SVS PB-2000 (ported subs for music)

dr1978

I'm ready to take the plunge on a subwoofer upgrade. After looking around at the used market for a while I think I just want to go new. I'm going to try an SVS and I'm leaning towards the PB-2000. I do think it's the best choice for the whole family, but considering that I personally use the system for music much more than movies, I've been going back and forth between this and the sealed version, SB-2000.

With the understanding that the same sub can sound different in other systems and especially rooms...has anyone purchased a ported sub and been disappointed in the sound it produced for music?

I don't think I have the most critical ear, so I'm thinking/hoping that the potential loss of control might not be a deal breaker for me. But then when I read the word "boomy" that makes me a little nervous.

I know that SVS has a great return policy that I could take advantage of if I am not happy with it, but hearing some anecdotes first could be helpful.

pitdogg2

Check out their outlet store. Good deals can be had and still have a good warranty.

dr1978

My room size is 12x21 with an 8' ceiling. Based on what I've read that puts me on the border when just strictly looking at square feet.

dr1978

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Check out their outlet store. Good deals can be had and still have a good warranty.

Thanks for the heads up! Looks like they do have an SB with no damage for $100 off.

PSOVLSK

Call SVS. They will give you honest feedback as to which sub will work best in your situation.

ken brydson

PSOVLSK wrote: »

Call SVS. They will give you honest feedback as to which sub will work best in your situation.

^This^ and they won't try to oversell you.

Clipdat

Rythmik worth a look for music.

mrloren

I run my VTF3 with one port open. sounds great on music.

sgmsmg

They (SVS) usually have a sale around Black Friday so you may want to wait a bit.

F1nut

Don't worrry, the SB4000 will rumble the house for HT and rock it for your music.

dr1978

...and demolish my bank account!

But thanks everyone. I'll give SVS a call, feel them out for a Black Friday deal, and do a deeper dive on Rythmik.

dr1978

Hmm, the ability to manipulate the ports on the HSU VTF3-MK5 is intriguing. $40 off right now, too.

mlistens03

FWIW, in the past, I've been able to make it sound like a sub is quick by running it with full range towers. The towers will do the initial thud and then the sub will catch up moments later.
I decided this wasn't a good enough solution for this issue, so I got a replacement sub, a Boston Acoustics PV500. It is ported and is almost as fast as my Velodyne sealed sub. Still using it because it is a bit more musical than the Velodyne.
I think it is pretty much a toss-up between ported and sealed, well-designed versions of either (and with SVS or Rythmik you are getting a well-designed sub for sure) can be lightning fast.
Oh, and one more thing; servo corrected subs rock. I've heard one, and it was incredible. I didn't know a fifteen could be that fast.

mrloren

The VTF-3 is a very nice sub, good on music and movies. The many settings can get confusing to say the least. I have mine set to, 4" port open, EQ2 and "Q" to 5.5.
It was a toss up between it and the SVS PB2000, If I had the extra coin it would have been a SB13Ultra.

I just looked at SVS website. https://www.svsound.com/pages/subwoofers the NSD are back at great prices, Go dual for a grand or less if you have the room. There is also the new 3000 series

I have yet to hear an HSU or SVS sub the didn't pump out good bass. Can't go wrong with either brand.

Emlyn

If it is only going to be one subwoofer in the system I would go with the PB design. I decided to get dual SB 2000s with my LSIm speakers. That is in a 20 foot by 20 foot room in a home theater system. I have had SVS ported subs before and found them not be as good for music as sealed designs. Dual sealed subs work much better in my situation.

tonyb

A ported sub will give more low end rumble for HT, sealed subs are generally a tad quicker for music. If you go sealed sub, get the bigger ones or duals.

That said, I have the SVS SB2000 in a roughly 25 by 25 room, great on music, good on HT too, but it's at it's limits on the HT side in a room that large.

