Originally posted by: bulaya
To anyone fretting they should have bought this. Don't worry about it.
The WM40 is one of the most boomy unaccurate subs I've ever listened to. It's almost unbareable to listen to with music; Terrible transient response.
For under $200 you can get a much nicer sub.
http://www.adireaudio.com/mobile_audio/drivers/tempest.htm
$150 + build your own enclosure = better SQ and better SPL.
The tempest will eat the sony up. Note the specs. FS=18.8hz, Xmax=16.4mm (one way).
If you don't have the room for a 15", you may want to consider a 12" Image Dynamics IDQv2. They can be had for around $150 at sounddomain.com. They require very little space (.88 cu feet sealed) and go down to 14hz respectively.
Just be glad for the people who wanted it and got in on it,
if you don't have anything good to say, (well you know the rest)..... What a thread crapper...
I've owned the following subs:
1) KLH 10"/120 watt subwoofer - which died on about the 29th day of use. This sub was a bit boomy. Then again, I never removed the drive to see if there was any polyfill in it.
2) Sony SA-WM40. When the KLH died, I immediately went to Sears and piced up the Sony. Wow!! What an improvement in sound over the KLH - even without adding any polyfill.
However, my desire to upgrade further and push for even more bass led me to #3:
3) AudioSource SW-15. I picked this up for $155 (shipped) off of Ubid. Considering I had paid about $210 (incl. tax) for the Sony, I moved on the Audiosource and then later returned the Sony. I've modified my Audiosource sub with a fair amount of polyfill sheets stapled to the insides of the enclosure. This procedure quickly quieted the boominess that I was experiencing. Then, a month back, I installed a Dayton 15" DVC driver - which has quite similar specs to the Tempest. For $260 (total), I have a sub that will easily compete with and beat the $600 Velodyne subs sold by Circuit City.
It was only my timing which allowed me to get in a great sub and driver at some rock bottom prices. If it handn't been for these opportunities, I would have still had my Sony SA-WM40 and been quite content.
At $125, I can't believe most people only bought one. These things can by "daisy chained" together. Heck, I would have installed 2 in my room.
- because the prices were so great. Sure, the Sony can't get too far below 30 Hz, but, C'mon folks - this is a $125 subwoofer. You can't expect the performance of an SVS, Sunfire or any other sub that will run you $600+ dollars. However, you can use your Sony to its full potential with a few $$ in polyfill stuffing and be completely happy with the performance of the subwoofer. If you get the "upgrade itch" in 6 months or a year from now, you'll still easily get $100+ for this subwoofer on the used market. $125 for this fine sub is a "no brainer."
In regards to people saying this sub "sucks because it's too boomy" - then, I can only say that you need to provide us with the variables that led to your decision to say it "sucks." Throwing out negative one-liners without providing any "facts" or additional "details" only makes the one making these comments look like an idiot.
With that, I will now close out my reply simply by stating that the people who picked up these subs for $125 - shipped directly to their home from Sony received one heck of a deal. And for those purchasers who get irritated with some slimeball chiming in and saying something "sucks" - well, don't let that single comment get you down. For every single "stupid" comment that gets made about the Sony subwoofer, you can read 50 positive comments which will quickly negate the one silly comment made from some mis-informed user. Enjoy your subs!
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