Polk subs, bad?

[ijokr]

I here a lot in here that the Polk subs are not good but I always wonder, are they really that bad? I mean Polk speakers are great, how can they make such a bad sub? My next purchase is a sub and unfortunately I can´t test them so I have to trust on reviews, comments , etc. Polk subs are at a very good price and I´m very happy with the polk speakers, so it is likely that I buy one, what do you think?

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

They're very musical and smooth, but when it comes to HT, the usually high +/-3db cutoff and slope drop off is a killer.

[Sith]

Originally Posted by ijokr

I here a lot in here that the Polk subs are not good but I always wonder, are they really that bad? I mean Polk speakers are great, how can they make such a bad sub? My next purchase is a sub and unfortunately I can´t test them so I have to trust on reviews, comments , etc. Polk subs are at a very good price and I´m very happy with the polk speakers, so it is likely that I buy one, what do you think?

My polk is just fine, I have all polk fronts, center and sub and they all sound
great....Cranked the sh** out of NIN the other day and it rocked hard....Quantum of Solace is also gonna piss off my neighbors..

[igotcabada]

My PSW10's are definitely not bad for the money ($200 for both). I had a small issue with some port noise at certain levels that some polyfill seemed to have fixed, covereed in this thread https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=91638.

I just watched transformers last night and they performed very well, very detailed. I know alot of other people really like their polk subs.

I do however wish i spent a little more and got a different sub, maybe the A2-300.

For your set-up, it seems like it would be a fairly nice addition...

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by mbader21

My PSW10's are definitely not bad for the money ($200 for both). I had a small issue with some port noise at certain levels that some polyfill seemed to have fixed, covereed in this thread https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=91638.

I just watched transformers last night and they performed very well, very detailed. I know alot of other people really like their polk subs.

I do however wish i spent a little more and got a different sub, maybe the A2-300.

For your set-up, it seems like it would be a fairly nice addition...

Ditto! Did the same last nite with my new fronts, & definitely tested the Volume - no issues at all. I may be trying that Polyfill myself, just to see if it enhances the Dual Subs. Quite a few people have the 2 PSW-10 set up, as they're very good for the $$$$ spent. Yes, if we had a few hundred more at our disposals, we might all have ED Subs. To each their own, but I love my 2 and I know others here do as well via various PM's.

[MacDaddyOJack]

Originally Posted by Audiophile_At_Birth

They're very musical and smooth, but when it comes to HT, the usually high +/-3db cutoff and slope drop off is a killer.

the +/- 3dB means that any valleys/ peaks in the frequency response curve are considered "linear" as long as they are no larger than 3dB. +/- 3dB is a fairly normal response limit though.

However, like you (kinda) said, their lower limit is higher than many meaning that they won't play as deep (which is what we all want from a HT sub!)

[ijokr]

thanks for the reply, How much of a difference is having two subs? I can imagine is pretty noticeable, but really worth it? It sounds powerful

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by ijokr

thanks for the reply, How much of a difference is having two subs? I can imagine is pretty noticeable, but really worth it? It sounds powerful

2 subs is good for filling in "dead" space that can occupy a room when you have people sitting in it or there are some obstructions. 2 subs gives you flexibility to allow you to "fill" those dead spots by the position of the 2 subs. Like mbader21 and aerodude23, I have 2 Polk PSW-10 subs, and I too have used the polly-fill to eliminate the "chuffing" that can come from these subs, due to their underperformace with the lower db's. The 50 watts do not help either, however, for around $200, you get 2 subs that can do the job without breaking the bank.

If I had just a little extra coin, the eD A2-300 sure does seem to be the sub of choice, due to its price point and quality, not to mention performance. That is the next sub for me...

[Rob J in WNY]

Polk Audio subwoofers do seem to get a more negative rap on these forums, but that's also because there are some really great alternative brands for the same or less money.

I have a Polk PSW125 and I absolutely enjoy it. It's very clean and not boomy as some have claimed (at least in my theater environment), and it can really rattle the room. I prefer good "presence" of LFE, but dominant, as some like.

My son's grandfather has an older Polk PSW303 (8" driver) that produces very compliant lows for its size. Impressive on all counts.

The proper location of the sub in a room, relative to your listening position, is an absolute priority. Sometimes, the optimal location will not be the "prettiest," but when it comes to overall sonic efficiency with subwoofers, location is critical.

[rlf3911]

Just get an eD sub, save $ for an extra month, then you won't have to worry one bit about buying a sub you wont be happy with.

Edit: mine was free, which is why I still have it while saving for something better.

[Twitch9]

Polk speakers are the Hell and there subs are the devil, put them together and you get a room i don't want to be in hehehe

Save the money and get a different sub like and ED or something similar

[JJ]

Rule #1 = Don't buy subwoofers from mainstream speaker manufacturers.

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Rule #1 = Don't buy subwoofers from mainstream speaker manufacturers.

I agree if you mean speaker manufactures that sell in big box stores, like polk, kipslich ect. some more popular speaker companies do make great subs though.

[jomari]

its not that polk subwoofers are bad, its just that you can get better quality subwoofers for a little more dime. there are a number of ID (internet direct) companies that have outstanding products, not available in the mainstream market. top ones i can recall are SVS, HSU research, and ED.

for the pricepoint, its definitely worth to look into.

ive also considered buying into the cheaper subwoofers, but as ive always considered in this hobby, you want to get something that would stretch that dollar a lot further, avoiding upgrades on top of each other. for example, for a $100 subwoofer that your going to purchase, you could save up that money and wait a bit longer, until you can reach a substantial amount, and drop it on a more established subwoofer.

upgrades are bad. investing in speakers for the long run? good.

[RWebb74]

my polk sub rattles the house, nuff said.

[arrt vandelay]

i had a psw10 for about a month. i thought it was good while i had it; my wife bought it for me for christmas. i, however, wanted more, thus i now have a hsu stf-2, night and day difference...also about an xtra 250 bucks so there should be some improvements...

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

Which one do you have RWebb74?

[brett_day]

my psw10 provides adequate bass for me. looking to get a ed though maybe a hsu but for now the polk does a great job

[zweet77]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

Polk speakers are the Hell and there subs are the devil, put them together and you get a room i don't want to be in hehehe

Save the money and get a different sub like and ED or something similar

Polk subs are not terrible you can just do a lot better than them after about the $150 dollar mark.

[crazyBLUE]

My PSW125 is A great subwoofer ! It sounds much better know that it is on A stand with A bass trap underneath it ! Big Daddy calls the stand A GRAMPA !!