Polk HTS12 Subwoofer. Comparison, Unboxing and Review. 

It all depends on the size of a persons rooms or if they live in a house or apartment that makes alot of different basically

Agreed! Thanks.

I haven’t upgraded to a second yet either

@@Studio3BRocks Yup! Right now, I’m happy with my single HTS12. Enjoy man.👍🏼

Sounds legit. Nice work!

Sounds like a beast of a system

Not always. They must be matched- then yeah. Combining a 10" with a 12", especially different brands can conflict with each other due to crossovers, speaker types, polarity and various other factors...sort of like what he said- sounded muddy. Like having two people talking to you at the very same time. Very good call on the MiniDSP. Many just throw a new sub, as is, in a room with no calibrating or room placement/treatment and then blame the sub. A well set up $1,000 sub can easily out perform a $10k sub that is the former- not set up.

@@MOAB-UT really they don't have to be matched. Tried and tested. But you are free to believe otherwise. Two identical subs will not sound or perform the same once they are placed in different places in a typical room. Identical subs are only needed when you have a perfectly symmetrical room, with perfectly symmetrical subwoofer placement. In all other circumstances, even identical subs will sound and perform differently, thus behaving like different subs in different locations. You can also read Earl Geddes's paper about multiple subs if my opinion is not enough for you.

@@spiroszaharakis2648 All things being equal, matched speakers will sound better. I don't need to read papers by another man. And yes, your subjective opinion means nothing to me- the same as my n of 1 likely means nothing to you. No offense meant. We can agree to disagree. That said, I do have some basis of knowledge to draw from. I studied elec. engineering in college. Even studied at an Ivy (over rated.) I have been an audiophile for several decades. I also, create and play music- 4 instruments. I trust my own ears. Can mismatched still sound great. In the bands, we use different amplifiers. However they can also sound terrible. Before a CD is mastered, it is mixed down and leveled. In the world of critical listening, there are many variables. When speakers are not matched you introduce variables. You can drive your car with 4 different tires. It might work- but will never work quiet as well. It is not optimized. In addition to playing music, I have also mixed music. I have studio monitors, several amps, acoustic guitar, bass and electric. They all need to be in tune with each other as well. To be fair to your point, perhaps the whole matching thing is a little overblown as a way for manufacturers to push/sell more like speakers. If however, I had a choice, matching at least the type is important. By type I mean the cone material, construction, matching the impedance and being sure to match the crossover points and polarity. You want all of the components to blend together well so you don't miss any audible information. That last point is huge. Additionally, you will want to drive them with enough clean power so that they come alive. Underpowered speakers will never sound as good as they can. Even at low volume, running ample power to the drivers is important- it is like the fuel you put in your car- or your body for that matter. It is critical. Room treatment and tuning of components is also very important. In conclusion, I can promise you that a well powered set up, using high quality, matched components will always out perform a hodgepodge of mixed components- all other things being equal.

​@@MOAB-UT let's just agree to disagree. Everything I say is documented in scientific papers and it's not my subjective opinion. Two subs don't need to be matched. Below Shroeder frequency, the room dominates. Earl Geddes published the first paper about optimizing bass in small rooms using multiple subwoofers and he even recommended using different subs as they managed to counteract bass problems easier than identical subs in typical domestic rooms. His work was the starting point for the use of multiple subwoofers to control bass response. Harman's paper which was a larger-scale study suggested otherwise but their study was based on perfectly rectangular rooms and a specific Main Listening Position which is not the case in most domestic rooms. That's all. Nothing more nothing less. I will have to admit though that optimizing performance using different subs in non-symmetrical rooms or with non-symmetrical placement is a bit more complicated and you have to know what you are doing. Having said that, my suggestion in the original comment was to keep the two 10" subs placed at the two front corners and place the single 12" sub at the back. If it's a rectangular and symmetrical room with symmetrical placement of the speakers, placing the 12" in the middle of the back wall will work perfectly fine as long as a miniDSP is used and they get properly optimized.

I have a ten and a 12 inch sub on either side of my tv. It sounds good if you get the cutoff and gain levels right. I still think same subs would be preferred but if you already have the subs on hand its still better than not using it at all.

Big room?

I see the price is going up, thanks to inflation.

Cleaner. Less boom.

If possible use the method of placing a sub in the prime listening position, then crawling around and listening to where the bass sounds the best.... thats where to place the sub. Repeat this for each of your subs. There are other ways to place subs too based on measurements but I'm not as familiar with that. Also there is simply convenience of location based on power outlet locations and space considerations. Best of luck!

Y splitter I believe or 2 LFE

Great setup you got there mate! Must sound amazing! Onkyo was made for Polks😀. I got S55’s mated to the 686… couldn’t be happier.

