You guys are a bad influence ;)

jemrey81

So I have been having some issues with my current sub (there is a post about it, nobody offered any advise). After reading so many reviews and links to newegg on this site (one in particular about polk the psw505) I ended up ording it last night...

I am excited to see how the psw505 performs... It's 100 watts more than my current sub, and my current one is downfiring with a rear port so I am also curious to see how the front firing sub does in my room. I went out to all of the big box stores to listen to front firing subs that would compete with this one and none of the displays were working!! I heard a front firing Martin Logan with about the same power rating, but the settings on the receiver made it sound really weak and the sales guy didn't know how to make it better... then I heard a lower end Velodyne with a 10" front firing woofer in the same wattage rating (and around $400), it sounded decent but I wouldn't buy it for that price.

Anyways, you guys are awesome even though I get upgrade bugs from you.... Oh, the best part is that my wife told me I should get it... and yes I told her how much bigger it is than my current one. (I just got a nice bonus and she thought I should buy myself something:)

thuffman03

It is a sickness. Once you get the audio bug you will continue to upgrade your system till you run out of money!

krauley

Gratz on the 505! I just got one from newegg and i gotta tell ya, "IT ROCKS!". I went from the psw10 to the 505 and at first i thought, oh well its only $230 but after i got it set up and played some BRs and some music that pushes it, i can hear the difference big time. youll be happy with it especially for the price although the neighbors might not be as happy

ikolbyi

I don't have any experience with the 505, but I own a PSW350 and a DSW Micro-pro 1000. My conclusion: The DSW produces an order of magnitude louder and cleaner sound, but the 350 sounds fuller in the upper range.

Is this attributed to the 8" vs 10" woofer?

jemrey81

That's an interesting conclusion... I would expect that the micro pro would be better in all aspects. For the price tag on those, they should be. The $250 for the psw505 was in my budget, and seems like (looking at reviews) it is the best bang for the buck.

dekuda

It is a good sub for the money.Good build quality. Great for movies! I had one with a Mirage sub and decided to go with identical subs so I sold my psw505. It had more thump than my mirages and sometimes I miss it but I listen to more music than movies. Again, it is a great buy. If you have carpeted floors front firing is the way to go. But the psw505 rattled my walls even on my hardwood floors.:D Enjoy!

jemrey81

Well, I do listen to a lot of music.... usually on whenever I am home. I watch a lot of movies too, and it is usually on when I am watching tv. Hopefully it is well rounded and will fit into what I need. I love deep, loud, rumbling effects that shake everthing but need it to be quick and punchy (I am sure that's the typical request). Only time will tell I suppose. I do have carpeted floors.

ikolbyi

jemrey81 wrote: »

Well, I do listen to a lot of music.... usually on whenever I am home. I watch a lot of movies too, and it is usually on when I am watching tv. Hopefully it is well rounded and will fit into what I need. I love deep, loud, rumbling effects that shake everthing but need it to be quick and punchy (I am sure that's the typical request). Only time will tell I suppose. I do have carpeted floors.

Since your sub is on carpet, I recommend the following to achieve more fuller sound:

* raise it - extend the feet on the sub to maximum length to raise it higher up. This is especially true for down pointing cones.

* place it on some type of hard surface to reflect the sound. Carpet absorbs sound so you want something underneath it to help reflect, not absorb.

* turn up the volume slightly. Not so loud that the sound becomes muffled or overpowering.


These recommendations will help with the sound quality, but only expect minor improvements.

jemrey81

Yeah, I had my last sub on a 18"x18" tile since it was a downfiring woofer... pretty sure that it won't be necessary with the front firing psw505. I could be wrong though, i have been before

Pappy1

jemrey81 wrote: »

So I have been having some issues with my current sub (there is a post about it, nobody offered any advise). After reading so many reviews and links to newegg on this site (one in particular about polk the psw505) I ended up ording it last night...

I am excited to see how the psw505 performs... It's 100 watts more than my current sub, and my current one is downfiring with a rear port so I am also curious to see how the front firing sub does in my room. I went out to all of the big box stores to listen to front firing subs that would compete with this one and none of the displays were working!! I heard a front firing Martin Logan with about the same power rating, but the settings on the receiver made it sound really weak and the sales guy didn't know how to make it better... then I heard a lower end Velodyne with a 10" front firing woofer in the same wattage rating (and around $400), it sounded decent but I wouldn't buy it for that price.

Anyways, you guys are awesome even though I get upgrade bugs from you.... Oh, the best part is that my wife told me I should get it... and yes I told her how much bigger it is than my current one. (I just got a nice bonus and she thought I should buy myself something:)

I fully agree. In the past four weeks I have gone from an HTIB to two Monitor 70s, a CS2 center, a PSW 505, and two Monitor 60s - and I have to blame it all on the guys at Club Polk! I hope that Polk Audio pays them some kind of a commission! I'm really enjoying the whole system - especially the PSW 505. What a treat it is to listen to music and movies now!

