Sub purchase advice needed

mknutt

Hoping you all can give me some advice on my upcoming subwoofer purchase. My information…I have the standard large LR/kitchen layout found in many homes today. The living room is ~17’x22’ with 11’ceilings and open to two short hallways and the kitchen. My best estimates are the LR is ~4100 cubic feet with total space (hallways and kitchen) ~7000 cubic feet. My listening habits are 90/10 HT/music. I currently do not have a subwoofer, so anything will be an improvement.

I have been leaning towards a SVS, but would be open to other suggestions. My budget right now is ~$1000. I plan on emailing SVS to get their advice as well, but with so many knowledgeable people on these forums I figured it would not hurt to ask.

One last point to consider is I am in the military, so I obviously move quite frequently.

With all that out of the way, here are my thoughts and questions. I am considering a PC 20-39+ or PC-Ultra. With me moving, I do not want to lug around a 140+ lb beast with me everytime. :mad: I realize that a dual driver setup would be ideal with the large space, but I do not think I could convince my wife of the HUGE SVS /2. I could maybe add a second PC down the road, if required.

Questions…

Is a better SQ all one would gain by going with Ultra over a Plus?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of two separate drivers (2 PC) over 2 in the same enclosure (Plus/2)?

I appreciate if you made it through all of my ramblings. I would appreciate even more if you could offer some advice. Thanks.

Early B.

My advice about subwoofer purchases is always the same -- buy the biggest, baddest subwoofer you can afford. For $1,000 you can get one helluva sub and definitely can't go wrong with an SVS. Personally, if you're moving a lot, I'd get the box instead of a cylinder. Seems a bit more rugged, IMO. If you're gonna go cylinder, get the PC-Ultra for $1,149. However, if your wife will have a problem with a big box in the living room, she'll **** a brick when you roll that 40" tall water heater looking thing in the room. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Look for a used one and save some money. At the price point you're looking at, I wouldn't worry so much about SQ or two separate drivers for HT.

Ron Temple

The tubes are very well built, weigh 70-80lbs vs 150-170lbs. The + is pretty darned close to the Ultra in SQ, just as the ISD is pretty close to the +. You will notice the difference. The Plus/2 exceeds the Ultra in output.

That's what I know. Any of them will be great subs. Get the best you can afford and don't look back.

gregure

Personally, I think if you want high output and performance, yet in a small, attractive package, you can't go wrong with a Martin Logan sub. Look at the Grotto for $1000, or, if you're willing to boost your credit and finance, a Depth for $1750. The Depth will be louder and deeper, but the Grotto is the only small sub I know which can easily kick the **** out of most other subs out there, with just a single 10" sealed box. Truly, give it a listen before you make the plunge. Even the Depth, however, is a relatively small sub, and is attracive as hell with its sleek black wood and rectangular shape. It takes up even less room that SVS's smallest box sub (PB 10 ISD), yet beats it out in terms of extension and volume. The Depth has 3 8" drivers as opposed to the Grotto's single 10". Check out the Grotto here, or the Depth here.

Don't get me wrong, $1000 would go a long way with an SVS purchase, and you would easily get tremendous extension and volume in bass, but in a huge box that would both cause friction with a wife who doesn't want a big box, and a pain every time you move it. Most here would say that's worth it, but the Martin Logan subs kick serious **** in relatively small, and even attractive packages. You would be happy with a great big SVS, though, and really a Martin Logan sub is known for its accurate, tight, punchy bass, which lends it a truly musical quality in two-channel use. However, if 90% of the use is HT, an SVS will do you fine.

For my two cents, I would get a PB 12 Ultra and not look back, if you can get over the size hurdle and decide to get a SVS. That way you'd know you have the best driver they make, and be assured the highest quality bass that SVS has to offer. Really, any of the subs I've mentioned would make you extremely happy. If you have no sub now, dude, you really have no idea what you're in for. Wear diapers the first time you hook up your new sub. And really, at least listen to the Martin Logan subs if you have a local dealer.

bms

I just got an svs pb-10, and I'm using it in a 2200 cubic foot room which opens un into another 1200 cu ft. room and it is amazing. I listen to a wide variey of music ranging from orchestral, to pipe organ, to big band jazz with upright bass, to prog (Yes, Genesis) which has some seriously low bass pedal passages, and it is rock solid. I watch a lot of action dvd's with my son, and it does equally well. The Darla scene in finding Nemo made me a believer. Tonight, I try the pod race for the 1st time.

Can anyone suggest a good sound source (CD, DVD) for testing my system with an spl meter?

I think that the pb-12 would suit a larger listening area quite well, and you can't beat the price. Granted, I know nothing of the other subs mentioned here, but I had Bose 901's prior to this uograde, and I'm living in a different world now. Bassville, PA!

mknutt

The size is not that big of a deal to me. My wife probably would let me get what I want. I just do not want to deal with hauling around a 140+ lb box everytime I move. A cylinder that I can move on my own makes more sense to me. My main concern is how a single PC would hold up in a space this size. Who knows? My next home may have a smaller room.

halo

SVS has a45 day trial / return period. If you get the cylinder and decide it isn't what you want just send it back. If you do get the PCi + or Ultra I doubt you'll be sending it back.

fab5valentine

E-mail SVS sales, attn: Ron S. let him know what you're up against and what your thoughts are. He'll help you out for sure.. Sometimes they get special situations/ deals that go thru them -that wouldn't last the afternoon if posted.. Having dialog with Ron can help. As you may know my dimensions are simiar to yours and I just got the 12 +/2 and man it may even be too much, lots of slam even in the 16hrtz tune. I'd bet you'd be okay w/ the cylinder but if so get the plus.. I'll post on my new toy soon..