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Polk Audio PSW111

Ultra-compact powered subwoofer

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Item# 107PSW111B offer details

Item# 107PSW111B

Review Summary

 
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Polk Audio

Why add a powered subwoofer?

A powered subwoofer gives you bass you can feel as well as hear. Our customers love the depth and impact their subs add to music and movies. We hear comments like "it brings out sounds I didn't know existed in discs I've watched a million times." Powered subwoofers aren't just for big bass that rattles your picture frames; they can also deliver tight, accurate lows. If you haven't shopped for a powered sub in a while, you might be surprised at how small they get. Look for an ultra-compact model if you want to tuck your sub away under an end table or in a corner.

Our take on the Polk Audio PSW111

by Loren Barstow

Add impact to your favorite movies and full-bodied bass to your favorite tunes with a sub that's barely larger than a cubic foot. The PSW111's high-current, 150-watt amp effortlessly drives an 8" woofer for dynamic low-frequency effects. And this compact subwoofer sports a new, more powerful driver design to deliver deeper, louder, and punchier bass than previous Polk subs. Special circuitry inside the amp and a solid MDF cabinet with internal bracings ensure clean, detailed lows, even when you crank up the volume.

From the review Polk PSW111 Ultra-compact Powered Subwoofer: From sub-par to sub-lime

"But the overwhelming sense I had from early listening was one of warmth. The low mid-range, the place where male voices, cellos, and trombones live, suddenly came alive. I could hear all this ambience I wasn't hearing before in movies and TV shows — street noises, intakes of breath, footsteps. Sure, you could take this sub to the slamming max if you want, but the main takeaway I have from adding this component into my system is that things have been put into balance again."

— Woody Sherman, Crutchfield A/V writer

Highlights:

  • bass-reflex (ported) enclosure
  • 150-watt RMS amplifier
  • 8" front-firing driver
  • frequency response 38-250 Hz
  • continuously variable 60-160 Hz crossover
  • phase switch
  • auto on/off
  • line-level/LFE input
  • speaker-level input and output
  • 11"W x 12-5/16"H x 14-15/16"D
  • warranty: 5 years woofer, 3 years amplifier
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee
 

Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Features and Specs

Features and Specs
Enclosure
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Bass Reflex
Video Shielded
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No
Woofer Size (inches)
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8
Woofer Composition
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DB Composite
Firing Direction
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Front
Preamp-Level Inputs
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Yes
Speaker-Level Inputs
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Yes
Speaker-Level Outputs
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Yes
Low-Pass Crossover Freq
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60-160 Hz
High-Pass Crossover Freq
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None
Phase Switch
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Yes
Amplifier Output (watts)
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150
Frequency Response
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38-250 Hz
Height (inches)
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12-5/16
Width (inches)
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11-1/16
Depth (inches)
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14-15/16
Weight
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20.3 lbs
Speaker Parts Warranty
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5 Years
Speaker Labor Warranty
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5 Years
Amplifier Parts Warranty
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3 Years
Amplifier Labor Warranty
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3 Years

Product Research

Product Research
What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • Black powered subwoofer
  • Grille (installed)
  • 8' Detachable power cord
  • 4 Rubber insert feet
  • Owner's Manual
  • Online registration card
  • Rubber feet installation diagram

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features
Controls
Connections

Features

Driver: The Polk Audio PSW111 uses a 8" Dynamic Balance composite cone driver for deep, accurate response with low distortion. For a smoother response and improved durability, the woofer utilizes a rubber surround.

Klippel Optimized Woofer: By using a state-of-the-art Klippel Distortion Analyzer, Polk is able to optimize the woofer's motor structure, voice coil alignment and suspension for the best possible performance even at extreme listening levels.

Motor Structure: The PSW111 utilizes a powerful motor structure for a higher BL response (the measure of the motive force applied to the cone) that results in louder, deeper and punchier bass.

Compression Circuitry: The woofer's Compression Circuitry limits distortion at high volume levels.

Amplifier: The subwoofer is powered by a high-current amplifier producing 150 watts RMS/300 watts dynamic power that supplies clean power for loud bass and the wide dynamic range necessary to recreate a life-like experience in your home.

Enclosure: The PSW111 features a bass-reflex enclosure with non-resonant MDF construction and internal bracing for deep bass impact with superior detail and accuracy.

Down-Firing Port: The powered subwoofer's downward firing port allows the woofer to be extremely efficient and provides more bass impact for your home theater experience.

Not Video Shielded: The subwoofer is not magnetically shielded, so it is not recommended to place it next to tube TVs and video monitors. Though LCD, DLP, and Plasma televisions are not affected by magnetism you should allow at least 18" of space between the subwoofer and any TV.

