PSB CSIW SUB28 Dual 8" In-Wall Passive Subwoofer at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The CSIW SUB28 is a dual 8-inch passive in-wall subwoofer from PSB Speakers (Pickering, Ontario, Canada), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Part of PSB's CustomSound CI line, the CSIW SUB28 is engineered for custom installation projects where deep, accurate bass is required without any visible enclosure or floor footprint. Two high-excursion 8-inch carbon fibre cone woofers with rubber surrounds and steel baskets are housed in a sealed MDF cabinet with a total internal volume of 0.3 cubic feet. At 4 ohms nominal impedance with 87 dB anechoic sensitivity, the CSIW SUB28 is designed to be driven by the PSB CS 500W subwoofer amplifier and is compatible with both new construction and retrofit wall applications. Designed and finally voiced by PSB founder Paul Barton, it is sold individually and available in a white paintable grille finish.

Dual Carbon Fibre Drivers in a Sealed In-Wall Cabinet

The CSIW SUB28 houses two 8-inch woofers with carbon fibre cones, rubber surrounds, and steel baskets in a single sealed cabinet designed to mount flush within a standard wall cavity. Carbon fibre cone construction provides exceptional stiffness-to-mass ratio: stiff enough to move large volumes of air at low frequencies without cone flex or breakup, yet light enough for the fast transient response that keeps bass tight and rhythmically accurate during both cinematic content and music reproduction. The sealed cabinet design eliminates the port noise and resonances associated with ported in-wall designs and delivers controlled, predictable bass response regardless of what lies behind the installation wall. A built-in back-box further isolates the acoustic environment, keeping dust and debris out of the enclosure and ensuring consistent in-room performance across all installation scenarios.

New Construction and Retrofit Flexibility with Paul Barton Voicing

Unlike the CSIW SUB10, which is optimised specifically for new construction stud-beam coupling, the CSIW SUB28 is designed for both new construction and retrofit applications. Heavy-duty nylon dogleg clamps secure the cabinet in the wall cutout without requiring access to the stud framing, making the SUB28 straightforward to install in existing finished walls as well as in new builds. The unit can be mounted either vertically or horizontally depending on the available wall space and system layout requirements. Final voicing was performed by PSB founder Paul Barton, drawing on over 50 years of Canadian acoustic research to deliver the tight, detailed bass character that defines PSB's subwoofer range across all power and installation levels. The PSB CS 500W subwoofer amplifier is the recommended external amplifier, with a dedicated EQ preset specifically configured for the CSIW SUB28, and one CS 500W can drive up to two CSIW SUB28 units simultaneously.

Key Features

• Dual 8-Inch Carbon Fibre Cone Woofers: Two high-excursion drivers with carbon fibre cones, rubber surrounds, and steel baskets deliver deep, accurate bass with low distortion in a compact in-wall form factor.
• Sealed Cabinet Design: A self-contained sealed enclosure with 0.3 cubic foot internal volume produces controlled, accurate bass independent of wall construction type or cavity conditions behind the installation.
• Built-In Back-Box: An enclosed back-box isolates the driver chamber from the wall cavity, keeping dust and debris out and ensuring a consistent acoustic environment in every installation.
• New Construction and Retrofit Compatible: Heavy-duty nylon dogleg clamps allow secure installation in both new construction and existing finished walls without requiring access to structural framing.
• Vertical or Horizontal Mounting: The CSIW SUB28 can be oriented vertically or horizontally to suit available wall space and room layout requirements.
• 4 Ohm Nominal Impedance: Optimised for pairing with the PSB CS 500W subwoofer amplifier, which delivers 500 watts at 4 ohms with a dedicated EQ preset for the CSIW SUB28.
• Sensitivity 87 dB Anechoic / 89 dB Listening Room: Efficient driver performance maximises output from the recommended 500-watt CS 500W amplifier for room-filling in-wall bass.
• CS 500W Amplifier Compatible: One PSB CS 500W subwoofer amplifier can drive up to two CSIW SUB28 units simultaneously for dual-subwoofer custom installations.
• Spring-Post Speaker Terminals: Accepts bare wire up to 12 AWG, pin connectors, and single or dual banana plugs for flexible in-wall wiring options.
• Magnetic Small-Perforation Metal Grille: The included white magnetic grille attaches without tools and protrudes only 5/16 inch from the wall surface for a discreet, low-profile finished appearance.
• White Paintable Grille: The grille can be painted to match any wall colour, making the CSIW SUB28 effectively invisible once installed and finished.
• Paul Barton Voicing: Designed and finally voiced by PSB founder Paul Barton, applying the same acoustic principles used across PSB's full loudspeaker range for over 50 years.
• Sold Individually: Specify single or multiple units for mono, stereo, or multi-zone subwoofer configurations in residential and light commercial custom installations.

