.

[Deleted User]

Polk is going to provide a new replacement bass amplifier at no charge. I've asked the OP to contact Kim Jasper, Polk's CS manager.

nooshinjohn

Way to go Polk!

tonyb

Man, I can't say "c r a p" on this forum and he gets a new sub amp ? Somethin' ain't right...lol.

Good for you OP, hope the new one works out.

drselect

DSkip wrote: »

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

Polk is going to provide a new replacement bass amplifier at no charge. I've asked the OP to contact Kim Jasper, Polk's CS manager.

...and this is why you buy Polk products. Even under new ownership, things get done that should.

Didn't quite work out this way in my situation. Thus, my recommendation. Also will be interested in what type of amp that will be sent to him.

Inspector 24

Wow. Amazing. Way to go Polk!

Dennis Gardner

Polk isn't any different than any other company that has had issues with their plate amps. They just don't build in longevity within their targeted price point, and since the box and drivers tend to outlast the plate amps, they find themselves looking for alternatives that will physically fit the hole once the first run of amps stock is gone. This a universal problem with powered subs and powered speakers within the pro audio realm too!

Glad they are taking care of you.........

bryangmd

I had the same issue with the Polk-PSW125. I rarely used it and it mostly was powered off because of having small kids and lots of kid shows. One day I turned it on and got no lights at all. I called Polk when I had time and they sent a new board. The new board was noticeably different and neither nob turned easily. Again, the sub was rarely used. Within a few months when called on, it failed again. By the time I called, they told me the sub was under warranty, but the amp was no longer. I may of gotten a week total use out of this, and now it is a giant paper weight. I thought about trying to get another board, but do not trust that too would not give up on me.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
I'll ask a friend, at Polk, to contact you via email.

tonyb

Did Polk Screw Me?


Did they buy ya a drink first ?

Viking64

He doesn't look the type.

msg

Oh yes he does. Look how rigid he looks.

nooshinjohn

That looks like Jesse around the time he started the Vampire Rebellion.