The Acoustic Audio PSW-10 is 10-inch subwoofer at an extremely affordable price. Is it really a great value for music and home theater? We’ll review that and cover all the features of this powered subwoofer.
Table of Contents
Acoustic Audio PSW-10 10″ Subwoofer
Key Specifications and Features
- Dimensions: 12.4″ (H) x 11.4″ (W) x 12.4″ (D)
- Weight: 23 pounds
- Subwoofer Type: Powered Subwoofer
- Enclosure Type: Down-Firing Woofer / Bottom Slotted Port
- Power: 200 Watts (RMS) / 400 Watts (Peak) – Class D Amplifier
- Frequency Response: 25Hz – 250Hz
- Woofer: 10″ PVA Treated Cone
- Connectivity: RCA and Speaker Wire
- Onboard Controls: Frequency Crossover (40Hz – 140Hz), Gain/Volume dial, and Phase Switch
- Additional Features: Indicator light, Auto on/off, and detachable cover
What’s Included With Acoustic Audio PSW-10:
- 10″ Powered Subwoofer [Ported Enclosure]
- RCA Y Adapter
- 6′ AC Power Cord
- Instruction Manual
Product Summary
The Acoustic Audio PSW-10 is a simple but powerful subwoofer that will connect to most home theater systems with ease to deliver solid bass performance. This is thanks to its onboard power despite its smaller size.
The bass reflex cabinet measuring 12.4″ × 11.4″ × 12.4″, houses a 10 inch, down firing woofer which is powered by a 400 watts (peak power) amplifier. This amplifier can produce up to 97dB of pressure level at 8 ohms.
The PSW-10 has a combination of power delivery and its frequency response range (25Hz to 250Hz). It not only delivers a low-frequency boost, but it also ensures that you’ll enjoy thumping bass whether you’re listening to music or watching a movie.
Highlights of Acoustic Audio PSW-10
Value Entry Level Subwoofer
A subwoofer has to check a few boxes to be worth considering. One is the power output and another is the right frequency response range. For the price, the Acoustic Audio PSW-10 offers way more than would be expected on paper.
Not many subwoofers that cost way more will offer up to 400 watts of peak power (200 RMS). Many will also not offer a frequency range that starts from as low as 25Hz. That’s impressive for this price point, but we’re a little skeptical of both ratings. That’s a high peak power for the Acoustic Audio PSW10, which has some thump, but not as much as we would for that many watts. It also makes us question the frequency response rating. It’s the low price point that still makes this worth considering.
Down Firing Woofer + Compact Size
Down firing woofers have some space-saving qualities. Some also believe them to produce louder boomier bass. This is largely because the soundwaves pushed downward are quickly reflected causing something like a resonance that enriches the overall low frequency.
Despite the fact that the woofer is just 10 inches, it can still reach low frequencies. It’s able to produce pressure levels of up to 97dB at 8ohm. This kind of powered subwoofer will produce sound pressure levels that will have your guests asking you where your speakers are because they won’t believe that the sound they are hearing is coming from the little box in front of them. Its compact size also presents easier placement options.
Big Power and Average Sound Quality
400 watts of peak power on a subwoofer meant for a home theater system is more than many will require. We’ve already mentioned our skepticism of the wattage on the Acoustic Audio PSW-10. It still digs deep and hits hard though. It won’t be difficult to achieve high volumes. This subwoofer can sufficiently fill small and medium-sized rooms for music or home theater systems.
Subwoofers are designed to extend the frequency range of audio systems and provide high-quality bass. There’s some thump here, but you’ll also experience some distortion when pushed. It’s somewhat expected at this price point. This is still more of an entry-level sound. Subwoofers with distortion-free, high-quality sound will demand extra cost.
Frequency Crossover + No LFE
Connecting the Acoustic Audio PSW-10 to other speakers directly or through the receiver of a home theater is possible. This is because this powered subwoofer is equipped with RCA inputs for line-level inputs. There are also high-level inputs. Unfortunately, there is no LFE connectivity.
It does come with a frequency crossover control that allows you to dial in the frequency range. This is important since subwoofers blend differently with stereo speakers based on their frequency range. The crossover range on the Acoustic Audio PSW10 covers 40Hz to 140Hz.
In Conclusion: Acoustic Audio PSW-10
We’ve looked at this subwoofer and its many features. Its high peak power rating (400) and frequency response range (25Hz to 250Hz) are just two. We’ve also started our skepticism about these numbers. The Acoustic Audio has a rock bottom price for a subwoofer. While it can’t live up to those specs, it does have impactful and deep bass. But the actual quality of bass reproduction is what you would expect at this extremely affordable price.
We’d recommend this most for those who can’t currently justify the extra cost of a better subwoofer. It’s still probably best for a music setup paired with bookshelf speakers.
The Acoustic Audio PSW-10 is a solid budget-powered subwoofer with some thump. Jamo’s C910 is better though. It delivers better bass performance than the Acoustic Audio PSW10 and it’s not much more expensive. Its the great value the PSW10 was trying for and much better for home theater systems.
Keith Collins has been writing for over 15 years for various publications. He’s a lover of music, home theater, and excellent sound quality. His fondness for technology in addition to his non-stop curiosity fuels his writing ventures.