SVS PCi anyone? (cylinder subs)

walk

I see a lot of talk about the PB1/PB2 box subs but none about their other, cylinder subs. Doesn't anyone use em? From reading the literature, seems like the cylinders are actually better than the boxes, and a little bit cheaper to boot.

Personally I need to move into a bigger house before I upgrade my sub but when I do I want an SVS, but don't want (or need) to pay $900 (or egads $1200) for one. The 20-39PCi is said to perform as well or better for $599 than the P2B for $899.

Gringo

Do a search for the pci 20-39 on this forum. Im new to this site, but I'm upgrading my sub very soon and that is the one im getting. You'll find much love for the 20-39. Equal to the PB1/2 as far as value for what price your gonna spend. Im sure both subs will amaze you, just depends how much green you are willing to lay down. But this is just my opinion based on the tons of reviews and posts ive read on forums.

Mike

Dr. Spec

Let's not get carried away. The PCi series of subs uses one Improved Standard Driver. The PB2-ISD uses two, with twice the amp power.

The cylinder is an outstanding performance value, but the PCi subs will perform on par with the PB1-ISD.

You would be hard pressed to hear more than subtle differences between these four subs:

25-31 PCi (25 Hz tune)
PB1-ISD (22 Hz tune)
"22-31" PCi (a 25-31 PCi with a factory 22 Hz tune – longer vent)
20-39 PCi (20 Hz tune)

They all employ the same driver, vent size, and amplifier.

The PB1-ISD and the "22-31" PCi will sound the most similar, since they have the same tune point.

The 20-39 PCi will troll the lowest, but it probably won't be obvious on most program material. And the 25-31 PCi will play the loudest by a small margin (maybe 1.0-1.5 dB) due to its slightly higher tune point.

The cylinders are a bit less expensive to manufacture, so they offer a slightly higher performance/$$ ratio. And they have a smaller footprint. The box is more traditional, and a box design is important to many prospective buyers.

Since they will all offer very similar performance, I think aesthetics and personal preferences will probably influence your final decision the most.

Doc

walk

Thanks Doc.

I actually found a couple threads, once I knew what to look for. I just had never even heard of the cylinders until I went to their web site.

Even the smallest PCi is probably too much for my needs though. At $600 it would be the most expensive speaker in my whole setup by almost a factor of 3x... (Unless you consider the RTi150 at full retail price.. I happended to get them for $250 ea). So the SVS is probably overkill.

Although I have to admit, they are F'N SEXY lookin...

Must be their.. ahh... masculine... shape. ?

danger boy

i have a cylinder sub SVS 20-39PCi. i really love the big old tube.. it's huge.. and not easy to blend in with anything . it's impossible to hide that's for sure.. but it does everything it's suppose to do. and it does it very well too.

I guess more people don't use the cylinder subs. because they are hard to blend in with any room. if they could be layed down behind a couch or something. it might be more attractive to some buyers. the cylinder subs weight less then a box sub... and perform just as well. SVS subs are truely amazing.

is it to much sub? never..

Al

Dr. Spec

I am a huge cylinder fan. I lived with a 20-39PC+ for over a year and almost cried when I sold it to a good friend.

I went with the PB2+ more for its output ability than anything else. I must admit I really like the bruiser box now, but I'll still never forget how masculine and cool that imposing black cylinder looked in my HT room.

SVS products are meant to be on display - form follows function and proud of it.

BTW, even Polk recommends a good sub with the 150's, and so do I. At a minimum, run the mains on large, the others on small, and the sub to yes/on. Take the plunge - you won't regret it.

Gringo

AARGGGHHH!

Reading these forums make it very hard not to just throw an svs sub onto the credit card! You guys are killing me here....Stop making it sound so great Dr Spec and danger boy Of course, until i get my 20-39, then we can talk about how great it is. Hehe

walk

Same here. I just upgraded my reciever, DVD and center channel though, I saved $250 on the reciever, $50 on the center and $35-40 on the DVD, so I put all that into the SVS fund. Some daaayy...

