KLH SW-12 Subwoofers
KLH SW-12 Subwoofers
USER REVIEWS
[Sep 09, 2000]
Pat
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Cost
Weakness:
Self destructs after a few months I too bought on of these at Best Buy for aroung $200, only because I was tired of not having a sub and I didn't have the money to buy a much better one at the time. It was the best sounding of the ones tried that were in the same price range. Similar Products Used: none |
[May 24, 1999]
Bill W.
an Audio Enthusiast
This is a review of the KLH ASW12-120 subwoofer (I guess this is the right place for it). I bought this 12" 120 watt sub from Damark for $180. The first thing I tested it with was the movie "Twister", and WOW! what great HT bass! I then tested it out with music CD's, and to my disappointment, found the bass "slow" and somewhat boomy. I decided to take matters into my own hands and modify the sub myself (yes! KLH does recommend you disassembling their speakers, check out the service page of their web site!) I bought $6.00 worth of speaker batting from Radio Shack, took the amp off the back of the sub, and placed 2 squares (cut to the height and width of the sub)inside: one just behind the woofer and port, and the other at the very back, against the amp. WOW! What a difference! Very tight, quick bass! Now a very musical sub. Some of the power is out of HT now, and I suppose I could remove one of the sheets of batting for a closer balance, but I listen to around 70% music and 30% HT, so I think I'll leave it that way. A fantastic speaker for the price!Stars: |
[May 21, 2001]
Dick
Audiophile
Strength:
Costs $99.00
Weakness:
Costs $99.00 Audioreview doesn't list the SW-10 so I'm putting this under the SW-12. I've used mine for about an hour, and so far, it hasn't blown up, which pleases me. For the price, I have no right to complain. Overall, however, it's kind of a toy. You've got your cheap black 1/4" thick resonant (that's bad) particle board/MDF box with no internal damping or bracing, an even cheaper woofer with a smallish magnet and a thin stamped steel frame (I would know; I opened it up), an amplifier the size of a paperback novel, and a prominent one-note bass which might be okay for movies but is kinda awful for music. This KLH makes no humming noises while on or while off, and the auto-turn-on worked very nicely, neither of which I could say about my even-crappier Infinity BU-120 (which I swear looked like it was made in the same factory!). Similar Products Used: Infinity BU-120 |
[Feb 26, 2001]
Tyler
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
huge sound
Weakness:
pop when it comes on, pretty boomy I bought this sub because of the price. went to an expo, saw that i could get a DD receiver, center channel, and sub for 500 bucks, about how much i was planning on spending on the receiver alone. Similar Products Used: none |
[May 07, 2000]
Chris
Audiophile
Strength:
The box. An excellent chair!
Weakness:
This being my third KLH sub, I guess the consensus is that communist China can't build amps. After blowing up my first KLH SW-10, I sent it all back to the manufacturer and asked for a replacement. I explained how it was wired an they agreed it was set up correctly. They sent me another with a 150 watt amp. I killed that one in two hours. Similar Products Used: Two KLH SW-10s. |
[Jun 30, 2000]
Ron
Audiophile
Strength:
very strong powerful bass; price was VERY good
Weakness:
Using the line level input and sub quit working 3.5 months after purchase. Not sure if anyone experienced a problem similar to this, but here's my story and I'm sticking to it.....had dolby surround sound equipment since 1995. Bought KLH surround speakers with passive sub running on Kenwood receiver. Nice. Upgraded to more powerful Technics receiver in 1996. Nice. Upgraded passive sub to active sub March 2000. June 2000-experienced "OVERLOAD" problem with receiver. Could not troubleshoot/resolve issue. Went out and spent $400 on new receiver-bought JVC 8000 receiver with Dolby Digital/DTS. Great! 3 weeks after purchase....sub stops working. Knocked entire system goofy (had to unplug DSS to reset system to regain audio). Sub still not working. Discover "old" technics receiver only shows "OVERLOAD" if active sub plugged into it. Unplug active sub from technics receiver - runs great(no overload error)! It appears active sub is getting power (makes popping noise when turning on and light turns green).....however.....sub emitting VERY obnoxious odor. 200 times greater than electrical smell when first fired up (making me nautious)....will try to see what store can do so I don't have to ship back to KLH. Currently I'm 99% sure it's the active sub-NOT VERY HAPPY IF THIS PROVES TO BE THE CASE! Will append a second review if I find out it's not the sub. Similar Products Used: none |
[Dec 07, 2000]
Mike McGowan
Audiophile
Strength:
variable crossover; level control; auto on/off; line level inputs; attractive design
Weakness:
pops when auto on/off activates; port "chuffs"; uneven frequency respone; uncontrolled output I purchased this sub not ever intending to take HT seriously, but having all but finished my HS, I had to have something "electronic" to do. I purchased the unit new at a chain A/V store similar to CC or GG or BB, and found it adequate while my system was in it's early stages. However, as I progressed to separates and strted getting a little more serious with my HT as a system to be recconed with, this sub started to show me what it was made of. While setting the 5.1 channel levels with a power meter the sub fluctuates it's output so badly that I can't come close to getting an accurate reading on my SPL meter. The port huffs and puffs like an old man with emphasema sucking on a cig, and the popping of the amp when the auto on/off circuit activates is enough to make your butt pucker. It's especially annoying when the level you pick to listen at is just enough to confuse it as to whether it wants to come on, or go off...until you get sick of hearing it and turn the volume up already! Similar Products Used: Cerwin Vega HT-12PWR |