Pioneer SW-8mk2 Subwoofer Modification 
In the words of The Absolute Sound’s Robert Harley, Stereo Dave's Audio Alternative is a “small, but passionate” (TAS #229, Feb 2007) audio company in Gresham, OR (near Portland). We make our own custom-made, crossoverless single-driver speakers (that really work), subwoofers, interconnects, and speaker cables. We have also been modifying audio components of different makes and models for more than a decade.
We became interested in modifying these Andrew Jones designed subwoofers / speakers, as we saw they were highly reviewed and quite inexpensive. The speakers (SP-BS22-LR) were so exceptional sounding that we were very curious to try out the subwoofer.
Reviews can be found in "The Absolute Sound "and "Stereophile" for these speakers (SP-BS22-LR). The subwoofer (SW-8MK2) was just recently reviewed by "Home Theater Review," a very reputable online review site.
As we tested out the speakers, we found them to be quite good for the price and very balanced. When we opened up the speakers, we found them to be well designed with better than average cabinet engineering. For the price point, they were exceptional and sounded better than many other much more expensive speakers on the market. The sub is almost more exceptional.
While they don't have quite the amount of "slam" or impact of other higher priced speakers, they are quite amazing with the 8 inch subwoofer SW-8MK2 pioneer manufactures from the same series, which is sold separatley (priced at $156 stock with free shipping). The Pioneer SW-8MK2 Andrew Jones Designed 100-Watt Powered Subwoofer. When modified, the suwbwoofer gave the sound heft and richness. A recent customer was quite taken aback by now impressive they were and how they sounded. Admittedly, it does not have the very bottem octave of bass depth that our reference system has, but it does have slam, impact and other audiophile qualities. The modified subwoofer was also a surprisingly good LFE sub; much more so than we anticipated. We tested it out on "Star Trek: Into the Darkness' opening scene. The room was less than ideal, with a number of hallways, and the sub being placed a far distance away from the main av system. We were quite taken aback by the powerfull, deep slamming bass it produced for the LFE channel, especially for the size. As this was playing, the customer's were both shocked at how much bass came out of the small modified 8 inch subwoofer. When modified, it is about 80 percent of our reference system. For the price, they really are quite a find when they are modified. The Modified Pioneer SW-8MK2 Subwoofer sells for $356 modified (Unmodified unit sells for $156 each on Amazon currently). The modification price inlcudes free shipping and handling when we ship the item back to you in the continental USA. If you have the subwoofer currently, feel free to ship them to us to have them modified as well. The modification price on the subwoofer, if it is shipped to us, is $200, which includes free shipping and handling back to you (price for unmodified SW8MK2 is $156 free shipping and handling - unless you see a sale price). There is a new Andrew Jones designed subwoofer that is 10 inches (Pioneer Elite SW-E10), that we modify as well. The modification provides the same benefit to the 10 inch subwoofer as it does to the 8 inch, only more so, as it is a larger driver with a more power amplifier.
FREE SHIPPING AND HANDLING BACK TO YOU IS INCLUDED IN THE MODIFICATION PRICE
We also modify all makes and models of receivers, players and other pieces.
Here are a few excerpts of the new review online on Home Theater Review by Terry London:
"Excited to contact Sean Scoggin of Stereo Dave's Audio Alternative, I called him to discuss what his modifications were to the Pioneer SW-8MK2 and discovered that they use a proprietary method to influence and speed up the electron flow of the subwoofer's amplifier. Modifying the driver allows the subwoofer to move faster and have better freedom in its excursions for accuracy and speed in its ability to track the low frequencies it is replicating. All the modifications successfully work to quicken the subwoofer and increase its bandwidth/frequency range, making the subwoofer sound faster, more powerful, and deeper while still maintaining bass texture and detail.
When I got the pair of modified SW-8MK2 subwoofers from Sean, I set them up exactly as the stock pair had been set up in my system. To my amazement, I heard the sonic improvements in the first few moments of auditioning the modified pair. The modified SW-8MK2 subwoofers truly were much faster and more dynamic, they created deeper/flatter bass extension, and they had more accurate tonality in a natural way, making their integration with my Mandolins even more seamless. With this modification, the SW-8MK2 significantly outperformed my T-7.
...The modified version of the Pioneer SW-8MK2 subwoofer takes this already excellent performing unit to another sonic level across the board in speed, power, bass extension, and accurate bass tonality.
...if you choose to have the SW-8MK2 modification done by Sean Scoggin's company for an additional $150 (plus shipping and handling costs), you have a subwoofer that performs at a sonic level that normally would cost you at least a couple thousand dollars. "
