Help with DSW MicroPro 1000

bugums1

If anyone can help me, I would appreciate it. I feel like I must be doing something wrong.

I purchased a PSW-111 from Best Buy last week, and then I found out about the DSW MicroPro 1000, so I ordered on from a seller on Ebay.

In a side by side comparisson, the PSW-111 blows the Micropro away. It's not even close. I have been adjusting every setting I can think of on the MicroPro and my reciever, but nothing I do helps.

In a song, when there is double bass (i.e. 2 very quick bass drums), the MicroPro will not even react quick enough to produce both notes.

The MicroPro gets excellent reviews, so I feel like I am doing something wrong. Does anyone have any ideas?

One other thing... At high volumes, the amplifier gets very hot. It gets almost hot enough where it is painful to leave your finger on it. Is this normal??
Thanks

MikeC78

Sounds like you got a bunk sub off Ebay, I'd email or call Polk CS. Did you pick it up used?

bugums1

it came in a factory sealed box with the plug and remote still wrapped in factory sealed plastic. it came from a very reputable seller with high positive feedback.

Ricardo

bugums1 wrote: »

it came in a factory sealed box with the plug and remote still wrapped in factory sealed plastic. it came from a very reputable seller with high positive feedback.

If it wasn't the Polk ebay store, you probably won't have any warranty. But call CS anyway....that amount of heat in the amp is not right.

bugums1

is it safe for me to assume that the micropro should sond much better than the psw-111?

MikeC78

I would say yes, but I haven't heard either.

By looking at the product specs, I'd say heck YES it should sound better. You are definetly having issues with the micro pro, call CS and get back with us what you find out.

Eric W

So what seller is it? The amp shouldn't get that hot- I've seen the extended power testing done and the digital amplifier does not generate that much heat.

bugums1

The seller is the_e_warehouse

here is the auction listing

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Polk-Audio-DSW-MicroPRO-1000-Subwoofer_W0QQitemZ120348581012QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSpeakers_Subwoofers?hash=item120348581012&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

The seller seems reputable and sells a lot of polk stuff with good feedback.

I will call cs and report back.

leroyjr1

The amp shouldn't get that hot and it should definately hit harder than the psw111. Did you try turning it up all the way to 40 ( four solid blinds) I played my micropro 4000 for about an hour testing somethings out on it this past weekend on (30 three solid blinds) and the amp was no where near being hot.

bugums1

I called CS, and here is what they said:

1. I'm probably playing my music too loud. He said if I can't hear someone talking next to me, then that is too loud. He said Polk refers to this as "stupid loud". I turned my music down considerably, and the micropro does sound a little better than the PSW-111. It also gets deeper than the PSW-111. The PSW-111 stays distortion free at much higher volumes.

2. At these volumes, it is normal for the amp to get hot.

I don't know if that response makes sense. The PSW-111 is at the same volume and its amp is not getting anywhere near as hot as the micropro.

Does this make sense to anyone? I'm not playing my music that loud, and I've had an ED sub, a Martin Logan Dynamo also. The ED and the Dynamo worked fine at these levels. I got rid of the ED because it was too big and ugly, and returned the Dynamo because it was just too expensive and I wanted to find something cheaper.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks

Chameleon2

what did CS say about the warranty?

bugums1

It didn't sound like they would warranty it, but I didn't really ask because the rep was telling me everything was OK with the subwoofer. I'm still not convinced.

Eric W

I just can't help but think you got a woofer that's not made to spec or made properly. It shouldn't distort like that.

Regardless, if you like to crank the system, perhaps a larger sub is in order? Even though the MicroPROs all share the same 1200 watt amp platform, the larger sub will have much more acoustic output (and play lower).

bugums1

Okay, here is another thought. I have both subwoofers plugged in right now, but neither one has been playing music for the past hour. They are both in standby mode (set in automatic, but the LED is orange since it has not sensed any music in a while).

The micropro amp and radiator fins are warm to the touch. Not hot, but warm.

The PSW-111 amp feels like it is at room temperature... No noticiable heating at all.

Is this normal for the MicroPro?

Thanks again.

Eric W

It should be very mildly warm in standby, like only a few degrees above room temp.

Are there any serial #'s on the unit?

bugums1

Serial: AM115502114
DOM: 0508

Eric W

OK give me some time to research this. It may be a few days.

bugums1

Thank you for anything you can do to help me out. I appreciate your time.

MikeC78

This will be good, especially coming from a non-authorized dealer. I can't believe they left the serial number on it...

bugums1

P.S. Just in case it matters...

The serial number on the cardboard box matches the serial number on the subwoofer.

It was shipped from E warehouse in Buffalo, NY...

comfortablycurt

Sounds to me like you've got a bunk sub there. I've never heard either one of those in person before...but going by the specs on their website the MicroPro should blow away that PSW111. Hopefully customer service can figure something out for you.

MikeC78

Is there an echo in here?:p

fossy

MikeC78 wrote: »

Is there an echo in here?:p

Echo ECHO Echo :D

That seller moves alot of product.62 negative feedback in the last year.60 neutral & 5739 positive.. WOW Have you tried contacting the seller to see what they say ??

comfortablycurt

I've looked at some the speakers that E-Warehouse has before...was half tempted to maybe buy from him in the future. He has good prices usually...but after hearing this I may reconsider.

Hilbert

Has anybody looked at the ebay listing? In particular the picture of the box. I'm very far from an expert, but I wouldn't describe that box as "factory sealed".

McLoki

If it was in an apparently factory sealed box - I would not be so quick to blame the seller. How would they know? Any manufacturing process will have a few items slip through that are not up to snuff. The telling point is how the manufacturer and reseller deal with these issues.

Polk certainly seems to be going above and beyond to try and get info for you (especially considering it was not purchased from an authorized reseller) - give the seller a chance to do the right thing as well before you pass judgment on them.

Michael

bugums1

I will say this much for certain:

1. The box was factory sealed as far as I could tell. The remote and manual were still in factory sealed plastic (once you open the plastic, there is no way to close it back up). Also the remote control still had the plastic pull tab over the battery.

2. I have left a message for the seller yesterday, but I have yet to get a response. It is around the holidays, so a response may be a little slower than normal.

I'm not passing any judgement on the seller yet. He sells a lot of Polk on Ebay and he has a lot of good feedback. He must run a good business to have that kind of response from his customers.

I also appreciate all the help from the Polk folks. I did not realize that buying from an authorized dealer was a big deal. If I had known that, I would have looked to purchase from an authorized dealer.

One of my biggest problems is that there is no store where I live (New Orleans area) that carries this sub, so I can't go see one on display.

bugums1

Still no response from the seller. Now I'm getting a bit nervous.

comfortablycurt

bugums1 wrote: »

Still no response from the seller. Now I'm getting a bit nervous.

I'd give him some time to reply. The weekend just got over, plus it being the holiday season, everyones life is a bit more hectic. That guy does a ton of business on ebay too, so it probably always takes him a little while to reply to his messages.

bugums1

Still no reply...

Eric,

Not to rush you, but have you had a chance to find anything out yet?

Thanks

Eric W

I've made some progress. Still digging though.. stay tuned