Subwoofers — Polk Audio PSW 10

The PSW 10 is a 10-inch subwoofer with its own amplifier, made by Polk Audio of Baltimore, Maryland, and sold within the brand's PSW family. Polk presents it as an easy to choose, easy to connect add-on for music or movie setups that currently run without a dedicated low-frequency unit, and states that it was engineered and designed in the USA.

Key specs that matter

One front-firing Dynamic Balance driver with a polymer composite cone gets its drive from Class D electronics rated at 100 W peak and 50 W RMS. Amplifier distortion is quoted below 1 percent and its working bandwidth runs from 40 Hz to 200 Hz. The lower and upper -3 dB limits of the complete system are 40 Hz and 160 Hz, while Polk states usable bass extension down to 35 Hz. The enclosure measures 36.51 cm high, 35.56 cm wide and 40.96 cm deep and weighs 11.79 kg. Connections consist of a pair of stereo RCA line inputs plus gold-plated spring clips arranged as two pairs, one pair for speaker-level input and one for passing the signal on to the main speakers.

Engineering and use context

Polk tuned the motor structure, voice coil alignment and suspension of the woofer with a Klippel distortion analyser, aiming for even cone travel across the low band at high playback levels. High roll surrounds give the cone a longer excursion range. The cabinet is vented through a flared port on the front panel, which Polk says is specially tuned and directed, and the brand notes that the configuration keeps the box stable when played loud. Because the port and driver both face forward, the rear panel needs only enough clearance for cables. The MDF enclosure is finished in black oak vinyl, and the rear panel carries a continuously variable crossover and a phase switch. Polk covers the driver for five years and the amplifier for three.

Pairing

The speaker-level terminals let the PSW 10 work with stereo amplifiers and older receivers that lack a subwoofer output, with the main speakers wired through the sub. Receivers that do have a sub out can feed the line inputs instead. Polk positions the model as a match for its Monitor and T-series speakers, and the adjustable crossover allows the handover point to be set according to how far down the main speakers reach.

Alternatives

The Polk PSW 108 is the closest relative, housing a 10-inch driver in a cabinet of near-identical size and adding a signal-sensing auto on/off circuit on its power switch.