Features:
- 175 watts of continuous power
- 12-inch long-throw woofer
- 22 to 40/140 Hz frequency response with variable low-pass filter
- Magnetically shielded
- Line- and speaker-level inputs and outputs
Description:
Before buying this subwoofer, make sure that you have the space to accommodate it, and that you absolutely crave deep bass. B&W's ASW 2000 175-watt powered subwoofer weighs in at nearly 100 pounds--a monster of a speaker to move and to configure. The ASW 2000's bass-beaming prowess is so great that we never nudged the volume knob past 20 percent of its turning radius. Accordingly, this sub gives the best demonstration we've heard (and felt) that barrels of bass aren't always a good thing. Rest assured, however, that in our case--with some fine-tuning of the sub's volume control and crossover frequency (the top end of its range, above which its sound tapers off sharply)--the ASW 2000 successfully blended with our reference speakers to provide a seamless and stunningly firm bottom octave to whatever we threw at it, whether movies or music, romance dramas or altrock grunge. As with many subwoofers, you can wire the ASW 2000 in line with your regular speakers, relaying the feeds from your amplifier or receiver first to the sub and then on to your speakers. You can also configure the ASW 2000 as an independent entity, taking a feed from a dedicated subwoofer output, such as the ".1" in a 5.1-channel surround format. The former setup enables you to enjoy the subwoofer regardless of your sound source; the latter method is more efficient for playback of discrete, multichannel movies or music. Positioning is often a tricky matter for subwoofers and may be even trickier for the ASW 2000, as the subwoofer's girth permits only a small number of positions in a given listening room. The phase-invert switch proves particularly helpful in this regard; if the ASW 2000 can only fit in a position that puts its output out of phase with that of your main speakers, you can rectify it with a flick of a switch. If you're patient and have a big room to play in, the ASW 2000 will reward your efforts with oodles of taught, dynamic bass that goes, as they say, all the way down. Pros:
- Incredible power
- Smooth, deep bass
- Excellent dynamics
- Free of muddiness or undue coloration
Cons:
- Bulky
- Heavy
- Tricky to set up
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