What is the difference...

MrNightly

between the

PB12 Plus SVS

and the

PB12-NSD/2 SVS?

Both cost $899 in the black, but which is actually the better woofer? Anybody know off hand? Would be used mostly for HT, with probably 20% music.

Thanks.

MikeC78

The Plus is the "better" woofer, while /2 is dual woofers.

Mike

MrNightly

Well wouldn't 2 12 inchers, be better than 1?!

jakelm

Some V6's out run and out pull some V8's. Its the quality, not the quantity.

Jake

PolkWannabie

MrNightly wrote:

Well wouldn't 2 12 inchers, be better than 1?!

Not in this case ...

MikeC78

You will get more output from the NSD/2's than you would the single plus. If you would email SVS, they will more than likely give you the best answer in under an hour.

Mike

jakelm

Look at the Fr graph on each page. The plus has approx 18hz @ approx 92.5dbs while the dual sub has the same teasting with only approx 18hz @ approx 85 dbs. So the one sub (PB12 Plus) being better quality, has a higher db at a lower Fr than the dual subs.

jakelm

So better Fr extention @ lower Fr @ higher dbs w/ lower distortion = better sub. IMO

Jake

wingnut4772

This is an interesting question as I have a PB12 Plus and am wondering why SVS would offer the two at the same price.

MikeC78

wingnut4772 wrote:

This is an interesting question as I have a PB12 Plus and am wondering why SVS would offer the two at the same price.

Wing-

The Plus is an upgraded model from the NSD series. Kinda like how the single Ultra is about as much as the dual Plus series subs.

Mike

wingnut4772

I guess that makes sense except the same price part. I actually have the PB12/Plus 2 and an Ultra/2.

MrNightly

I sent SVS an email. I'll see what they say, and report here with the findings!

ncmarine

MrNightly

I'm definitely interested in what you find out, because I'm looking at the same subs right now.

pblanc

Gee, if a had a 12 incher, I think I could be satisfied with just one.

tonyb

pblanc wrote:

Gee, if a had a 12 incher, I think I could be satisfied with just one.

You wish....peewee!!:D

Couldn't resist......just bustin balls bro!

MrNightly

Ok, here was Ed's response.

---

Hi David:

See more below at the *******.

We appreciate your interest in SV Sound and if you have any questions, just holler.

Ed
SVS

________________________________

From: David Klick [mailto:dklick1@kc.rr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 12:59 AM
To: SVS - Tech Support
Subject: Question regarding two subs...



Hello there!


I had a quick question for you guys… ...and wanted to know what is the difference between the

PB12 Plus <http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-plus1.cfm&gt; SVS and the PB12-NSD/2 <http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-isd2.cfm&gt; SVS?

Both cost $899 in the black, but which is actually the better woofer? My sub will be used mostly for HT, with probably 20% music. I currently have my HT in a room about 15 X 26 with half the room with cathedral ceilings. There are also two open doorways in this room on the 8 foot ceiling part. Next year, I will be remodeling my basement, and plan to have a dedicated HT room set up down there. It will probably be about 15 x 25 feet, with just average ceiling height.

Between the two subs mentioned above, is there a better choice? Obviously, one has a superior driver I assume, but wouldn’t two woofers put out more umph than just the single driver?



*******Your are mostly correct here, David.

The native extension of the PB12-Plus is 20 Hz with all three 3" ports open. In order to obtain 20 Hz extension from the NSD/2, you need to plug a port, leaving you with dual 3" ports open.

At 18-23 Hz (very deep), the PB12-Plus and the PB12-NSD/2 will actually have similar output capabilities. Above 23 Hz, the NSD/2 will start to assert a progressively larger output advantage, worth about 50% more than the PB12-Plus over the more common bass regions.

The PB12-Plus also opens up the possibility of nicer finish options (for more $$), along with a PEQ control. The PEQ is a single-band parametric equalizer with three controls (frequency, cut, bandwidth) that allows the user to reduce the severity of a room-induced peak in the frequency response.

The PB12-NSD/2 is larger and heavier than the PB12-Plus, and only comes in textured black, and there is no PEQ option. While more utilitarian in nature, it's the performance enthusiast's subwoofer of choice in the $1,000 price bracket.********

Thank you for your time and help! You have quite the following on Polk Audio’s forum sight!

********Great bunch of guys over there - I've got over 3000 posts myself put don't visit there too often anymore (just not enough time in the day). **********

Regards,



David K.

MrNightly

Ed wrote:

*******Your are mostly correct here, David.

The native extension of the PB12-Plus is 20 Hz with all three 3" ports open. In order to obtain 20 Hz extension from the NSD/2, you need to plug a port, leaving you with dual 3" ports open.

Does this really matter if one of the three ports is plugged? I wouldn't think so.

Ed wrote:

At 18-23 Hz (very deep), the PB12-Plus and the PB12-NSD/2 will actually have similar output capabilities. Above 23 Hz, the NSD/2 will start to assert a progressively larger output advantage, worth about 50% more than the PB12-Plus over the more common bass regions.

Sounds to me like the NSD/2 is actually the better woofer here. Might not hit just quite as low as the Plus but above 23 Hz, 50% more output?!? That's quite a bit to me!!!

Ed wrote:

The PB12-Plus also opens up the possibility of nicer finish options (for more $$), along with a PEQ control. The PEQ is a single-band parametric equalizer with three controls (frequency, cut, bandwidth) that allows the user to reduce the severity of a room-induced peak in the frequency response.

The PB12-NSD/2 is larger and heavier than the PB12-Plus, and only comes in textured black, and there is no PEQ option. While more utilitarian in nature, it's the performance enthusiast's subwoofer of choice in the $1,000 price bracket.********

Does anybody have experience with this PEQ control? Is it a MUST have on a sub? Interesting.

I'm leaning toward the NSD/2 now. Seems it would be an all around better sub for me!

Ed wrote:

********Great bunch of guys over there - I've got over 3000 posts myself put don't visit there too often anymore (just not enough time in the day). **********

He obviously doesn't know jack about this site

Ron Temple

What Ed and other SVS staffers seldom address is the SQ difference mainly because it's subjective. The Plus delivers a more defined sound and in room extention in 16hz tune is around 13-14hz. However, the Plus just can't fill a larger room and will go into distress if pushed too hard. The /2 subs can handle the 4000^3 + rooms with plenty of headroom. In smaller rooms they produce gut busting pressurization. If you really want to feel the bass and have the room, the /2 subs are the way to go. If you're in a moderate room, you'll get plenty of bass from a single Plus with, IMO, better sound quality(than the NSD) and a tad more extention. If you opt for the PEQ (premium finish only) you can smooth out a peak for flatter FR. This works very well for alot of folks, however, it's not designed to dig out a null which can only be corrected through placement and room treatment.