Impressions of the PB13 Ultra

Ron Temple

I've got one...kind of a surprise, but that's another story. Super well packed, very large, same dimensions as the Plus 2 except not as tall, heavy...extremely beautiful finish.
Pics will come, but the cameras on vacation this weekend.

I was running dual Plus subs for awhile...one was enough, but the effortless output of two is very addictive. Anyway, a single Ultra13 is about equal to 2 Plus subs, the difference being, attack, decay and and overall feeling that you've moved up more than a notch. This sub stings, blows cold air in your face yet seems very controlled. I'm going to need to adjust it for music and movies. I'm 3dbs down on the calibration (72 vs 75) which should be flat, but movies are awe inspiring and music has to be notched down for taste...and I mean you can taste it. Very tactile and articulate. I've sampled the PB10, Plus subs, Hsu VTF 2.2, 3.2 and Velo DD15...all are excellent in the right room, nothing touches this for articulation and extention. Course it's costly, but it's worth it.

Anyway, I'm pretty jazzed...I'll try to get some pix up over the weekend...many thumbs up for the product launch.

Another by the way...I post on several forums, not because I'm any kind of an expert or even that knowledgeble...just for fun. I consider CP home and the site I come to when I want to learn something. Posting positive comments about competitors products never excites criticism and I really appreciate it. Hopefully the Polk guys see some of my posts about their products on other forums...cuz it's never negative (except the last sub revs):D

engtaz

What finish did you get?

Congrats

Ron Temple

Rosenut, which works...I've got Americal Red Oak floors and wanted Natural Oak but was concerned it was too light. Rosenut is darker than my floors, but blends better than I expected...probably better than the oak veneer.

WTF are you doing up this late...go to bed...where I'm headed.

engtaz

Nice. what are you doing with the other SVS's

Ron Temple

Fred's getting the custom box today for evaluation. The cylinder will go up for sale. PM me if you're interested, but it's not going up on the FM...I need to get top dollar on this guy. I need to be close to whole selling these two subs vs the Ultra or Momma will make some noise.:eek:

dane_peterson

Pics!

Ern Dog

I'd love to hear this baby. It would be a nice upgrade from my Mirage S12.

Sherardp

Hey Ron nice to hear your impressions of the beast. Im considering one myself. I'd like to add it to the rear of my room, perhaps dead center in a 17' long x 22'w dedicated room. I would run my Plus 2s up front one per corner, while using my SMS-1 to give me a flat response. Do you personally think that would be too much bass in that size room. Whats your take on going with a setup like that?

Lowell_M

Sherardp wrote: »

Hey Ron nice to hear your impressions of the beast. Im considering one myself. I'd like to add it to the rear of my room, perhaps dead center in a 17' long x 22'w dedicated room. I would run my Plus 2s up front one per corner, while using my SMS-1 to give me a flat response. Do you personally think that would be too much bass in that size room. Whats your take on going with a setup like that?

I think it would cause a tsunami that woudl take out half of Japan..

Ron Temple

Sherardp wrote: »

Hey Ron nice to hear your impressions of the beast. Im considering one myself. I'd like to add it to the rear of my room, perhaps dead center in a 17' long x 22'w dedicated room. I would run my Plus 2s up front one per corner, while using my SMS-1 to give me a flat response. Do you personally think that would be too much bass in that size room. Whats your take on going with a setup like that?

I'm not sure if I could justify that much bass unless you've got better than a 10k cube room. The dual Plus/2s will exceed the output of dual Ultra 13s above 30hz, not by much, but lose ground below that. If you put an Ultra13 in the mix, you'd have to turn the others off to enjoy the SQ benefit.

Fred Vu has no will power...we put the DIY SVS (I actually prefer this sub to the cylinder) into a corner...after moving a ton of AV equipment around:D . Hooked up the sub, stacked his PB10 on top and put on Poseidon. When the tsunami struck, I turned off the PB10...we'd knocked off 6db from his original calibration...either he liked what he heard or he didn't want to bother digging the sub(s) back out of the corner, cuz the evaluation turned into an immediate sale.

