Just got my SVS SB12-NSD sub today, my thoughts so far... - Page 3

So I played around with my setup, dropped in some stands and 5.1 speaker setup, ran some calibrations, did some adjustments, then threw a lot of heavy LFE blurays to see what would happen. While the SB12 supplied bass, it just didn't quite slam as much as I wanted. For music, the SB12 is excellent, fast and responsive, runs circles around my old STF-2, very musical, but if you want slam for movies, there's only so much as a sealed sub can do apparently, unless you opt for the more expensive SB13 Plus or something like the HSU ULS-15, which I hear can really pull some deep output, according the numbers.

I suppose it was my fault that I'm in a position to return it, I really wanted to believe that a sealed sub would be enough in my room for my tastes, for some people the SB12 will be fine. After having a HSU STF-2 in my room and feeling pretty satisfied for over a year, I'm hoping a PB12 will take things up to a higher level with deeper output and even more slam with movies. I am at least glad that I had a chance to try out a sealed sub, and a fine sub at that.

So I decided for sure to get the PB12-NSD, I don't give a hoot if the box is big and unsightly, I just want my movies to slam and rattle the walls. I'm going to talk to SVS tomorrow about doing a return for my SB12 so I can order the PB12 instead.

BTW, one weird thing I noticed was that there is a subwoofer thump when a bluray switches into encoded surround playback. This sometimes happens 2 or 3 times during title intro. I never noticed this problem on my other Pioneer receiver, I don't know if its this new receiver(Pioneer 1121-K) or the sub, I checked the sub cable(Premium one from monoprice) its seems to be plugged in fine. What gives???

That is correct, it should also even out the response of your sub in your room helping out with filling null voids and giving you a overall punchier sound, you may even get a slightly deeper output due to the combined db output. Having dual SB12's might actually be what I'm craving with movies, but my budget is only good for one sub right now and I'm opting for the PB12.


SB12-NSD is a sealed sub from SVS, it is great with music and okay with movies, but if you want serious slam, you have to go ported with something like the PB12-NSD.


Yeah the music performance on this sub is excellent for 2 channel systems, it is clean, fast and responsive to little detailed changes. That is one thing that I will miss when I return it is how it sounds with music.

I did my final head scratching about getting the PB12-NSD, I was checking out the HSU VTF-3.4 but the box and weight is just too huge to fit in my room, plus the added cost of shipping and taxes would make it more than the PB12. So PB12-NSD it is for sure.

Anyone have any bad experience from purchasing an SVS Outlet special? I've never been one to buy outlet specials(or b stock) as I worry about getting abused equipment, but from what I hear, these new SVS subs have limiters built in that make bottoming out impossible. So apart from someone dropping the sub, I think it should be fine.....anyone happy with a b-stock purchase from SVS?

I'll just go for a new sub then, that should eliminate my chances of having to return the sub if something is wrong because someone else did something funky to it.