Official SVS Owners/Support Thread. - Page 199

Except the main difference is that going from a 1000 watt amp to a 2400 watt amp is a big difference, especially in a sealed dual opposed design if the drivers can handle that kind of power. Going from a 750 watt amp to a 1000 watt amp in a ported design is, IMO, a waste of money, unless you really need the limiters or DSP functions. If you have a device that flattens the FR of your sub, I'm not sure that going to a DSP amp with 250 more watts is going to "change the sound" of the driver, nor are you getting enough additional output to make a difference. It might help the sub to be more flat depending on the room and keep the sub operating within it's limits better, but technically one shouldn't be operating the sub outside of its limits very often, if ever (), and again, most of us have some sort of EQ.

If the swap price was $150 to say $300, and extended the warranty on your amp, that is likely worth it. More than that, I'm not so sure. Well, wouldn't be to me anyhow.

I guess I can see both sides of the story.

If you are happy with everything, leave it alone.

If you just have to have the latest and greatest, upgrade.

I guess we will have to wait and see what the performance value is. If it pushes the Ultra to new levels, then I have to have it. Heck....I am an Audioholic so I have to have it no matter what.

I am going to order 2 as soon as they become available.

Any feedback from new owners with the Sledge amps on the functionality, interface, and/or any perceived differences between these and the BASH amps?

My brain says I won't notice a difference, but that has done little to tame my upgraditis in the past.

I am an amateur to these whole HI-FI setup.

I just got a SVS-PB12+ with sledge 800 watt. Truthfully I did not touch a single setting on the amp ... Just did the Audysey autosetup and it came out for subwoofer to be -12db...

From reading that means I need to turn down the default volume on sledge e.g. -20..

I do not understand the concept that I have a sub with this power but Audysey recommends to turn it down? Therefore if I had a PB13 Ultra for instance I would have to put the volume down to ex. -50??

Or do most people crank up the volume on the subwoofer if that is the taste they like?

Most people run their subwoofer 3 to 5 dbs hotter than the mains.

Additionally, its a good idea to adjust the subwoofer gain such that the receiver/prepro subwoofer level is -6 to -4. This supposably provides less distortion.

Usually, the gain knobs on subs aren't linear and has no relevance as to the actual power setting. i.e on a scale of 1 to 10, 5 isn't half.

The idea is to make the speakers all play at the same level (reference level). Then when you need the power, there's some there to use. Don't assume because you have a big sub that you have 'all that power'. It takes 'all that power' and then some to hit reference level in many room.

Turn the volume down on the sub and re-run Audyssey (check the guide in my sig). As long as you get in below -12 you are good.

That's why I bought a few of them so headroom isn't an issue.

The PB10-NSD DSP and PB12-NSD DSP both have the new 400 watt DSP amp, but their on close out. Weird, I wonder how their going to improve them? Maybe a new set of drivers? More porting? Bigger amps? I guess I find it odd they haven't said anything yet.

Just a few.

I suspect there are new drivers on the way. They ended their relationship with Indigo, but they needed to put an amp in these, so they put in the Sledge for now.

I wonder why? Contracting out offshore being cheaper I suppose.

I doubt it. If it is, not by much. And the DSP amps are costing them more. Which is no surprise. I would say the reasons they dropped the BASH amps are the following.

1. BASH Amps being made in China. There was no benefit to going with Indigo. They could no longer say their amps are made in Canada.

2. They wanted more control. With Indigo they were limited by pre-established platforms and technologies.(We could also say this when they left TC sounds) For example I've never seen a BASH amp with more than 1000 watts of power. And the new SB16-Ultra will need more than that.

3. Reliability, quality control and power. In say the last 5 or so years what has been the common failure point in SVS subs? The amp, fails most often if something is going to fail. Granted this is common in in plate amps. But it also doesn't look good for SVS when their amps die. I would bet unless your really stupid with your volume you won't break a driver. I think SVS wanted a more reliable amp. Further SVS taking more control over their amps. Allows them to catch problems quicker. SVS had a bit of a black eye when BASH amps on the PB13Ultra begin dieing on early adopters.

4. The DSP, SVS has for a long time been looking at them in amps. Tom V talked about them trying them out before The Ultra 13 subs launched. But SVS held off until they could use them to make a real difference in sound quality and make it worth the price. So the sealed subs come out and it makes sense for a new platform. So now SVS has more control over their subs and they have a good new marketing point. DSP's are the rage right now.

5. Sound quality and control. Its been said that so far the new DSP amps show a sound quality improvement, especially in the lower lines. The new amps allow SVS use to more sophisticated limiters, tunes and tweaks. But the real bonus here is the fact its easier for SVS to update the amps. As I think Ed Mullen Said you can flash the DSP vs mess with the circuit boards.

So it seems a lot of good reasons for SVS to update their Amps as well take more control. The only two real cons I can find are price and being outsourcing to China/Taiwan. As fair as out sourcing goes I don't they can help that with how large they have become.

Yeah, yet another "this or that" question, sorry for the repetition.

My situation's a wee bit different - dedicated HT room, basement that runs 14' W x 21' deep, 6' ceilings, with a 7.0 setup now that I'd sold off my Velodyne CT-150 to a friend. My mains (DefTech 70001s) have built in 12"ers, and my Center and rear surrounds also are powered with subs, so I certainly have a nice thump of bass.

But do I have enough thump?

Kidding aside, I'm trying to justify adding another sub to the mix strictly for proper musical and HT representation of LFE and deep bass. I'm not looking for blowing SPL levels for the sake of causing bowel leakage, but to augment what's already a pretty decent setup.

