Power Sound Audio XS30 Subwoofer Preview

For those who may not be familiar with the brand, Power Sound Audio is well positioned as a rising star in the subwoofer industry. Co-owners Tom Vodhanel and Jim Farina are known as veterans of SV Sound, Tom actually having been a co-founder and the "V" in SVS, while Jim was involved with their R&D. One of Power Sound Audio's original offerings, the XV15, has also been reviewed by Audioholics and found to be an excellent performer in its segment. In addition to the XV15, Power Sound Audio had also originally released the XS15, a 15" sealed box subwoofer, and the XV30, a monster ported sub with dual 15" drivers coupled to a 750W RMS BASH amplifier.

Power Sound Audio's newest offering, the XS30, is the big brother to the XS15. There is a lot to be excited about with this new subwoofer. The XS30 is equipped with a pair of dual opposed 15" woofers which can deliver two inches of peak to peak throw; bluntly, the XS30 can move a heck of a lot of air, which is important for delivering prodigious output levels and digging deep. Next on the check list is a 725W RMS/1450W Peak Bash amplifier sporting DSP (digital signal processing) control, soft limiting protection, and <1W standby mode among other niceties. The cabinet is of course not skimped on, with 1.75" thick MDF driver baffles and 1" thick walls, as well as a brace to keep the enclosure free of unwanted resonances/vibration, which consequently the dual opposed design should also help with.

Power Sound Audio XS30 Interior View

Judging by the build quality apparent in this picture, it’s fair to expect the XS30 will pass the knuckle rap test with flying colors.  Of course, a lot of heavy hitting hardware isn't the only thing to like here. Like all Power Sound Audio subwoofers, cabinet construction and driver assembly are done in the USA, and the XS30 is covered by a comprehensive 5 year transferrable warranty. These are perks you won't find just anywhere; most manufacturers are happy to warrant a driver for 5 years, but few are willing to back the amplifiers for such a long period of time.

OK, so all of this is nice and good, but what about performance? Would you believe Power Sound Audio has the gall to actually put up CEA-2010 2 meter ground plane ratings, ground plane frequency response measurements, and compression testing results right on their website for everyone to see? Judging by those numbers, the XS30 is no slouch at all; with the ability to deliver an average of 121+dB from 40-63Hz, this is clearly a subwoofer that can deliver enough slam to potentially topple poorly constructed buildings. Further, with its gentle low end roll off, the XS30 can conceivably deliver credible 10Hz output in room. This is impressive performance, especially when considering the asking price.

Conclusion

Power Sound Audio seems to be on a roll. Their original offerings are busy making their mark at their respective price points, and now they bring this new beastly sealed subwoofer to the table. In terms of output for the dollar, Power Sound Audio would already have a strong competitor, but that doesn't seem to be enough for these guys. Add in perks like DSP control and soft limiting to help ensure you don't overdrive your subwoofer as well as a 5 year comprehensive and transferrable warranty, and you've got a pretty convincing value proposition. Of course, given that the XS30 isn't the size of a refrigerator, you also have something that can be reasonably integrated into the decor of many rooms.  We have very high expectations for the Power Sound Audio XS30.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.