[Blkout]

..........tell me that the Servo 15 walks all over the Seismic 12. I borrowed a Seismic 12 today from my local Paradigm dealer, I don't know if this is an older model or how used it is since it was sitting in the showroom for quite some time but I am not impressed with it compared to my SVS PC+ 20-39, the Seismic is not shabby, but doesn't even come close to the output of the SVS, how is this possible with over 2 1/2 times the wattage?



The dealer didn't have a Servo 15 in stock to let me try, but I won't be interested if its not a noticable improvement over the Seismic 12, any Servo owners care to comment?


If the Servo 15 is not a world of difference over the Seismic, I guess I will just keep my SVS and be done with it.

 

[Greg_R]

Old or new Servo? The v1 Servo-15 was exceptionally musical but lacked extreme output at low frequencies (

 

[NightRain]

Quote:

Originally posted by Greg_R Old or new Servo? The v1 Servo-15 was exceptionally musical but lacked extreme output at low frequencies (

 

[JasonColeman]

I don't know about unadulterated (nice!), but I was under the impression that the Servo was capable of digging very deep and very loud. I thought that this was one reason why it was such a popular "higher end" sub.


Jason

 

[NightRain]

Quote:

Originally posted by JasonColeman I don't know about unadulterated (nice!), but I was under the impression that the Servo was capable of digging very deep and very loud. I thought that this was one reason why it was such a popular "higher end" sub. Jason

It is all you've said and more. Greg obviously has never heard one. I have a V1 and V2 and would certainly put them in the top 5 of all subs made and better than any three letter company, such as JBL's, offerings........

 

[craigsub]

Quote:

Originally posted by NightRain better than any three letter company, such as JBL's, offerings........

That there is funny...

 

[Blkout]

Well, this Seismic 12 seems to having a chuffing like noise coming from the passive radiators, sounds just like port noise except I know its not the exact same as a ported sub. I realize the PR's aren't airtight but I wouldn't have expected them to make as much noise as they do on lower bass notes.


Also, I have the gain setting half way up, with my 525w SVS PC+ that is more than enough to rattle everything in the whole house, with this 1200w Seismic its barely enough to hear or feel anything. And for some strange reason anytime I turn the gain beyond half way, there is an audible humming noise coming from the sub or the amp, I can't be certain which. Is this normal?


I am going to be really dissapointed if the Servo 15 doesn't perform much better, I know the v2 should be much better than the v1, but I can't think of any real reason why it should be all that much louder if at all compared to the Seismic 12 since they both have the same power but the Servo is sealed so it shouldn't be quite as efficient as a non-sealed design.


I can get my dealer to order a Servo 15 for me and if I don't like it, he will take it back within 30 days, but I sure hate to waste his time and mine if the Servo 15 isn't much of an improvement over the Seismic 12. My dealer raved about the Seismic telling me how powerful it was and how impressed I would be with the sheer output, but he knows nothing of SVS so we obviously don't see things the same way. Listening to this Seismic has made me appreciate the SVS even more, but I was still hoping that Paradigm could offer something similar so I could go with all matching Paradigm products.


I'm a little bummed right now.......

 

[HeaTransfer]

I've never heard the SVS tubes, but FWIW, the extra power in the Seismic amp is, at least in part, making up for the significantly smaller enclosure volume. I understand that the SVS do subwoofery US-style, brute force/no-replacement-for-displacement way. The tradeoff is the size.


You might wish to read hometheaterhifi.com's review of the Seismic 12 which set off a whole firestorm of SEis12vsSVS posts on this and other forums (so much so that references to SVS were excised from the review).


Happy listening.

 

[Blkout]

Quote:

Originally posted by HeaTransfer I've never heard the SVS tubes, but FWIW, the extra power in the Seismic amp is, at least in part, making up for the significantly smaller enclosure volume. I understand that the SVS do subwoofery US-style, brute force/no-replacement-for-displacement way. The tradeoff is the size. You might wish to read hometheaterhifi.com's review of the Seismic 12 which set off a whole firestorm of SEis12vsSVS posts on this and other forums (so much so that references to SVS were excised from the review). Happy listening.

I read the review yesterday while doing some research, and it surprised me that they commented on the output of the Seismic in regards to the SVS which was later changed to brand Y, they raved about how the Seismic sounded as powerful as two SVS subs, I'm afraid I just don't see it. My SVS PC+ 20-39 runs circles around this Seismic 12.

 

[MrSquid]

Quote:

Originally posted by Blkout The dealer didn't have a Servo 15 in stock to let me try, but I won't be interested if its not a noticable improvement over the Seismic 12, any Servo owners care to comment?

I was looking at the Seismic 12 and the Signature Servo. I ended up ordering a Servo 15v2 because basically it's pretty close to the Sig Servo without the pretty dressings. If your dealer has a Sig Servo you can listen to, give it a shot and see if it's got the cajones you're looking for.


Though, if you've got room, you may be just as well off (or even further ahead?) to scoop up a 2nd SVS...

