Polk Audio PSW505 Subwoofer Review: Heavy, Pumping, Deep Bass

Last updated on 2022-09-19
By Yvonne

Polk Audio PSW505 subwoofer review: Powerful, pumping and deep bassWe reviewed the Polk Audio PSW505 subwoofer. It is one of the most popular budget models. Although the low end can sometimes be noisy, it is very efficient in almost all situations.

Polk Audio 12 Inch Powered Subwoofer, Polk Audio PSW505

We like this

Affordable
Powerful peak and RMS.
Use magnetic shielding to lower noise
Auto on/off circuit

The Things We Hate

High volumes of port noises and rattling
Reports indicate that it is not as reliable than the competition
Very low frequency frequencies cause distortion and blurred vision.

Home theater fans love the Polk Audio PSW505 subwoofer. Although it is powerful and can produce high quality sound for the price, we discovered that there are some significant limitations to its performance. The PSW505 subwoofer is an excellent budget option, however, there may be other products that are better.

This article explains

Design
Installation
Sound Quality
Prices
Concurrence
Final Verdict
Specifications

So that our expert reviewer could fully test it and give his opinion, we purchased the Polk Audio PSW505 Subwoofer. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

Polk Audio PSW505 is one of the two subwoofers for home that will be found in nearly every audio forum. The PSW505 Subwoofer is a great choice for stereos and home theaters due to its low price and high-powered amplifier. The PSW505 was compared to the rest. We looked into it more closely.

Unexceptional

The PSW505 is a budget-friendly speaker cabinet. The cabinet is made of MDF and has a black laminate top. It measures 16.125x15.125x18.1875 inches and weighs in at 48 pounds. The bottom panel of the back panel has a slot-styled port. Although the cabinet is strong, it is less durable than its detachable grill for front speakers.

Although the PSW505 has some power, it does have some sound quality problems.

Four plastic feet support the entire cabinet. This means that it slides on our wooden floor when it bumps. We also find it to be a bit sluggish when playing high volume. It's all black except for the 12-inch speaker at the front, which is why the grill can't be removed.

The PSW505 isn't the most attractive subwoofer but it's not ugly either—it's just kind of plain. We have major issues with porting which can produce loud noise and plastic feet that fail to hold the sub on smooth surfaces. The design overall is simple but functional.

Installation Process: Attention to placement

As you would expect, setup is easy. After plugging in power and connecting it to the receiver, we began working on placing the sub. The PSW505 required more wall clearance than other subs. This is because the ports are larger and more centrally located on the cabinet.

The testing began with bass heavy music. We adjusted the volume and filter to get the best results. We didn't need to reverse the phase and kept the switch on 0°. After getting it to the right range, we tested it with several other genres of music and some action movies.

Sound Quality - A bit muddy and distorted

Although the PSW505 has some sound quality problems, it is very powerful. Port noise is a common problem, something we experienced as well. We didn't notice it at all, and our room is small enough that we don't need to crank the subwoofer so loudly. However, this could cause problems if trying to fill larger rooms. Some people have built custom cabinets to house the speaker and amp, and transferred the speakers from the original.

Also, we noticed that low frequencies could sometimes get distorted and muddy. This was more evident in music than it is with movies.

With its powerful and boomy bass, the subwoofer can shake up any room. Feeling the subwoofer's powerful bass in action is one of the greatest parts about owning it. We were happy even with 50 percent volume.

Discount: Get now

Although the Polk Audio PSW505 is usually priced at $300, it can often be purchased for as low as $200. This is a great price for such an impressive subwoofer. Wait for deep discounts if the PSW505 interests you.

This is a great value for such an impressive subwoofer. Wait for deep discounts if the PSW505 interests you.

There are subwoofers available for $300 that perform better than the PSW505, such as the Bic Acoustech PL-200 II. The PSW505 is a convincing alternative for $200.

Polk Sound System PSW505 Subwoofer Vs. BIC Formula F12

Peak performance is not a problem for the BIC Formula F12, which is slightly more powerful than its predecessor. The PSW505 has 460 watts while the Formula F12 is at 450. The RMS power is the power that a subwoofer can sustain for long periods without interruption. It's the difference between the power it can handle in short bursts and the power it can handle. While the Formula F12 has only 150 watts, the PSW505 can handle 300 watts. The Formula F12 has half the RMS power of the PSW505, but it is still loud. This gives the Formula F12 a lot of benefits.

Every subwoofer is equipped with volume, crossover, phase, on/standby/off, and magnetic shielding. They also have RCA sub-inputs and terminals that are gold plated. We prefer the Formula F12's port to the PSW505 because it doesn't have the same noise problems. After extended usage, it doesn't heat up as much as the PSW505.

Problem with the PSW505? It is not as reliable and reliable as the BIC Formula F12. Forums and reviews have reported a high failure rate. This includes everything from smoking to melting parts. BIC America's customer service is better than Polk Audio's, according to many.

We like the overall design and aesthetics of the Formula F12 better than the PSW505. The Formula F12 had less distortion and muddiness, and the cabinet and port noises were much lower than those of the PSW505. While both subs are excellent and affordable, reliability is key. We prefer the Formula F12 over them.

Polk Audio PSW505 Subwoofer has a reputation for being prone to failure and having poor sound quality. It's a decent price for the quality it produces. The subwoofer has a powerful low end and is quite articulate even at moderate volumes. The PSW505 can be a great budget choice in an increasingly competitive market.