SVS vs. M&K

PolkThug

Sid's pic is awesome. SVS FTW!

PolkThug

howie777 wrote:

You can say all you want about M&K, but they are no means anything like Bose ...

marker wrote:

I agree. Anyone who compares M&K to Bose is only showing off their own ignorance.

So, are you guys saying that M&K uses expensive parts and has low markup?

marker

PolkThug wrote:

So, are you guys saying that M&K uses expensive parts and has low markup?

So are you implying that M&K sounds no better than Bose?

jakelm

Not another sub war........

VR3

I am.

I never said that. You said that.

I said they use similar ideas. IE: Low Quality Parts + High Mark Up + Lots of marketing + living off a past reputation.

Nothing special, big price.

If your SVS is failing at music, you need to try different placement and settings, mine is almost invisible in my room and my room sucks for bass - very fast, very punchy. The big subs, I imagine would be harder to blend for music though. There are, of course better products for music, but M&K definitely isnt one of them.

Strong Bad

Sid:

Nice job on the posts. Good info to back yourself up.

I've had my mind made up on a sub for quite a while. The PC-Ultra will have a spot in my setup probably next year most likely after the purchase of a home.

I won't look at another sub company. SVS is just too damn good!

John

VR3

Thanks

PS: For the offended that own M&K loudspeakers (not subs) and think M&K is god for their sound, I have not said one word here that was associated with their loudspeakers, just their subwoofers.

I did however make shots at the company as a whole, which are are facts - not opinion, so...I dont know what to tell you. But all Ive said about them in general was about their subs.

speakergeek

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Thanks

PS: For the offended that own M&K loudspeakers (not subs) and think M&K is god for their sound, I have not said one word here that was associated with their loudspeakers, just their subwoofers.

I did however make shots at the company as a whole, which are are facts - not opinion, so...I dont know what to tell you. But all Ive said about them in general was about their subs.

Sometimes the truth is hard to take...Seeing the comparison of the SVS speaker to the MK says it all though.

VR3

Yeah, it really is a massive difference.

The M&K weighs about 10 pounds, the SVS weighs around 45. (which is about as much as most subs)

howie777

OK, you Sid are really starting to make me want to compare an SVS with my M&K. Of course my M&K would win, but I'd have to keep the SVS for future testing

As for M&K weighting 10lbs! Um, mine is 74 lbs, which is a lot more than the wimpy 44 lbs from SVS!

Well when I get my house this fall maybe I'll have to see if I can save enough money to get an SVS. See what all the fuss is really about. I may even try to get some new drivers and amp from M&K to compare current to current. Should be interesting if nothing else. I could always use the looser for computer duty.

Howie

VR3

you the the MX 150 (saw a past thread). You have dual 12's - and an enclosure that is solid wood (oak I believe) with MDF front and back panels. The majority of your weight is in the enclosure. With 20 pounds in the woofers and maybe 5-10 in the amp.

SVS had a 44 pound woofer (singular), and a 1/4" cylinder which probally weighs 15-20 pounds, then you have the amp...

Also, you're hitting down to about 30hz with a huge 50hz bump, it makes alot of "noise" and thump, but its not forceful or low, trust me - I was very surprised to hear and feel the difference, even for less money.

Ill be interested in hearing your results.

HiPerf360

I was taking this further than just subs.....

ironmike86

Smallest SVS PB10 is 60lbs. Dual 12" SVS PB12-ISD-2 is 125 the other is 140lbs fwiw. Depending on the M/k The one I heard don't know the model # was close NOT to the SVS for bass. But it's a much smaller speaker so it all depends if size is an issue. The M/k I heard was $1k I think you can find better in SVS for $$ unless size is an issue.

Loud & Clear

Good work, Sid. The juxtaposition of those two woofers should send a clear signal for those considering the two brands for purchase. That's an eye opener.

polk_audio_lsi

Is the SVS sub the sub that hittest the lowest as far as hz go? Or is there a sub that actually hits lower than SVS hits, because that's what ya want in a sub. Not about what the most watts are but how low the hz go.

VR3

HiPerf360 wrote:

I was taking this further than just subs.....

Do you want to take this outside?

I have heard M&K speakers once, dont remember how they sounded. Never been interested in owning them...