Placement: You may place the subwoofer anywhere in your room, but it will perform best when it's on the same side of the room as your system's front speakers. Also, placing the subwoofer near a wall or in a corner will reinforce the output.

Controls

3-Way Power Switch: The subwoofer has a 3-way power switch on the rear panel. You can select Auto, which turns the unit on automatically when an input signal is received and off 15 minutes after the signal stops; On, which keeps the unit on and Standby, which turns the unit off. The LED power indicator glows green when the unit is on and red when the unit is off.

Volume Control: The PSW111 has a rotary volume control to adjust the volume of the subwoofer relative to the other speakers in the system.

Phase Switch: The subwoofer's phase switch allows you to select 0-degrees (normal) or 180-degrees (reverse). If the bass sounds muddy or unclear, toggling the phase control can sometimes strengthen the bass attack.

Low-Pass Filter: The PSW111 offers a continuously variable low-pass crossover, adjustable from 60-160 Hz. There is an LFE position for use with the filtered LFE output from a receiver or preamp.

Connections

Line Inputs: The subwoofer has gold plated left and right RCA line level inputs for use with receivers having subwoofer or stereo preamp outputs that do not contain their own low-pass crossover. Using the Line Inputs allows PSW111 to do all the low-pass filtering. If your receiver or processor only has a single subwoofer line output, connect it to the Right line input jack.

LFE In: The right channel RCA input doubles as the LFE input; if your receiver has an LFE output and a built-in crossover, use this input and set the low-pass filter dial to LFE.

Speaker Level Input/Output: The subwoofer has spring clips for the speaker level inputs and outputs. The subwoofer's low-pass filter sends bass frequencies (based on the setting of the filter) to the subwoofer. The speaker level inputs and outputs are shorted together, so the output is not crossed over. You should set you receiver's front speaker setting to Large.

 

Product reviews from the Crutchfield Labs

Product reviews from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)
Polk PSW111 Ultra-compact Powered Subwoofer

Polk PSW111 Ultra-compact Powered Subwoofer

Woody Sherman
10/20/2011
 

What happens when you add even a small subwoofer to a marginal audio system? Woody found out when he brought home a Polk PSW111.

 

Product Reviews

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Reviews for the Polk Audio PSW111

Average Customer Review:

72 people say:

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5 out of 5

Polk Audio PSW111

Written By Polk Audio PSW111, SODDY DAISY TN on Saturday, June 15, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
PLENTY OF BASS FOR MUSIC AND MOVIES!Very Pleased!
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3 out of 5

Just ok

Written By Jon G, Dillsburg, PA on Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
Bought this sub because I was on a tight budget and it had a 150w amp verses only a 100w amp that came with the Polk Audio PSW110. My thinking was that even though it was smaller because it had a larger amp it would produce more bass. I was disappointed. At normal listening levels I couldn't even tell it was on unless I went over to the unit and put my hand on it. I suppose it would be ok for a very small room to add some depth to small bookshelf speakers. I'm going to return unit and wait until I save up more money for a larger unit.
Pros:
Small size, doesn't take up much space
Cons:
Small size, doesn't produce much bass
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

This sub is highly impressive ....

Written By Alex, Richmond, VA on Thursday, April 25, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
This is a highly impressive sub regardless of what price range you're looking in or which woofer size you're initially shopping for. The bass is clear, there's no distortion & the sound is amazingly warm. I wouldn't characterize myself as an audiophile, but I'm an enthusiast who's purchased numerous systems over the past ~20 years. This was my first 8 inch sub & I honestly didn't expect this much punch.

I purchased my first PSW111 ~18 months ago & paired it with a Polk surroundbar (5 channel). I went with this sub because it was small & fit nicely in the corner behind the stereo cabinet (completely out of sight). I wasn't looking for much rumble because it was the family room (wife & kids in there most of the time). The sub has always sounded great & feels like a 'no brainer' with any Polk soundbar or home theater package.

Last month I finally got my wife onboard with upgrading the basement theater (20 X 40 room). She insisted that I get rid of my giant 12 inch sub because she never liked looking at it (I paid about ~$1,000 for it 10 years ago & it's incredibly powerful). I decided to go with a 2 sub setup for the first time & tried out multiple 8 in dual side firing passive radiator designs (each ~3x more $ than the PSW111). I was underwhelmed. On a whim I brought the Polk downstairs to try it out. I was amazed that it near filled the room by itself & wasn't too much of a drop off from the 12 inch. I ended up buying 2 PSW111's & both music & movies sound great!
Pros:
> Clear bass, no distortion (even at high volume) > Very small and easy to place in 'wife friendly' decor > Music sounds great (2 PSW111's in both front room corners sounded much better than the single 12 inch high quality sub that I had previously).
Cons:
> Performs well for movies, but you don't 'feel' the bass as much as other large subs. Still sounds very good though and the trade off isn't too dramatic. The difference seems to be much less pronounced when we watch movies with our receiver's Dynamic EQ/Volume turned on.
5 out of 5 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Polk Audio PSW111

