AudioSource SW Fifteen 200-Watt Powered Subwoofer
AudioSource SW Fifteen 200-Watt Powered Subwoofer
Product Description
Amazon.com Review
The AudioSource SW Fifteen pounds out 200 watts of low-end power, bringing high-impact slam to action DVDs and greater ambient detail and instrumental heft to your favorite music.
A variable low-pass filter (LPF) lets you tailor the sub's output to your existing speakers. By setting the LPF high (toward 180 Hz), you can fill in the bass for bookshelf speakers that may have little bass output. If you use a lower setting (toward 40 Hz), the sub supplements and perceptually deepens the output from larger, floorstanding speakers.
You get more than just the basics here: the SW Fifteen comes with a phase-invert switch for placement flexibility (to help align the crests and dips of the different sound waves when the SW Fifteen and your main speakers are in different places) and auto-on signal sensing for power conservation.
You can hook up the SW Fifteen in one of two ways. In the first case, you can feed the sub one or two RCA-tipped line-level signals from your preamplifier or surround receiver. (The sub has two inputs, but many receivers offer only one subwoofer output, which is fine.) Using this method, your receiver can most effectively route the LFE (low-frequency effects) channel from Dolby Digital or DTS surround programs directly to your subwoofer. The SW Fifteen offers two RCA outputs (really just throughputs) in case you want to send the signal along to a second subwoofer or power amplifier.
Alternately, you can run speaker cable from your receiver to the SW Fifteen and then from the sub's outputs to your front-left and -right speakers. This results in a more seamless transition from the subwoofer to your speakers, as the signal arriving at your speakers has already been filtered through the SW Fifteen's internal crossover (the variable LPF discussed above). If you plan to listen to stereo music with your subwoofer, this might be the way to go.
Our biggest gripe with the SW Fifteen is that it offers clip-type speaker terminals rather than banana-type (five-way binding posts). It still sounds good, but just be sure you have pin-tipped cables or bare-wire tips if you intend to use the speaker-cable hook-up method.
The SW Fifteen has one feature that few subwoofers at any price offer: a variable-crossover knob that clicks when turned, allowing greater precision in selecting points between 40 and 180 Hz (the 80 and 120 Hz points are marked).
The SW Fifteen does an excellent job with power handling. There's plenty of reserve here, and the bass itself plows quite deep. What the sub gains in depth and power, however, it loses in definition--fans of taut, punchy bass might want to look elsewhere (but be prepared to sacrifice some of the ultradeep tones if you stay at this price.
With careful placement and painstaking adjustment of both the level and the crossover frequency, the SW Fifteen can be quite pleasing, though, especially when it's supplementing nearly full-range speakers with extra body and low-end solidity. --Michael Mikesell
Pros:
Great value
Lots of power
Produces deep bass
Fine-tunable crossover knob
Rugged construction
Flexible set-up options
Cons:
Clip-type speaker-cable terminals
Slightly tubby sound
Lacks the bass definition of better-made subs
Average customer rating: 
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AudioSource SW Fifteen 200-Watt Powered Subwoofer
Manufacturer: Audio Source ProductGroup: CE Binding: Electronics  Subwoofers
| Speakers
| Audio & Video
| Categories
| Electronics
Audio & Video
| Refurbished & Used
| Special Features
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Accessories:
Product Features:
ASIN: B00001OXQE |
Product Description
For over 25 years, AudioSource has provided high quality amplifiers, preamplifiers, equalizers, indoor/outdoor speakers, in-wall speakers, powered subwoofers and surround sound processors for value conscious audio enthusiasts. Powered subwoofers have become a necessary part of any complete audio/visual system, particularly for home theater. Your normal speakers can only pick up a certain range of sounds, leaving the very lowest frequencies unheard. Powered subwoofers fill in those blanks. For years, AudioSource has been offering fine powered subwoofers at excellent prices.Amazon.com Review
The AudioSource SW Fifteen pounds out 200 watts of low-end power, bringing high-impact slam to action DVDs and greater ambient detail and instrumental heft to your favorite music.A variable low-pass filter (LPF) lets you tailor the sub's output to your existing speakers. By setting the LPF high (toward 180 Hz), you can fill in the bass for bookshelf speakers that may have little bass output. If you use a lower setting (toward 40 Hz), the sub supplements and perceptually deepens the output from larger, floorstanding speakers.
You get more than just the basics here: the SW Fifteen comes with a phase-invert switch for placement flexibility (to help align the crests and dips of the different sound waves when the SW Fifteen and your main speakers are in different places) and auto-on signal sensing for power conservation.
You can hook up the SW Fifteen in one of two ways. In the first case, you can feed the sub one or two RCA-tipped line-level signals from your preamplifier or surround receiver. (The sub has two inputs, but many receivers offer only one subwoofer output, which is fine.) Using this method, your receiver can most effectively route the LFE (low-frequency effects) channel from Dolby Digital or DTS surround programs directly to your subwoofer. The SW Fifteen offers two RCA outputs (really just throughputs) in case you want to send the signal along to a second subwoofer or power amplifier.
Alternately, you can run speaker cable from your receiver to the SW Fifteen and then from the sub's outputs to your front-left and -right speakers. This results in a more seamless transition from the subwoofer to your speakers, as the signal arriving at your speakers has already been filtered through the SW Fifteen's internal crossover (the variable LPF discussed above). If you plan to listen to stereo music with your subwoofer, this might be the way to go.
Our biggest gripe with the SW Fifteen is that it offers clip-type speaker terminals rather than banana-type (five-way binding posts). It still sounds good, but just be sure you have pin-tipped cables or bare-wire tips if you intend to use the speaker-cable hook-up method.
The SW Fifteen has one feature that few subwoofers at any price offer: a variable-crossover knob that clicks when turned, allowing greater precision in selecting points between 40 and 180 Hz (the 80 and 120 Hz points are marked).
The SW Fifteen does an excellent job with power handling. There's plenty of reserve here, and the bass itself plows quite deep. What the sub gains in depth and power, however, it loses in definition--fans of taut, punchy bass might want to look elsewhere (but be prepared to sacrifice some of the ultradeep tones if you stay at this price.
With careful placement and painstaking adjustment of both the level and the crossover frequency, the SW Fifteen can be quite pleasing, though, especially when it's supplementing nearly full-range speakers with extra body and low-end solidity. --Michael Mikesell
Pros:
Cons:
Customer Reviews:
Subwoofer DEAL!!.......2007-02-19
Trouble ... at first ... then Redemption!.......2004-01-21
Two have blown.......2003-11-02
About this subwoofer.........2003-09-13
Unsatisfactory.......2003-04-15
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