what are your thoughts on these subs?

[casual]

I know some people will turn their noses at this......but what are your thoughts on these subs:
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Balboa-SUB-10-Subwoofer/dp/tech-data/B000O8WE66?tag=dealnewscom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290034&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3705318&SID=skim1043X499650X1e01dae9d4e97aaf4c1edc9fa56e2c0e

 

[just-some-guy]

get what ya pay for ...... comes to mind.

 

[KEW]

I know some people will turn their noses at this......but what are your thoughts on these subs:
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Balboa-SUB-10-Subwoofer/dp/tech-data/B000O8WE66?tag=dealnewscom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290034&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3705318&SID=skim1043X499650X1e01dae9d4e97aaf4c1edc9fa56e2c0e

Strictly given a choice between those two, I'd go with the JBL.

It weighs 9 more pounds than the Polk.
Also, the JBL has pretty good amplifier specs for a $100 sub - 100Watt RMS from 20Hz – 150Hz, with no more than 0.1% THD (compared to the Polk at 50 watts RMS with no distortion or bandwidth spec).
Last, JBL gives FR of 30Hz – 150Hz (–6dB) while Polk gives 35Hz - 200Hz without any db limits - which is kind of worthless.

Here is link to pdf of manual for JBL. Specs are on last page:
http://www.jbl.com/resources/Brands/jbl/Products/ProductRelatedDocuments/en-US/OwnersManual/BalboaSub10 120V OM(web)rev8-2-06.pdf

I also checked the Polk manual spec. page, but it is identical to those listed on NewEgg - not enough detail to be very useful.

I appreciate that JBL (Harman Labs) is more thorough with their specs and generally have more respect for them.

That is my 2 cents!

 

[Pyrrho]

Strictly given a choice between those two, I'd go with the JBL.

It weighs 9 more pounds than the Polk.
Also, the JBL has pretty good amplifier specs for a $100 sub - 100Watt RMS from 20Hz – 150Hz, with no more than 0.1% THD (compared to the Polk at 50 watts RMS with no distortion or bandwidth spec).
Last, JBL gives FR of 30Hz – 150Hz (–6dB) while Polk gives 35Hz - 200Hz without any db limits - which is kind of worthless.

Here is link to pdf of manual for JBL. Specs are on last page:
http://www.jbl.com/resources/Brands/jbl/Products/ProductRelatedDocuments/en-US/OwnersManual/BalboaSub10 120V OM(web)rev8-2-06.pdf

I also checked the Polk manual spec. page, but it is identical to those listed on NewEgg - not enough detail to be very useful.

I appreciate that JBL (Harman Labs) is more thorough with their specs and generally have more respect for them.

That is my 2 cents!

You should look again at the Polk specifications, as you are not looking at them carefully enough. The -3dB point is 40 Hz.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/psw/specs.php

Given that the JBL does not give the -3dB point, it is hard to compare them. -6 at 30Hz is pretty poor for a subwoofer, but at this price point, one isn't going to get great performance.

As for the power ratings, that does not help at all. The power rating would only be helpful if you know the sensitivity of the woofers. For all we can tell from what they both claim, the Polk might play louder. It all depends on the sensitivity of the woofers.


Frankly, I would not buy either one, and do without until I could afford something better.

 

[KEW]

Good find! It wasn't as matter of how careful I looked, but a matter of where I looked. I looked in the Polk manual, which did not provide the -3db 40Hz data.

In light of the new information on the Polk playing 40Hz at -3db, I would consider the JBL's -6db at 30Hz a better spec.
Is this a certainty? Absolutely not!
But how likely is it that the Polk would only roll off 3 additional db from 40Hz to 30Hz?
How likely is it that Polk would claim a low end of 35Hz, if it was only down 6db at 30Hz?

Thanks for the comment on the amplification. Looking back at my post, I see that it can reasonably be read with an emphasis on the differences in power between the JBL and POLK. My intent was to point out that the JBL simply has a pretty good amp for a $100 sub, period. I mean, these days, inexpensive amps typically give a power rating which is a 1kHz instantaneous powersweep at 1.0% distortion, and it is nice to see a specification of RMS watts with a specified bandwidth and a low 0.1% distortion level. To me, this reflects quality, both in the amplifier and in the company selecting the amplifier.

I should say that the -3db at 160Hz of the Polk is better than the -6db at 150Hz of the JBL. If the OP plans to cross this sub over at an unusually high frequency (say, if he has mini-cube satellites) this would be in the Polks favor. However for normal usage, this would not be a factor.

 

[lsiberian]

If you want a budget sub look at the Dayton line. I had one for a year and they are better than either of the subs you listed.

If you are good with woodworking you could make your own for a pretty low materials cost assuming you had the tools and experience.