Technical Specifications

Installation at a Glance

• Passive in-wall subwoofer: requires external amplifier (PSB CS 500W recommended)
• CS 500W includes dedicated EQ preset for the CSIW SUB28; one unit drives up to two CSIW SUB28 simultaneously
• CS 500W installs in the equipment rack, not inside the wall
• Heavy-duty nylon dogleg clamps for tool-efficient wall installation and removal
• Compatible with new construction and retrofit wall applications
• Vertical or horizontal mounting orientation supported
• Spring-post terminals accept bare wire (12 AWG max), pin connectors, and banana plugs
• Magnetic metal grille attaches without tools; paintable white finish
• Cutout dimensions: approximately 13-1/2 x 25-3/8 inches (343 x 625 mm)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PSB CSIW SUB28?

The PSB CSIW SUB28 is a dual 8-inch passive in-wall subwoofer from PSB Speakers, designed and voiced in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. It houses two carbon fibre cone woofers with rubber surrounds and steel baskets in a sealed in-wall cabinet with a 0.3 cubic foot internal volume. The CSIW SUB28 operates at 4 ohms nominal impedance, handles up to 500 watts, and is compatible with both new construction and retrofit installation. It requires an external subwoofer amplifier and is optimally paired with the PSB CS 500W.

How does the PSB CSIW SUB28 compare to the PSB CSIW SUB10 and Sonance Sub 10 Round in-wall subwoofers?

The PSB CSIW SUB28, CSIW SUB10, and Sonance Sub 10 Round target the custom installation in-wall subwoofer category but differ significantly in driver count, installation flexibility, and design intent. The CSIW SUB10 uses a single 10-inch Glass fiber / PMI foam sandwich cone driver and is engineered exclusively for new construction with a stud-beam coupling system for maximum resonance isolation. The CSIW SUB28 deploys two 8-inch carbon fibre cone drivers in a larger sealed cabinet and supports both new construction and retrofit applications, making it more versatile across different project types. The Sonance Sub 10 Round is a round-format single-driver design primarily targeting retrofit residential projects. For custom installation professionals who need a high-output, flexible-format dual-driver in-wall subwoofer that can work in any wall construction scenario, the CSIW SUB28 is the stronger specification.

Does the PSB CSIW SUB28 require a specific amplifier?

The CSIW SUB28 is a passive subwoofer and requires an external amplifier. The PSB CS 500W subwoofer amplifier is the recommended pairing and includes a dedicated EQ preset specifically configured for the CSIW SUB28's driver and cabinet characteristics. One CS 500W unit delivers 500 watts at 4 ohms and can drive up to two CSIW SUB28 units simultaneously from a single amplifier chassis, simplifying multi-unit installations. The CS 500W is installed in the equipment rack alongside the AV receiver or processor and is not placed inside the wall.

What is the advantage of the sealed cabinet design in the CSIW SUB28?

The CSIW SUB28's sealed cabinet design means its acoustic performance is determined entirely by its own engineered enclosure volume rather than by whatever wall cavity happens to exist behind the installation point. Open-back in-wall subwoofers can deliver wildly inconsistent results depending on wall construction, insulation, adjacent room geometry, and cavity volume. The CSIW SUB28's sealed self-contained back-box eliminates all of these variables, delivering the same controlled, accurate bass response in every installation. The sealed design also minimises low-frequency sound transmission into adjacent rooms, a practical benefit in multi-room residential and hospitality custom installation environments.

Can the PSB CSIW SUB28 be installed in an existing finished wall?

Yes. The CSIW SUB28 is specifically designed to support both new construction and retrofit applications. Its heavy-duty nylon dogleg clamps secure the cabinet against the drywall surface without requiring access to structural framing, making retrofit installation into existing finished walls straightforward. A rectangular cutout of approximately 13-1/2 x 25-3/8 inches is required, and the unit can be oriented vertically or horizontally to fit available wall space. This retrofit compatibility is a key advantage over the CSIW SUB10, which requires new construction stud-beam access.

What speaker wire gauge does the PSB CSIW SUB28 accept?

The CSIW SUB28's spring-post terminals accept bare wire up to 12 AWG, which is the standard recommended gauge for in-wall subwoofer runs at typical residential installation distances. The terminals also accept pin connectors and single or dual banana plugs for installers who prefer terminated in-wall cable ends. PSB recommends using in-wall rated speaker cable for the run between the CS 500W amplifier and the CSIW SUB28, particularly for runs longer than 20 feet where resistance losses become more significant at 4 ohm loads.

Where can I buy the PSB CSIW SUB28 in Toronto or Canada?

The PSB CSIW SUB28 Dual 8" In-Wall Passive Subwoofer is available in Toronto, Canada at Vinyl Sound, an authorised PSB Speakers dealer. Vinyl Sound supports professional custom installation projects and can assist with specification, system design, amplifier pairing with the PSB CS 500W, and multi-unit configuration planning. Installers and homeowners across Canada are welcome to contact Vinyl Sound for purchasing, project consultation, and shipping inquiries.