So now I really need to get busy on selling the 20-39+. Sorry guys...Fred got the CP discount. This one goes for whatever I can squeeze out of someone of CL.

fredv

Ron Temple wrote: »

... cuz the evaluation turned into an immediate sale.
.....

That was my fear and had been resisting to bring the DIY home to try After I cleaned up the lunch, these guys had the subs stacked up nicely. Slipped the DV into the oppo and cranked up the lonely HK, when Poseidon bellied up, so did I What can I say, it is more than kicking up a couple notches. I can say the HT now sounds about 75% as impressive as Ron's prior to his upgrade :cool: I was sold instantly. Kudos to Ron, Steve, and John helping to setting the whole thing up. Let see "she" will recognize the stack of "something" at the corner is a little higher than this morning

Ron Temple

I can't speak for Steve, but Fred's 2channel rig is more than impressive. Started out with DQ10s on a 35w tube amp, but we finished on his CAs powered by TAD monos, a very nice pre, and I couldn't tell which DACs... you really have to see his rig and have a photographic memory to figure out what he's got playing, 3 racks loaded, various gear on the floor that he's building or tweaking, expensive cable and ICs laying around...needless to say, this is the most revealing system I've ever heard. Talk about subtleties...I know John was really impressed as well...he wants some Carvers now. Oh and BTW...the HT rig he's been down playing...RTA15TLs, RTA11Ts, CSi400i, and M10 Peerless for back surrounds and now 2 subs...talk about a room full of sound. Course he doesn't have a SPL meter...WTF???

When Fred brought his CAs over here, the room didn't do them justice. I see what you guys are crowing about now...simply amazing detail.

We enjoyed the Chinese music and Vietnamese spring rolls too. Tell your daughter hi.

Ron Temple

...back to the PB13...this thing is so tight it's skinless. There isn't a hint of thud, sharp attack, no decay, it just gets out of the way. I listened to some PF, the Pulse concert, the cut Sorrow is reference bass material. What got my attention was the fact the deep deep bottom was all there, but the whole song sounded different due to no ringing or overhang. I then listened to the remastered, Depeche Mode, Violater, in DTS 96-24. With the dual subs I thought I was in heaven...I didn't know...no bleeding into the midrange, no heaviness, just relentless, percussive bass that effortlessly blends with the mains. I've listened to some Porcupine Tree, Weater Report, Steely Dan, Alan Parsons, Sarah Mcglaughlin...everything I throw at it just sounds better.

Enough gushing...when the camera gets back, I'll put up some pictures. It just takes their already excellent products to a new level.

Sherardp

Ron Temple wrote: »

...back to the PB13...this thing is so tight it's skinless. There isn't a hint of thud, sharp attack, no decay, it just gets out of the way. I listened to some PF, the Pulse concert, the cut Sorrow is reference bass material. What got my attention was the fact the deep deep bottom was all there, but the whole song sounded different due to no ringing or overhang. I then listened to the remastered, Depeche Mode, Violater, in DTS 96-24. With the dual subs I thought I was in heaven...I didn't know...no bleeding into the midrange, no heaviness, just relentless, percussive bass that effortlessly blends with the mains. I've listened to some Porcupine Tree, Weater Report, Steely Dan, Alan Parsons, Sarah Mcglaughlin...everything I throw at it just sounds better.

Enough gushing...when the camera gets back, I'll put up some pictures. It just takes their already excellent products to a new level.

Thats it, I'm adding one. Considering anyway. Waiting on an email from Erik to see if its really worth the addition to my dual Plus/2s

Ron Temple

This is what Ed had to say...

Ed Mullen wrote:

1) The Plus/2 in the native 25 Hz tune has similar or slightly stronger max output from 25-80 Hz as the PB13U in its native tune. Below 25 Hz, the PB13U dominates in both extension and output, of course.

2) The Plus/2 in the 20 Hz tune has similar deep extension as the PB13U in the native tune (they both extend to 19-20 Hz before roll-off).

The Plus/2 in the 20 Hz tune has similar max output as the PB13U in its native tune from 30-80 Hz. Below 30 Hz the PB13U starts to assert an advantage (the deeper the frequency, the larger the advantage the PB13U has).
__________________
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SVS Customer Service
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"What We Do In Life, Echoes In Eternity"

If you going this route, I'd sell the Plus/2s and get a pair. Similar output, better SQ...and you'd be fairly whole.

