SONY'S 150 Watt Active Subwoofer

Author's Rating:

Pros: Rich deep base

Cons: Installation!

The Bottom Line: 
No need to pay $250 or $500 for a sub woofer. Just buy the 12" Sony, you won't be disappointed. Besides, I already told you how to install it.

Author's Review
This Subwoofer is by far the best you can buy for $199.99 at Best Buy. This 12" house shaker has enough concussion in each thumping, pound of bass to make the floor beneath you jolt. Regardless if you are a movie watcher or a music lover you will not be disappointed. The auto power save feature will bother you if are using this sub for regular cable/sat/tv use. The reason is that it's response time between shutting down and powering back up is moderate to slow. I DO NOT RECOMMEND that you use this sub if you are watching regular tv as it's level of deep bass will cause commercials to be very irritating to watch. However, if you are watching movies or listening to music the auto power feature is a MUST HAVE. I keep my sub tucked away in a corner away from the receiver. It is wonderful not to have to remember to walk to the other side of the room to turn the sub woofer off when I am finish listening to my receiver.

I am using a Sony STR_DE885 receiver which delivers 100watts per channel. This sub does need to be plugged into a socket outlet to supply it with enough power needed. To install you must install 2 sets of positive/negative speaker wire from the back of the sub to the rear of the receiver along with the single sub interlink cable that comes with the sub. You then take the 2 speaker wires that you detached from your receiver and reattach them to the rear of the sub. The 2 speakers (for example, Fronts) attached to the sub are just as loud and rich as the center speaker now.

Compared to the following home sub woofers:

JBL Northridge 12" E250 250 watt does have bass but not as rich but the concussion is there. However this unit cost more.

KLH 12 Rave-S12 200 watt packs a mean punch in the bass department but the concussion is not as strong.

Klipsch Synery Series 12" 440 Watt Sub KSW-12 does have a bit more concussion and a nice clean bass tone. I was impressed however the $500 price tag was a bit much for a sub woofer. I was impressed though!

I do believe for the money you get far more then what you pay.

Features:
Power Output (TBD ohms, 20 - 200 Hz, 0.8% THD) : 150 Watts
High Cut Frequency : 50Hz - 170Hz
Built-In Amplifier with 150W into 6 ohms from 20 Hz-200 Hz
at 0.7% THD
Bass Reflex Design
12" Driver
Frequency Response 24-170Hz
Line Output for Additional Subwoofer
FEATURES

General Features:
Built-in amplifier with 150 watts into 6 ohms from 20 Hz -
200 Hz at 0.7% THD
Advanced SAW (Super Acoustically Loaded) Bass Reflex
Design
12" Driver
Audio Features
Frequency Response 24-170 Hz
Variable High-Cut Frequency Control 50 - 170 Hz
Level Control
Phase Switch
Inputs & Outputs
Line-Level and Speaker-Level Inputs
Line Output for Additional Subwoofer
Speaker Level Outputs
Convenience Features
Auto Power On/Off
Magnetic Shielding
Speaker Cables and RCA Cable Included

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES:
Speaker Cables (2) (3.5 m)
RCA Cable (2m)

WEIGHT:
Approx. 46.3 lbs. (21 kg)

DIMENSIONS:
Approx. 19 3/16" x 17 11/16" x 21 3/4"