SVS... What is going on here???

MikeC78

I'd have to agree... that sub in that room should make your shirt and pants move and maybe even your hair! There is NO way that the 303 has "more" bass than the SVS, something is definetly wrong no doubt about it. I have 2 PCU's in a fairly large room and it's just plain scary!

fireshoes

Just to cover all the bases:
1.subwoofer cable plugged into the sub out, not the 5.1 sub in.
2.midnight mode not engaged, loudness off, bass/treble flat.
3.all speakers set to small, sub to yes/on.
4.sub amp is on. (and plugged in!;))
5.run test tones for all channels (how's the bass level with tones?)
6.using an optical or digital coax cable from dvd player, with dolby digital and dts turned on in the dvd menu, and digital input assigned properly on receiver.
7.subwoofer and receiver crossovers both set to 80hz (at least to start).

If all else fails, there's the Ken S. method: unhook the subwoofer cable from the sub. Turn the sub volume all the way down. Plug the analog audio outputs from your dvd/cd player directly into the sub. Play a music cd you know has low bass output. Slowly turn the subwoofer volume up and you should hear clean, powerful bass.

Good luck!

dipiazza

I would do a full reset on your receiver's saved options... just do a factory default thing.

Tried this, didnt affect the sound.

If all else fails, there's the Ken S. method: unhook the subwoofer cable from the sub. Turn the sub volume all the way down. Plug the analog audio outputs from your dvd/cd player directly into the sub. Play a music cd you know has low bass output. Slowly turn the subwoofer volume up and you should hear clean, powerful bass.

I gave this a try, actually it got me a little closer to what i expected from the SVS but still not what i think it should be.

Unfortunately, im going to be away for the rest of the week at the ACC swimming and diving championships. Im on the swim team here at The Univeristy of Maryland, and the meet will not be over until saturday. Im going to have to wait until then to get in touch with SVS.

I'll be sure to get back to you all by next week. Thanks again for all the suggestions and help.

danger boy

dipiazza wrote:

Tried this, didnt affect the sound.




I gave this a try, actually it got me a little closer to what i expected from the SVS but still not what i think it should be.

Unfortunately, im going to be away for the rest of the week at the ACC swimming and diving championships. Im on the swim team here at The Univeristy of Maryland, and the meet will not be over until saturday. Im going to have to wait until then to get in touch with SVS.

I'll be sure to get back to you all by next week. Thanks again for all the suggestions and help.

Since you are in MD, you may want to ask if any club Polk member could have you over to demo their SVS, and you could compare the two that way. just a thought.

dipiazza

Thats a great Idea. Any members here living close to college park that have an svs?

peteran

I have the 20-39+ and it sounds awesome. MY room is 28x17 with open areas in the dinning room and kitchen, so I don't think it's the room. Just double check the connections. Set the phase to 0 since it's in the front of the listening area and only at 40-50% volume initially and as it braks in increase another 10-20% and that is it.

Front: Polk Rt55
Center: Polk Cs400
Surround: FX500i
Surround Back: Rt25
Subwoofer: SVS 20-39+
Receiver: Onkyo TX-DS797
Amplifier: Onkyo M-282
HDTV: Hitachi 57S500
DVD: Denon 2910
DVR: Philips HDRW720
Multimedia: Philips SL400i

Ron Temple

Either you've got expectations throught the roof, there's a signal problem from your reciever/cable specific to SVS or you've got one of the very few lemons I've ever heard about.

If you've seen the SVS graphic animation showing the giant tube stomping the competition, that's just about what you should be feeling. Somethings just not right. I'm sure SVS will make it right.

There are other subs/brands that offer similar and even superior (subjectively) quality and output, only a couple can touch them at that price point.

kingsqueak

My 25-31 PCi sits at 1/3 of the way up on gain with the receiver at -6 to -4 most of the time. There is NO mistake that it is working. If I turn up the receiver to -2 or 0, it literally shakes anything on the walls and you can hear it out at the street with all the windows and doors sealed on the house.

When I first turned it on, I had it at 3/4 and popped in the Incredibles, the first boom had a lampshade accross the room shaking. Sounded like a truck hit the side of my house.

There is something definitely wrong as has been said.

goingganzo

i have a few thouhts it may need to break in and also it may be out of phase so your mains are cancleing out the bass. with the displacement and the box size the sub you bought should have some real punch

MikeC78

I made my xmas tree literaly move that stood 7' tall with one PB-12 Ultra.

jdhdiggs

DiPizza.. I don't know exactly where college park is but I could give you a demo if you can make it to York PA. I also know a prominent member here has two SVS' and lives in Damascus as well but I don't want to speak for him on any demo.

dipiazza

Hey guys, ive made some decisions. First it turns out that there is nothing wrong with the svs. I simply was not used to the Extremely low bass. With that being said, i didnt thing that the svs was so good with the higher frequency bass in Music. While i do like it for Movies, I need a sub that will do the job for music more. so the 20-39PCi is headed back. I am considering an exchange for the 25-31 PCi or possibly stepping up to the PC+ series. Ive decided i dont really need the extra extension the 20-39 offers.

With that said, if there is anyone living near Washington DC that has a SVS 25-31 PCi or PC+ that would let me have a hear, that would be awesome. thanks for the help guys!

-Jake

Ron Temple

I take it you're looking for the 50-60hz slam and resolution.
The Plus driver does offer more resolution and slam. It's likely however, that you've got a room node or null in the upper bass frequencies if you're not hearing it with the PCI.