MikeC78

I'd keep what you have for now, and maybe upgrade to the dual PB13/2's when they come out.:) Now that would be something insane!

BTW, nice little review Ron!

Ron Temple

There are those who are awaiting the PB13/2's launch eagerly. I'm not sure why. I've been told that a pair of PB13s will exceed the output of a U13/2. They are already pushing the space and weight envelope with the single Ultra13. I think duals is the way to go if you really want/need a /2 or more. I linked a picture of the new Ultra13 next to an Ultra/2 on okie's thread, it's nearly the same size. IDK, 2 very large subs spread about a room vs a truly monstrous box, would be easier for me to swallow...glad I don't have to decide to build it. The B4 kind of turned into an albatross and an Ultra13/2 would be about the same size and weigh a ton.
Just my thoughts...I'm speaking out my ****, but it makes sense to me. Build a few statment pieces for enthusiasts, but a production launch???...might be too costly.

Ron Temple

From the foot's eye view...



RDO's



The sub really sounded better between the RF and display, but it was just too large. So my son and I stuck it back in the corner. A shame, the finish should be shown off...



naked with a plugged bung



Excuse the PQ and the wires...it's all going inwall in another room starting next week.

dane_peterson

Looks beautiful! Nice set up!

Ron Temple

Actually, all the colors in these pictures are slightly off. Natural light vs. flash I guess. The walls are Spanish sand, kind of a carmel light brown, not beige, the floors are darker and redder and the sub, while dark, blends. Oh well, it looks better here which is pretty important.

Sherardp

very nice setup. I wouldnt put it inwall. that finish needs to shine in the spot light.

Ron Temple

meant the wires...the sub will be out of the corner in the other room. Corner loading this guy gets me massive room gain from 15-40hz, about 20dbs. Good thing it has room correction and a PEQ. I'm going to play with it tonight to see if I can tame that corner.

engtaz

Very Nice

dane_peterson

I just love the look of those new drivers. I'd never put the grill on.

Ron Temple

It is quite classy looking, when the light strikes that etched surface the right way, it looks like a pool of water or a doorway into another dimension. Camera flash usually does it, but not in my picture.

Ron Temple

Ok, for anyone that's interested...corner loading this guy reinforces bass down low like you wouldn't believe. It muddies the sound for music and after getting advice and playing around, I fixed it.

As you can see by the attachment, I was 20dbs higher from 20-45hz. I didn't get much better trying various room compensation settings. The best was, room small in the 20hz tune(even though I don't have a small room by the parameters). It gave me a wide peak from 25-45hz, a couple of dips above my crossover, but it was workable. I engaged the PEQ to as wide as it would go ~ 45hz...and viola...tight corner loaded bass...full impact, but not bloated at all. I won't get flat < 15hz extention, but for music, who cares, and for movies and I can always plug a bung. I haven't saved another Word attachment with the new measurements and I don't think I'm flat, but it's very acceptable sounding. As good as my previous position.

It's good to have tweakability...

Ron Temple

This what I've come up with...thanks Ed...still like to get rid of that hump...maybe not without EQ.

Sherardp

Any ideas or thoughts given to running two of these in your room Ron, I bet that would be insane. Given the feedback you've provided Im so tempted to buy one for reviewing, but then I'd be stuck with it since have dual subs now.

Ron Temple

Sherardp wrote: »

Any ideas or thoughts given to running two of these in your room Ron, I bet that would be insane. Given the feedback you've provided Im so tempted to buy one for reviewing, but then I'd be stuck with it since have dual subs now.

Getting 2 will have to a fobidden dream for awhile, but yes I know how 2 matched subs can sound. There are a few guys out there buying multiples and getting incredible numbers. I just want flat and unlocalized bass.

If you really wanted to test the waters, you could probably move the /2s for a profit in Japan (if you're still there) and save the freight cost shipping them back or sell them just before you come back and have a couple of new friends in your San Diego establishment .