Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black)

by Polk Audio

Product Details

• Item Weight: 20 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 49 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000092TT0
• Item model number: AM5050-C
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #847 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

  #2 in

  Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Subwoofers

• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 1, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Polk Audio PSW505 Powered Subwoofer is ideal when you have a big room in need of a big, life-like bass impact, that is still tight, precise and accurate. The PSW505 is equally at home reproducing all the subtle nuance of a plucked string bass as it is belting out a rocket's roar. The Polk PSW505 utilizes a shielded 12-inch high-excursion polymer-composite cone with hi-roll surround driver for tight musical bass, as well as slot-load venting that further improves bass response by dramatically lessening turbulence, noise and distortion. This unit's rock-solid MDF enclosure construction with one-inch-thick front baffle suppresses enclosure panel resonance for an even more distortion-free, accurate response.

The PSW505 includes an unfiltered LFE input for use with low-pass filtered subwoofer output jacks, and pro-grade five-way binding post speaker inputs and outputs. This unit features an on/off circuit that automatically turns your subwoofer on when it senses a program signal, and shuts it off within 15 minutes after no signal is present. The PSW505 also features an adjustable low-pass crossover, phase switch and volume control that allows perfect blending with any main speaker, and magnetic shielding for safe placement near TVs and video monitors without causing video distortion. Full-featured and over-powered, the Polk Monitor PSW505 has a sleek, black real-wood veneer finish and is a great introduction to high-performance sound.

What's in the Box
PSW505 subwoofer, AC power code, owner's manual, and registration card.

Product Description

POLK PSW505 - This high quality powered subwoofer makes opens a whole new dimension of thrilling low end sound for audio and home theater systems alike. This versatile, clinically accurate beast handles bombs and bullets and delicate string sections with equal finesse. Polk Audio's PSW series of powered subwoofers were designed to deliver powerful and astonishingly musical bass at amazingly low prices. All the PSW models represent an evolution and refinement towards a truly visceral home-theater bass experience that coordinate with Polk's TSi and RM, and R/M/T Series Speakers for home sound that truly rivals the best that theater's offer. Experience movies, music, shows and games like never before. Pick up a PSW subwoofer and feel its superb build quality. Polk Audio PSW-505 is comprised of top-notch quality components from the driver, the power amp, and the cabinetry to deliver the finest performance. Hi-Roll Surrounds to support longer excursion High current 300 Watt Continuous (460 Watt Dynamic) power amplifier Frequency Range - 23 Hz - 160Hz Adjustable low pass crossover, phase switchand volume control for perfect blending with any main speakers Unfiltered LFE input Magnetically shielded Auto on/off circuit that automatically turns your subwoofer on when it senses a program signal. When no signal is present, the amplifier turns off within 15 minutes Sturdy Feet keep the sub from sliding across the floor when played at high volumes Unit Dimensions - 16-1/8H x 15-1/8W x 18-3/16D; Weighs 56 pounds Warranty - 5 Years Parts and Labor Speaker; 3 Years Parts and Labor Amplifier Subwoofer cable required; not included. Monster Cable is recommended

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great sound from a Great company, October 30, 2007

By	Harold F. Kopietz (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black) (Electronics)

Polk Audio is still making great speakers. I bought my first pair almost 30 years ago in 1978, had them for almost 25 years till I replaced them with smaller ones with a Velodyne sub. When my overpriced Velodyne sub went out on me last month, I decided to give Polk Audio a try since my first experience with Polk was so good. All I can say is that I'm glad I went with the 12" and for the approx $300 price tag, it sounds as good if not better than my high end $800 Velodyne sounded. For the extra $75 or so, get the 12" as opposed to the 10", you'll be glad you did.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Low and Tight, November 7, 2008

By	Balashark - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black) (Electronics)

Was very iffy on this sub since I was going from a $1,000 Velodyne to this, but let me tell you I am not disapointed.Low tight bass with no distortion or rumble, sounds much better playing music than the Velodyne did,even though I use it mainly for movies.In my opinion you are getting a high end sounding subwoofer for $300, there is no way you can beat that!Tried to see how loud I could take it to see at what level it would start to distort, but could not get there because my windows were about to pop And my nose started to itch from the tremendous vibration, teeth rattled a little too! trust me I am not exagerating! BUY THIS SUB!!!!!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dripping with bass, September 22, 2009

By	Money Leaker (Rancho Cordova, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black) (Electronics)

Bass is clear, deep, oh, and LOUD! If you really want your HT to sound like an IMAX theater, then I whole-heartedly recommend this sub. It fills in the low end seamlessly. It also takes the burden of reproducing low lows off of your other speakers (which aren't nearly as capable as the PSW505). This is not a cheap "rumble box". The first movie I watched with this sub connected is Peter Jackson's "King Kong". The raptor/bronto chase through the gully is off the hook! The 30-ton bronto's gallop will set up a standing wave in your intestinal tract!!! But loud does not mean muddy or rumbly with the 505. I was pushing the sub to about 50% volume and I thought my house's windows may break. And like I said, that was only at about 50% volume. Besides, you want to be a good neighbor and not max this thing out cuz it can be heard clearly from a good 50 feet away. I find that it performs exceedingly well at about 15% of its capability in my medium/small sided living room. At normal/reasonable volumes, this sub recreates the super lows that truly make the difference between listening pleasure and listening rapture. No HT is truly complete without a sub and this one fits the bill to a tee.

a) I definitely WOULDN'T recommend this product if you live in a dorm/apt/condo/townhouse. This thing has the sonic capability to really anger your neighbors.

b) This sub is one of the few in its price range that actually has an LFE input (Low Frequency Effects) in addition to LL & speaker-level. I you didn't know, LFE & Line-Level (LL) inputs both use an RCA connector. The difference is that the LFE channel carries only low freqs from source whereas LL carries the entire sound spectrum. The LFE goes straight to your sub's amp whereas LL first goes through your sub's built-in crossover and then from there to your sub's amp. If you plug LL into the LFE input, you'll be asking the sub reproduce the full sound spectrum. Not what you want, of course. Probably not a big deal whether you use one or the other. The Polk's built-in crossover is fine, i'm sure, but I'd rather do the crossing-over at the A/V unit level.

c) Apparently, a good powered sub has an ON/OFF/AUTO switch, a 180-degree phase-change switch, a volume control, a cross-over level control (this control is not functional if you are using the LFE), a LL input (or two), an LFE input, and a Left/Right channel speaker-level input and corresponding outputs (for a total of 8 speaker wire connectors).

d) The unit seems very well built with what feels like sturdy wood (or MDF) and is somewhat heavy. Which is a good thing. It feels reassuringly sturdy/massive.

e) Would I buy this sub again? Well, I've discovered that many of the wonderful items that are for sale at Amazon are no longer being produced. IE, they are discontinued by the manufacturer. Do a product search at polk.com and you will no find this sub (you can do a search in the product support section to find its corresponding literature pdf). I just guess that that is the nature of the beast. Great products sooner or later get replaced with even newer & greater products. The older and merely "great" (not "greater") products still need to get cleared out of the inventory so they wind up at amazon.com or other e-tail sites. So, despite the fact that this sub is no longer in production, no longer supported, and is probably a year or two or three (or more) old... would I still buy it again? HELL YES!