Subs on the other hand...;)

SVS hits the lowest with the most force for the money.

Big enclosure, big amp, high excursion drivers = low extention. and tons of volume.

ironmike86

polk_audio_lsi wrote:

Is the SVS sub the sub that hittest the lowest as far as hz go? Or is there a sub that actually hits lower than SVS hits, because that's what ya want in a sub. Not about what the most watts are but how low the hz go.

SVS goes low for the value there are many speakers that sound as low or better but may cost alot more. Like Velodyne or diy enclosed setup using 15-18" drivers. SVS is just good value

Holydoc

Well my SVS PB-12/plus had sonic filter settings from 25Hz down to 12Hz. I have never tried the 12Hz but I am currently using the 16Hz settings. With 16Hz, the sub reaches all the way down to 11Hz at 50db (calibrated at 70db for testing purposes). This strong an output at such a low frequency definitely rocks your world. Here is an example of what the sweep looks like. BTW... consider that this is just a single woofer and not nearly their top of the line.

min888

There are off the wall brands that claims to have better subs that I have never heard like VMPS and Legacy Audio which I think are pretty good but have no chance to eval. I think VMPS are not too expensive but Legacy will cost you.

Ron Temple

Well min888 just got a chance to listen to my SVS 20-39+. He tells me that my budget system doesn't give him the same bass response as his SDA-SRSs for music, so I'll have to go over and listen (who'd a thunk). I then put in The Haunting DTS, WotW and Nemo at -15. That put a smile on his face. I think he was impressed;)...

Nice to meet you Min.:)

min888

Thanks A bunch Ron, for the demo. I think I got my ears open. The SVS is wonderful for the movie it literally shook the couch. I think I want one, just have to tell the Missus that big tube thingy is a scratching post . Just shoot me an email when u would like to audition the SRS then I can clear my schedule with the missus. You just did not crank up the SVS when you listen to music I have the evil knob all the way up

VR3

another one bites yje dust!

Ron Temple

min, I tried to tell you...SVS plays the bass that's there. If I turned it up any louder for music, I'd break the glass doors of my Entertainment Center

I'll send you an email this week to see if we can get together.

RT

Dennis Gardner

Ron Temple wrote:

min, I tried to tell you...SVS plays the bass that's there.

Min,

Ron has it right, the SRS aren't producing the bass you hear, its your room giving you the bass response for music.

min888

Don't know what you mean by "SVS plays the bass that was there on music". Guess will have to wait until Ron listens to my system the way I have it and has his takes on it. I don't listen to my music very loud, my volume knob rarely turn above the 9 o'clock position yet there is plenty of room shaking bass. I just like to hear everything times ten at low listening level.

VR3

You would like my setup... lol

I run everything hot!

My subs vol knob is on 12 in a 10.5x10.5 room - but it blends very nicely, my mains are pretty loud.

min888

Maybe we are distant cousins If u're close by I would love to hear what your system sounds like.

VR3

If you live in CA...

Im opposite coast of you.

But I have an odd taste in sound, its very untraditional...

min888

Who cares about tradition, as long as u like it, it's tradition:p

marker

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

I am.

I never said that. You said that.

I said they use similar ideas. IE: Low Quality Parts + High Mark Up + Lots of marketing + living off a past reputation.

Nothing special, big price.

If your SVS is failing at music, you need to try different placement and settings, mine is almost invisible in my room and my room sucks for bass - very fast, very punchy. The big subs, I imagine would be harder to blend for music though. There are, of course better products for music, but M&K definitely isnt one of them.

Again, IF you are referring to me here (it would really help a lot if you'd quote, especially if the thread has gone on to an entirely different page), experimentation with different placement of the PB12 Ultra 2 is not feasible in nothing more than a micro sense. Macro placement experimentation is pretty much out of the question, that is unless you convientently happen to have a fork lift in your house.

SVS subs are designed and tuned for HT first and foremost, with the primary goal being towards maximum extension and output, although plugging the ports, can help change this somewhat.

The NHT Evolution subs are fourth order bandpass despite the fact that they are also sealed acoustic suspension subs, and they are designed for speed and accuracy first and foremost, and IMO, they just flat out do music better than the SVSs do.

Oh, BTW, HSU and Carver/Sunfire also use TC Sounds drivers like SVS does.