Product Comparison: Klipsch Sub-12HG vs Polk Audio PSW505

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Best Pick

Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer with High Gloss Trim (Black)

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Polk Audio PSW505 Powered Subwoofer

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General Specifications

Brand

Klipsch

Polk Audio

Model

Sub-12HG

PSW505 ( AM8505-A)

Origin

USA

About the Product

The Sub-12 gets its intensity from a 12-inch, down-firing driver coupled to a highly efficient BASH amplifier that creates 300 watts of continuous power and 650 watts of dynamic power.

The PSW505 is equally at home reproducing all the subtle nuance of a plucked string bass as it is belting out a rocket's roar. Full-featured and over-powered, the PSW505 will rock your world.

Key Specs

Power RMS

300 watts

Driver Diameter

12 in.

Power RMS
Driver Diameter

Size & Weight

Color

Black

Height

19.9 in.

16.13 in.

Width

18 in.

15.13 in.

Depth

15 in.

18.19 in.

Weight

20 lbs.

48 lbs.

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer with High Gloss Trim (Black)

It's footprint is a little on the large size but I don't find this too troublesome and it looks elegant enough to not be an eyesore in our living room
The construction is solid and the size seems normal, but I have a large open area so room isint a big issue for my situation.
The only drawback is the size. It takes a bit of real estate. You need room for it.
The physical size is just HUGE.

Polk Audio PSW505 Powered Subwoofer

Solid construction and good weight.
The weight is good though because it will never shuffle around the floor, even when pushing it.
I love the design and structure. The sub was well packaged and took a few minutes to set up.
Awesome deep bass creator and is incredibly heavy. The build is robust and works like a charm. Produces such heavy and deep bass that could shadow other heavily priced brands.
I also have one large complaint regarding the design. All of the speaker input posts are clustered so close together that it is virtually impossible to use high quality cables with good connectors. There is just not enough room.
Sound is good. Have had this for a few months now with limited use, and already 3 of the four cheap plastic feet have split and broken off leaving exposed screws that have gouged my floor.

Audio

Min. Frequency Response

24 Hz

23 Hz

Max. Frequency Response

120 Hz

160 Hz

Peak Power

650 watts

460 watts

Sound Output Direction

Front-firing

What customers say about "Audio"

Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer with High Gloss Trim (Black)

This sub is great at reproducing low frequencies. String basses sound like they are in the same room. You can feel the strings vibrate.
The Klipsch is tremendously musical, I was very impressed with the frequency response The Klipsch can accurately reproduce anything you throw it: from the crunchy drop in dubstep, to jazz bass, to hardcore rock's kick drum, to lowest note on a pipe organ.
Incredibly low frequency response at VERY low volumes, with tight punchy bass. not to mention the master gain on the unit is only about 1/4 of the way up.
This thing is so powerful that you can actually feel it in your chest, and I only have it at half power. This is exactly what I was looking for.
The frequency response is not flat, it's really strong between 30 and 35 hz, and drops down really fast bellow 29 hz.

Polk Audio PSW505 Powered Subwoofer

Boy, did I make the right purchase. It did take a bit of tweaking, as it should for anyone. You need to find the right balance of power on the sub itself, the low-pass filter of the receiver, and the sub-woofer level of the receiver.
It is a powered sub woofer with more power than I ever expected. I like running wide open and this unit I can not it just blows me away. Very good and powerful sub woofer , I have a lot of respect for it.
This sub doesnt overpower even if you are in apartment. Just use volume and frequency control knobs at back to tame this beast. I live in apartment and i have no issues with this sub.
Very powerful and estheically pleasing so fits nicely in your room Has a nice kick so no need to turn the volume high to get that nice deep bass.
This subwoofer doesn't have the defined bass of a higher end sub. It can rattle the house but the bass sounds muddy at low frequency.
Returning this item as amp runs extremely hot, you can feel the heat from the knobs on the amp when trying to adjust the volume or crossover frequency.

Features

Box Design

Ported

Controls

Volume control, Bass adjustment

Volume control, Bass adjustment, Phase switch

App-Controlled

Indoor Or Outdoor Use

Indoor

Extras

BASH amplifier

Slot Load Venting improves bass response.

App-Controlled

What customers say about "Features"

Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer with High Gloss Trim (Black)

The variable frequency crossover and volume control knobs actually click so that you can make precise adjustments
The Frequency and Gain controls are really nice. Even though it's plugged into the sub output on my receiver, I still wanted to lower the frequency so it blended with the rest of my system better. I'm very happy with it.
Fully functional controls, mono or stereo, Variable Hz to fine tune your system.
I didn't give it a fifth star because the power LED on the front of the unit is too bright and it is distracting. At night with the lights out it makes a really good night light, though!
Wish it had remote control

Polk Audio PSW505 Powered Subwoofer

My favorite feature of this polk audio sub is the auto on and off switch. I think that is the coolest thing, since it gets used daily, I can just leave it on auto and anytime I turn the stereo on and start playing music, the sub will turn itself on.
The PSW505 has all the power and features I wanted: Auto off and an unfiltered line input
I have engaged the auto on/off feature, which works fine. It pops on almost as soon as I power on my receiver and shuts off about minutes after I turn everything off.
The amount of controls and options for different wiring configurations is quite nice
Amp is cheaply made. All the controls on it are what you find on cheapo electronics. Sound is dull and you can't really crank it, distortions kick in.
Typical BOOMY subwoofer, terrible pitch control, slow response.

Connectivity

Inputs

RCA in, Line in (LFE unfiltered/low frequencies filtered in)

Outputs

Low-frequency filtered stereo out for 2 external speakers

What customers say about "Connectivity"

Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer with High Gloss Trim (Black)

I have it attached to my Klipsch reference series 7.1 system. I have it connected to a Yamaha reciever. It fills our entire basement with a nice low punch.
The setup and connection is easy. I used a medialink subwoofer cable and a medialink splitter into both right and left channels of the subwoofer. I attached the cable to the subwoofer female input on the back of my Yamaha AV receiver.
Purchasing a "Y adapter - 1 Female to 2-Male) is pretty much a must if you are going from a mono connection in the back of your receiver deck.
There are a multitude of connection options available as well.
Connectivity - choose between 5-way binding posts, RCA line in or RCA LFE

Polk Audio PSW505 Powered Subwoofer

Connectivity is versatile and works well with my receiver
You have the option to connect the HT receiver's subout to either the single LFE or the two non LFE connections. In my case, using a y connection into the two non LFE connection did not produce sufficient loudness.
As for the configuration, it was very simple to set up and get working. Connect your RCA cable, power, and flip the Auto or ON switch. This is honestly one of the BEST subs I have ever heard (or had the opportunity of owning) for an indoor stereo system.
Love the fact that I can hear what best connection to use via LTE cable, RCA Line In or good ol' raw speaker wire hook up.
I am not an audiophile but I think this product offers outstanding performance for the price. I used the 'direct' connection between the amp and the subwoofer so the hookup was very easy.

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

1 year(s)

Certifications