I know there have been many debates around the Axiom on these boards, and I hate to... er... open old wounds, as it were, but I have a dilemma.

My budget for my home theater/audio system is around 1200-1800 or so, I can squeeze it a bit, but ultimately I want to keep it around that $1500 or so range. I am limited, however, by living in Canada.
I can't get to too many stores to test these things out, and the selection in most stores around here is pretty crappy anyway.

Axiom has free shipping, so something like the EP500 will come in right about on budget.
I can get the Velodyne SPL1000r or SPL1200r locally, and they seem quite good from the reviews and my very limited in-store testing.

Size isn't a real concern, I have some options in the room, even though it's only about 2000sq' (18x12x9 or so).
Now here's what I want from my sub:
Integration.

I don't need it to vibrate my poo out at 1hz, I don't need ripples in the space time continuum to smack me with sound. I don't listen to hip hop or stuff like that. I want very tight, very responsive, and very integrated sound rather than ultra-low frequency or pure SPL for its own sake. Filling out the low end, rather than BEING the low end. Roughly 60/40 for HT/audio, and the audio will be stuff like classic rock, acoustic rock, 80s rock, a bit of jazz, folk, that sort of stuff. My mains are Totem Hawks and a Totem Rainmaker center, theoretically the mains go down to ~30 hz as is, and I'd like to keep them working fairly low as well as I like the speakers, so really I guess I'm looking for response mostly in the 25-60 sorta range.

I've seen lots of good reviews on both of these subs, but I don't really have the knowledge or ability to cross-compare these two in particular.
Any help would be appreciated!

SVS PB13 Ultra hands down. (cylinder model if you want something cheaper) you ain't gonna get any subwoofer better than this musically.

I have an Axiom EP500 btw. (i would only recommend it to enemies)
I also have an SVS SB12 Plus (should match the SPL-1000R in performance)

www.sonicboomaudio.com canadian distributor of SVS

basically my recommendation in order of priority/price:
SVS PB13 Ultra
SVS PC13 Ultra
SVS PB12 Plus
SVS PB12 NSD

Is there any sonic difference between cylinder and box?

Is there any sonic difference between cylinder and box?Not that anyone could tell. But check the price first. The PB/PC 13 is over your budget.

I really liked the SPL-1200R, but it is a little pricey for a more limited FR sub. You can get them lower priced than when I was last shopping. And no offense to Ribbit, but there are some owners that really like the EP500. Jakeman for one. He also liked the EP400 (I believe). It would be on par with the SVS SB12+. Smaller, sealed, more affordable subs that don't go as loud or as low as their ported cousins.

none taken. all a matter of opinion.
it's not a bad subwoofer. but it is an overpriced subwoofer.

but OP said 1200-1800 budget, assuming CAD

sonicboomaudio.com has the box ultra at 1699 CAD.

edit: or was that for the whole system?

seriously though, if it was for the whole system, please X the EP500 and the PB13 (start from the bottom of my recommended subwoofers) from your choices. notice I did not ask why you were comparing a small sealed sub to the ported EP500? because they both go to 23hz with the EP500 most likely going louder.

kwernebu, where are you located, have you checked Axiom's site for a possible audition of the EP500?

I have found the Axiom subs to have a somewhat unique sound to them, they are more open, encompassing and warm, maybe textured is a better word, than most of the other subs out there. I have the PB13 ultra and have compared it to the EP600(similar to the 500) and both have good volume and reach fairly low, the PB13 does reach lower, but you say you are not interested in that part of it. I found the PB13 to have more attack (punch) than the EP600 at lower volumes and the PB13 sounds drier, for a lack of a better term. You really should try to hear them both and decide for yourself which you like better.

I have also had a listen to the PB12-nsd and it too, is an excellent choice and cheaper than the EP500.

Thanks folks.
Budget is $1500ish just for the sub.
The PC13 seems to be $1762.95 including taxes and shipping.
The ep500 is going to be around $1300 including taxes, the SPL1000r will be about 1350 after taxes.
So two of them fall a bit under budget, one falls a bit over budget.

So really then, I guess the debate seems to be becoming "is the SVS sub worth an extra $400 over the Axiom and the Velodyne"

Judging by most of the responses on here, people would be willing to give away their children for an extra PB13...

So really then, I guess the debate seems to be becoming "is the SVS sub worth an extra $400 over the Axiom and the Velodyne"



That is all too easy to answer: YES!

I went with the PB13 over an Axiom mostly due to the feel I could get at lower volumes compared to the EP600 and the 600 plays lower than the 500, so the 500 vs. the PB13 is no contest, even at $400 more.

The PB13 was $1900 delivered to my door.

Well goddamn you people anyway. So I do the research and yeah... wow.
I figure I can stretch the budget a bit for that good of a sub.
Pull the trigger...and they're backordered on the PC13s. Lots of PB13s in stock though...
So now I have to rearrange my furniture, draw longer cables, move my whole layout around to fit a 2.5 foot cube somewhere on the floor, because of course I have to get it NOW.

So... next question... given a smaller HT room, 1800-2000 square feet, what sort of settings should I use? 15hz tuning? 20? sealed? etc.
Now that you've caused me to blow the budget, you owe me answers, people. :)

Well goddamn you people anyway. So I do the research and yeah... wow.
I figure I can stretch the budget a bit for that good of a sub.
Pull the trigger...and they're back ordered on the PC13s. Lots of PB13s in stock though...
So now I have to rearrange my furniture, draw longer cables, move my whole layout around to fit a 2.5 foot cube somewhere on the floor, because of course I have to get it NOW.

So... next question... given a smaller HT room, 1800-2000 square feet, what sort of settings should I use? 15hz tuning? 20? sealed? etc.
Now that you've caused me to blow the budget, you owe me answers, people. :)Welcome to the subwoofer manufacturer's financial support forum.:) I spent 3x what I had planned after finding this place. Damn the internet.

In your room, I would start at 15, but it is a fairly simple process to experiment with other settings.

How many extra children do you have?

i was supposed to buy the JBL E250 ... then I went to get opinions on the net.

So now I have to rearrange my furniture, draw longer cables, move my whole layout around to fit a 2.5 foot cube somewhere on the floor ...And take some steroids or hire a guy named Bubba, because that thing weighs 155 pounds.

And take some steroids or hire a guy named Bubba, because that thing weighs 155 pounds.

Good god, that's about 1.5 times the weight of my wife.
Well I'm about 6'4" and 260 myself, so it should be a good wrestling match trying to get this thing into place.

So 15hz is one recommendation... another question:
How would it be with the Audyssey auto-setup in my Denon 3808?
It's got the Audyssey Mult EQ Pro built in with a microphone and dynamic EQing of the room and all that.
Would I be well served by plugging it in, and just letting the damn AVR do the EQ and crossover points?