A good Sub....? Please help me out

Telemundo

Hi, I'm new to this forum and am looking for a good home theatre system. I have the Harman Kardon AVR230 Receiver and am planning on getting the RTi8 for front, CSi5 for center, FXi3 for surround, and CSi3 for rear. I'm thinking about the Polk's PSW 650, 550 or the 505 for sub, but I've also seen alot of praises for the SVS subs. Has anyone here compare the Polk's and the SVSs' subs side by side? Which one should I go with? My living room for the apartment is only about 13x10, but I can be loud without disturbing the neighbors. The Polk's and SVS is comparable in price but the SVS can reach much closer to the 20hz range than the Polk's. Please let me know exactly which model of either brand would you recommend and why. Thank you very much for reading this.

sully5604

You've come to the right place. These guys are very helpful. I just went through the same decision making process myself. I had a PSW404, which performed admirably. However, it was missing the impact I was looking for along with the truly deep bass.

I chose an SVS based on the recommendations from this forum. It really blew my Polk away. I'm very happy with my purchase.

I'm sure you'll get more technical advice from others. All I can say is SVS makes one hell of a sub.

Telemundo

Thank you for replying, but which SVS sub did you go with exactly?

Dr. Spec

Originally posted by sully5604

I had a PSW404, which performed admirably. However, it was missing the impact I was looking for along with the truly deep bass.

I chose an SVS based on the recommendations from this forum. It really blew my Polk away.

All I can say is SVS makes one hell of a sub.

Typical SVS owner comments. The "hype" is actually the truth. SVS cannot be beat for the price in the OEM market. The best value going in OEM subwoofers. Only DIY has a better value.

He's got the 20-39PC+ - a GREAT subwoofer. I owned one for over a year and loved it.

Grimster74

Before purchasing the PB2+ I owned Dual PSW450's which I must say I thought did an excellent job. For the most part they sounded excellent with movies and music. And then, after listening to all the hype about SVS I took the $1200 plunge. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the best damn $1200 I've ever spent. My movies have so much more low end impact now. Music seems flawless also. I've been trying since I've owned my SVS to go back and watch all my movies over again just to see what I missed the first go round. So far, the movies I have watched take on a whole new meaning. As far as recommended an SVS, contact them, give them your info and they will tell you which one they would recommend. From the size of your room I would probally recommend the SVS-PB1 but the Doc could probally give you a better idea. So, if it comes down to me having to do it all over again and knowing what I know now, SVS without a doubt and I'd never look back.

kingtut

A friend of mine had the HSU VTF2. This sub was great for movies and blended in music really well. His room isn't that big. Through this forum, I introduced him the SVS. My friend bought the SVS PB2+, along w/the B&W Matrix 801 and sold the Hsu. When I was there a couple weeks ago, he just received the SVS and had not calibrated the sub yet. Due to his smaller room size and lower ceiling (7'), the PB2+ seems to be too overbearing w/the music. Furthermore, the PB2+ is huge for his smaller room. He has now calibrated it and told me that it's much better, but he still can't get over the sheer size of the PB2+. If you are considering the PB2, make sure you take into account the size of the sub and your room.

agw

There are a lot of subs out there, unfortunately there is a lot of subs that are really woofers in a box. Depending on the size of the room and budget it will limit you. You don't have to spend over 1000 to get a good sub with good accuracy and movie impact when needed. For under $1000 the Hsu VTF3 and for under $500, the VTF2 will be the best bang for your buck.

dave shepard

In my opinion the SVS is all that and chips too. If room size to sub size is one of your coincerns you don't have to get the pb2+ as they have other ones to coinsider that can fill a smaller room with sound. It only takes a call and a no pressure to sell question to SVS and I'm sure they can recomend on that will fit nicely. You most deffently will not regret getting one.

Good luck

Dave

goingganzo

i would say go svs or diy or look at strye or acoustic visions


check this sub http://www.acoustic-visions.com/~acoustic/products/subwoofers/pre_finished/pinnacle_everest.shtml


i bet it will distroy just about any svs products

Dr. Spec

Originally posted by goingganzo
i would say go svs or diy or look at strye or acoustic visions


check this sub http://www.acoustic-visions.com/~acoustic/products/subwoofers/pre_finished/pinnacle_everest.shtml


i bet it will distroy just about any svs products

I wouldn't go as far as "destroy", Bryan.

