Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony SA-WM250 100-Watt Active Subwoofer

Sony subwoofer went dead after 46 months of light use. Used only for DVD movies, and never turned up beyond normal. I expected something this simple to last longer. Sony products either break in a shorter time that normal, or they last for a longer time than normal. The quality seems to be unpredictable. This sub is still for sale at BestBuy Stores. I bought a Polk sub woofer from Amazon, rather than another Sony.
Over the past three years I have not been buying Sony products, and every time I make the mistake and buy Sony, they seem to break down. In addition, they are overpriced on their products if they cannot make a product that lasts.

When I upgraded my home theater receiver, I needed to get a powered subwoofer. This was a great choice. The sound that comes out of it is very rich, and actually too powerful. I have to keep it at less then 1/2, otherwise it will shake and boom all throughout the house. I am very happy with it.

I recently purchased a Sony SA-WM250 Subwoofer and is very satify with it.
I am currently using in an one bedroom apartment which more than sufficent.
The unit has plenty of bass performance at 100 Watts.

I didnt give this unit 5 stars, but it is very close. I have a six-year old SONY mini component home theater system that is about 175 watts spread out amongst the 5 speakers. I had been satisfied with this surround sound, including the bass, of this system but I had visited a friend (Hi, MD) who mentioned to me that his condo shook in the scene during Polar Express when the train first pulls onto the little boy's street. My system did throw out some pretty booming bass, but I thought, what the heck. I, an avid Reggae and House music listener, could always use some more bass.

I checked this powered sub out, liking that it is also a SONY (no worries about combatibility and so forth). The reviews were scattered but for the price, I figured I couldn't go wrong. Admittedly, I have out grown my existing system because I moved into a new house with a very large family room (where my system is located) and my ceiling is two-stories in that room. Would the 100-watt be enough? It is only an 8-inch.....Again, for the price and since I will be upgrading my whole system in a couple of years or so, what the heck.

My only gripe is that when I was researching this unit it was selling at Circuit City at $89. One week later when I was ready to purchase it went up to the price I paid for it which was $120 but I just couldn't wait.

My husband set it up in a jiffy and I tested it out with Star Wars, Polar Express and Zathura (a really LOUD movie). When I first hooked it up I scared the life out of my sleeping dog! LOL!! This little black box ROCKED my house, booming and quaking, I was amazed. I cannot use it at its full power--it doesn't distort or make strange buzzing sounds as I have heard others say--it is just too loud. As far as my system is concerned, this unit throws out more bass with audio(absolutely SWEET!! I couldn't wipe the smile off my face) as compared to the video. AND this is without the monster cable I plan to buy. I was so pissed at having to pay retail that I said I would get the cable later on. I understand that would improve the output some more.

If I had money to burn and could buy what I really wanted, I would most certainly have chosen a Velodyne, but on my budget, I am completely satisfied with my investment.

In summary, you are not getting a $1000 sub for $100 bucks so don't think you are. But you are getting a darn good unit, the next best thing, for about a hundred bucks and that my friends, is what I call a deal!

This unit does a great job of making the bass in my music/movies better however, it is sometimes overpowering for my little shelf stereo.