PSB SubSeries 300 12" Powered Subwoofer First Look

PSB Speakers  introduced their new SubSeries 300 Powered Subwoofer at CEDIA 2010. For the SubSeries 300, PSB’s design team partnered with the engineers at its sister company, NAD Electronics to design a sophisticated, customized NAD power amplifier specially for the SubSeries 300. Both companies share the same philosophy about the importance of creating products that honestly reproduce music and sound for real world listeners at exceptional values.

As a result, NAD’s new amplifier for the SubSeries 300 can produce a whopping 850 Watts of peak dynamic power, 425W of dynamic power, and 300W of continuous power at less than 0.08 percent THD. Given such power, the SubSeries 300 easily handles demanding and explosive transients in music. Its specially designed high power Class D discrete MOSFET amplifier output stage is 90 percent efficient, producing more power with less energy. A newly designed power supply also saves energy by reducing standby power consumption to a remarkably low 0.5 watt or less.

The latest implementation of PSB’s proprietary “smart bass” limiting circuitry prevents audible overload even for the most demanding music and film soundtracks. As a result, the SubSeries 300 is said to deliver consistently clean and accurate musicality, even when overdriven.

The subwoofer’s deceptively small cabinet houses a massive 12-inch woofer designed to churn out low frequencies at very low distortion levels thanks to its polypropylene cone, a butyl rubber surround, a high power 2-inch voice coil, and an enormous 50-ounce magnet. Port noise is almost non-existent thanks to a large 3 inch-diameter down-firing port, which is both internally and externally radiused.

PSB engineers employed FEA(Finite Element Analysis) software and Klippel's Distortion Analyzer System to minimize distortion of the driver.  FEA is a powerful tool that can significantly improves engineering designs. The Distortion Analyzer, based on the work of Prof. Wolfgang Klippel, objectively measures and simulates speaker performance to assess its impact on subjective listening.

Aesthetically, the dynamic SubSeries 300 is most compatible with PSB’s Image Series speakers, sharing such design cues as the cabinet’s black ash vinyl finish, the clean lines of its sculpted MDF fascia, and curvaceous feet. However, the SubSeries 300 is said to perform equally well with any quality speakers, including PSB’s Synchrony, Imagine, and Alpha Series models.

We particularly like the compact form factor of the SubSeries 300 and the front panel controls which make for easier access during setup and calibration.

PSB’s SubSeries 300 Powered Subwoofer is available now at a manufacturer’s suggested price of $899 (US MSRP).

For more information, visit PSB Speakers

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