The evergreen SVS B4-Plus vs. the Pinnacle Everest has been kicked around ad nauseum over at HTF. The general bench racing consensus is that at 25 Hz and over, it would be a very close race. Below 25 Hz, the Everest might nose out the B4 due to the higher native tune point of the B4.

Anyway, Tom V has been quoted as saying something like "the B4-Plus isn't the most powerful sub we have built at SVS - not even close".

SVS had several self-imposed size/weight restrictions with the B4-Plus, like a 200 pound weight limit (for example). It's not like they "can't" build anything more powerful.

It's not hard to build a more powerful sub given enough enclosure volume and weight. Acoustic Visions figured 400 pounds was OK for the Pinnacle Everest and the performance speaks for itself. It's all about what you think will sell.

I'll tell ya one thing: SVS has sold a boatload of B4's and no one has found the limits of one yet. And I'm talking 130-135 dB peaks in-room with about 1500 watts input. That's amazing stuff from "only" a 190 pound subwoofer.

burdette

I had a motorcycle in college, and my roommate got hooked and wanted one, too. So, he researched and read all the reviews and comparisons; top speeds, quarter-mile times, etc. He ended up buying a 750 Interceptor because it nosed out the Ninja by like 0.5 seconds on the quarter mile and (I think) topped out a couple of miles an hour faster, overall.... both were well over 120 mph machines.

He got that thing over 100 mph ONCE, and is scared the **** out of him so bad he never did it again (he also didn't get any lovin' from the petrified woman on the back). He could've bought way less bike and not missed a thrill.

A lot of the discussions recently on subs strikes me the same way. I really have to wonder how many of us REALLY need some of the "ultimate" subs (like the B4 or the Everest), nor even models a notch or two down. I know performance has really grown the past couple of years, and it can be awesome to look at these things and read specs. But honestly.... how many of us really need to go full throttle given our rooms, systems, families, neighbors, etc?

I'm using a single AV12 in a sonotube with a PE 250 watt amp, in a 12' x 20' room, and this thing performs well beyond what I ask of it. I can't tolerate my system all the way up even when the family is gone and I can play as I wish. I wouldn't try to persuade someone with the gumption and the cash to NOT get what he wants... but I would throw out to those of you trying to stick to a budget, and worrying that a basic SVS or decent DIY isn't THE ultimate... I think you'll be happy and satisfied, as long as you don't care about getting into a pissing match with other guys. I think for a lot of us, most maybe, much beyond $650 or so retail or a lot less DIY is overkill. I don't think the question has to be what CAN it do.. but what you're going to need it to do.

Don't mean to be poopin' on anyone's cake or raining on your parade... just some thoughts to those of you fearful that perhaps your budget is way too low if it ain't a grand.

Dr. Spec

Great post! Put's things well into perspective.

In my 2000 ft3 room, my 20-39PC+ never bottomed.

I bought the PB2+ because I knew I was getting close to the 20-39's limits on some of the really rough stuff.

Since the PB2+, there has probably been only a handful of times where I legitimately needed it and probably would have otherwise bottomed the 20-39PC+ at the same level.

It's nice to know the PB2+ isn't working near its extremely high limits and it has a very effortless and unstrained quality even when belting out the most demanding bass passages on today's hottest DVDs.

With the PB2+, I don't have to be constantly worrying in the back of my mind if I am going to bottom out the woofer and I can enjoy the movie more at pretty realistic volumes. Lots of headroom is a good thing in the bass department.

We watched the new LC/TR - COL last night at 5 under Reference Level and the vocals and surrounds seemed just about right. The bass was excellent and very powerful at times. The PB2+ delivers the goods.

Doc

kberg

I agree w/ Doc. Great post, burdette. I have the 20-39PC+ in a 2240 ft3 room.

Does the size of my room warrant consideration for a bigger/better sub from SVS? Maybe.

Did the size of my budget ALLOW for a bigger/better sub? No. In fact, I was originally considering the 20-39 PCi, which ALSO would have been a GREAT sub to buy.

Does the size of my room REQUIRE a bigger/better sub? Absolutely NOT! And the 20-39 PCi would have been fine, too.

Sorry for blathering, but this sub is the BEST improvement to my system, and I have no regrets or worries about purchasing it.