Polk produces several of the apparent best loudspeakers within the lower price-tiers. The PSW125 is many years old now (though still listed on Polk’s official lineup), and, due to older generation products often getting discounted, is one of the least expensive 150 watt 12 inch powered subs available.
Specs
Speaker type: Powered, downward ported
Nominal power handling: 150 watts
Peak power handling: 300 watts
Impedance: n/a
Sensitivity: not specified by manufacturer
Frequency response range: 30 – 225 Hz (+/- 3dB)
Unit weight: 40 lbs
Unit dimensions: 16.25 x 19.1 x 16.5 inches (width x depth x height)
Warranty: 3 years (amplifier), 5 years (driver)
User manual and spec sheet: here and here
Review and Discussion
If the PSW125 still sold for it’s MSRP, it would honestly not be a good deal presently. However, speakers, especially older and/or legacy products, often get discounted significantly, and we’ve seen the PSW125 go for well under $200, which quite honestly feels like a steal. It’s the cheapest 12 inch 150w sub we’ve ever seen.
150 watts of continuous power is plenty to augment most budget and even middle tier main speakers. And the 30 hz response floor, while not stellar, is still quite good. The mainly important thing a sub does is augment the speakers, not necessarily blast as loud and low as possible.
It looks pretty good for a budget-tier speaker. We like the rounded vertical corners which particularly go well with the vintage cherry colored version. It’s quite large and heavy though, but once placed it should be good to go – powered subs like this one are easy to set up, just connect it with an RCA cable to pretty much any standard receiver. The port is on the bottom, hence the standing prongs, so it will function best on a hard surface. Polk’s 3/5 year amp/driver warranty is quite good at this price point, where 1-2 years of coverage seems to be the average.
Our Take
It’s hard to go wrong with any Polk home theater speaker, and the fact that this is so discounted now makes it a really attractive choice for those looking to get their feet wet with a first sub. It might not be available for all that much longer.
See our current picks for the overall best budget subwoofers
