| Rating | Where to buy |
 | Amazon.com *Same or similar item |
Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS5 is a theater-quality surround sound system. It sports an 8-inch subwoofer, five 2-way (with tweeter and woofer) satellite speakers. The sound system is intended for home theaters and music players. SoundWareXS5 comes in two colors, black, and white.
What is in the Box
The sound system comes in a colored cardboard box; the box includes the 8-inch sub-woofer, 5 satellite speakers, mounting brackets, user manual, and speaker wire.
Design
The rectangular-shaped subwoofer of SoundWare XS speaker system is of a side-firing design. The satellite speakers are polyhedron-shaped. A shiny black finish gives a stylish and sophisticated look to the subwoofer and the satellite speakers. The dimensions of the subwoofer and the satellite speakers are 377 x 284 x 310 mm and 94 x 87x 113mm, respectively. The subwoofer weighs 20 pounds, whereas every satellite speaker weighs 1 pound.
On the rear panel of the subwoofer, you will see 3 control options, namely crossover control, volume control, and polarity control. By using the ‘Crossover Control’ option, you can adjust the frequency of the low pass filter for the sub-woofer. If you set the crossover control on the subwoofer to 180Hz, you will enjoy better sound effects. Similarly, once you have adjusted the sub-woofer volume control, you will hear a match between the main speaker and the subwoofer; the adjusted volume will output the bass you desire. The polarity control on the sub-woofer provides you two phases, namely regular phase (0-degree) or inverted phase (180-degree). When you will set the polarity control at 180 degrees, you will enjoy the fullest dynamic bass.
Features
Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS sound system comes with mounting brackets for its satellite speakers. You can conveniently place the satellite speakers on the wall mounting brackets at any angle. The subwoofer of the sound system is featured by BassTrac technology, which produces clear, distortion-free bass even at the maximum volume.
The frequency response of the subwoofer is 50-150Hz, while the frequency response of each satellite speaker is 150Hz-20kHz. The amplifier output for the subwoofer is 100W (250W peak) RMS. The satellite speakers are provided with a 1/2-inch soft dome tweeter and 2-1/2-inch mid-bass driver. Each satellite speaker has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Furthermore, the woofer of the subwoofer and each satellite speaker is 303mm and 64mm, respectively.
Performance
The amplifier of Boston SoundWare XS5 uses The BassTrac Technology. It helps to reproduce soundtracks without distortion. We listened to heavy metal, punk rock, and grunge at 90% volume, we hardly experienced any distortion or resonance, except for the shaky couch and some other furniture. Yes, it is loud. The bass is too boomy at times, which is not preferable.
The acoustically tuned ports of the SoundWare XS5 speakers ensure powerful low-frequency reproduction of soundtracks without distortion. So, it lets you enjoy unplugged versions of songs, jazz and country music without the need for tweaking equalizer settings or anything.
MagnaGuard magnetic shielding is a great feature of the speakers that ensure that the speakers’ magnetic field will not interfere with your Television/monitor screen. So, even if you place the speakers very close to your TV, it will not turn your TV or monitor screen blank, discolored or distorted.
| Pros | Cons |
| Nicely blends in with other electronics and looks gorgeous. Produces distortion-free clear sound. | The bass is too boomy at times. |
Conclusion
Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS can be a great choice for anyone who needs a 5:1 sound system that will blend in with the existing decor, and produce the sound as it is – with deep bass and high fidelity. But if you prefer the music to penetrate your eardrums and feel it in every cell of your body, you should give it a try . Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS5 comes with 5-year parts and labor warranty.
Specifications
* 5:1 surround sound speaker system
* Satellites feature 1/2″ soft dome tweeter and 2-1/2″ mid-bass driver
* Polyhedron shaped satellites speakers
* 8-inch Graphite injected polymer woofer
* 100-watt (250 watts Peak) sub-woofer amplifier