My Best,

Pappy1

AVR - Pioneer VSX 9040TXH
Subwoofer - Polk PSW 505
TV - Samsung HL-T6756W DLP
BD - Panasonic DMP-BD605
Cable - CableOne HD DVR
Center - CS2
Fronts - Polk Monitor 70s
Rears - Polk Monitor 60s

jemrey81

Hey Pappy, I just read your thread that you have going.... really funny how you posted a question sbout a sub not working and you ended up replacing everything!! That's what happens here, it's a sickness that I am fighting everyday Luckily (for my wallet) I don't have room for anything else right now, I know my wife likes that too..... we'll see though, I can ALWAYS get nicer sounding bookshelf speakers

Your name reminds me of high-school, a friend and I had to make a movie for a class (it was about an election, we had to go out and interview people to see who they were voting for and why)... anyways, we used the names Pappy and Jonesy... he was Pappy. It's a good memory, our video went WAY beyond the required interviews!

Well, congrats on the new purchases.... and definitley congrats on having the wife approval for all of that!

Pappy1

Hi Jemrey,

Yes, the situation didn't turn out the way that I had originally planned it (it sure sounds good though)! My wallet is also lighter, but in my work I'm looking forward to a pay cut this coming year, not a bonus, so I'm going to be exercising self-control. For now I will be living vicariously through the upgrades of others!

Glad that I reminded you of a pleasant experience from your past! For so many folks, life doesn't seem to hold many.

Best wishes for the upcoming week!

Pappy

wutadumsn23

LOL, I'm pretty sure somebody had to have warned you this would happen Pappy. We can spend your money faster than you can make it. Hell I been here almost 2 years now and I am still very easily influenced by these guys, just last weekend I went out and bought a pair of Monitor 10A's!! That 505 will do good by you, for the price, it is hard to beat. Let us know how it souinds all set up.


-Jeff

Pappy1

Hi Jeff!

Your comments are one of the factors that convinced me to take the plunge, and I'm certain that you could "spend my money faster than I can make it"! Neat gear though. I noticed that you have moved your TSi 500s to your HT Rig. How do you like them there?
I'm not at all familiar with the Monitor 10As. Are they waiting for an amplifier? I will update you when I am finished tuning my rig. My room is strange, and work has been keeping me busy, so I'm a bit behind. But I love what I'm hearing - I even leave selected commercials unmuted (and I intensely dislike commercials)!

May the rest of your week be profitable,

Pappy1

AVR - Pioneer VSX 9040TXH
Subwoofer - Polk PSW 505
TV - Samsung HL-T6756W DLP
BD - Panasonic DMP-BD605
Cable - CableOne HD DVR
Center - Polk CS2
Fronts - Polk Monitor 70s
Rears - Polk Monitor 60s

Face

It only gets worse.

jemrey81

Hey Pappy,
Yeah, don't ask about 10A's... vintage audio, or 2 channel rig stuff in general, definitely stay away from that part of the site They will have you searching all over hoping to find deals on vintage audio equipment, researching different cables (I have a feeling that cables will be your next purchase for some reason), and planning on how you can make a listening room........ it's just better if you don't go over to that side

Pappy1

Hi Jemrey!

Thanks for the advice. It is received. Electronics, gadgets, computers, motors, etc. have a strong appeal. I am disappointed with myself though. A couple of years ago I gave away my Pioneer SX-838 (but kept my Bose Series I 501s) thinking that in this day and age I wouldn't need it. Now my wife would like to have some music in her stamping area...oh well. I will do my best to stay on the HT side. As far as cables go, I have read many of the threads, and still really don't have a clue as to how to properly evaluate a cable.

Take care,

Pappy

AVR - Pioneer VSX 9040TXH
Subwoofer - Polk PSW 505
TV - Samsung HL-T6756W DLP
BD - Panasonic DMP-BD605
Cable - CableOne HD DVR
Center - Polk CS2
Fronts - Polk Monitor 70s
Rears - Polk Monitor 60s

mikedup2003

i wouldn't mind upgrading my 6 week old monitor 30's. Is that a bad sign?

jemrey81

That, I think, is THE sign What are you thinking of getting? The 40's are pretty cheap on Newegg right now, aren't they?

wutadumsn23

Pappy1 wrote: »

Hi Jeff!

Your comments are one of the factors that convinced me to take the plunge, and I'm certain that you could "spend my money faster than I can make it"! Neat gear though. I noticed that you have moved your TSi 500s to your HT Rig. How do you like them there?
I'm not at all familiar with the Monitor 10As. Are they waiting for an amplifier? I will update you when I am finished tuning my rig. My room is strange, and work has been keeping me busy, so I'm a bit behind. But I love what I'm hearing - I even leave selected commercials unmuted (and I intensely dislike commercials)!

May the rest of your week be profitable,

Pappy1

No problem man, glad I could help. Yeah, I moved the 500's around a little to find where they were best suited, and I didn't care for the way they clashed with my CS2 center. They did a great job up front, but were more suited for surround duty since timbre matching isn't as important there. They do an awesome job as surrounds, and I had no idea how much I was "missing" when I had the Monitor 40's back there. They were going to be my start in the 2 ch world, but I came across those 10's a few weeks ago and couldn't say no. They have done an amazing job just off my 806 in Pure Direct mode, but yes you are right, they are waiting on an amp and another AVR so I can make a real 2 ch rig, either in my basement or garage.

-Jeff

jemrey81 wrote: »

That, I think, is THE sign What are you thinking of getting? The 40's are pretty cheap on Newegg right now, aren't they?

The 40's are a great speaker for surrounds, and for the price, they are hard to beat.

-Jeff