Svs Purchase

racer4551 · December 2003

Ifinally gave in to all the great hype on svs subs.I just purchased a 20-39 pc+ on audiogon.It will be interesting to see how it compares to paradigm pw2200 .I am hoping it gives me that extra that i have been looking for.Any setup tips would greatly be appreciated. Thanks and merry christmas to everyone.P.S anyone interested in paradigm pw2200 email me.

gatemplin · December 2003

Glemay might want it.

Dr. Spec · December 2003

Is it going on a hardwood floor (over an open space), or a concrete slab floor?

If it's wooden, buy an A/C unit concrete paver ($10) to go under it, and try to place it over a floor joist regardless. The reactive forces of the downward firing woofer are very strong and can cause the floor to resonate in an uncontrolled fashion (i.e., boom). The more your can support and decouple the sub from the floor, the better.

If it's concrete, you're all set, except for maybe a small pad or rug under the baseplate.

The 2200 is an excellent sub, BTW - about par with a 20-39PCi. The 20-39PC+ should have a 3 dB advantage above 30 Hz and a 5-6 dB advantage below 30 Hz in terms of maximum output.

I lived with a 20-39PC+ for over a year, so I can help you with set-up and calibration. Kberg also is a recent new owner of one.

racer4551 · December 2003

Thanks for the info spec. The sub is is going in a basement home theater with a concrete floor with carpet.Will post when sub gets here and i get hooked up.Like a kid waiting on christmas morning,cant wait,how old am i?

dave shepard · December 2003

Originally posted by racer4551
Ifinally gave in to all the great hype on svs subs.I just purchased a 20-39 pc+ on audiogon.

Congrats, You will soon realize that the SVS sub's are not hype at all but just one co. that makes a product that will shame ones that really do cost twice as much. They are extremely well built and will give you the pants waffeling like no other (better ware a belt)

.

Dave

racer4551 · December 2003

Thanks for the reply dave,thats exactly what i am hoping for that little extra!:D

Dr. Spec · December 2003

Originally posted by racer4551
The sub is is going in a basement home theater with a concrete floor with carpet.

That's really good news. The SVS will sound the best when the floor doesn't contribute its own sound.

My 20-39PC+, which sounded stellar in my concrete slab room, sounded boomy at the new owner's house, primarily due to the cheap floor bouncing up and down like a trampoline.

Just goes to show you, the best sub can become victim to room and floor acoustics.

Experiment with placement, use the stock tune (3 ports open & SS to 20 Hz).

It's really all a matter of personal preference, but I would calibrate flat for music and maybe a tad hot for HT. On music, you shouldn't even realize the sub is running unless you shut it off.

I use different AVR inputs for music vice HT, so different sub calibration levels are automatic for me whenever I switch to music.

racer4551 · December 2003

What do you mean ss to 20? Placement is going to be limited because of room setup,hope it isnt tricky to place like pw2200was.I am using outlaw icbm for all bass management before amps.

gatemplin · December 2003

On the amp there is a SubSonic filter, I think the settings are 16, 20 and 25. I think that the best placement for the pw2200 will be the same for SVS, I cant think of a reason why not. Does the outlaw already have a SS filter?

racer4551 · December 2003

Thanks for the reply gatemplin,the outlaw does not have a subsonic filter,all i see on unit is low pass special/normal switch. I thought thats what ss stood for.Still learning some of post lingo.Should sub be isolated in any way?Check out system showcase on my setup placement,sorry for the poor quality of pictures definately not a photographer.

gatemplin · December 2003

Great setup, I see what you mean when you said placement could be difficult. I am not sure what you mean by isolated though. Isolated from the floor? As Doc said, if the floor is conrete, you're all set. If you are refering to when he said use a pad or rug, I am guessing he meant that so the sub's flat baseplate would sit level and not rock around but you already have a carpet so you are good to go.

racer4551 · December 2003

Now if the sub would hurry up and get here life would be grand!:cool: Tuesdays the day!Is it here yet!

Dr. Spec · December 2003

The ICBM is really nice. I'd use an 80 Hz xo for all channels and 2nd order high pass filter slopes on all channels, including the LFE channel. I'd use a 4th order low pass filter slope for the sub.

Yes, the SVS has a SS filter that kicks in just below the specified switch setting. The 20 Hz setting will start ramping down the sub at about 17 Hz to protect the woofer and conserve amp energy.

racer4551 · December 2003

Doc what do you mean by 2nd and fourth order filter slopes?Sorry still get lost on some of crossover stuff!Currently the receiver settings are speakers all set to large and dvd player multi speaker settings set to large all speakers also.I have icbm set to front at 60xover,center80xover,side surrounds100xover,rear surrounds100xover,i have the low pass/normal switch set to normal which is 2nd order(12DB/OCTAVE)the special setting is for6th order(36db/octave).These settings are for the slope of sub crossover .The icbm is placed before amps doing all the bass management,i have not used rotels bass management or denons.

Dr. Spec · December 2003

All the speakers need to be high passed, meaning the ICBM will pass any frequencies above the selected xo, and will ramp down (at a predetermined rate/slope) anything below the xo.

I was suggesting using a 12 dB/octave (2nd order) filter rate for the high pass, if that feature is adjustable.

