Decided to write this SHORT post for first time subwoofer purchasers in the $500 range.
Some background -> I spent 3 years during university buying and selling audio equipment. I have experienced MANY brands, designs, and quality. Also, I had to study and research for hours to obtain the knowledge and science behind audio and video equipment. In regards to subwoofers only I have experienced: Energy XL 8/10/12 & s10.3(very good), Mirage s10(good) Mirage ps12, Mirage BP100, Mirage BP150, klipsch some 8" one, polk micropro 3000 (very good), sunfire true (ok), Paradigm ps1200, paradigm pw2200 (great), velodyne vx 10, velodyne cht12, velodyne dls12, velodyne dls15, and more...
That being said jump right to it!
BEST $500 subwoofer -> SVS PB1000
WHY?
-> 5 YEAR WARRANTY!! No matter what you have a subwoofer for 5 years! NO other company offers a warranty like this for subwoofers. Most have 1-2 years on the amp and 1-5 years on the driver. SVS subwoofers are BULLET PROOF! AND the first year you can trade up to FULL value!! Can NOT beat this!
-> BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE!! Anyone that are on the forums or in the business/hobby KNOW you can NOT beat SVS in customer service.
-> BEST & SAFE shipping & packaging so NO shipping damage! Before my purchase I TRIED to find bad reviews on SVS shipping or if by chance you pay for it and get ripped off (I know paranoid but it happens online).. If you are buying ONLINE or SHIPPING DO NOT WORRY!
-> BEST FOR LAST -> PERFORMACE and more!!
The BEST thing about the PB-1000 is EVERYTHING... Let me explain.
Extension -> SOLID 20hz, with room game some will get down to 16hz. You WILL FEEL the pressure! This subwoofer is tuned under 25hz, so it plays 20hz just as easy as 60hz... Does not bottom out when it needs to dig deep.
.
Frequency response -> perfectly FLAT down to 20hz. MOST lower with room gain! Most subwoofers under $500 can NOT play the last octave and they over play the 40-60hz range. This subwoofer also plays higher frequency, so you can EASILY integrate this subwoofer with bookshelf and cut the speakers off at 80/100/120.
Driver quality -> FULL 1 INCH excursion!! Big surround that is NOT foam, so it will NOT deteriorate. Super fast driver, 10" and HIGH power!
Amp -> VERY powerful! 300 true watts RMS/720 peak class D and runs COOL! More than enough power.
Box -> HUGE box, big port allows this 10" to outperform ANY 10" HT subwoofer on the market. Also has an AMAZING finish!
Features -> "DSP control for accurate response and refined behavior under all operating conditions." Because of this, the distortion is VERY LOW even at HIGH volumes right down to 20hz!!
SUM IT UP!
The SVS PB1000 will play VERY loud! Distortion free! Down to 20hz with authority! FLAT/and NEVER die!
Yes almost to good to be true... After reading it, I feel like everyone will think I either work with SVS or I'm one HUGE fanboy! Hahaha
More experiences, additional notes and recommendations:
The SVS PB1000 -> OUTPERFORMS all previous 10" SVS models! (SVS support informed me) -> I know some will not believe it because of the weight difference in the driver. I suppose the new driver is lighter, moves faster, more efficiently, the DSP is amazing and controls the driver better, and potentially a great XmaX.
My listening room is about (in feet) -> 12L*24W*10H, open concept to a hallway, and open concept to small kitchen 10L*12W*10H, ALSO open to OUTSIDE door. Additionally my main room has 2 windows OPEN both 2*3 feet and the kitchen has one as well. This is a very HARD listening area to pressurize!! The SVS does it with EASE! You will FEEL the movies and some music. The subwoofer is VERY powerful! You will even feel it in the couch. My place is ALL tile, and under is cement and you can feel the energy on the floor. The sound is VERY clean, you will hear all the different notes! Very smooth, yet powerful!
