In this review, we will be comparing SubSeries 450 and SubSeries 150, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by PSB. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of PSB SubSeries 450 and PSB SubSeries 150 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both PSB SubSeries 450and PSB SubSeries 150 have a single woofer setup however the PSB SubSeries 450's woofer is 12-inch whereas the PSB SubSeries 150 features a 6.5-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SubSeries 450 has a frequency range of 20-150 Hz whereas SubSeries 150 has a frequency range of 26-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the SubSeries 450 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SubSeries 150's min frequency of 26Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
The PSB SubSeries 450 has a Passive Radiator type cabinet. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed designs. On the other hand the PSB SubSeries 150 have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported designs.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare PSB SubSeries 450's and PSB SubSeries 150's external dimensions. PSB SubSeries 450 has external dimensions of 401.0 x 413.0 x 453.0mm (15-3/4 x 16-1/4 x 17-13/16inch) whereas PSB SubSeries 150 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 447.0 x 143.0mm (11 x 17-9/16 x 5-5/8inch).
PSB SubSeries 150 is 121mm shorter and 310mm less deeper than PSB SubSeries 450 but it is also 34mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB SubSeries 450 and PSB SubSeries 150 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB SubSeries 450 and PSB SubSeries 150 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the PSB SubSeries 450 is approximately 1870.9cm2 / 290.0inch2 and base area of the PSB SubSeries 150 is approximately 639.2cm2 / 99.1inch2. The SubSeries 450 requires 193% more surface area than the SubSeries 150 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The PSB SubSeries 450 weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs and the PSB SubSeries 150 weighs 6.05kg / 13.3lbs. This makes the SubSeries 450 238% heavier than the SubSeries 150.
Here is a comparison of how SubSeries 450 and SubSeries 150's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of PSB SubSeries 450?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SubSeries 450:
- Powered subwoofer
- Detachable grille
- 8-feet Power cord
- Owners Guide (En/Fr/Sp)
- Specifications sheet
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of PSB SubSeries 150?
Here are the items that come with the SubSeries 150:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 2 Mounting feet
- Wall-mount bracket
- Quick Start Subwoofer Guide
- Limited Warranty sheet
- Important Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
26 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
280mm
vs
401mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
639cm2
vs
1870cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
PSB SubSeries 450 needs about 193% more floor area. PSB SubSeries 450 stands 310mm further into the room. PSB SubSeries 450 is 121mm taller.
| General |
PSB SubSeries 450 |
PSB SubSeries 150 |
| Brand |
PSB |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
100 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-150 Hz |
26-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
401.0mm (15.8") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Width |
413.0mm (16.3") |
447.0mm (17.6") |
| Depth |
453.0mm (17.8") |
143.0mm (5.6") |
| Weight |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
6.05kg (13.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
A passive radiator subwoofer against a sealed one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | PSB SubSeries 450 goes deeper - 20Hz against 26Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | PSB SubSeries 450 has the bigger amplifier - 400W against 100W RMS, about 6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | PSB SubSeries 450 moves more air: 12" against 6.5" is 3.41x the cone area, not the 1.85x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | PSB SubSeries 450 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet; PSB SubSeries 150 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | PSB SubSeries 450 takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Cabinet size | depends | PSB SubSeries 150 is about 76% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | PSB SubSeries 150 costs less - $499 against $1,999, about 75% less. |
A PSB SubSeries 450 B PSB SubSeries 150
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: PSB SubSeries 450 measures better, PSB SubSeries 150 costs about 75% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, PSB SubSeries 450 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, PSB SubSeries 150 is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, PSB SubSeries 450 is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.