Subwoofer suggestions for 2,400 cu. ft. Room

Based on what I know about the dynamic range and bass extension of that particular sub, you are probably not having dynamic range problems. That leaves equalization problems.

What are you doing with the adjustments on the sub after running Audyssey? Audyssey is not perfect, and doing post-tuning by various means, both inside the AVR and outside it are recommended. On the worst day of your life get a parametric eq and kick the sub(s) in the butt, post Audyssey.

Have you taken the time to obtain a room analyzing program? Without one of these, regarding subwoofer placement and control settings, you're guessing as it's quite possible you have some bass nulls which are robbing you of your desired bass.

Allow me to encourage, before doing anything else, stop looking at your subs as the problem and start looking at the room's acoustics and one's need to acquire a room analyzing program so as to identify these bass stealing nulls.

Hope the above helps.

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The least expensive is REW, a freeware program but you need to purchase microphone, sound meter, cables and any interface (Phantom Power Supply) card necessary to interact with your computer.

The least complicated but much more user friendly version is the "OmniMic" program which can be obtained here. Overall, a bit more expensive but much more efficient in time usage; ease of getting up and running.

I can't rightly say which is better as both do an excellent job of providing room measurements so one can on screen, visualize what's what with their subwoofer related room acoustics.

The difference having a room analyzing program up and running is priceless when it comes to fixing those nasty, bass stealing nulls. In the last few days of playing with subs and room analyzing program, I've successfully corrected to two serious null issues (15-17dB each), one at ~28Hz and a, non-harmonic (no sympathetic response) related one at ~88Hz. I still have more to do but what's transpired over the last few days qualifies as an excellent start and could not have been done without the aid of the room analyzing program.

The realtime room analyzer (RTA) also shows I have several, non-speaker related, standing wave issues in the sub-250Hz frequency range. One of them, I'm guessing, is harmonic related; 60Hz vs 120Hz. All of which can't be seen without aid of a room analyzer.

Disclosure: On top of the room analyzing efforts, in an adjunct fashion, DSPeaker's Anti-Mode was added. The Anti-Mode can be considered polish to one's room analyzing efforts.

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Edited by BeeMan458 - 1/28/13 at 8:25am

Have you tried turning one of the subs phase control to 180? Was there more bass ?

If your AVR is setting the sub to -10db after Audyssey runs you probably have the gain set way too high the subwoofer's amp. When I first got my SVS PB10-NSD I had the gain set at 12:00 position and ran Audyssey, it set my sub trim to -12db and the bass was pretty much non-existant. I then adjusted gain to the 9:00 position and rain Audyssey again and this time my trim level was set to -2db and sounded significantly better!

Try lowering the gain on your subwoofers and run Audyssey again, ideally you want the trim as close to 0db as possible after running Audyssey. Also make sure the crossover is set to Bypass or set to highest setting.

Plus 1 on that. If you have 2 PB-12 NSD in a room that size and have no base something is definitely not set right. Try the suggestions from the other posters
and also give SVS a call they are very helpful with set up.

I would hate to see you throw more money at subs when you more than likely just need to change some settings.

Try adjusting the phase of one subwoofer to 180 and leave the other at 0 play some test tones. If its louder with one with the phase control at 180 odds are one of your subs is wired reverse. Easy 15 minute fix.

if you turn one subwoofer off and the bass increases, then one is wired in reverse

And then again, the added sub could be increasing an existing null.

No one has mentioned where your listening position is, is it near the middle of the room? Have you tried walking around to see how the bass varies, to make sure you're not sitting in a bass null? even moving the subs won't be able to overcome a serious bass null in a room.

Just saying. Yesterday, moving our subs into different locations helped with two serious bass null issues. Not arguing, just sharing personal, REW measured, experience.

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Edited by BeeMan458 - 1/28/13 at 12:53pm

it would require a phone call to svs and telling them your situation, next is pulling the amplifier and changing the connections internally. But before you do all this just see if its louder with one sub on.

I agree with the suggestion to walk around the room and see if the bass is good anywhere. If it is, then you have a bad placement issue and should move the subs, otherwise, you may just need to crank up the gain on the receiver. Audyssey always sets my levels lower than I prefer.

Turn one sub off and power one on with phase set to 0. Is there more bass?

Your seating position is in a null or dead spot... You should move the subs around to find a position to overcome the dead spot... Usually, one sub should be in a corner and the other sub should be along the side wall opposite of the sub...

Running all speakers as small and using a universal xo of 80 may help with the bass responese in the room. It seems as if the room is a big problem. Running everything as small will eliminate some phase and cancellation issues. Having the subs doing the bass for the system is also useful. The higher xo will re-direct a little more bass to the subs.