Compared to the others I have owned -> Paradigm pw2200 is the BEST comparison. The paradigm would go a bit louder maybe 3 MAX 6 db more in the 30-80hz range. The SVS is WAY better below 25hz!! Also the SVS has less distortion and plays FLAT, unlike the paradigm. However the Paradigm was a great subwoofer still. The micropro was awesome. Had the BEST sounding punch I have heard, and low distortion. But the SVS plays under 35hz WAY better. The SVS has less distortion but the polk was tighter sounding. I think this is because of the port vs. sealed/rad design. The ENERGY 10.3 was very good and good punch not near the polks. But under 30hz could not touch the SVS. The sunfire was cool... But could not handle high SPL or below 30hz well.
At the end of the day overall the SVS is better than ALL the subwoofers I have owned. The closest competitor is the pw2200. Both new same price, I would pick the SVS. But if I could get say 2 used for $650 U.S. or under I may do it. But then again the PW2000 is close... Anyways you get my point, the SVS PB1000 best ALL the subs I've had before.
If you have $500 MAX for a subwoofer... LOOK NO FURTHER, just get it! If your max budget is $1000 I would get 2 of these.... Trust me 2 subwoofers is WAY better than 1!!
I know a lot of people are going to ask about the MONO, HSU, Rythmic and all kinds of other ID companies. So let me clear it up one time.
GO WITH SVS! WHY you ask? -> THEY GIVE YOU 5 YEAR WARRANY and are the MOST trusted ID company in the business.... And you can NOT find bad reviews on their service or product...
PERSONAL opinions regarding this topic. (NOTE: I DO NOT OWN THE MONO OR other ID units, I'm just putting my OPINION and INPUT)
The mono and some other ID companies may have a subwoofer capable of producing higher SPL. BUT the SVS will be cleaner, tighter and better quality. As well because the tuning point is so low and with the DSP chip it will play FLAT, LOW and NOT distorted. Basically you are choosing and sacrificing.
With SVS you get -> Better warranty, better customer service, lower distortion, linear response and authority down to 20hz.
With MONO you get -> A bit more volume.
To me... It is a NO brainer!
I really meant for this to be short... Sorry!! I hope this helps anyone looking to make a subwoofer purchase in the $500 range! I know it seems very one sided, but sometimes that's just the way it goes. At the end of the day buy what makes you happy!
Special thanks goes to MIKE and SVS representatives Jack Gilvey and Ed Mullen
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK SVS!
Decided to write this SHORT post for first time subwoofer purchasers in the $500 range.
Some background -> I spent 3 years during university buying and selling audio equipment. I have experienced MANY brands, designs, and quality. Also, I had to study and research for hours to obtain the knowledge and science behind audio and video equipment. In regards to subwoofers only I have experienced: Energy XL 8/10/12 & s10.3(very good), Mirage s10(good) Mirage ps12, Mirage BP100, Mirage BP150, klipsch some 8" one, polk micropro 3000 (very good), sunfire true (ok), Paradigm ps1200, paradigm pw2200 (great), velodyne vx 10, velodyne cht12, velodyne dls12, velodyne dls15, and more...
That being said jump right to it!
BEST $500 subwoofer -> SVS PB1000
WHY?
-> 5 YEAR WARRANTY!! No matter what you have a subwoofer for 5 years! NO other company offers a warranty like this for subwoofers. Most have 1-2 years on the amp and 1-5 years on the driver. SVS subwoofers are BULLET PROOF! AND the first year you can trade up to FULL value!! Can NOT beat this!
-> BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE!! Anyone that are on the forums or in the business/hobby KNOW you can NOT beat SVS in customer service.
-> BEST & SAFE shipping & packaging so NO shipping damage! Before my purchase I TRIED to find bad reviews on SVS shipping or if by chance you pay for it and get ripped off (I know paranoid but it happens online).. If you are buying ONLINE or SHIPPING DO NOT WORRY!
-> BEST FOR LAST -> PERFORMACE and more!!
The BEST thing about the PB-1000 is EVERYTHING... Let me explain.
Extension -> SOLID 20hz, with room game some will get down to 16hz. You WILL FEEL the pressure! This subwoofer is tuned under 25hz, so it plays 20hz just as easy as 60hz... Does not bottom out when it needs to dig deep.
.
Frequency response -> perfectly FLAT down to 20hz. MOST lower with room gain! Most subwoofers under $500 can NOT play the last octave and they over play the 40-60hz range. This subwoofer also plays higher frequency, so you can EASILY integrate this subwoofer with bookshelf and cut the speakers off at 80/100/120.
