My SVS story (with happy ending)

Schwingding

What started out as a single SVS PB12+ has ended with DUAL PB12/2s. The second /2 arrived yesterday.

The original PB12+ is on its way back to SVS. It was a marvelous machine but I do believe, now that I have had two more SVS subs, that my unit was defective. I also think it may have been a bit undersized for my room size and construction. The issue I had with it is that it would bottom out on the lowest of low movie scenes, way before it probably should have. I will acknowledge that I may have driven it hard, relatively speaking, for the big room (+3500 cu. ft), but the gain never went anywhere near 1/2 way and I never saw a db of more than 100.

The PB12+ was finished in cherry, and it was fine furniture grade. After discussions online and with SVS, we decided to give a PB12/2 a shot. The first PB12/2 that arrived was much larger than the PB12+, and had a rosewood veneer finish. Strikingly beautiful! I definitely found it preferable to the cherry, which as my favorite of hardwoods, was gorgeous. They were obviously finished by someone who knew what they were doing as they had been rubbed to a perfect sheen.

I ran both subs in dual fashion for about a week and still the original sub would bottom, even after adjusting the gain down to run as a dual.

Yesterday a second PB12/2 arrived. The rosewood finish option is no longer available. This didn't surprise me - that rosewood veneer they used is expensive stuff, I'm a furniture builder, btw. Replaced by something called "rosenut", which appears to also be a member of the rosewood family, but not nearly as dramatic. Since my two PB12/2 units were shipped only 2 weeks apart, I noticed that the newest one had a new and improved shipping container - a box inside a box.

The timing of the delivery was perfect, my wife is out of town and the shipping boxes are already in the attic. She'll never notice.

I turned off the existing sub and calibrated the 2nd one to match the first, then turned both on and adjusted the input level to match the original SPL.

Then I listend to the test tones with both subs on and one sub sounded much louder than the other in my listening position, even though the SPL meter read them as identical. (subs are on opposite sides of the seating area, near the front/mains). So I used the individual gains to even them out - is this the right way to go about this? (I don't know). Also got a boost on the SPL from the phase adjustment knob - first time I ever noticed that. BTW, I chose the 16Hz tune for both subs.

I then started rocking and rolling! Woohoo! I couldn't, not a chance, possibly tolerate what these babies could do if I ran them to their potential. No way. Not a hint of effort from either of them. I threw everything I could their way, and with Mrs. Schwingding gone, I threw it even louder. When Superman's craft arrives in the first couple of chapters of "returns" I actually worried for the house a bit.

Threw in the Blue Man Group "Complex" DVD-A and jacked that up, too. Grins and more grins. Did the same with everything I could think of until I got a headache. Possibly the best demo I found is Dr. Chesky's 5.1 surround show "Organs and Chimes", it will knock your socks off.

Am I happy? You bet your butt! Will I be wondering if I made a good choice - nope.

MillerLiteScott

Mike that sound pretty impressive. I can't wait to hear and feel your system.
If the County had not made repairs to the Loch Raven Dam you would probably have to put them on notice for the potential failure of the dam.:D

Again thanks for the invite but unfortunately Sunday is no good because we are going out to get the tree and start decorating for the impending holiday.

I also enjoyed some good bass last night while watching War of the Worlds on HBO last night.

I am still trying to get mine dialed in and coming up with different results depending on which test tones I use. I will have the house to myself today from about 2pm-7pm so I will see what I can do.

Anyway SVS has a phenomenal product that everyone should get a chance to experience.

DarqueKnight

Schwingding wrote:

The rosewood finish option is no longer available. This didn't surprise me - that rosewood veneer they used is expensive stuff, I'm a furniture builder, btw. Replaced by something called "rosenut", which appears to also be a member of the rosewood family, but not nearly as dramatic.

According to Ron Stimpson of SVS,

"[Rosenut] is a special "wave grain" cut of walnut that's finished like cherry. The result is much more subdued and less "red" than our outgoing cherry, but a lot less garish than the heavy grain of the rosewood."

Sherardp

Dual PB12/plus 2's, you really have me thinking now. Of course if space wasnt an issue you bet I would hop right on board with you. Congrats and I know that setup is rocking.

Schwingding

Funny how people see things differently. Here is how I would describe the "rosenut" if I were to be truly honest. - a poor second cousin to the outgoing rosewood finish, the rosenut is a walnut veneer that relies for color on a lacquer tinted heavily enough to obscure most of the grain.

I have one of each, and nobody in the world is going to choose the rosenut over the rosewood. Trust me. I'll post pics shortly.

But it doesn't affect the sound, so whichever you choose, let'r rip!

DarqueKnight

I have a PB12 Ultra 2 in rosewood and an SB12-Plus in rosenut. When I went to place the order for the SB12-Plus, I was very disappointed to learn that the rosewood finish had been discontinued.

Sherardp

I cant wait to get my SB12 in the bedroom, its look so nice and compact.