Dr. Spec Reviews the Polk PSW 505

tryrrthg
tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
edited April 2005 in Subwoofer Hookup & Bass Management
Link to Review
Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited April 2005
    It was great meeting Paul DiComo at CES 2005. We talked about doing a PSW505 review, and I also got to hear those fabulous in-walls with the digital set-up. I enjoyed doing the 505 review, and Paul was really top notch to work with.

    Regards,

    Ed
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • kingtut
    kingtut Posts: 813
    edited April 2005
    Very nice review Ed. Congrats on another excellent review.
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  • nellis8166
    nellis8166 Posts: 292
    edited April 2005
    It's been a couple of years since I've been in here. Ed, good to see you still kicking around. Believe it or not I live in Rochester now.
    RTi10
    CSi5
    RTi28
    SVS PB12-ISD2

    Denon 2106(pre/pro)
    Adcom 5503(200x3)

    Audioquest Diamondback ICS
    Kimber Kable 8tc biwire(mains and center)

    "Don't let your silly dreams fall in between the crack of the bed and the wall."
    -J. James
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  • nellis8166
    nellis8166 Posts: 292
    edited April 2005
    Doc, I posted some pics tonight...take a look if you get a chance.
    RTi10
    CSi5
    RTi28
    SVS PB12-ISD2

    Denon 2106(pre/pro)
    Adcom 5503(200x3)

    Audioquest Diamondback ICS
    Kimber Kable 8tc biwire(mains and center)

    "Don't let your silly dreams fall in between the crack of the bed and the wall."
    -J. James
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited April 2005
    Originally posted by nellis8166
    Doc, I posted some pics tonight...take a look if you get a chance.

    Hi guys:

    Thanks for the props. Where are the pics you are referring to?

    Ed
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • nellis8166
    nellis8166 Posts: 292
    edited April 2005
    Sorry Doc, they are in the Systems Showcase.
    RTi10
    CSi5
    RTi28
    SVS PB12-ISD2

    Denon 2106(pre/pro)
    Adcom 5503(200x3)

    Audioquest Diamondback ICS
    Kimber Kable 8tc biwire(mains and center)

    "Don't let your silly dreams fall in between the crack of the bed and the wall."
    -J. James
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited April 2005
    Nice review doc. I now better understand the subwoofer's place in a HT. I like my PSW505, but this review makes me want more from a sub. I crave an svs sub! I may keep this one, but an svs is in the making. I needed this to help a lot of unanswered questions that I had about my sub. Thanks a million Doc.

    You did no harm to this woofer, you just told the truth.;)
    Good job, and thanks.
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited April 2005
    Originally posted by landry_p2000
    Nice review doc. I now better understand the subwoofer's place in a HT. I like my PSW505, but this review makes me want more from a sub. I crave an svs sub! I may keep this one, but an svs is in the making. I needed this to help a lot of unanswered questions that I had about my sub. Thanks a million Doc.

    You did no harm to this woofer, you just told the truth.;)
    Good job, and thanks.

    I think the important thing to understand is that Polk (like most big OEMs) has to balance priorities.

    The marketing people want size/weight restrictions to meet target demographics. And the engineers want larger enclosures, deeper tune points, and better performance in the 20-30 Hz region.

    The slot port is good sized (equal to dual 3" ports), but the tune point is relatively high at 35 Hz. Performance (like any bass reflex subwoofer) falls off quickly below the enclosure tuning frequency. So the 505 will have limited capabilities in the 20-30 Hz region.

    A deeper tuning point (while retaining the same port area) would require a much longer vent, which then necessitates a larger enclosure. The vent could be made smaller, and that would deepen Fb, but then the potential for port noise increases.

    It's a tough balancing act, but Polk does it as well as any other brick and mortar OEM. I think the 505 stacks up well against similarly priced offerings from Klipsch and Infinity, which is the most important thing.
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited April 2005
    Outstanding work, Doc.

    Hope you're doing well.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
    Remote Control: iPad Mini

    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
    Center: Klipsch RP-160M
    Subwoofer: SVS PB12NSD (X 2)
    AVR: Yamaha Aventage RX-A2030
    Blu Ray: Sony BDP-S790
    TV Source: DirecTV Genie
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  • wallstreet
    wallstreet Posts: 1,405
    edited April 2005
    Yep, still don't understand a damn thing Spec says.
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