Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Bass for Music and Movies
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2019
This is an outstanding subwoofer for both music and movies. I paired this with a Yamaha RX V583 receiver, Onkyo DX-C390 (6 CD Changer) and the Pioneer Andrew Jones entry-level speaker package (two towers, center channel, two bookshelf, and Dolby Atmos add-on speakers and Medialink 14 guage speaker wire) in a 5.1.2 set-up. Music genres such as jazz, pop, rock, techno, classical, hip-hop, and metal sounded very clear detailed with enough thump from the bass aspects each genre requires, without sounding boomy. I run the sub's volume at exactly half, while using the LFE connection (Medialink sub cable).
Movie soundtracks worked extremely well as this sub provided detailed base adding a nice rumble or impact whenever needed as well as defined resonance to dialouge. I tested several subs including the Polk Audio PSW108, HTS-12, and the 550i as well as the Klipsch RSW8. The Pioneer SW-10 beat them all. I used this in a small family room, however this will work just as well in a medium to medium-large family room with the latter benefiting with a second SW-10 in my opinion.
Please keep in mind that this sub was matched with its Pioneer Andrew Jones brethren as mentioned above, and that may have provided an advantage in my situation, as this sub was designed to work with that particular series as an upgrade from the 8-inch Andrew Jones sub. However, for those who may own the Polk Audio T Series speakers, this sub should work extremely well if not better than the Polk Audio PSW108 or the PSW10.
I also have the Pioneer SW-10 placed (in a corner) on a Auralex Subdude II isolation pad which makes the difference for any subs that are placed on carpeting. I was not able to tell where the bass was coming from during music or movie playback, it simply presents itself in the room's approximate center point. I'm not a sound engineer or an audiophile in the classic sense of those terms, but sound interpretation to me, is very, very subjective because everyone hears things differently, especially when music playback is conducted.
In closing, the Pioneer SW-10 and it's 200 watts RMS was a perfect match for what I require, therefore I definitely recommend this product. I give it 5 out of 5 Stars.
