I've got a new baby!!! SVS SB12-Plus
DarqueKnight
Posts: 6,765
The UPS man dropped off my new baby subwoofer yesterday. The SVS SB12-Plus will be providing the Magneplanar MG12's in my master bedroom A/V system with some much needed help in the bass region. The MG12's are discussed here:
Magnepan MG12's
The only gripe I have about the SB12-Plus is that they did not include radial hash marks on the controls for the parametric equalizer. That made it more difficult to set exact values for Q, frequency, and level. I sent an email to Ron at SVS and told him I didn't like that.
The fit and finish of the wood cabinet was excellent. The control knobs and switches have a very high quality "feel" to them. The sonic performance of the SB12 was outstanding for both music and movies. I was surprised at how hard this little sub hits on low frequency movie soundtrack effects. Uncorrected and corrected response curves are attached. As you can see from comparing the in-cabinet response curves with the out-of-cabinet response curves, the response suffered a bit by being enclosed in the cabinet. There was a cabinet shelf resonance at 50 Hz and a cabinet side panel resonance at 80 Hz. I'll install some cabinet treatments later. However, the resonances didn't produce any objectionable audible effects in listening evaluations.
I attached a double layer of thick felt to the backs of each of the MG12's to absorb the back wave from the ribbons. I would not have had to do that if they were not so close to the wall. Good sound and good looks.:)
Magnepan MG12's
The only gripe I have about the SB12-Plus is that they did not include radial hash marks on the controls for the parametric equalizer. That made it more difficult to set exact values for Q, frequency, and level. I sent an email to Ron at SVS and told him I didn't like that.
The fit and finish of the wood cabinet was excellent. The control knobs and switches have a very high quality "feel" to them. The sonic performance of the SB12 was outstanding for both music and movies. I was surprised at how hard this little sub hits on low frequency movie soundtrack effects. Uncorrected and corrected response curves are attached. As you can see from comparing the in-cabinet response curves with the out-of-cabinet response curves, the response suffered a bit by being enclosed in the cabinet. There was a cabinet shelf resonance at 50 Hz and a cabinet side panel resonance at 80 Hz. I'll install some cabinet treatments later. However, the resonances didn't produce any objectionable audible effects in listening evaluations.
I attached a double layer of thick felt to the backs of each of the MG12's to absorb the back wave from the ribbons. I would not have had to do that if they were not so close to the wall. Good sound and good looks.:)
Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
Post edited by DarqueKnight on
Comments
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killer response curves. Is the corrected response using the built in PEQ or something else like a BFD?
Goes really, really deep for such a small sealed sub. Awesome.
MichaelMains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms) -
The corrected response curves are using the subs EQ.
The rated 3dB frequency response is 22 Hz to 150 Hz.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
Wow.. that's a beautiful subwoofer. Congrats.. and enjoy!PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
Welcome to the club! Very nice setup as well!// Panasonic AE8000 // Pioneer SC-57 // Polk Audio RTi A9 // Polk Audio CSiA6 //
// Polk Audio FXi A6 // SVS PB12-NSD Subwoofer // Logitech Harmony Ultimate // Pro-Ject Debut III //
// Oppo BDP-103 // Microsoft Xbox One Day One Edition // Sony Playstation 4 1TB SSHD // Nintendo Wii U //
Photo Gallery
Movie and Game Collection -
Wow very, very nice!!!Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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Wow!
Your setup looks amazing and im sure it sounds even better. Nice that the SB fit into such a conveinient space.
Does the Grill attatch via magnets? Makes for a clean look if so!
Awesome setup!Terps Swimming!
HT Setup
TV: Vizio VX32L
Reciever: Pioneer VSX-D914
HD-DVD Player: Toshiba HD-A2
Fronts: Polk R50s
Surounds: Polk R30s
Center: Polk R20's
Subwoofer: SVS 20-39PCi
2CH Setup
Integrated: Onix SP3 Tube
CD Player: Sony CDP-CX355
Speakers: Onix Strata Mini in PR Finish
Signal Cable: Classic Speaker, Analog 1 IC
Headphones
Grado SR 60, Bang & Olufsen A8, Shure e3
Other Stuff in Use
Onix xls, Dual Onix x-subs, Onix Ref .5, Dahlquist M903, Teac A-1D, Marantz 1060 -
Yes, the grille attaches with magnets.