​@@Turtleback8024 sweet. i got the stuff on sale around christmas. 😁

How do you like the signature series? I have the TSi series, sounds good but I'd like to save for something substantial. I fell in love with the martin logan motion series when I heard them at Best Buy Magnolia.

@@Studio3BRocks I like them alot. i use them more for movies. I would love to add a 3 channel amp to the front stage but that's a bit more then i can afford at the moment. seems to sound better with more power. That's why i want the amp. Now for music i just listen in 2 chgannel. if you like Bass leave the subs on.

@@Studio3BRocks look at what he started with. ru-vid.com

Do you have more than 2 sub outs on your receiver or do you just use a splitter?

@@Studio3BRocks my receiver has 2 sub output. I use a splitter so i can connect all 4.

@@Studio3BRocks splitters and cables are cheap on Amazon

80 hz is better

I don't have a ton of sub experience. I suppose something with good sensitivity might be in order? I've heard nothing but good things from the REL brand.

@@Studio3BRocks I am very happy with my REL sub. For under $500 it's tough to beat IMHO. #2. Choice would have been Rhythmic. Not the base model- one or two grades up. It was about twice the price. My KEF62 sounded good but no value at $1500. I actually like the REL slightly more. It has more kick.

I thank you Will be disappointed with 95% of subwoofers....they want to please booom lovers...

I bought a KEF KC62 and also a REL HT1205. Both are very musical and awesome. Not real boomy at all. They each do exactly what I needed- fill the low end with rich, strong bass. I play music so I wanted a sub that will blend in to me playing along with backing tracks- low, tight bass. The KEF was pretty remarkable for it's size and it hit the lows- but not with much power behind those notes. I actually returned it and slightly prefer the overall performance of the REL which cost a third the price. No matter how good the KEF was, size matters in subs. The REL does also work with movies but clearly won't compete with a much bigger stronger Home Theatre specific sub- or better yet, a pair of them but it's plenty good enough for me. My last sub was 20 years old- probably 30 watts and literally came free with some cheap surround speakers. Needless to say, the bar was quite low. Cheers!

I agree, most subwoofers for home audio seem to be designed for movies. All I ask for is a subwoofer that can reproduce the same kind “feeling” you get from commercial sound systems designed for very large spaces, but just a scaled down, less loud version for a small room. The biggest issue with many subs is the higher range where they need to “blend” with the left and right speakers: they just play notes or hum in that range, but I want to hear the actual instrument. I wonder if the HTS 10 is better in this regard then the 12 because the cone is lighter??

First of all I didn’t see 660wi at the time but looking at it now, it seems to have the same power specs. 400 watts. But the 660 wi seems to also have wireless capabilities and other controls. I tend to be a purist and feel I’d like most of the money go to sound quality. I’d be interested in hearing a comparison of the two.

@@Studio3BRocks DSW 660wi has wireless capability, but it sold seperately. So you have to purchase the receiver and transmitter, they don't come along as free items. I see, so they have same power 400 w (RMS). I read the specs sheet, the 600wi has lower hz. I agree w/ you. I prefer the HT 12 more, it has beautiful and sleek appearance, also cheaper than 600wi. After using it several months, how you find the deep and crispy bass?

@@henrichandrew I love the bass and I can’t wait to buy a second one to supplement it. It’s clean and clear and hits low.

Just ordered an ht10 for my small 2 channel setup.Looks like I made a good decision. That ht12 sounds so tight and clear! The two 10”s were quite loose and really boomy! Great video!

Sorry, meant to put this comment on the main page

I have not compared it to Kef. I like the Polk as it is good with music and movies.

@@Studio3BRocks Nice. Is it true that this subwoofer has many problems with its amplifier, like dead after a short time?

I’ve had mine for several years with no issue.

Let me know your findings.

I don’t recall that info. I can dig up the song if needed for you though.

@@Studio3BRocks Yea! I understood. Bro.

"Explode" by Killrude.

@@Studio3BRocks Thanks! my bro.👊🏻

yeah but sound quality is a factor too.

Horrific sight I am aghast

thank you

@@Studio3BRocks I bought the 12 inch sub. Thanks for the video.

I agree

Yes!

12 to 10 inches rather. Yes but for the price?

@@Studio3BRocks two 10,s equal 20"

It’s not just total bass but quality of bass and power handling etc

@@Studio3BRocks yeah and REL will do better on both accounts and I own both

@@burton7023While two 10” have more surface are than one 12”, in speakers, two 10” do not equal 20”. Surface are of 2x10” are 157 square inches. Surface are of 1x12” is 113 square inches. Surface are of 1x20” is 312 square inches.