PB2 ISD Impressions

Duffman

Well the beast is finally setup and rumbling.

Shipping packaging was excellent and the sub was in perfect condition.

I have to say despite reading the "it's big" threads I was pretty shocked by the sheer mass of the thing. It looks like something straight off a Borg starship. My wife's comment was "normal houses don't have something that big in their living rooms...". I’m trying to placate her by suggesting we buy some new plants to sit on it, perhaps a small tree or two.

So the first (and only so far) test movie was Finding Nemo. The best movie theaters I’ve been in don’t compare to the way the SVS literally moves the air around you. The scene where Darla taps on the aquarium glass has the following effects in my ht room:

the floor boards in my hardwood floor vibrate and physically move under your feet

anything hanging on the wall in the family room *and* the adjoining kitchen vibrate, rattle or otherwise shake - I haven't been upstairs while this is going on but I'm guessing it's not pretty

tightening of the chest of anyone in the area - auditioned it for my neighbor to comments like "holy s$#!" followed by hysterical laughing

The music I’ve tried so far demonstrates a tightness and depth that my little PSW350 could only dream about. Norah Jones (SACD) bass is understated but extremely full and rich. For grins I cranked up AC/DC’s “**** Bells” while the wife and kids were out. Whoa. My Rti8’s give up way before the SVS even starts to sweat. My initial setup is tuned to 16hz with both port blockers in. Gain is set to around ¼-1/3.

That’s about it for now. I’m still trying to setup my receiver so I get some of that bass coming through standard Dolby tv viewing from Directv (e.g. the music channels). Anyone with suggestions around this?

Overall, very pleased. Now I get it.

polkatese

congrats, Duffman! look forward to your future review of the beast

MTXMAN

mind posting a link where i can take a look at that sub??

Personally i won't marry someone who can't understand the male drive for large powerfull speakers ;D

RuSsMaN

www.svsubwoofers.com

dorokusai

I am happy for your new purchase, turn it up, I can't hear it over here

MTXMAN

*starts counting pennies*

damn i wish i had 1200 bucks... that is GORGEOUS...

looks like i'm gonna have to wait till i get my doctorate before i can afford gear like that. Definately like Joel's dual config from the other post on these.

congrats on getting that man you are truly blessed

danger boy

Originally posted by Duffman

That’s about it for now. I’m still trying to setup my receiver so I get some of that bass coming through standard Dolby tv viewing from Directv (e.g. the music channels). Anyone with suggestions around this?

Overall, very pleased. Now I get it.

I have my Dish Network receiver output to my receiver going via optical cable.. works great for DD, and dolby pro logic and sounds good with them music channels too.

conga rats on your new and long awaited SVS.

Dr. Spec

The PB2-ISD is quite underported in the 1/16 configuration. If you think it's strong right now, try it at 3/25.

The most you should drop the tune is 2/20. There is no way it needs to go any lower. 2/20 will give you 15 Hz flat in-room.

Personally, I run mine at 3/25 if I'm watching movies at near Reference Level.

The PB2 needs a LOT of port area to breathe properly. It definitely sounds the best and performs the best with all ports open. It has plenty of deep extension (flat to 22 Hz in room) in the 3/25 mode. For the deepest organ music, run it 2/20, but no deeper.

And calibrate a few dB hot for HT, and FLAT for music. Can your AVR adjust and remember the sub level for different inputs? Mine can and it makes it easy to have the sub flat for music.

