Size,hard hitting and quick response

when used for rear speakers...none

This sub is great for use with my rears speakers . It gives the rears just enough punch without over- powering my front sub and evens out a-bit. For its use,no complaints thus far.

Andei observando outras unidades e acabei optando por esta unidade pela relacao custo beneficio. Esta unidade é realmente exelente.

Inexpensive, strong SPL's in operating range for good bass punch during movies, flexible hookup

Output falls quickly below 30Hz, ported design sounds a tad slow (not so good for music)

Usually the Wiz does not have a policy to match prices, especially those from the internet, but the salesclerk decided to ask the manager and was able to match the price. Depending on where you look, this sub's price can range from a low of around $170 from online order companies up to $300 in stores (original list price I think). Anyways, the sub is currently being used in a modest home theater. Current hookup is from the receiver's main outputs into the speaker level inputs and back out to the mains. Earlier, using the RCA inputs from the receiver's sub out worked, but the current setup seems to perform better espeically for home theater with center set to small (bass from center gets sent to the main speakers).

The output from 30hz up is very strong due to the efficient ported design and 120watt amp. It's a roughly 13 inch cube enclosure housing a downward firing eight inch treated paper cone with rubber surround and a 3 inch flared port. With volume set at around 11 o'clock and crossover frequency at around 60hz, it blends very well with the mains and adds considerable bass punch for movies. It can reach wall shaking sound pressure levels in the small room it is being used, and probably would be a good deal louder if corner loaded. Although there is no phase switch, it seems to be blending well as is though it would make getting the best performance from it easier. It's size seems to be a good compromise of performance and aesthetics, making it pretty easier to place and performing quite well. The enclosure is solidly made, and provides 2 ways of wiring the sub into your system: through low level RCA inputs for outputs such as a full range subwoofer output from a receiver or output from the tape monitor loop, and speaker level inputs and outputs for hookup between the receiver and main speakers. The speaker outputs do not seem to be filtered.

For music, the sub performs ok, but the ported design trades some speed and accuracy for efficiency. As stated above, the sub has good output from 30hz and up. Below 30hz, it seems to have a high cut filter to prevent the sub's driver from overexcursion at the lower octaves and that allows it to work better at the upper bass frequencies. There is very little output at 20hz which is not so good though a sub of this size would have a hard time reproducing it cleanly anyways, especially a ported one. The speaker level connections are only spring clips which are adequate but not the best and the RCA jacks are not gold plated so they may oxide over time. Port noise doesn't seem to be very objectionable, though you will hear some if you are close enough.

Overall, I think AR made this sub to mainly please the home theater enthusiasts on a budget. It's small size allows ease of placement and good SAF, and the SPL's in the frequency range seems to work well with mainly movies where the bass was meant to hit hard but not super low. For music or for those with audiophile tastes, this sub probably isn't the best choice since it tends to sound a tad slow and doesn't extend very deep in the bass range. Overall a good sub to add punchy bottom end to a small to medium range home theater.

Similar Products Used:

Custom built 8&10 inch sealed subs

Size. Price.

None to complain about.

After reading up on this Sub, I was intrigued to give it a listen. I'm glad I did! This Sub is a great deal for the price and size. It is only an 8" Sub, but packs the punch of the 10" I used to use and has no HUM. I set the speaker up on my carpet in the back corner of my 12'x 14' living room and put in the bombing scene from Pearl Harbor. It shook my house ... and I didn't even have it set to the highest settings. I was expecting it to be weaker on carpet, but the way it is built enables it to be placed anywhere. Instead of just having four feet under the Sub, it is built with a blow hole on two sides of the Sub, with the casing under the hole so that when the Sub fires, it hits the undercasing and blows out the sides. This is great if you have cats like me who would tear up a side firing Sub. Just be sure to use quality cabling when you hook it up. I used RG-6 shielded coax with a phono adapter to plug into the Sub and receiver ends. I recommend this if you are placing the Sub a long distance away from your receiver. All and all, it is a great sounding Sub. It could be a little better for listening to CD's, but it's still a steal for the price. Don't worry about the brand name, they've been around a while.

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Klipsch KSW-10

Extremly good punch, for an 8" sub that you would swear was a 10" or 12" by its sound.

Not able to find one!

Well worth the $$$ at any price, with in reason.

clean thumping bass, great for home theatre use

none

wow what a great product it had soooo much bass it gave me a stiffer.
i really like to watch dvds now this sub relly thumps for an 8" you may mistake it for a 10 incher.

Similar Products Used:

polk, cv

nice frequency responce 26-220Hz +/-3dB
Tight bass, Hits hard, plays deep, 120 watts of heart pounding power, rattles every thing in my house

none that i have found

i just found this site and i have owned my sub for about 2 years and it stills has a verry good sound you must place this sub in the corner or you won't get a deeper responce if you place it in the middle of the room the frequency's will only be about 34-220Hz +/-3dB so if you place it in the corner you will get 26-220HZ +/-3dB great all around sub plays loud better for movies then music .

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Yamaha YST-SW-300

tight bass

i have not found any yet

just bought this sub an hour ago and i am happy with it for $350 in canadian funds this little sub disshis out what a bigger sub would .
i'm glad this sub has tight accurate bass it pounds for home theater i have setup with a monster cable subwoofer conecter and it rocks this sub rattles my house.

Similar Products Used:

cerwin vega , polk audio

smooth bass & tight responce , also gives a nice thundery bass effect

i have not bought this sub yet but i heard it in the store and it sounds pretty good

i do not own this sub yet but i heard it in the store and it has nice smooth bass tight bass to and groweling bass for your home theater dvd's great overal sub since i dont own the sub yet i'm only going to give it a 4 out of 5.

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a sh**y sony 60 watt 8'' sub

clear DEEP DEEP BASS, LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF BASS for a sub with an 8" cone, plenty of power 120 watt amp, bass that will fill any room, small box 12" by 12" by 12"

are you kidding why would there be any weaknesses on this sub when it puts the same output of a 10 inch sub.
cant relly feel the like the other reviewer below me said put the sub behind your coutch then you can relly feel the bass

tested polk audio psw-350 and klipsch KSW-10 nothing compared to the acoustic sub the amount of bass was not as good as the klipsch and polk but the acoustic was cheaper and put out a cleaner crisper deeper sound but not as loud.
the frequncy's on this sub quickly drop below the 25 to 28hz range .
this sub is great it's small yet has such a good sound .
my friends sub is a Yamaha YST-160 which has 2 8" subs with a 160 watt amp cant compare to my new sub.

Similar Products Used:

Polk Audio PSW-350 , Klipsch KSW-10