Written By Russell L. Jindra, Glennallen, AK on Monday, April 22, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
Great sound, super price. Bought scratch and dent and the only thing I saw wrong with it was that the box was thrashed. The sub looked perfect.
Pros:
Great sound from a reasonably small package.
Cons:
None
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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2 out of 5

PSW11

Written By Anonymous, MN on Thursday, April 18, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
Fair value at this price.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Polk Subwoofer

Written By Dave, N. Brookfield, MA on Sunday, April 14, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
WOW! I got this to replace the broken bass module in a 20 yr old 3 piece speaker system. I should have done it years ago. This brings new life to music. On all types of music the bass comes out clean. It just rounds out the bottom. It's great when watching movies too.
Pros:
great sound , easy to connect
Cons:
none
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Polk Audio PSW 111

Written By Aucontractor, Collierville, Tennessee on Saturday, March 30, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
Great sound. Very easy to install on my Marantz SR 5007
Pros:
Great sound
Cons:
A little larger than I expected
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5 out of 5

Powerful

Written By jesusG, highland mills, ny on Monday, March 25, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
I loved the base that comes out of these sub, very powerful.
Cons:
A little bigger than i expected.
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5 out of 5

Wonderful Woofing

Written By Gary, Temecuka, CA on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
I was stunned at what a real sub woofer sounds like. For five years the "surround sound" in our live-in RV turns out to be a really cheapo JVC...the teeny wires to the speakers should have alerted me. The sub woofer was just a speaker in a big box. Soon as I connected the PSW111 the biggest event was the smile on my wife's face. We have real sound, real music: Never heard the thump thump before. Yea!.
Pros:
Sounds great. Fit our space.
Cons:
None
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Great sub

Written By garyg1, Mullica Hill, NJ on Monday, March 11, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
This sub came with Polk Audio rear speakers I purchased from Crutchfield. My Polk Audio system is finally matched and the sub gives out great base.
Pros:
Small foot print.
Cons:
None.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Polk Audio PSW111

Written By Mike D., Hayes, Va on Saturday, March 09, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
I replaced a Mirage 8 subwoofer that failed with this one. I have a mix of 2 Mirage Omni sat V2 FS for front speakers, Bose center channel speaker, 2 Bose 161 for surround and a Omni Nanosat for the Surround Back speaker. The Polk has blended in perfectly with the other speakers. All this is driven by a ONKYO TX SR 803 amp. This is a great speaker for the price. The room it is in is 21'X 27' with 9 Ft ceilings. I don't know yet if it will rattle the windows, but it suits me just fine.
Pros:
Easy set up, blends well with Hybrid systems.
Cons:
Haven't found it yet
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5 out of 5

Polk Audio PSW111

Written By victor, BAYAMON P.R. on Monday, March 04, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
I have it match with the satellite POLK TL-250 5 speakers system and a sounds great 100% satisfied . if i put a high capacity cant match are just exact sub woofer for this Polk thanks to Crutchfield for the recommendation . Crutchfield service was excellent ,they gave me follow up at my order and be sure that was deliver in execelnt conditions . thanks
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

good little sub

Written By codybob, independence mo on Sunday, March 03, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
good sub i use on movies mostly its got a good bottom end for its size does not bottom out if you set it right for the money its a overall good sub
Pros:
good little sub
Cons:
none
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4 out of 5

Great sound. Easy set up

Written By LG, Ann Arbor, Mi on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
Great sound and easy set up
Pros:
sound. connection options
Cons:
none
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5 out of 5

Great Sub For Smaller Room

Written By Jim, Wallkill, NY on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
Got this as part of a special deal with a set of Polk TL-350's. Part of a 5.1 surround system in a 14' X 20' family room. As other reviewers state, if you are feeling the need to blow the glass out of your windows, this probably isn't the right sub for you. If you want a nice balanced sub that provides a transparent bottom end to both movies and music in a relatively small room, this sub does nicely. Also, one of the most physically unobtrusive subs I have seen - about as "spouse friendly" a sub as you will find.
Pros:
Small package, balanced sound
Cons:
None
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Polk audio PSW111

