Customer Reviews

Polk Audio PSW303 8-Inch 100-Watt Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You can't really buy something like this just by
reading reviews. I auditioned subs in this price
range (under $250 discounted) at Circuit City, Frys,
and BestBuy. This subwoofer always sounded better
than the psw10 or xb2, but not as good as the psw12, xb4, or vrp-1000
which had lower LFE response. This also was much better against budget
subs like the sa-w3000 and sa-w2500. The amplifier in this subwoofer is
100W RMS and even though its only 8-inch, it could play
as loud as most of the larger 10-inch subs.
My room (20 x 20) isn't that large, but the advantage
of having a more powerful sub is that at normal movie or music levels the
piston and amplifier aren't overworked and distortion
is kept low. For a compact 8-inch sub this is impressive. Installed in my room using stereo line-in connection, the sub works
perfectly with phase set to 180 and volume turned to about 1/4 rotation. All the auto-on, cutoff, phase, and volume
controls operate well. Although I don't
need it, it has shielding. The only reason I don't give
this a higher rating is that the 8-inch driver has a foam
surround which I know will have a lifetime of only
4 to 6 years before it totoall disintegrates. The warranty
is 5 years for everything except the amplifier/electronics (3 year).

This subwoofer is fantastic.Polk has always designed their speakers to be as musical and true to the actual performace,wheather it be classical,jazz,rock,pop,or a dvd movie..The bass is full and natural,with tremendous bass slam.When there is no bass you wont hear any...But when bass is present,watch out!!!There are many subs that produce one note bass,and sound quite muddy...Not the polk...You just hear the music or movie as it was intended to be heard...The subwoofer is compact,and doesnt take up alot of space...I find the polk perfect for tight spaces,and fits perfectly,in my nyc apartment.I hope my review was helpful for you..I thank you Stewart L.

I was using a Sony 10" powered sub with my Onkyo home stereo and was annoyed by the plastic rattle you'd get and mushy sound while the sub was even moderately loud. I decided to just get rid of the Sony and buy a new sub and did a lot of research before settling on the Polk PSW303. Combined with a set of Polk R40's, I was AMAZED at how clean and crisp the bass was. I'll never buy another Sony audio component, but I have no reservations about recommending Polk. I thought the 8" sub would be a little small for the room it's in (about 12' X 24'), but the bass is all there and sounds excellent while listening to music and watching movies. Hook-up was super-easy, even on my older reciever, since the Polk had speaker line-level inputs. The sound is HIGHLY adjustable, so it'll suit your tastes, whatever they may be. I'm very happy with this purchase.

EDIT: Okay, it's been about 3 weeks since I got this. I'm now hearing a random popping sound when the sub is otherwise quiet. I tried a different sub and the problem went away. I'm returning the PSW303 and am exchanging it for a PSW404 in the hopes that it's better built.

I was very suprised by this sub, after having one blowout I went looking for a replacement. I was looking for a 10inch but was steered towards this model. It was much more powerful than the 10 I was looking at and actually sounded better than a few other 10s in the store. This thing will fill the room with plenty of clean, tight bass. I keep it at 180 phase and the volume at half. All the features work well, auto on etc. My media room is about 14 X 20 and it fills it with no problem. I've had this sub for about a year and a half and it's still pumping with no problems!

AFTER DOING LOTS OF LOOKING FOR A POWERED SUB THAT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR ME. I READ LOTS OF REVIEWS AND THIS MODEL I THOUGHT WOULD BE THE ONE. MY ROOM IS APROX. 18' X 25 AND I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE. PLENTY OF ADJUSTMENTS ON THIS WELL MADE WOFFER, COMBINED W/ MY PANASONIC MOD. 70 RECIEVER / AMPLIFIER DOES THE JOB. I HAVE NEVER HEARD MOVIES SO ENJOYABLE. MUSIC HAS A NEW MEANING AND ENJOYMENT. YOU CAN MOVE THE WINDOWS AND WALLS OR HAVE JUST A SLIGHT RUMBLE YOU CAN HARDLY HEAR. VERY HAPPY, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GO WRONG. THANKS POLK

Small size and smaller cost..but what a performer. Our bedroom, game room, and my wife's craft room jump to the beat of this little black box. Bought as a music sub, I can vouch from my most recent viewing of Independence Day on cable in our game room...it can kick _ _ _ _ too. Don't be afraid of the price or the size for a small to mid small room and use corner placement and you will be happy! Lots of knobs that work and do the right thing too. I was very suprised to find it can boogey!! I have three of them in different environments and they all are up to the task.

Works great with my other polk speakers. The sub can be configured many different ways. I use a basic sub cable and it sounds clean and punchy (not too boomy). I run it at half volume and it's enough for my 40'x18' room.

This is another great product manufactured by Polk Audio. My room size is 14 X 17 and it does a great job. There are no rattles or distortion.

I purchased this sub for use with Polk's satellite home theater speakers. I have had their sats for several years, but I had no space for a sub. Redesigning my entertainment center, I now had room for the sub inside the cabinet.

I purchased the Polk because:
(1) My experience with their satellites convinced me of Polk's build quality and sound quality.
(2) Overall, the Polk purchased from Amazon, was the best value of all the better quality subs I looked at. (I did have a budget)
(3) The Polk sub is shielded, so I could place it inside the entertainment center, right next to the tv with no problems.

The sound is awesome and adds so much to the listening experience.

I got the PSW303 subwoofer to go with a new home theatre I was setting up in my smallish 13X16 den. I have a pair of large floor standing Polk Audio SDA-2's from 1985 that already handle good bass so I did not want nor need anything that would overpower the low end while listening to music but needed something to feel the action in movies. This subwoofer handles all of it without sounding boomy. Many demonstrations I have heard in the box stores over power the low end in music to the point it is hard to make anything else out especially vocals in the mid-range. I have the SDA's set up as large in my Onkyo 705 receiver and the Polk CSi3 center and Polk FXi3 surrounds set up as small. The large SDA's allow me to run "Double Bass" in the receiver which adds a subtle touch with the PSW303. This little sub has many hook-up options you won't find in the lower end subs found at the box stores. For music I turn the sub's volume up to half and for action movies turn it 3/4 up with plenty left to bump it up if desired. The sub's low pas filter is set at 80Hz and I have it connected to the LFE input from the receiver's subout. Due mainly to room limitations, the sub is in a front corner. The results are a subtle but welcomed addition to the kick drum and bass guitar in music and a thrilling feel it in your chest low end in the action during movies that was lacking while running just the SDA's. I was torn between this model, the larger PSW404, and some Velodyne's I saw in the box stores. Glad I stayed with Polk Audio (I've been a fan for a long time) and the PSW303. It works perfectly with my mid-fi home theatre in a small to mid-size room. The price was great through Amazon (better than the lower end stuff at the box stores) and the free shipping was quick (4 days) and hassle free.