Dennis Gardner

Good HT subs aren't for everybody.............kinda like fine wine for the beer drinkers, it takes alot of adjusting your sense of what good bass should be.

Good luck in your search, you might try Velodyne, as alot prefer them for music.

wingnut4772

It's likely however, that you've got a room node or null in the upper bass frequencies if you're not hearing it with the PCI.

I think that is a strong possibility.

Dennis Gardner

Room nulls aren't speaker dependent, they are room dependent. The Polk didn't have a null. it had plenty of the type of bass he liked, he just wanted more. This guy isn't a candidate for the SVS type of bass, he prefers high amounts of chest kicking midbass.

Its okay, not everyone is SVS material.

dipiazza

Hah, i guess what your saying is true. I prefer the midbass as opposed to the low end. At least in Music. So, if SVS has great low bass what would you reccomend in the midbass range?

Dennis Gardner

You might look into this model.http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/549499051

Nice sub for the $$$ and a good balance of punch and bottom dwelling. I would suggest a box sub over the tube sub you tried for bass punch.

wingnut4772

Dipiazza, keep us updated on any new sub you get. I am really curious to see what you end up happy with.

kingsqueak

Low-mid I would consider 100Hz to 500Hz range, the warmth of electric guitar winds up around 250Hz. This is a range your mains should handle, it's not the sub's job.

dipiazza

Hey guys, im checkin out a couple of subs right now. Theres a place near me that has teh Mirage S12, im gonna try to go there this weekend and demo it.

Talking to SVS tech support right now via e-mails seeing if some settings/placement could get what im looking for with the 20-39PCi. It kicks HT movie ****, but doesnt have that Music stuff i want. It sounds amazing in The Matrix Scene 31, With the helicopter. Shakes the place pretty well.

Any other suggestions are welcome, thinking of Velodyne if anyone has a specific model suggestion. looking to spend $600 max.

-Jake

Ron Temple

Velo DLS5000R might be just what you're looking for. Velos are tuned higher. This guy is extremely loud above 35hz and in room goes down to ~ 23hz. Due to the higher tuning there is distortion down low, but I'm told it's a winner. Street price is around $600 +/-.

jdhdiggs

Jake,

I really don't get what you are wanting from a sub I guess... It's pretty much impossible for those one note boxes to have both resolution and slam yet that seems to be what you are looking for. The SVS is VERY good for music (for the <$2K bracket). Both Doro and I have had no issue integrating our SVS's (Both + series) with sets of Maggies (Which are notorious for showing off non musical subs).

My suggestion, turn it up a touch and play with the placement. Wait until the end of the demo time on the SVS and see if you learn to like it. It definately is different from what you're used to.

PolkThug

The problem is that he is used to an inaccurate spike in the upper bass. So, to fulfill that need, he'll have to keep getting a lesser sub.

Foz

PolkThug wrote:

The problem is that he is used to an inaccurate spike in the upper bass. So, to fulfill that need, he'll have to keep getting a lesser sub.

That discussion makes no sense to me. The bass is either recorded in the material and needs to be heard or it isn't. I have the PB12+/2 and have the same problem. I struggle to hear the sound of the bass drum with Blue Man Goups "audio" in dvd-a format. I can "feel" stuff. Just can't hear it. And, it makes no difference how high you turn the "gain" up. The kid down the street with the hip hop blaring in his truck lets me know what the "notes" are supposed to sound like. With the SVS the notes just are not there.

dorokusai

If you are using DVD-A or SACD, ensure that your source bass management settings, in addition to the AVR, are set correctly. I have that same BMG media and have experienced no problems with any SVS, Rel, Velodyne, Carver or Polk Audio subwoofers used in my HT.

I'll echo James' comment about SVS integration in a 2CH enviroment, as it's not hard at all. I eventualy nixed the subwoofer because it was simply overkill for the application; however, I'm simply waiting on the "Baby" SVS to be introduced.

wingnut4772

I struggle to hear the sound of the bass drum with Blue Man Goups "audio" in dvd-a format. I can "feel" stuff. Just can't hear it. And, it makes no difference how high you turn the "gain" up. The kid down the street with the hip hop blaring in his truck lets me know what the "notes" are supposed to sound like. With the SVS the notes just are not there.

I don't know what you guys are doing but that has never been an issue with my SVS subs.

dipiazza

ok ok! Some conclusions here to what has become of this redick thread...

I am prepared to take the many "i told you so's"

1. After having the SVS around for about two weeks now i have realized what i had before was infact inferior.

2. What i was used to was that punchy sound that is really not musical at all. the svs was simply different and something i had to come to appreciate.

3. I love the SVS, after having a few of my friends listen to it (some of them more savvy than myself) I beliver a quote was "damn i gotta get me one of these you paid ONLY $600?!!?"

4. Congratualtions SVS you have converted a lound punchy bass man into somthing a little more respectable.

5. Oh yea... SVS rumbles my ****, i dont know what i was expecting before.

-Jake

dipiazza

Hey, also.

Doro it seems you know my athletic trainer Shawn. Crazy dude he is, randomly told me if i spent as much time rehabing my shoulder as i spent on the Polk Forum itd be better by now. hahaha. i was shocked. small world.

dorokusai

If you want to hear another SVS, drop me a line.

dorokusai@comcast.net

I've also offered corruption to Shawn, so please visit me with extreme caution He's a great guy, punch him in the nuts for me.

I presume that you're a UM hardcore? Sweet, now get back to training!