The subwoofer needs to be low passed, meaning the ICBM will pass any frequencies below the selected xo, and will ramp down (at a predetermined rate/slope) anything above the xo.

To keep the sub from playing too much above the xo, it is desirable to have a steeper filter rate on the low pass. I was suggesting using a 24 dB/octave (4th order) filter rate on the low pass, if that feature is adjustable.

Also, selecting different xo's for each speaker might seem like a good idea, but this article might swing you back in the other direction to use a single xo point for all your speakers. Read it carefully.

Doc

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_3/feature-article-multiple-crossovers-9-2002.html

kberg · December 2003

Originally posted by Dr. Spec
Kberg also is a recent new owner of one.

racer4551,

Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the 20-39 PC+. I'll defer to Doc and others to help you with setup/calibration, if you need it. Just wanted to say congrats on your purchase. You might not know it yet, but buying that sub has just become the BEST HT/music investment you have EVER made!

racer4551 · December 2003

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Well its finally here and at this point all i can muster is wow! This thing is huge need to calibrate and do some serious listening, will post in the next couple of days.

Dr. Spec · December 2003

Originally posted by racer4551
Well its finally here and at this point all i can muster is wow!

Typical first impression! :cool:

Make sure to calibrate FLAT for music and maybe a little hot for HT. The SVS does not need to be run obscenely hot to impress. It will blend and integrate beautifully and still send shivers down your spine with powerful and clean lows you never knew existed. It's a whole new experience in bass.

Early B. · December 2003

I use different AVR inputs for music vice HT, so different sub calibration levels are automatic for me whenever I switch to music.

Dr. Spec -- Can you elaborate on how you do this?

My sub sounds great with HT, but is a bit overwhelming for music. I haven't figured out how to address this issue. I'd rather not fool around with the volume on my sub every time I switch from HT to music. I have a Denon 1803 receiver.

Thanks.

Dr. Spec · December 2003

Your AVR has Personal Memory Plus. After you set up your sub level for DD/DTS playback, leave the set-up menu unlocked.

When you switch to Stereo for music, toggle through the speaker levels with the large center button of the remote (they will be displayed on the 1803 screen, not the TV screen), until you hit the sub level. Adjust the sub level to taste for music with the remote, and it will remember that setting every time you select it. Ditto for any other setting Direct, Widescreen, 5/7 Channel Stereo, etc.

Early B. · December 2003

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

Loud & Clear · December 2003

Doc, do you have nevative "sw" volumes set for every function?

Dr. Spec · December 2003

Originally posted by Loud & Clear
Doc, do you have nevative "sw" volumes set for every function?

Yes. -5 for DD/DTS and -7 for Stereo (when I use the digital coax for music, which isn't often).

Loud & Clear · December 2003

Interesting. I believe that I'd read where you suggested backing off the "sw" volume on the receiver to avoid distortion from too much pre-amp gain. I've gone with -3 for DD/DTS, off for 'Direct,' and -5 for everything else (stereo, 6 channel stereo, prologic TV). I've turned the gain on the velo to a hair under the halfway setting. This is superior; less distortion, less flab, and a more seamless integration. Good stuff.

Dr. Spec · December 2003

Originally posted by Loud & Clear
This is superior; less distortion, less flab, and a more seamless integration. Good stuff.

Good deal, glad you noticed the difference. :cool:

Shizelbs · January 2004

Racer,

Well, lets have some reviews man. Some of us are thinking about walking down a similar subwoofer path. Lets hear the good news!

racer4551 · January 2004

Sorry for the delay folks, lots of things going on havnt really had the time to really do any serious testing but have watched a couple of movies and all i can say is compared to the paradigm pw2200 v1. i have never heard and felt bass so low and clean.I finally get this upcoming weekend off and plan to do a serious test and tune. I just purchased a eq for my sub to tune with going to be interesting.Also downloaded a freq. test cd to use with eq setup .So looks like a music and home theater sound set up weekend, really looking forward,will post asap.:D

racer4551 · January 2004

In case any one is interested, i downloaded a freq DISREGARD THIS POST BRAIN FADE.

racer4551 · January 2004

Well i finally had a chance to really listen and test my new to me svs20-39pc+ and just so you know i am sorta new to this scene so dont expect me to review like dr. spec.All i can say is compared to my paradigm pw2200v1,this sub has great response in 50hz and lower ranges.It has alot more volume down low compared to paradigm,which i guess is to be expected.Seems to sound excellent with movies and good with music that has low bass content.But seemed to disappear otherwise.I then purchased an art355 dual 31 band eq and set it up with a sound disk with individual hz tones and let me tell you this really made a huge difference.It now really sounds off and blends great with any thing i play movies or music.I really think that placement and room setup has alot to do with why i had to add the eq. My setup is located in a basement with a concrete floor and you dont feel the bass as much which is what i like.My buddy who owns this house lives upstairs and said that he cant beleive how much the svs sub vibrates the floor! So i walked upstairs to see what it sounded like and was blown away by the vibrations.All in all anyone who is loking to buy do not heisitate this thing rocks!

Shizelbs · January 2004

What kind of music have you listened to on your new sub?

racer4551 · January 2004

Mostly dvd audio and sacd stuff,multichannel stuff,pink floyd dsotm,kiss symphony dvd,pat benatar live dvd audio,eagles dts dvd audio disk really sounds super through svs sub!

Svs Purchase

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