Canadian manufacturer PSB, known for affordable high-end loudspeakers, has added a new flagship powered subwoofer to their repertoire, namely the SubSeries 500. In keeping with the goals of their recent Synchrony line, PSB has designed the SubSeries 500 to integrate sonically into a variety of home theater and music setups while also blending stylistically into any number of different decors. It's pricing of $2,149 makes it not only a great value by PSB standards but positions it attractively against competing high-end subs.
Performance-wise, the front-firing/dual-ported/downward-firing SubSeries 500 offers superior low-bass extension and dynamic clarity. Driven by an improved 500-watt hybrid-Class H dedicated sub amplifier--enabling peak levels of 1.5 kilowatts without audible overdrive--the sub features a five-pound magnet with improved suspension, yielding both power and accuracy, able to attain an impressive 113 dB SPL output at a gut-shakingly low 32 Hz. Among the other particulars are a strong self-damping woven-fiberglass cone, 50mm high-current/low-mass voice-coil, and a rigid cast-aluminum basket. Filtered and crossover-bypass (LFE) line-level inputs and pass-through outputs are supplied, in addition to speaker-level inputs with audiophile-grade multi-way binding posts.
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| The PSB SubSeries 500 subwoofer, shown here in Dark Cherry. It also comes in a Black Ash finish. |
Also inspired by Synchrony is the industrial design of the SubSeries 500 enclosure. Available in black-ash and dark-cherry finishes, the double-weight, laminated MDF panels are joined by locking extruded-aluminum corners that make the furniture-grade cabinet nigh-impervious to extraneous vibration. New visco-elastic feet were also developed to prevent the sub from moving across smooth, hard floors at high volume. And for convenience, a 12-volt trigger input allows the SubSeries 500 to be fully integrated into an automated home theater system.
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