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 enlarge | Brand: Sony
Category: CE
List Price: $140.00
Buy New: $77.00
You Save: $63.00 (45%)
New (4) from $77.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  75 reviews
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 29
Dimensions (in): 22 x 16 x 20
MPN: SA-W2500
Model: SA-W2500
UPC: 027242706439
EAN: 0027242706439
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 MONSTER BASS!!! November 11, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Just so you know. . . my home theater system includes: a Sony 51-inch WEGA high-definition TV, a Sony STR-DG910 7.1-channel home theater receiver, a Sony DVP-NS77H upscaling DVD player, a pair of Sony SSF-5000 floor speakers, one Sony SSC-N5000 center channel speaker, one Sony SA-W2500 150-watt subwoofer, and a pair of Sony SSB-1000 bookshelf speakers for the surrounds. Everything is Sony. Everything works with one remote control, which came with the receiver. (My review is based on these components being used together, which is why I'm including all this info.)
The Sony SA-W2500 subwoofer has excellent low-frequency performance and was extremely easy to set up - one RCA jack cable from my receiver to the sub, then plug it in to a wall socket. Presto!!! It's fairly small in size for a sub. The box seems well-constructed and robust, and it's not inordinately heavy. My only complaint is that there is a rattle somewhere in the subwoofer box at certain frequencies, and I can't find it - very annoying - but I will track it down eventually, I hope. Focusing in the right amount of bass took some time as I listened to several movies while adjusting the crossover and volume settings, tweaking the bass EQ on my receiver, and also moving the sub around the room to different locations. But the final results were definitely worth the time. No distortion (just that rattle). Fat low-end sound that you can feel. My neighbors are probably ticked off. Plenty of power for a small or medium-size living room. Great for the price! Four stars because of that pesky rattle, otherwise this would be the perfect subwoofer for a small or moderate home theater system. Matches all my other Sony speakers. I hope this review helps you.
 Great sub. Rating is because of shipment. December 22, 2007
8 out of 15 found this review helpful
First, the subwoofer.
I have one of the Sony STG amplifiers which I purchased recently from CCity. This sub seems custom made for that amp, as it works flawlessly. To those that say the bass is "tinny", you're not configuring right or your source is off. If your source doesn't have much bass you're not going to get much thump. Also, it's a subwoofer; it's not supposed to be "clear sound". It's just the bass. Your other 5-7 speakers should be giving you the clear sound you desire. In other words don't expect this to be your only speaker. That's not how it works.
The best way to use this is to turn the dials on the sub to the max, then adjust your amplifier's sub volume to a comfortable level. Mine is at halfway and I get sufficient thump (I'm in an upstairs unit so I can't put it too deep). If you have HD service, it's the best way to test your new sub. Now, it's important to note that this sub supports both line-level (RCA plug) and speaker-level (speaker wire) inputs, however the line-level really is the better choice.
Lastly, the auto-power option is pointless; I recommend just disabling it, and plugging your subwoofer's power cable into the back of your amplifier. If you want security, your amplifier should then be plugged into a UPS surge protector with battery backup; that should ensure sufficient power to both. Plus it will make sure your sub is only on when you actually need it. The auto-power option will just get annoying, because it turns the sub off when it doesn't detect a certain level of bass; well obviously most broadcasts don't have eternal bass,, so it will "click" on whenever the bass kicks in, and it's just a bother.
So why is my rating so low? The way Amazon shipped it. They used FedEx Overnight...well, FedEx is a VERY poor shipper. They don't follow the rules. FedEx is supposed to require signatures for 2-Day or Next Day Air shipments, for security reasons. This box (which was just a regular box indicating a very expensive piece of equipment was inside) was just left at my front door, no signature. I didn't even know it was there until I got home from work and saw it there. It could have been stolen and I couldn't prove otherwise since there was no signature requirement. This complex has a policy for overnight couriers where they leave it at the front office and one of the staff signs for the package, that way I know it got received by an authorized person. Didn't happen. This same deal happens every single time Amazon uses FedEx. It bothers me they that they choose to use them. I'd rather have a one day delay with UPS.
 A Genuine Audio Bargain January 6, 2008
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Why use a $100 mass market subwoofer in an audiophile-quality system? Because the Sony SA-W2500...when positioned and adjusted correctly...sounds far, far better than its modest price would suggest. The 100 watt amplifier is adequate for reasonable listening levels and the 10" woofer is light enough to respond instantly and accurately to transients. The trick to realizing audiophile sound from this cheap black box is simple: discretion. For precise bass reinforcement with exemplary recordings (e.g. Vanska/Minnesota Orchestra's Beethoven 9th on BIS SACD), the subwoofer needs to stand away from the wall and be positioned at a slight angle...the frequency response needs to be limited to about 50 Hz...and the output level of the sub needs to be matched to the output of the mains. I recommend Chesky's Gold Stereo & Surround Sound Setup CD for this purpose (either with one's "golden ears" or a SPL meter). What one gets...assuming that the mains are doing their share of the work...is "you are there" string bass and kettle drum dynamics that are quite breathtaking. It's possible to spend very much more on a subwoofer...but the difference in cost between a big ticket box and the Sony SA-W2500 might be better applied toward the cost of a state-of-the-art preamplifier.
RESOLVED A WALL SPEAKER INSTALLATION DEFICIENCY!! August 1, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I bought this subwoofer to resolve a bass deficiency in a wall speaker installation that was made as part of a kitchen remodel. The wall speakers are JBL 8" Titanium models, but the wall enclosure had fire blocking which limited the amount of enclosure space in the stud cavities and reduced the speakers' ability to deliver musicality in the bass area.
Bass needs for the type of music played on this system isn't excessive, but it has to be 'right'. The system is used for Classic Old Time Rock & Roll and R&B amped up to dance hall levels. We also listen to light Classical a lot of the time. I installed an equalizer in the system, but it didn't help much. I bought the Sub to see if I could get the sound in the bottom end that I was looking for and I was absolutely overjoyed when I lit the Sony up.
The room (kitchen) is 300 sq. ft. with a lot of reflective surfaces and the SA-W2500 does the job admirably. The equalizer is no longer part of the system. The Harman Kardon 3380 Receiver actually runs cooler now than it did previously and the Sony doesn't heat up either. The system seems well balanced musically and is fun and non-fatiguing to listen to.
We definitely got everything that we wanted with the SA-W2500 and don't feel that we compromised in any areas...you can't say that very often about 80 bucks worth of sound equipment. There are four other sound systems in our house containing high end amps, preamps, processors and Polk speakers. This kitchen system stands right in there and competes well with them.
The Affordable Boom November 21, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Obviously, if you're a bass fanatic, you're going to want to spend a little more money for your subwoofer, but for a starter kit, this little puppy turns the rumble of passing trains, the thud of a car door closing, or a helicopter-mounted machine gun into a real life experience.
The auto detect mechanism is both very cool and slightly annoying. The woofer turns off by itself, so you don't have to reach around for the power button at all, but during movies there are slower parts, dialogue in particular, where the woofer shuts off, then click-clicks back on when an explosion or whatever is coming up. You get used to it, but it's noticable.
As for music, it takes the Beastie Boys, 2Pac, NIN, Metallica, whatever to the next level. The bass quality is probably equivalent to bullfrogs singing in a mud puddle compared to more expensive models, but if you've got nothing to compare it to, it's righteous.
On the back of the woofer there's also a bass frequency knob where you can turn it all the way down or all the way up--the idiots guide tells you to turn it all the way up and leave it there, making me wonder why it's there at all. Otherwise, for a small room, and for the price, it's perfect.
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