Doc I do run the 150's on large, rest to small, sub=yes. That's for HT/tv/etc. For 2-ch music I use Onkyo's direct stereo mode which switches off all the digital circuitry and just sends the left ch. to the left speaker and right to the right, unfiltered, unfettered. The 150's have enough good clean bass for most music, and it sounds great this way.

Would you recc. the 25-31PCi or the larger 20-39? I'm thinking the 25-31 would have puhh-lenty of bass for my needs. Then again the 20-39 is only $50 more. Then again it's hard to justify the $550 to begin with... (Then again that's what I paid for the pair of 150's..) Well, it's nice to have such tough choices I guess, and I will have a month or two to think about it

As for hiding them - I don't think it will be an issue. They aren't as big as my 150's and there's no hiding those monsters. In fact I run them with the grills off when company comes over, showing off all their cool blueness.

danger boy

Originally posted by walk
As for hiding them - I don't think it will be an issue. They aren't as big as my 150's and there's no hiding those monsters. In fact I run them with the grills off when company comes over, showing off all their cool blueness.

heee heee heee! there's no hiding a SVS cylinder sub.. it sticks out like a sore thumb.. althougth with it's felt like cover.. maybe you could dress it up... the possibilities are endless..

Dr. Spec

Originally posted by walk
Would you recc. the 25-31PCi or the larger 20-39? I'm thinking the 25-31 would have puhh-lenty of bass for my needs. Then again the 20-39 is only $50 more.

The 20-39 trolls 1/3 octave deeper at the expense of a slight loss (maybe 1.5 dB) in overall SPL capability above the tune point as compared to the 25-31.

Unless max output is the first priority, get the 20-39; it's the best mix of extension and output.

dholmes

So does polk recomend running the 150s at large setting, the rest on small?thanks

dave shepard

Originally posted by walk
Thanks Doc.


Even the smallest PCi is probably too much for my needs though. At $600 it would be the most expensive speaker in my whole setup by almost a factor of 3x... (Unless you consider the RTi150 at full retail price.. I happended to get them for $250 ea). So the SVS is probably overkill.

That shouldn't be how you should look for a quality sub. Just because you got a good deal on speakers, the price you paid for them should not influence you to buy a cheaper piece. You will be hard pressed to find a better more versatile sub then the SVS IMO. They can and will complement your current and future (if you should up-grade) speakers. You will most surely hear and feel sounds you never knew were there, at least that is what I and others have experianced. I feel it is worth an audition at the very least you have 45days to change your mind but I don't think you will.

Good luck

Dave

walk

That's true but to a point. I do have a farily potent HT audio setup, even if the RTi150's dominate the other speakers somewhat, but that's because I like to listen to 2-ch music on them.

But I don't think you'd recommend someone who bought a Sony HTIB system for $400 total should run out and drop $800 on a SVS sub would you?

Or would you? D#mn it! Stop tempting me! **glares at credit card**

fireshoes

I would. They gotta start improving that POS home theater somewhere!

dave shepard

No I wouldn't recomend it for someone with a lower-end HTIB speaker set but given you have a better speaker set then those I feel you could benifit from a quality sub such as one of the offerings from SVS. I use mine mostly for HT and can tell you that since I recieved my sub the movies I rewatched had sounds that were just not there before not to mention the felt bass. As far as music with my set-up the sound is quite pleasing, has a rich distinct sound and my music is on the broad side from country to rock.


Dave

goingganzo

actuley i went from klh to adding surounds then to a velo sub to the rest of the polk setup to recever then upgrade tv then back to sub then to pre pro. actuley adding a good sub and a good recever will open up the ht in a box speakers than upgradeing speakers.



it is cheaper to olny upgrade once so i say get a good sub first and wait a bit longet to get sothing a bit beter than you plan so you dont have to feel the upgrade urge. also with a good sub you can allways add a seccond or 3rd .

dave shepard

There are some HTIB sets that can benifit from a better sub, the ones I'm refering too are the $200-$400 complete reciever/speaker/sub sets. The ones in that range if someone owned one and wanted to do an upgrade would be better off to upgrade the whole thing given the ones I've seen have a intergraded plug on the end of the speaker wire to connect to the reciever and is the only way it can be connected. That is my impression of low-end HTIB that should not get a sub upgrade.

Dave