In this review, we will be comparing NS-SW050 and PSW10, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Yamaha and Polk Audio. 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 Yamaha NS-SW050 and Polk PSW10 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 Yamaha NS-SW050and Polk PSW10 have a single woofer setup however the Yamaha NS-SW050's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Polk PSW10 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
NS-SW050 has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz whereas PSW10 has a frequency range of 40-160 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the NS-SW050 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the PSW10's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
Both Yamaha NS-SW050 and Polk PSW10 have Bass Reflex type cabinets. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed 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 Yamaha NS-SW050's and Polk PSW10's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-SW050 has external dimensions of 292.1 x 292.1 x 339.7mm (11.5 x 11.5 x 13.375inch) whereas Polk PSW10 has external dimensions of 366.0 x 356.0 x 412.0mm (14-3/8 x 14 x 16-3/16inch).
Polk PSW10 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 63.9mm wider, 73.9mm taller and 72.3mm deeper than Yamaha NS-SW050.
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 Yamaha NS-SW050 is approximately 992.3cm2 / 153.8inch2 and base area of the Polk PSW10 is approximately 1466.7cm2 / 227.3inch2. The NS-SW050 requires 32% less surface area than the PSW10 which gives it a small advantage 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 Yamaha NS-SW050 weighs 8.48kg / 18.7lbs and the Polk PSW10 weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the PSW10 39% heavier than the NS-SW050.
Here is a comparison of how NS-SW050 and PSW10's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
160 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
292mm
vs
366mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
992cm2
vs
1466cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
220USD
vs
249USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
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.
Polk PSW10 needs about 48% more floor area. Polk PSW10 stands 72mm further into the room. Polk PSW10 is 74mm taller.
| General |
Yamaha NS-SW050 |
Polk Audio PSW10 |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
50 watts |
50 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-200 Hz |
40-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
50-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
100-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Polymer Composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
292.1mm (11.5") |
366.0mm (14.4") |
| Width |
292.1mm (11.5") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
339.7mm (13.4") |
412.0mm (16.2") |
| Weight |
8.48kg (18.7lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
3 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Yamaha NS-SW050 goes deeper - 28Hz against 40Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 40Hz. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (50W vs 50W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | Polk PSW10 moves more air: 10" against 8" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Yamaha NS-SW050 is about 46% 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 | A | Yamaha NS-SW050 costs less - $220 against $249, about 12% less. |
A Yamaha NS-SW050 B Polk PSW10
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Yamaha NS-SW050 is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
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.