Ported subs from the better sub makers, will not have that loose lower end like the cheaper subs do when pushed.

afterburnt

I have two pb 2000 and when dialed in the are fine for music my lsim 707's do most of the work though

dr1978

I'll be doing some measuring at lunch to see if I could make dual SB12's work. Spoke with an SVS rep and he seemed pretty confident that it would provide enough punch to keep the kids excited. Sure, we'll miss out on a bit of the LFE in movies, but what they don't know won't hurt em!

mrloren

Dual SB12 you won't miss much if any LFE. Those will shake nice

Milito

mrloren wrote: »

The VTF-3 is a very nice sub, good on music and movies. The many settings can get confusing to say the least. I have mine set to, 4" port open, EQ2 and "Q" to 5.5.
It was a toss up between it and the SVS PB2000, If I had the extra coin it would have been a SB13Ultra.

I just looked at SVS website. https://www.svsound.com/pages/subwoofers the NSD are back at great prices, Go dual for a grand or less if you have the room. There is also the new 3000 series

I have yet to hear an HSU or SVS sub the didn't pump out good bass. Can't go wrong with either brand.

Anyone have the NSD and what do you think of it say compared to HSU VTF-2 MK5?

mrloren

Milito wrote: »

mrloren wrote: »

The VTF-3 is a very nice sub, good on music and movies. The many settings can get confusing to say the least. I have mine set to, 4" port open, EQ2 and "Q" to 5.5.
It was a toss up between it and the SVS PB2000, If I had the extra coin it would have been a SB13Ultra.

I just looked at SVS website. https://www.svsound.com/pages/subwoofers the NSD are back at great prices, Go dual for a grand or less if you have the room. There is also the new 3000 series

I have yet to hear an HSU or SVS sub the didn't pump out good bass. Can't go wrong with either brand.

Anyone have the NSD and what do you think of it say compared to HSU VTF-2 MK5?

HMMM good question. My Friend does have an older SB12NSD, it does very good in his converted spare bedroom to HT. At the current cost I'm sure two PB12NSD will out perform a single VTF3.

Don't get me wrong, the VTF3-MK5 is a very good sub that rocks.

dr1978

Welp, that was quicker than expected. Two SB12's will just barely fit, and the wife is on board. I'll be plugging them in on Wednesday!

Milito

Congrats!

pitdogg2

dr1978 wrote: »

Welp, that was quicker than expected. Two SB12's will just barely fit, and the wife is on board. I'll be plugging them in on Wednesday!

Dude you're sunk......
The 5k purse is coming home

dr1978

I really am waiting for the other shoe to drop, because she flat out encouraged me to look into getting a sub after I (innocently) mentioned that was the next piece I would upgrade.

But whatever it is, it will be worth it. I'm freaking pumped!

afterburnt

They usually get real nice like that just before they try and kill you. Trust me I know, Lancaster 1998, Glendale 2009, Simi Valley 2012 etc. I survived because I know that "look" ya know when they smile at you and stuff. Take her out for dinner from now on, trust me on this.

mrloren

Or it could be what happened to me, "sure get the Signatures" week later Mother in-law moved in for a year

tonyb

afterburnt wrote: »

They usually get real nice like that just before they try and kill you. Trust me I know,.

LOL, to become old and married is like surviving 3 world wars. One must learn woman speak in order to survive.

mrloren

dr1978 wrote: »

Welp, that was quicker than expected. Two SB12's will just barely fit, and the wife is on board. I'll be plugging them in on Wednesday!

Well how do you like the sub?

dr1978

mrloren wrote: »

dr1978 wrote: »

Welp, that was quicker than expected. Two SB12's will just barely fit, and the wife is on board. I'll be plugging them in on Wednesday!

Well how do you like the sub?

They're sounding great! We had some family in town for Thanksgiving and they pulled up just as I was connecting the speakers. I didn't get a chance to calibrate them until just yesterday. I definitely don't have them dialed in yet, but the improvement is very noticeable. I'm glad I went with the closed subs, the kids watched the Incredibles 2 yesterday and that was more than enough for them.

I will probably have to reach out to SVS though. I ran the MultEQ XT on my SR5011 and it set the subs to -12. The SVS pamphlet said to give them a call if this happens. I just manually set it to -6 in the interim.

mrloren

yeah, Audyssey XT is hard to set the subs. No Idea why Marantz doesn't put XT32 on the SR50XX line.

Here's an Idea. run Audyssey with one sub. Just do the 3 point test till it sets it at -3db. Then run the 2nd sub till it's -3db. Plug in both subs and run Audyssey 6 point calibration