Written By Ron, Bomoseen VT on Monday, February 25, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
I am glad I did not upgrade to a larger sub. There is plenty of bass with this sub. I even have it in a room that is 28' X 18' with a 15' cathedral ceiling.. It is very easy to control the amount of base output on the back of the speaker. It works nicely with the RTI3A bookshelf speakers I purchased with the sub. I placed it behind our furniture about 15 feet away from the main speaker setup. The base sounds like it is coming right from the front setup. I believe it has the same amp power as the next upgrade that Crutchfield offers. I would recommend this sub from Polk highly and doing business with Crutchfield as a great experience.
Pros:
A nice smooth and balanced sound. I like the fact that they use real wood. Easy to control the amount of bass output. The five year warranty is a real plus.
Cons:
None so far
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

PSW111 Subwoofer

Written By RAH, Wichita Falls, TX on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
In my opinion, too many people want too much base which ultimately results in distortion and muddies the overall sound reproduction. However, many people just do not care about clear intelligibility and will sacrifice everything for that low end thump which typically distorts the sound. Unless you are in the fortune 500 category, you are not going to get that kind of feel or anything close at this units price range. This sub-woofer is compact and has a front projection speaker that is in a non-ported enclosure which really responds to the low end very good. With the level adjustment set properly, this Polk PSW111 provides quality base response with little or no distortion in a small to mid sized room. My room is a 20 x 24 foot room and the base is adequate for both TV and stereo reproduction. If you have a really large area, I think you will need to purchase a unit with enough wattage output to handle your specific area. Whether you utilize the LFE (Low Frequency Effects) lead off your receiver, or use independent adjustments when LFE does not exist, this unit sounds great. Just be careful when you are setting the sub-woofer and follow the instructions. For the price, I do not think this unit can be beat.
Pros:
Compact with clear base quality and sound reproduction in a mid sized room. I would recommend to friend
Cons:
None
4 out of 4 people found this helpful
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1 out of 5

subwoofer

Written By chris, cincinnati on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
since i purchased outdoor speakers, you would think they would give me an outdoor subwoofer also the subwoofer was damaged when received. since i can not use it anyway because of weather i was not going to take the time to mail back ..
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5 out of 5

Tight little sub

Written By DefconDan, NYX on Sunday, January 27, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
This little guy puts out quite a punch for a lot less wattage than my old polk sub. Really nice if you are trying to have a minimal footprint. It think its a good one to pair with smaller satellite speaker setups.
Pros:
*Small but powerful *Clean design *Easy to hide
Cons:
*Good bass but not earth shattering but if you were looking for that you'd be getting a higher wattage/larger sub.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

PSW111

Written By Adam, Randallstown, MD on Monday, January 14, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
Sounds great for an 8"
Pros:
Compact
Cons:
None
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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1-20 of 72 >>

Accessories

Add accessories for the Polk Audio PSW111

A high-quality cable helps your powered subwoofer deliver maximum bass with movies and music. This sub doesn't include a cable. See all categories & accessories

AudioQuest SUB-X Subwoofer cable (2-meter/6.6 feet)
7 people say 
Your Price: $69.00
Add to Cart
Monster Cable® 400sw Subwoofer cable (4 meters/13.2 feet)
16 people say 
Your Price: $39.95
Add to Cart
Monster Cable® 600sw Subwoofer cable (4 meters/13.2 feet)
13 people say 
Your Price: $59.95
Add to Cart
AudioQuest SUB-1 Subwoofer cable (3-meter/9.8 feet)
4 people say 
Your Price: $138.99
Add to Cart
AudioQuest SUB-3 Subwoofer cable (3-meter/9.8 feet)
 
Your Price: $294.99
Add to Cart
AudioQuest SUB-A Subwoofer cable (2 meters/6.6 feet)
12 people say 
Your Price: $33.99
Add to Cart
Panamax MD2-RCA Space-saving surge suppressor for a powered subwoofer
 
Your Price: $69.99
Add to Cart
Panamax MD2 Space-saving surge suppressor with two outlets
3 people say 
Your Price: $39.99
Add to Cart
Monster Cable SuperFlat™ Mini Decor-friendly speaker cable with gold pin connectors (50-foot spool)
19 people say 
Your Price: $34.95
Add to Cart
AudioQuest X2 Speaker Cable 14-gauge cable, connectors optional (30 feet, Gray)
9 people say 
Your Price: $58.99
Add to Cart
AudioQuest G2 Speaker Cable 16-gauge cable, connectors optional (30 feet, Gray)
8 people say 
Your Price: $38.99
Add to Cart

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Runs concurrent with manufacturer's warranty

Rated 5-stars by consumers

For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the Polk Audio PSW111, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/S-zG3HwBQI7P6/p_107PSW111B/Polk-Audio-PSW111.html ).

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Polk Audio PSW111
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Speaker Wire without Connectors

AudioQuest X2 Speaker Cable
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