PSW450

by Trey, March 5, 2002

Strengths:

Good features and great sound ...not that bass going down the road stuff but the classic rumble from the theatre

Weaknesses:

Hmmmm....have found one yet.

Review:

Let me start by saying... WOW! The speaker is awesome. I just put together my own home theatre system, mixing and matching components. I choose the Polk Audio subwoofer on my friend’s reviews and was not disappointed. The 12” subwoofer comes with some very good features but the one feature I liked in particular was the LFE in plug. The LFE feature on your home theatre receiver (if yours has it) lets the home theatre receiver filter the sound which take the tuning almost out of the picture. The 12” is a bit much for my loft but hey you only live once.

by Brian, April 29, 2002

Strengths:

80 Hz high-pass filter, clean output

Weaknesses:

none so far

Review:

This is a fantastic speaker, It plays loudly and very clean, with no booming. In my large (20x17) living room it plays cleanly to about 35Hz by my test disc.I had a 10" sub by a different maker that only played down to 50Hz, with a lot more distortion. The 80 Hz high-pass filter. matches perfestly to the 6 inch woofers in my RT 5 main speakers. Overall this is the best sub available without spending about $200.00 more, and that is why I bought one.

by dreamnevil, May 5, 2002

Strengths:

Clean tight bass LFE makes life easy Quick response for a 12" sub

Weaknesses:

Nieghbors may complain...

Review:

After a demostration, we knew this was the sub for us! The power capability is sweet, but not over-done. The PSW450 has a "smooth" sound that fills the room with bass, not just "boom". We probably didn't need all this sub, but once you have it, you won't go back!

by Michael, July 15, 2002

Strengths:

Shakes the windows and awakens any great movie. A true home theater subwoofer.

Weaknesses:

This is no true weakness, but if you don't set the controls "somewhat" in the beginning it can be too much bass for a movie. The controls are simple to do, it took 30 sec.

Review:

WOW.....I can't even put into words the difference between this sub and my old one (by another maker) with an 8" woofer. The old one would put out so much distortion on even small explosions on a DVD but this puppy is almost too much bass for my medium sized living room. I could put this in the next room and still have plenty of base for all of my DVD's and CD's.

by William Groth, August 3, 2002

Strengths:

Clean deep chest vibrating subsonic sound. Nice design and it looks good with the rest of my system. The PSW450 is easy to set-up and make adjustments. It was nice removing one cable from my system to connect to the LFE input.

Weaknesses:

This sub has none. I am very happy with this sub the price and quality was perfect.

Review:

Every speaker in my system is Polk and it only made sense continuing that way. I needed more sub to fill the living room; my previous sub was a PSW50 with an 8 inch sub. I knew I wanted a larger woofer and power. When I hear the PSW450 in the store I was hooked. What a difference my system has now. It makes me want watch my entire DVD collection again. By the way the old PSW50 is now connected to my son's PC. I couldn't sell it. Our Polk speakers are like family in my house.

by Kevin Hamer, August 14, 2002

Strengths:

As loud as a 15, Tight as a 10

Weaknesses:

my mom rants about the bass all the time now

Review:

WHOA! i just got this sub in room and HOLY MOLY! my mom was outside gardening and she said the wall outside was shaking.

by manny carreiro, September 7, 2002

Strengths:

it kicks ass

Weaknesses:

why does the amp stay very warm when not in use ?

Review:

i love it but for some reson when it is off the amp stay pretty hot and when i called the infomation at polk they said that is how the amp is i may return it because other amp are not near the heat. but i really want to keep it i have bose 701 and 301's and bose has no subs so i have been cheching out subs and iwanted 2for the club effect.

by JRock, October 2, 2002

Strengths:

Huge, Loud, Obsessive, Deep, Tight, Awe Inspiring, Bass!!!

Weaknesses:

A little big for my small room, but it's worth it!!!!

