PSB 250 350

PSB’s entry-level Alpha B1 bookshelf speaker ($300/pair) was long considered the champion of affordable sound quality, and over the years I recommended it to a number of friends who were looking for the best bang for their buck. Now hoping to become a go-to brand for reasonably priced subwoofers, the Canadian loudspeaker manufacturer has introduced two new subs claiming to offer “outstanding performance and value.” At the recent CEDIA Expo in San Diego, PSB showed off the SubSeries 250 ($699) and the SubSeries 350 ($999), both sealed designs built into compact, cube-shaped cabinets with curved edges and a glossy black finish.

The new SubSeries 250 features a newly designed 10-inch polypropylene cone driver, powered by a 200-watt (continuous power) amplifier capable of 600-watt dynamic peaks. The larger SubSeries 350 has a 12-inch woofer and more muscle on board; its built-in amp delivers 300 watts of continuous power and dynamic peaks of 900 watts. According to PSB, both new subs deliver “extensive musicality and high-powered bass impact.” The SubSeries 250 and 350 employ highly efficient Class D MOSFET amplifiers, which were custom designed for each subwoofer. These advanced amps consume less than half a watt in standby mode, yet can deliver full power almost instantaneously when needed. They also feature PSB ’s proprietary “smart bass” limiting circuitry, which protects both the amp and the driver from being overdriven.

The new PSB subs are designed to integrate with the widest possible range of loudspeakers, from small satellites to large floor-standers. The subwoofer crossover control has an unusually wide range (from 50Hz - 350Hz), and continuously variable phase control allows for more precise tuning than a typical two-position phase switch. In addition to a line-level LFE input and output, the SubSeries 250 and 350 offer full-range speaker-level inputs and outputs, so you can use the subs with electronics that lack dedicated subwoofer outputs. If you want to route the lowest frequencies away from your main speakers, but your amp lacks bass management features, the SubSeries 250 and 350 also provide line-level stereo inputs and outputs, with the outputs high-passed at 80Hz @12dB/octave. Each sub has a USB power source connector, which can power PSB’s optional RT100 wireless transmitter/receiver. In many cases, the ability to optimally place a subwoofer provides a sonic benefit that far outweighs any sound-quality sacrifices made by going wireless. Finally, the subs feature custom-designed rubber feet that minimize vibrations traveling both to and from the subs’ cabinets. 

PSB founder and chief designer, Paul Barton, performed final voicing for the new subs (as he does for all PSB speakers), at Canada’s renowned National Research Council. Barton’s unique take on research combines objective measurements (performed in the Council’s famed anechoic chamber) with subjective preferences provided by panels of blind-tested listeners.  “Whether for music or movies, a well-designed, properly integrated subwoofer can be the difference between good and exceptional sound,” said Barton. “The SubSeries 350 and 250 feature trickle-down fit and finish from the SubSeries 450 and utilize the same proven methods that PSB has employed for decades. The result are subwoofers that are powerful, precise, and truly exciting to experience.”

PSB may have an established reputation for delivering performance and value, but the company has some serious competition in the affordable subwoofer category. Specialists like SVS and Hsu Research offer excellent options in the same price range as the SubSeries 250 and 350, while the $399 RSL Speedwoofer 10S is a standout product that makes a convincing argument for spending even less. Will PSB’s new subs do enough to stand out from the crowd? Share your thoughts in the related forum thread below.


   

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