Polk PSW505 subwoofer: good sub? good deal?

steelglam
steelglam Posts: 33
edited February 2009 in Speakers
There's a local guy selling a barely used Polk PSW505 subwoofer for $230. Is this a good sub for music? I'd be pairing it with a pair of vintage Polk RTA12a loudspeakers and an ADS Atelier A2 preamp. If it's a good sub, is $230 a good deal? Thanks for any insight that you can provide.
Post edited by steelglam on
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  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited February 2009
    I have not owned one but here are the spec's:

    PSW505 POWERED SUBWOOFER
    Overall Frequency 23Hz - 160Hz
    Response
    -3dB Frequency 28Hz - 125Hz
    Response
    Driver Complement 12" (30.5cm) long throw, magnetically shielded
    Power Amplifier: 300 Watts continuous, 460 Watts dynamic
    Size & Weight Dimensions (H x W x D) Weight
    164" x 154" x 172" 43 lbs
    41.3cm x 38.7cm x 44.5cm 19 kg

    And here is the owners manual: http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/manuals/home/PSW303_404_505_Manual.pdf
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    I've always heard great things about the PSW505, though I've never had a chance to get my ears one one before.

    Like Xcapri said though, you can get a new one with a full warranty and everything for not a whole lot more. That may be the better route to take, but it's your call.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited February 2009
    Give it a try. Nice price.
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  • steelglam
    steelglam Posts: 33
    edited February 2009
    Thanks for the replies, everyone. My budget is tight (didn't want to go over $250), but I see the point that several of you made about it not being that great of a deal since I can buy a new one for not much more.

    I think I need to take a step back and ask a different question at this point. I've never used a sub before, but am looking to add more low end to my stereo system. I really like the Polk RTA12a's that I have as my main speakers, but I just wish they went a bit lower with more detail in that lower end. I listen to a wide variety of music, and for my jazz, folk, and most of my rock records, the low end that my RTA12a's provide is fine. However, when I listen to my funk, hip-hop, and heavy rock/metal records, I find myself wanting to add a bit more "oomph" in the low end for this more rockin/groovin music. I'm not looking for purely boomy bass, but rather I want to "feel" those wicked funk basslines and the tight kick drum in a hard rock song a bit more. Given the diversity of music that I like, the RTA12a's have gotten me about 80% of the way toward getting the sound I want (I especially love the mids, highs, and soundstaging), so I'm just trying to add a sub to fill in that remaining 20%. I will be using the sub strictly for music with no home theater application.

    So, having said that, would the PSW505 have what I'm looking for? Is there something comparable in a different brand--I've heard Velodyne recommended a lot--that will perform better than the PSW505 and cost just as much? Also: if there is a slightly more expensive sub that will give me what I want and that often comes up used on craigslist or ebay for under $250, I'd be willing to go that route as well, so if anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

    Thanks!
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  • djseafood
    djseafood Posts: 73
    edited February 2009
    I got my PSW505 in back in September and absolutely love it. Granted, it's my first sub so I have nothing to compare it to other than what I've heard at the stores or other people's homes. My good friend has a PSW505 matched to his RTi12's and has great things to say about it as well. I picked mine up at onecall.com for $285 delivered. It's paired with my Monitor 40's up front and compliments them very nicely. I don't think you'd be disappointed at all with it, but I'll let the others weigh in on other options at your price point. Good luck! :)
    HT
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR506
    FR: Polk Monitor 40
    CNTR: Polk CS2
    Sub: Polk PSW505
    RR: Infinity SS2001 w/ SpeakerCraft 5.25" aluminum woofers and 1.5" ports
    Patio: Polk Atrium 45
    TV: Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR9
    BD: Sony BDP-S570
    Gaming: PS2 and Wii
    PWR: APC C-5

    Work
    Receiver: h/k AVR 20
    CD: marantz Professional PMD320
    Mains: Infinity SS2005
    2nds: DLK 1 1/2's
    CNTR: Infinity Sterling Video
    Subs: Paradigm PS-1000 w/ beefed up power circuit resistors and custom 15" w/ Polk PSW-505 amp.
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  • TheMARPATNinja7
    TheMARPATNinja7 Posts: 150
    edited February 2009
    Get this sub. I have a ton of other subs to compare this one too and the PSW505 takes the cake. By the way, it's great for music, if that's what your looking for.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2009
    Great comments guys, thanks for posting them. The 505 is not too shabby when it comes to Polk subwoofers.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • TheMARPATNinja7
    TheMARPATNinja7 Posts: 150
    edited February 2009
    Without a doubt, other subs can put out a ton of movie bass and synthetic bass but thats about it. The 505 can really give you that and good punch with kick drum and bass guitar which impressed me the most about it.
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  • steelglam
    steelglam Posts: 33
    edited February 2009
    Thanks, everyone. In addition to the good review of the 505 here, a few of my friends tonight suggested looking into a Dayton Elite ES8 or ES10, or a Definitive ProSub 800 or 1000. Anyone have any thoughts on those and how they compare to the Polk?
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  • vijayl
    vijayl Posts: 258
    edited February 2009
    I have 505 going w/ RTi8s and it sounds great, though I didn't own any other sub to compare it to. I would go for it, if it is under $200

    Living Room: 7.3: Samsung - LN52A750, Pioneer Elite SC07    , logitech 880
    Def Tech Mythos ST :D Fronts, Def Tech Mythos 10 Center, Def Tech BP-30 Surr, Def Tech Mythos GemXL SurrBack, MartinLogan Dynamo
    2Ch: Carver TL-3200 CD player, Carver CT-17 pre, Carver TFM-45 amp driving SDA-1C
    Bed Room: Pioneer Elite VSX-52 , Monitor 50

    Storage-RTi8,CSi5,PSW505,Monitor50
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  • steelglam
    steelglam Posts: 33
    edited February 2009
    vijayl wrote: »
    I have 505 going w/ RTi8s and it sounds great, though I didn't own any other sub to compare it to. I would go for it, if it is under $200

    Yeah, see that's the thing: he's selling it for $230. I checked amazon.com last night, and you can buy one new there for $240/250.
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  • chrisp9446
    chrisp9446 Posts: 10
    edited February 2009
    steelglam wrote: »
    Yeah, see that's the thing: he's selling it for $230. I checked amazon.com last night, and you can buy one new there for $240/250.

    Yeah, but remember that you have to pay shipping on amazon, since it's coming from J&R and not amazon. When I got my PSW505 from there (about a month ago), the shipping was around $40.
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  • steelglam
    steelglam Posts: 33
    edited February 2009
    chrisp9446 wrote: »
    Yeah, but remember that you have to pay shipping on amazon, since it's coming from J&R and not amazon. When I got my PSW505 from there (about a month ago), the shipping was around $40.

    True, but as others in this thread mentioned, if I bought it new from Amazon for an extra $50 (incl. shipping), I'd get return capabilities if I didn't like it, plus full warranty. The point being that $230 is not really that good of a craigslist deal on this sub. Except for tickets to concerts/sporting events, everything I've ever purchased used from craigslist has been at least 40% off its original price. Not even close with this sub.
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  • chrisp9446
    chrisp9446 Posts: 10
    edited February 2009
    steelglam wrote: »
    True, but as others in this thread mentioned, if I bought it new from Amazon for an extra $50 (incl. shipping), I'd get return capabilities if I didn't like it, plus full warranty. The point being that $230 is not really that good of a craigslist deal on this sub. Except for tickets to concerts/sporting events, everything I've ever purchased used from craigslist has been at least 40% off its original price. Not even close with this sub.

    Touch
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