Review:

This sub is awesome. I wanted one as loud as the one in my truck, and I got one louder than the one in my truck! IT IS AWESOME!!! I shake my whole house and you can even feel it outside. I have a 12 X 12 room, and it absolutely shakes the H*(( out of my room. I have never heard distortion in it once. I even have to turn it down sometimes, which is not like me with bass. I love the fact anytime I want to annoy my brother, I just turn up the bass. It's so awesome.

by michael kelly, November 13, 2002

Strengths:

great working together. best customer support in the business

Weaknesses:

ok, let me see,,,none

Review:

Have added two of these subs to my home theatre set up. FANTASTIC. Just as the rest of their line. Nine speakers in my surround set up and with the subs that i changed brought all of them into polk heaven. I have reviewed other speakers here. front ls90's, center cs350, rears lx500, and towers 1000s. check them out all great together

by Elton Robinson, January 13, 2003

Strengths:

Awsome ,clear, vibrating Bass that shakes the roof

Weaknesses:

not yet seen

Review:

This Sub is awsome It vibrates my den . Bass as I dreamt of I had an Audio Source 15 ins Sub And replace it for my new PSW450 and oh what a difference

by J. L. Jury, January 13, 2003

Strengths:

Tremendous "bang" for the buck. Perfect sub for watching movies on the home theater, or listening to music.

Weaknesses:

A big goose egg.

Review:

I recently installed this sub with 2 RTi28's (front), 2 R15's (surround), and the CSi20 (center). I could never imagine that I would be so pleased with the system. My friends and family are amazed at the quality and volume my system generates, especially when playing DVD's that are designed for 5.1 systems... Pearl Harbor is unreal on surround sound!

by manny carreiro, February 17, 2003

Strengths:

it sounds good sometimes

Weaknesses:

have 701 301 bose frnt rear sounds great wish bose sold subs

Review:

I have allways wanted the polk sub but it not what I thought it was i'm sick of it popping amp is allways hot even when off for days good thing I can bring it back.

by D. McClary, March 3, 2003

Strengths:

Great movie and music sound & a smooth and clear bass.

Weaknesses:

Amp on the sub stays warm (Not hot and never over heated) and i play it loud.

Review:

I've just purchased this sub,and at first I did nt think it was that great. In till you break it in and adjust it accordinly. So you can work the level from your receiver. I have DTS-es & Dolby Digital-ex, so playing movies with the avaliable sounds realy sound great. This is a good sub and playing your system to a 75% peek will deafinently make you satisfied. Remember to adjust your sub-woofer & reciever levels,For the best sound.

by Harry B., October 15, 2003

Strengths:

Excellent power to rumble the walls, and clear enough to really highlight music.

Weaknesses:

The others aren't lying... the heat sink does stay a little warm even when off, but it should not be a concern to anyone. I simply wired the power cord to a switch controlled by my master power supply and voila', the sub shuts off when the suystem is off!

Review:

WOW!!! My first powered sub, and I can't believe I ever lived (watched DVD's!) without one. Picked it up for under $300, which is not bad for "last years'" goods. Really complements the rest of my Polk system, and I can't imagine not owning one. CHeck for other reviews I've posted... not a bad apple in the barrel, so to speak! See Polk R50, R15,CSi30 reviews.

by Ben, January 31, 2007

Strengths:

Very loud with crisp bass

Weaknesses:

Heatsink gets and stays warm. Works wonders on cold hands though :D.

Review:

Great sub and sometimes a little too load for my theatre room lol. People sometimes think its thundering outside when they pull up to my house but nope its this sub.

by Mikel1871, June 29, 2008

Strengths:

Great sound and level controlls

Weaknesses:

Speaker could have duel voice coils 4 the low and power cords.

Review:

Awsome sound,But i have went through a couple a replacement subs for the unit.Seems that it handles soft rock ok but Heavymetal throws a loop to it.

Home Entertainment (UK)

"...within its slightly narrower constraints - and considering the price - the Polk is tuneful and attractive sounding, and it is capable of reproducing all but the very lowest frequencies available on the test recordings, films and music alike. More importantly, the output of the Polk is always fast, which helps it to blend in with the rest of the components used for the test. The test systems used sound fuller, smoother and easier on the ear with the Polk in place than when used on their own, which is a telling indication of the subwoofer's quality."

"Verdict: A strong performer that is both tuneful and attractive sounding."

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