is the Polk psw-10 good enough?

[ZeppFan]

I have a Yamaha 573 receiver and Infinity p363 tower front left and right speakers. I am looking at adding a powered sub, but am running low on funds and the wife's patience.

I was going to pull the trigger on one of those budget subs like the Polk psw-10 that's on sale for $80 on Amazon right now or the Energy power 10 for $100, but I noticed on the specs that the frequency on those cheaper subs only go down to about 40hz. My tower speakers go down that low. I'm not sure how a 10 inch sub won't have a lower frequency range than the smaller mid-range woofers in my main speakers. Should I wait until I can afford a little better of a sub, or will it still improve my overall sound?

 

[ZeppFan]

Now I see the Acoustic Audio RWSUB 10-inch, 400 watt down firing sub going for around $100 on ebay. The frequency range is lower and it's more powerful than the Polk psw-10. Does anybody know anything about this Acoustic Audio sub?

 

[TLS Guy]

Now I see the Acoustic Audio RWSUB 10-inch, 400 watt down firing sub going for around $100 on ebay. The frequency range is lower and it's more powerful than the Polk psw-10. Does anybody know anything about this Acoustic Audio sub?

If you ask the question "is it good enough?" the answer is invariably no. Those cheap subs are not subs, they are bass modules. To be a sub, it must be no more than 3 db at 30 Hz.

The other thing is that those cheap subs go up in smoke at pretty regular intervals.

So I would save for something much better. What you are looking at will add nothing to what you have already and likely make things worse.

 

[manwithnocape]

yup. what he said.

 

[j_garcia]

After NO, nothing else needs to be said. Fact. /thread. There are PLENTY of threads on budget subs if you do a little research.

 

[afterlife2]

You don't want Led Zep on that Polk sub. Since you are on a budget I'd highly recommend this sub goes down to 25 and Is not BOOMY. I have one and love it: PS10 10" High Powered Premium Home Theater Subwoofer Check Jim Wilson review(Jman on this forum).

 

[anthonywoy]

ZeppFan, if you buy a really cheap sub, it will just muddy up your sound, you might as well not have one. If you cannot afford something better now, wait and save up for awhile. The 400 to 500 hundred range is where you typically get better subs, but they will not go really low. I would recommend looking for used, check Craigslist not Ebay, as shipping can add to your cost. You could find a decent older sub for a couple hundred.

A good rule of thumb in audio is to buy quality, and upgrade you system one part at a time, then in a few years you have a decent system that you will be happy with. Most audio equipment will last you many years, so that bit extra you spend on the better equipment will be worth it. Used is your best option to save money, as the good $700 sub from 5 years ago, you might be able to grab for $200.
Good luck.

 

[twoeyedbob]

To be fair, a cheap sub wont give you nothing..
If you've not had a sub before,you'll be quite pleased
For a while...you'll then spend a certain period trying
To get it setup within your system.....adjusting crossover's
And level's..maybe corner loading....
After a while you'll realise ,it's just not going to happen,it's just making my whole system wooly and undefined.
You'll get something decent,maybe seconhand,and be
Amazed at your new aquisition.'man this goes deep,jeez this is what a sub does !'
At that point you can sell your cheap sub (very easily)to someone else who will repeat the
Experience
.....or it may blow up at any point in the cycle :-(

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