Acoustic Research Factory Refurbished S115PS 15" Subwoofer 250 Watts

[Marauder-]

Hmm - I'm not really satisfied w/ my current set of Polk towers w/ Polk Sub. Anyone know how this will compare to a PSW202?

 

[fcastle]

Anyone know how this compares to the JBL PB12? I have read excellent reviews for the PB12 and it can be had for under $230.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: fcastle
Anyone know how this compares to the JBL PB12? I have read excellent reviews for the PB12 and it can be had for under $230.

It will destroy the JBL as far as I'm concerned. THe reviews I've seen for the JBL haven't been very positive...or at least the ones I've seen.

 

[Groch]

You should be aware that Recoton, the parent company of Acoustic Research and Jensen, went out of business last month. The web sites are down, and they are trying to sell their remaining assets. This could well effect your ability to get these fixed should they break, and cheap subs tend to break a bit.

 

[Watson]

Hmm - I'm not really satisfied w/ my current set of Polk towers w/ Polk Sub. Anyone know how this will compare to a PSW202?

I compared this AR head-to-head with the Polk 202, and I liked the AR better. The extension seems lower, despite the ratings quoted above, and the sound seemed more effortless when we were switching back and forth between the two. Using the warble tone test track, my AR1s produce usable bass to 23 or 24 hz and at 20 hz I can't hear it, but it feels like there is a huge diesel engine running just outside my house. I have not had a chance to run the test track on this particular sub, but I was shocked how deep and solid it sounded from such a "small" enclosure. (Small is relative -- I'm used to the towers). Back to the Polk, I thought the ARs' amp would also go slightly higher before clipping.

Re: the JBL -- the AR is much better, IMHO.

Re: the Hsu -- I've read good things, but the only one I have heard did not impress me as much as I thought it would after all the praise I have read. Perhaps right at the $500 margin, you might do better, but for $150 you cannot get close.

Re: cross-overs -- most 5.1 systems have low-pass filters built in. THX specification requires an 80 hz cross-over, but some others are variable at the pre-amp. In any event, when using other subs, I have preferred using the cross-overs in the last few pre-amps I have had to using any built into subs.

My $.02. Just remember, audio sound is about as subjective as it gets.

 

[crawford]

So tempted....

 

[fcastle]

Originally posted by: Groch
You should be aware that Recoton, the parent company of Acoustic Research and Jensen, went out of business last month. The web sites are down, and they are trying to sell their remaining assets. This could well effect your ability to get these fixed should they break, and cheap subs tend to break a bit.

I just came from Recoton's website and everything seems fine - including their link to this sub. If only I could find $190 (to include shipping) behind one of the couch pillows to buy one of these....

 

[Marauder-]

Originally posted by: Watson

Hmm - I'm not really satisfied w/ my current set of Polk towers w/ Polk Sub. Anyone know how this will compare to a PSW202?

I compared this AR head-to-head with the Polk 202, and I liked the AR better. The extension seems lower, despite the ratings quoted above, and the sound seemed more effortless when we were switching back and forth between the two. Using the warble tone test track, my AR1s produce usable bass to 23 or 24 hz and at 20 hz I can't hear it, but it feels like there is a huge diesel engine running just outside my house. I have not had a chance to run the test track on this particular sub, but I was shocked how deep and solid it sounded from such a "small" enclosure. (Small is relative -- I'm used to the towers). Back to the Polk, I thought the ARs' amp would also go slightly higher before clipping.

Re: the JBL -- the AR is much better, IMHO.

Re: the Hsu -- I've read good things, but the only one I have heard did not impress me as much as I thought it would after all the praise I have read. Perhaps right at the $500 margin, you might do better, but for $150 you cannot get close.

Re: cross-overs -- most 5.1 systems have low-pass filters built in. THX specification requires an 80 hz cross-over, but some others are variable at the pre-amp. In any event, when using other subs, I have preferred using the cross-overs in the last few pre-amps I have had to using any built into subs.

My $.02. Just remember, audio sound is about as subjective as it gets.

Yeah - I've been contemplating on getting either a Paradigm or a Hsu Sub. I don't think I can afford an SVS right now. This does look tempting but I'm not sure it would make sense to sell my current sub to get one at or slightly above its level.

 

[Ghamu]

Soom complaints about it being boomy... I wonder if poly-fill would help in this case???

 

[Groch]

RE: Acoustic Research Bankruptcy...
All of the Recoton sites were down this morning and I figured they were related.

Appearently AR and the rest of the Recoton Audio assets were sold yesterday to Audiovox.

See: Twice.com Article

I guess that is a good sign relative to getting things fixed, there might be a delay, but Audiovox is a pretty sound outfit.

 

[Ghamu]

Anyone get there's yet? I got a ARs300 instead, which is a 12" powered sub. Kind of dissapointed, but it seems like it is a higher end model... it has a 300 rms carver/sunfire amp in in it... couldn't find much other info on it, but it also has an adjustable crossover (the s115ps is fixed?)... Wondering if should press the issue or be happy with what I got. All the reviews I found (other users) seem to talk about its tight bass and musical good sound.... but slightly underwheming boomy bass (slightly desired for movies, which is its main use for me).

 

[Monkeyshack]

out-of-stock

 

[Cobram32]

back in stock.