To get Dolby, you need to route the digital coax cable from the sat dish box to your AVR and assign a digital input. You should get full 5.1 after that for sat music.

malikarshad

Congrats & Welcome to PWC (pant waffling club). The Pb2+ always amazes me day by day. I had just drop a line to SVS last night about Pb2-Ultra and they are going to announce its availability soon. I could only imagine how that would perform!
I run my pb2+ 3/16 for both music & HT. The bass is really nice & tight but sometimes for some music/movie it feels overwhelming but not always. I guess I have to find a right balance. I'll consult Doc in this matter. There maybe something wrong with my calibration or setup.
Doc a question for you, may be stupid. When u say u run flat for music does it mean 0 db & hot for HT mean over 0db +. But when we calibrate it with AVIA we set the sub level to -5db on receiver and adjust the sub level to calibrate it, Right!!!. So now if I have to run flat for music & hot for HT how do I do that? BTW i have denon 3803 receiver the same u have.

Dr. Spec

Easy - the 3803 remembers the sub level for each mode. So for Stereo or Direct, or Pure Direct, or 5/7 Channel, etc., you can adjust the sub level with the remote control and it will remember it. This will not affect the DD/DTS level for movies.

If you are fond of DVD-A, SACD, and DTS-A, then you already have a DVD player that can calibrate each channel and you can set the sub level for music that way also via DVD controls before you hit the external inputs of the 3803.

Duffman

Doc,

I'm not sure I understand your config recommendations and it probably stems from my lack of understanding on the whole port tuning thing. You say that the ISD is underported at 1/16 config. The documentation led me to believe that more ports plugged means deeper bass at the expense of losing some dBs at the top end. Is this accurate?

My thoughts were that because my listening levels don't come close to where the sub would start to distort, why not go as low as possible?

Dr. Spec

Your understanding is correct.

The PB2 will start to exhibit port noise in the 1/16 tune if you push it fairly hard. Port noise has a chuffing or chugging type character.

The 1/16 tune is actually flat to about 12-13 Hz in room, and there is almost no source material with content that low. The increase in ultra deep extension is not offset by the reduction in output and the possibility of port noise.

The 2/20 tune is flat to 15-16 Hz and is plenty deep enough for all source material and doubles your port area and I recommend it if you are going to run a deeper-than-stock tune on your PB2.

As far as sound quality goes, when you plug a port, you also alter the shape of the curve in the upper bass register to an extent. With all ports open, the PB2 exhibits a bit more emphasis in the 35-55 Hz region than it does with a port (or two) plugged. This mild emphasis is often perceived to aid in the listener's ability to follow a bass line and some (many) view it as a more musical tune.

Also, my subjective impression is that the PB2 feels very open and free breathing with all ports open and can easily pressurize the room, even at very low volumes. OTOH, when a port is plugged, the sub has a slightly stuffy or congested feeling and this impression increases even more when two ports are plugged.

Bottom line - the PB2 is a hot rod designed to fill big rooms with impressive numbers in the 22 Hz and above region. It needs a lot of port area to let those big woofers breathe. It handles a port plugged pretty well, but two ports plugged is overkill.

Critically listen to all tunes and decide for yourself. Especially focus on the differences for music.

dave shepard

Congrats on the SVS, seems like there is a couple people getting the SVS bug lately. I also have mine set as the DOC said (-5, 3/25 and raise the gain for calibrating)and I can tell ya that when you get the calibrating done you will see that it hits very clean and hard. IMO this is the most impressive peace of my setup it only takes one demo to understand it means business.

Congrats

Dave

Duffman

Thanks for the replies and info. I've gone to the 2/20 config and will do some experimenting.

Unfortunately my Onkyo 787 has only "master" speaker calibration settings instead of input-dependant settings. This means that when I calibrate to 75dB it sounds great through my DVD but needs more bottom for the video1 (directv) input. I can have input specific bass/treble settings so perhaps I could use tone control to offset this?

What I might also do is set the 10dB sub-boost feature in my Denon 2900 to "off" and then run the sub calibration hotter. Maybe that will result in more eveness across inputs - does that make sense?

Regardless, the idea of tuning flat for music will be a manual process unless I pony up for a new pre/pro. Did I just say that?

Dave, that's the first I've heard of doing a -5/gain control for calibration. I started flat when I calibrated lsat time so maybe I 'll try that.

The quest continues....