So, given my (moderate) sized room, I was leaning towards the PC 12-plus with the new amp. While my Integra 9.8 does Audessy, I'm really not a fan on how it rolls off the top end, so I'd like the ability to manually tweak the amp to deliver the best results. Plans are to run an XLR to back of room (actually behind rear speakers surround, which are housed atop an IKEA 4x4 Expedit holding vinyl and laserdiscs), going for the cylindrical design to fit nicely in the behind and to the right of listening position.

With my previous 15" sub, I did get a bit more "oomph", but the Velo, a well loved unit, didn't really hold up for my needs for clear reproduction, and was outclassed by the existing subs in my mains for the most part (volume rarely went up past 1 on the dial).

My choice, then, is as follows:

- Keep a 7.0 setup, using the twin 12" Supercubes built into the DTs to manage bass.
- Go for the 12" SVS, which is almost within budget, and should suit the smaller room
- Go for the 13" Ultra, figuring it to be my last Sub for a long while (my Velodyne lasted me over a decade, and is still kickin')
- buy a different brand of sub!

With the 13, I fear the room simply won't let it shine, and that being overpowered for the space I'd be throttling it to a point where its advantages would never shine.

So, given all this madness, any suggestions? The plan now is to go for the 12 ultra on "loan" from the dealer and see what role it really can play, if I'm really missing out on not bumping up to the 13 for my setup (ie., if the difference between what I've already got and what I'd be getting isn't sufficient) then I'd consider waiting and saving for the 13 ultra.

Well, you can always turn the sub(s) down. I'm a bit of a loose cannon when it comes to over the top bass, or well beyond reference. I started with the Plus, then two, and then four Ultras in a 12x12x8 space. My humble recommendation would be for the Ultra.

Indigo was bought out by another company. I can't locate the article to see who, but I think it was a Swiss company. I don't believe SVS liked the direction they were headed or they saw an opportunity to get new amps that they had more input in the design and they employed DSP.

Or, what oneeye said.

nobody?

d_m1010 responded to you above. And I'll tell you the same thing. Get the Ultra and don't look back. Tighter and cleaner bass then the other models.

Ok guys I'm 99% sure I'm getting a pb-10nsd. . .but I came across a definitive supercube 2 for about the same price. Anybody has heard a supercube before? Comparisons? Thanks!

Hey, well, I've got two Supercube 1's in my 7001s, and find them pretty decent, but I'm still looking for SVS for me.

Sorry, d_m1010, I missed your response. And NismoZ, you feel the same, even for the medium sized room you'd spend the extra grand, huh? Again, I'm NOT looking for "over the top" bass, just accurate.

There are only a few people who really make great subs. SVS is one of them. It might be a bit tricky to integrate the SVS with your mains (subs). I've got a buddy of mine who has an Ultra and 7001s. We are still tweaking trying to get the sound matched up. I find any mains with built in subs, hard to integrate with any sub... Maybe some of the guys in the DeffTech forums with SVSs or good subs can help you out.

I have a question with regards to the SVS PB13 ultra. Do you have to re run Audyssey every time you change the tuning frequency with the port blockers or can you run audyssey on say the 15hz tune and just change to the other tunes after running Audyssey on the 15hz tune.

Be good to get your opinions please.

cheers

Graham

I don't have one, but I would like to know too. Just in case I talk myself into getting one.

Yes, you should re-run Audyssey each time. You changing the subs response across its range (and the volume).

Heh, fair enough. Frankly, the plan is to knock the 7001s off at 60-40hz, and have the SVS do the rest (and/or provide bass for LFE and a 60hz cuttoff for sides/rear/CC)

can you elaborate on your challenges? Boomyness? How big was the room?

If $ was no object I'd plunge to the Ultras, natch, but I'm still trying to get my head around just how big a jump there really is from the 12" to the 13.5" sub. (yeah, sometimes 1.5" can make quite a difference, har har... )

It's not the added 1.5 inch only, it's the encosure size and watts on the amp that matter too. All 3 of those things make a sub.

So, with my setup (JBL Studio speakers and PB13 Ultra), I have no other "Subs" that compete with or cancel out frequency ranges. I also have a sub EQ, where I've dialed in a flat response and taken the boom out of any room inconsistencies. My setup sounds great and it was easy to get it that way.

My buddy's room is about 2500 cu ft. I know he can make it work, because the DefTechs are great speakers. It's just when you don't have a sub EQ and the added "subs" on the mains, makes it difficult to get the sound we are looking for.

If he did a bit of research on the DefTech forum and got an EQ, he'd have them dialed in.

I have the SVS ASEQ-1 and I just changed the tuning from 15hz to 20hz. I re-run the eq each time I change something.

Also, I have four Ultras on output 1, and the two Pluses on output 2 from the eq because it integrates them (being different drivers) including phase.

Hi, I am planning to buy Ultra 13 and want to hear it before i buy. can anyone in SF Bay area help me listen to their Sub before i buy. Really Appreciate your help.

What is your current speakers/sub? If you can't find anyone to demo, don't let that stop you. Take the leap and go for it. This is an easy recommend for anyones theater.

I have following setup. My Polk Sub does decent Job. I want to buy only if there is significant differnce between my sub and Ultra 13

Fronts: Polk Lsi15
Center : Polk LsiC
Surround: Polk LsiFx
Sub: Plok Micropro 4000
Amp: B&K 200.7
receiver: Denon 3311Ci

Dude, the Ultra is in a completely different league...