 

[Blkout]

Quote:

Originally posted by MrSquid I was looking at the Seismic 12 and the Signature Servo. I ended up ordering a Servo 15v2 because basically it's pretty close to the Sig Servo without the pretty dressings. If your dealer has a Sig Servo you can listen to, give it a shot and see if it's got the cajones you're looking for. Though, if you've got room, you may be just as well off (or even further ahead?) to scoop up a 2nd SVS...

Yea, I like the specs of the v2 Servo 15, but it looks like I'm forced to see if the dealer will order me one and let me try it and return it if I don't like it. I just hate to waste my time and his if it doesn't turn out to be impressive. He has no Servo's in stock so he would have to order it.


I really don't need two SVS subs, the single 20-39 PC+ is plenty, I was just hoping to find a matching Paradigm sub since I use Paradigm Studio's.




How do you like your v2 Servo 15, or do you have it yet?

 

[4WR]

It sounds to me like there my be something wrong with the seismic that you have. Gain set a 1/2 should be more than enough for a fairly large room. The humming is definitely NOT normal. The seismic is however very susceptible to placement issues. It needs lots of room to breathe. I had a seismic and a PW-2200 (I know, not in the same league) in my room at the same time and opted for the 2200 because it was much more forgiving in it's placement. If you get a properly functioning seismic and place it 1 foot out and 1/2 way along your longest wall with the radiators firing along the wall the thing is a beast. For corner placement I found it needed to be 3 feet out with the radiators @ 45 degrees to the intersecting walls but that is too far out into the room for most. YMMV


Take Care

 

[John Robert]

Quote:

I read the review yesterday while doing some research, and it surprised me that they commented on the output of the Seismic in regards to the SVS which was later changed to brand Y, they raved about how the Seismic sounded as powerful as two SVS subs

Now that's funny. I read the review when it first was posted; to now see it edited for content (Brand Y) to appease a vocal minority is pretty sad...


John

 

[Blkout]

Quote:

Originally posted by 4WR It sounds to me like there my be something wrong with the seismic that you have. Gain set a 1/2 should be more than enough for a fairly large room. The humming is definitely NOT normal. The seismic is however very susceptible to placement issues. It needs lots of room to breathe. I had a seismic and a PW-2200 (I know, not in the same league) in my room at the same time and opted for the 2200 because it was much more forgiving in it's placement. If you get a properly functioning seismic and place it 1 foot out and 1/2 way along your longest wall with the radiators firing along the wall the thing is a beast. For corner placement I found it needed to be 3 feet out with the radiators @ 45 degrees to the intersecting walls but that is too far out into the room for most. YMMV Take Care

Yea, I returned the Seismic 12 to the dealer this morning and told him my bad experiences with it, he said there is a possibility something could be wrong with it since some of his employees were using it in one of the theater rooms listening to a lot of very bass heavy CD's just showing off for customers. I told him about the fluttering sound from the passive radiators and the humming sound from the built in amp, he said it shouldn't be doing any of that, he did say that the humming could be a bad ground in my electrical outlet, he does a lot of home installs and said its quite common in many houses its just that some amps don't pick up noise as easy as others.


He is supposed to check the sub for me today and get back with me to let me know if he also had the same problems with it. He offered me a brand new Seismic 10 to take home and try out, but I refused and told him to order me a v2 Servo 15 to try. He said he should have one for me to use late next week.

 

[Blkout]

Quote:

Originally posted by John Robert Now that's funny. I read the review when it first was posted; to now see it edited for content (Brand Y) to appease a vocal minority is pretty sad... John

Yea, there is a thread on one of the A/V forums talking about how the article was changed and then the mag editor later replied with his explanation why.

 

[NightRain]

Quote:

Originally posted by John Robert Now that's funny. I read the review when it first was posted; to now see it edited for content (Brand Y) to appease a vocal minority is pretty sad... John

SVS bitched, whined and complained publicly and the website caved in and totally rendered the review useless. Pathetic.

 

[capecodorthopod]

Blkout

If you like your SVS why go with a Paradigm sub? I agree that timbre matching is important for full range loudspeakers but it not nearly as important for low frequency sound.


NightRain

Why bash the three letter compaines? My SVS PB-12 Ultra/2 would throw your Servo's a spankin' (yes, even the v.2). Their 4 driver sub is far superior and competitve with the price of the Servo v.2

 

[NightRain]

Quote:

Originally posted by capecodorthopod Blkout If you like your SVS why go with a Paradigm sub? I agree that timbre matching is important for full range loudspeakers but it not nearly as important for low frequency sound. NightRain Why bash the three letter compaines? My SVS PB-12 Ultra/2 would throw your Servo's a spankin' (yes, even the v.2). Their 4 driver sub is far superior and competitve with the price of the Servo v.2

Yes I'm SURE it would. . Hope that makes your testosterone count soar!!!

 

[capecodorthopod]

It was high enough, thank you. I'm not trying to get into a pissing contest I was taking issue with you knocking companies based on their names or initials rather than their performance.

 

[NightRain]

Quote:

Originally posted by capecodorthopod It was high enough, thank you. I'm not trying to get into a pissing contest I was taking issue with you knocking companies based on their names or initials rather than their performance.

Yes it's all based on their initials. Damned BMW, GM, ACI, ATI, MSI, HP, UPS....GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!.