PSW650 vs SVS PB12-ISD

zgw8

Will the SVS PB12-ISD or the PB12-ISD/V significantly outperform the Polk PSW650?

Pinktulip7

Yes it is dude!!!!!!!!!1

zgw8

Can someone be a bit more articulate with a few more details?

faster100

This is a polk forum, and although i have a SVS, its not really fair to compare the 2... more and more people are getting svs's around here but its still a limited bunch, not many i would guess have even had the 650... Ive heard it is a very nice sub in it's own right.. The 650 and 1200 were polks best subs.. The svs's are equally great subs and may give the 650 a run for its money... But not sure if its better as that's real subjective.

heiney9

Here's a link to an older 2001 review of a batch of sub's including the PSW-650. Read it FWIW, it doesn't include an SVS in the comparo but there may be some useful info anyway.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=258&page_number=1

I convinced a friend to buy a PSW-650 and it's a good HT sub....but IMO it's not suited to music at all very boomy and uncontrolled. I have very limited exposure to subs as I personally don't prefer them. The 650 can and will rattle your teeth but that doesn't mean its a good accurate sub. My friend has never taken the proper time to calibrate his 5.1 system so my impression may be based on an improper set-up. Certainly worth consideration....but as always do your homework and decide how you want to use it.

H9

schwarcw

I placed an order for a PB-12/ISD today. I'll let you know how I like it, I'm picking it up at the SVS factory on Wednesday. It's about 70 miles from my house. Even with the price of gas the way it is, I'll save about $25 - 30 in shipping.

I was considering th PB-10. It has got a lot of good reviews by owners on this Forum. The sales person at SVS explained the differences and I believe the PB-12 is better for me. I usually don't listen at very high levels. My wife and kids are all over me when I do. -25 to -20 dBs is about my limit.

VR3

The PSW650 was similar to my old subwoofer, the M&K I had.

Its output was similar on all levels. The PSW650 has almost no useable output below 30hz.

On an extention and output basis, the SVS absolutely smokes it. Its no comparison really. On how it sounds to you - well thats more subjective...

gregure

We can go around in circles for days on how "it only matters what you think, it's all subjective," but I truly think it's ok to say that no matter what the SVS is a better sub. Better build, better amp, better driver, lower extension, more accurate and musical, and heavy as a ****. Anything from SVS is better than Polk subs. Sorry Polk, but I just can't accept a Home Theater sub that doesn't go down to 20Hz strong. That's the whole point of a sub in a HT setup, as most soundtracks that feature a LFE channel utilize frequencies to that depth. The only time it makes sense to have less is if you need a really tiny sub or live in an apartment.

Now, there are other subs out there that perform as well as SVS, so I don't mean to say that they are the best no matter what. But better than Polk? Absolutey. SVS is straight to consumer. Imagine if they used dealers. We would probably be paying around $1700 for a $1200 sub from them. So, compare that to the price of a 650, and you'll have a good idea of what you're getting.

VR3

There are tons of subs that compare with SVS. They just cost alot more.

The only subs that dont cost more are HSU and Adire - there is another company that I heard of that has a monsterous sub for little money, but it is passive.

tenor12

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

There are tons of subs that compare with SVS. They just cost alot more.

The only subs that dont cost more are HSU and Adire - there is another company that I heard of that has a monsterous sub for little money, but it is passive.

That's probably VMPS. I have the "Larger Sub" (sounds like a sandwich!). It's as large as a good-sized end table, and in fact that's what it also serves as in my living room. I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind fussing with the amplification. Mine is powered with a Rotel RB-980BX (one channel to each of the two drivers), which is probably overkill, since it also shook the walls when run with a 30-watt Rotel. I also use a dbx crossover, which was a bit of a pain to set up because it requires balanced inputs. In the end it cost me in the vicinity of $1100, but it could probably be done much cheaper without the dbx. The sub itself is in the $700 range (as a kit).