Sony SA-W2500 Subwoofer
An active SA-W2500 subwoofer can be referred to the products of initial level, if you, surely, focus only on its price. And although in the manufacturer's arsenal there are more discerning subs for demanding listener, this model has all you need to provide high-quality low-frequency support in a small room. Quite impressive 10-inch driver with special membrane, which has celled structure, is installed on the front panel. The built-in amplifier has power of just 100 W, which should be enough for most home uses.
It should be especially noted that structurally the amplifier module is located outside the main body and enclosed in plastic casing. Such solution is undoubtedly justified in relation to economy of internal volume and prevention of unwanted vibrations on electronic circuits. Judging by the size of heat sink, the end terminals are not pulsing and work in AB mode.
Acoustic design of Sony SA-W2500 is bass-reflex with the port in rear. There are all necessary controls, including crossover, tunable in the range of 50-200 Hz. Connection to the system is possible through linear input and with a help of high-level terminals or spring-type. Despite of low price, the assembly work is good, the finish is made with fine vinyl wood grain film.
In home theatre mode bass cannot make boast of infra-low part, but at the same time it is quite convincing and accurate. Various scathing blows are well elaborated; background low-frequency atmosphere is good. However, tectonic effects need more scale; bass loses in infrasonic area a fair share of control, dissonant notes begin to appear in it. In addition, the body "plays along" from time to time, decreasing the intelligibility of mid bass. In order to avoid such artifacts, you should set volume level and cutoff frequency very carefully.
Playback of musical fragments is devoid of any disadvantages. It was easy for me to adjust Sony SA-W2500 sub for adequate work in our system. The result is a unified sound of the whole complex, in which the sub's role was expressed in the construction of low-frequency foundation, greatly expanding sound stage and giving correct scale to virtual sound sources.
