SVS PB-16 Sub

FWIW - same experience as stevecham with a pair of SVS SB1000s positioned almost exactly as Steve has his 2000s. Mine are used with a pair of Totem Forests and at other times with a pair of Prelude Pluses that occasionally replace the Forests for a change of pace. The subs were bought primarily for use with the Preludes. I’m running speakers full range and with the Forests connect subs via line out from my pre-amp. With Preludes, connecting via speaker in on the subs to speaker binding posts on the Preludes seemed slightly better though I've also used line in from the pre-amp's line out.  Have been very pleased with the results.  Can't really tell the subs are playing.  No directionality from their contribution.  Great test track is Flight of the Cosmic Hippo by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (bass courtesy of Victor Wooten).  SVS has a 45 day in home audition period and covers shipping BOTH ways if you don’t keep them; a 5 year warranty too. They’ve been very responsive to email and phone (email even on a Saturday).  No personal affiliation with SVS.

https://www.svsound.com/pages/bill-of-rights

Recently purchased a pair of the sealed SVS SB2000s for my two channel system with the goal of not only filling-in the bottom down to 20 Hz, but also with musical clarity of timbre and dynamics. My speakers are Thiel 2.4 and I have the subs placed in the same plane as the mains, which are about two feet out from the front wall. The subs are placed just inside the mains and are spearated by about 7 feet. WIth the continuous phase control set at 0 and crossing the subs at about 60 Hz (using the line in/line out option so that the mains are high passed at 80 Hz with 2nd order, 12 dB down per octave), the results are very smooth and continuous. I cannot perceive the location of the subs but the Thiels now "extend" all the way down now with clarity and authority. Plus, they are very quick and keep identical pace with stop/start dynamics. My original plan to extend bass response in my room was to sell the Thiels and get a pair of Vandersteen Quattros, but I am now keeping the 2.4s and saving a ton of money. I am very impressed and happy with them as you can tell. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

I’ve been researching subs for music. Leaning towards Sumiko for their hybrid vertical/horizontal firing pattern. Which seems to me a good way to get more out of a particular size sub and perhaps help make for smoother response in more room locations out of a single sub rather than two.

I want at least a 10" driver but can't go too big.

Others I would lean towards for music: 

Rhythmik
REL
ELAC

Have also considered many others including SVS

Rythmik has just introduced their FV18, a ported design with an 18" woofer, priced at $1699. Then there is their F25, a sealed design with dual 15's, at $1599. Due shortly is the FV18's sealed brother, assumingly the F18. Rythmik's are exceptionally good at music reproduction.

I had a pair of JL Audio F110 V2's with the JL Audio CR-1 Active Crossover. "For me and in my system", I prefer my system with my single JL Audio F112 V2 without external crossover over any sub I've owned.

Also consider Hsu. I think they are a better value.

One place to do research is at the data-bass.com site.

I will tell you that room and speaker integration are hugely important. I would never use a sub without EQ, either built in or external. The room modes are usually huge. Ideally use bass traps AND EQ.

Best,

E

I had the SB15 and SB16. 

Were these the ported PB models or the sealed SB models? And did you use room eq?

Yes for home theater, no for music. I've had several SVS subs and in my system, they just aren't musical subs.

SVS are a highly regarded brand. If you look around you can see that they often measure very well, and that is important because auditioning subwoofers in a shop is virtually pointless: what you are hearing is mostly the room. SVS have a good return policy, so you could try them at home for a far more realistic test. I would have three suggestions to make. The first is for music to also consider their SB16. Unlike the ported PB16 the SB16 is a sealed design. It will not go as deep as the ported model, but what it does will be cleaner. My second suggestion would be to always go for at least two subwoofers, to reduce the effect of roommodes. Two smaller subs like their SB13 will sound significantly smoother/clreaner/faster than one big sub, and over a wider listening area (unless one is into earth shattering HT explosions). Finally, and to reduce the effect of room modes even further, I would always use room equalization like the DSpeaker Antimode 8033.