Driver quality -> FULL 1 INCH excursion!! Big surround that is NOT foam, so it will NOT deteriorate. Super fast driver, 10" and HIGH power!
Amp -> VERY powerful! 300 true watts RMS/720 peak class D and runs COOL! More than enough power.
Box -> HUGE box, big port allows this 10" to outperform ANY 10" HT subwoofer on the market. Also has an AMAZING finish!
Features -> "DSP control for accurate response and refined behavior under all operating conditions." Because of this, the distortion is VERY LOW even at HIGH volumes right down to 20hz!!
SUM IT UP!
The SVS PB1000 will play VERY loud! Distortion free! Down to 20hz with authority! FLAT/and NEVER die!
Yes almost to good to be true... After reading it, I feel like everyone will think I either work with SVS or I'm one HUGE fanboy! Hahaha
More experiences, additional notes and recommendations:
The SVS PB1000 -> OUTPERFORMS all previous 10" SVS models! (SVS support informed me) -> I know some will not believe it because of the weight difference in the driver. I suppose the new driver is lighter, moves faster, more efficiently, the DSP is amazing and controls the driver better, and potentially a great XmaX.
My listening room is about (in feet) -> 12L*24W*10H, open concept to a hallway, and open concept to small kitchen 10L*12W*10H, ALSO open to OUTSIDE door. Additionally my main room has 2 windows OPEN both 2*3 feet and the kitchen has one as well. This is a very HARD listening area to pressurize!! The SVS does it with EASE! You will FEEL the movies and some music. The subwoofer is VERY powerful! You will even feel it in the couch. My place is ALL tile, and under is cement and you can feel the energy on the floor. The sound is VERY clean, you will hear all the different notes! Very smooth, yet powerful!
Compared to the others I have owned -> Paradigm pw2200 is the BEST comparison. The paradigm would go a bit louder maybe 3 MAX 6 db more in the 30-80hz range. The SVS is WAY better below 25hz!! Also the SVS has less distortion and plays FLAT, unlike the paradigm. However the Paradigm was a great subwoofer still. The micropro was awesome. Had the BEST sounding punch I have heard, and low distortion. But the SVS plays under 35hz WAY better. The SVS has less distortion but the polk was tighter sounding. I think this is because of the port vs. sealed/rad design. The ENERGY 10.3 was very good and good punch not near the polks. But under 30hz could not touch the SVS. The sunfire was cool... But could not handle high SPL or below 30hz well.
At the end of the day overall the SVS is better than ALL the subwoofers I have owned. The closest competitor is the pw2200. Both new same price, I would pick the SVS. But if I could get say 2 used for $650 U.S. or under I may do it. But then again the PW2000 is close... Anyways you get my point, the SVS PB1000 best ALL the subs I've had before.
If you have $500 MAX for a subwoofer... LOOK NO FURTHER, just get it! If your max budget is $1000 I would get 2 of these.... Trust me 2 subwoofers is WAY better than 1!!
I know a lot of people are going to ask about the MONO, HSU, Rythmic and all kinds of other ID companies. So let me clear it up one time.
GO WITH SVS! WHY you ask? -> THEY GIVE YOU 5 YEAR WARRANY and are the MOST trusted ID company in the business.... And you can NOT find bad reviews on their service or product...
PERSONAL opinions regarding this topic. (NOTE: I DO NOT OWN THE MONO OR other ID units, I'm just putting my OPINION and INPUT)
The mono and some other ID companies may have a subwoofer capable of producing higher SPL. BUT the SVS will be cleaner, tighter and better quality. As well because the tuning point is so low and with the DSP chip it will play FLAT, LOW and NOT distorted. Basically you are choosing and sacrificing.
With SVS you get -> Better warranty, better customer service, lower distortion, linear response and authority down to 20hz.
With MONO you get -> A bit more volume.
To me... It is a NO brainer!
I really meant for this to be short... Sorry!! I hope this helps anyone looking to make a subwoofer purchase in the $500 range! I know it seems very one sided, but sometimes that's just the way it goes. At the end of the day buy what makes you happy!
Special thanks goes to MIKE and SVS representatives Jack Gilvey and Ed Mullen
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK SVS!