This was Ron's response to my question about the missing hash marks on the parametric equalizer controls"
"We decided to try those bigger knobs and since the controls are only useful by virtue of measurement we dumped the questionably useful marks this time. We might bring them back but we'll see how many other people notice ;^)"
Questionably useful? I guess if you are calibrating the sub solely by ear the hash marks would be useless. For others, such as myself, who calibrate the sub according to the values derived from EQ parameter equations, the adjustment marks on the EQ controls were very useful.
I think their plate amp vendor just screwed up and neglected to print the hash marks for the EQ controls. The crossover, gain, and phase controls have the "bigger knobs" yet have the questionably useful hash marks.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
Nice looking sub!
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DK, you're one of the first to get this sub, so please continue reviewing it;), especially, if you have any experience with other small, sealed form factor subs, like the Rocket ULW/UFWs or Velodyne SPLs. Keep it coming.
Combo rig:
Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
PB13Ultra RO
BW Silvers
Oppo BDP-83SE -
I planned to get another SB12-Plus sub for my home office if I liked the one purchased for the master bedroom system. The bass of the SDA CRS+'s in the home office A/V system is pretty much gone at 40 Hz (3 dB limits are 42 Hz to 20 kHz). Plus, a little extra kick for movie soundtracks would be nice.
I took the SB12 out of the MBR and sat it in the corner next to the right CRS+. It sounded really good even in an uncalibrated state. However, I just didn't like the way it looked in that corner, even though the SB12 is only a little 14" x 14" x 14" box. For aesthetic reasons, I really would prefer not having anything in that corner. My other three placement options were:
1. Behind my desk, next to the credenza. I could envision the cosmetic damage as my chair base occassionally bumped into the side of the sub.
2. Under my computer workstation. Plenty of room, even with the computer speaker sub under there. Only down side was the amount of time it would take to rearrange and reroute all the wiring under there.
3. Against the wall at the other end of the credenza. Down side is this location is close to the French doors that I usually keep open = diminished bass response.
As I was sitting down contemplating the placement, response, and wiring considerations, the voice of reason (VOR) began speaking to me:
VOR: What are you doing? Do you see what you are doing? I can't believe what you are doing.
Me: What? What are you talking about? I'm working out the placement for my new sub. SVS is giving me a 10% repeat customer discount.
VOR: Why do you think you need a sub in this room?
Me: Because I want more extended bass for music and low bass for movies.
VOR: Um...excuse me...don't you have a rather moderately sized home theater system three rooms away? Furthermore, don't you have a two channel music system in the next room that you can hear well and good when your office doors are open?
Me: Yeah, but sometimes I want to watch a movie while I'm working in my office and I usually like to have music in the background when I am working.
VOR: When was the last time you watched a movie in your office?
Me: Um.....I can't remember.
VOR: O.K. then, when you are listening to music in your office, I assume you want the bass to really "hit"? Isn't it going to be hard to make the bass "hit" if you have the music turned down to background levels?
Me: Um...........
VOR: So essentially, your new subwoofer will be used primarily to augment the low bass frequecies of background music and to enrich Lou Dobbs' voice when you are watching "CNN Moneyline"?
Me: Oh...well...I..uh... guess I really don't need a new sub in this room.
VOR: I was sure you'd come around once you looked at all the angles. Good luck.
Me: I don't like you any more.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
May just be me...
But when I was looking at a few of those pics... I honestly thought it was kind of like...
"Can you find the subwoofer???"
Other than that, your house - the whole thing is absolutely...amazing. I would love to sleep on your couch... floor... in any room where speakers are present...
And... you deifnitely need a subwoofer to watch Moneyline - you know, that ticker at the bottom hits some mega low notes on ocasion!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
nice looking office...
I'm with you though.. honestly, i don't find I like a sub when listening to music on my 2 ch only systems. either the bass is enough for me from the two speakers... or i learn to adjust my hearing.
If music in my any of my 2 ch systems.. i blame it on the music itself. I know that the Monitor 7's i have have enough bass when it's needed. It's not overblown and although some times they lack bass... i just find that adding a sub would color the sound to much. If i did have a sub with my computer rig, it too would sound odd to me. I did just add a old Pioneer SG-550 EQ i got @ GW for $5 though.. it helped tame the highs on my Speakerlab SQ1's.PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
Hi Raife!
Nice SVS! I've got one and love it!
Buy another one for the CRS+'s! Don't reason, just buy it. I like it in the corner.Carl
