Svs, Rel, or ?.

If you are purchasing new,SVS has a 45 day in home trial,free shipping both ways. That is pretty impressive in my opinion.  That’s where I would probably start. If you like them,keep them. If not,back they go. 

For music, I would only go for the REL T5i. 

Dont buy the REL unless you can hook it up with high level inputs from a amplifiers outputs. Go with the SVS :-)

All subs I've tried sound better using the low level inputs. Have you thought about JL Audio?

The Svs opportunity to audition is pretty painless. The reviews seem positive as well, and I think I like being able to control the subs via my phone. 

I wondered if the Rel was as strong without the high level inputs. The input method is a talking point in most reviews I’ve read, at least regarding music. 

 

I have not considered JL Audio. I’ll look them up. 

Rythmik servo if you want the best for a decent price. Sealed servo will last through every speaker selection you ever make for a LONG time.

1. Rythmik (GR is pretty big so that out)

2. SAT (my bass system)

3. JL (they use to have a few issues. The fancy plate amp would take a crap)

4.SVS (Bullet Proof)

5. Swarm (Duke)

6. Debra (James Romney (sp))

7. DBA (Distributed bass array)

8. VMPS columns (to big, out of business, and VERY rare)

9-99. anything including kids cars.

100. REL Great paint, 70-80s (old pre school tech) If they would hire me I'd fix their 50 year old tech (taken from VMPS) and stop backing screws out of the sheetrock at the neighbors house.

They may have correction in their plate amps now, but they didn't before. I can say the plates they use are tough A/B amps and cheap to buy in quantity. Seldom do their products fail. BIG plus. They also have to be coupled to the floor. BUT there is a 20.00 usd fix for that. Did I mention they have great paint?

Regards

I just got a SVS Micro 3000 and love it esp the phone app.

Very happy with Rythmik. Purchased very easily and with great communication via Ascend Acoustics. I also have a REL, which I like.

If I had to choose between them, I prefer the Rythmik to the REL. In my opinion, there is a lot to do to make subs work smoothly in a room. The lack of adjustable phase all but a few expensive models of REL make the Rythmik much much easier to dial in. They have other adjustable features, too, which the REL lack. The fact that they are servo controlled also impresses some folks, but I don't know enough to say that that particular engineering difference from the REL is an advantage.

I appreciate your expertise and feedback, thanks for taking the time to help!

The Rythmik subs are larger than I’d prefer, and JL Audio is a little more than I’d like to spend. I have a couple of larger subs now, but they visually dominate the space. (I use them for home theater in another room.)

I’m leaning toward the Svs micro unless I’m missing something. 
 

@trianglezerius   any other opinions you’d like to add? Any pros or cons I need to consider?

Thanks again!

I have a fair sized SVS PB2000pro, surely not a micro. I live in the same town where they are made and their customer service is awesome. For my listening the SVS adds a jaw dropping weight and presence. As mentioned previously the phone app is amazing, you can really dial it in, and even set up pre-sets depending on what you may be listening to at the moment. I've owned a couple velodyne and MA subs. The SVS is simply amazing. Have never heard to REL or JL, but i know their rep and it's positive. 

Just my thought. I have an SVS PB2000 pro. It's everything I need. Love the phone app for fine tuning and pre-sets. It's not a micro for sure. The SVS really adds an amazing amount of weight and presence. I've owned several Velyodyne and Monitor Audio subs, but this SVS is in another league. I have never heard REL or JL but know of their good reputation. 

Cheers

Try a pair of the svs micro’s.  The phone app will be useful.  If you don’t like them, send them back and go bigger or you could try the kef kc62 as well!

A second suggestion for the KEF KC62, as well.

I got the SVS Micro 3000 after my beloved sub from MJ Acoustics died, which was a very musical sub. The SVS is very capable of moving air so don't let its small size fool you. The SVS has a really cool phone app that makes dialing in the sub easy.

The Svs seems like the best option from the responses. Thanks for all the input!

I bought a pair of Rythmik F12SE’s. For me, a tough decision when pitted against the SVS 4000’s. I decided to save the money difference.

I've heard a pair of SVS 2000s and wasn't terribly impressed, but admittedly the room wasn't great. I am a proponent of multiple subs (I have the SWARM) but have heard REL and Seaton Audio subs and think that all three of those are faster and more impactful to my ears. The SVS seem polite, and I enjoy a sub that isn't afraid to offend people ;) YMMV, but that is what I have heard.

Interesting. I use two SB-2000s and one SB-3000 in a semi-DBA setup and would like a fourth. They are passed low though, 50 and 45Hz respectively but blend well. I like the headroom.

I also have an older Britannia B1 and a Storm III. I love them all. The B1 used to be my only audio sub a year or two ago.

Had SVS 13ultra with the 1200D amp upgrade.  Phone app was nice.  Needed to adjust.  Got Rythmik and SVS is up for sale as we speak.  No comparison.  The servo tech is amazing. The adjustments to fit most rooms.  I was looking at two Rel 812/s but after demo at friends I was confident this would be the one and I was right. Go Rythmik. They will actually answer the phone and be helpful. Give them a ring. 

Check out HSU research. They have excellent subs which rival REL at half the price. 

The Rythmik subs are fantastic. The Hsu subs are probably the best value out on the market. I own both so I am slightly biased. I have also owned SVS and Martin Logan, but I will continue to stay with Rythmik or Hsu. 

I will recommend SVS SB 2000 (non-Pro version) which outputs 500w RMS into 4 ohm and can go down to 19Hz within 3dB. The non-Pro version allows you to do line-level connection with High Pass Filter (fixed at 80 Hz 12 dB/octave slope) loop back to power amp, leaving head room for your power amp to better handle high/midrange frequency. I found that is the best way to integrate subwoofer with the main speakers.  Initially, I was torn between Rel Tx5 and SVS (for similar pricing) but, considering Tx5 is the 8" driver and can only get down to 32Hz within 6dB plus downfiring that I am not fond of, I decide to go with SVS.  Remember some music does go down to around 25 Hz.  If you decide to go with Rel, save money for bigger model such as T9.  Both manufactures have free trial policy you might want to take advantage (but not abuse) of it.

Power sound audio

JL Audio and rythmik are really better than Svs or Rel.

Svs is better than Rel for the price.

REL: phase 0 or 180°

SVS: phase 0 to 180°

My sb-4000 only works well with the phase at 137° !

REL would not work at home...

Call REL they will walk you through the possibilities.

I think REL has the best soundstage.

Good Luck!

Martin Logan Dynamo 800x. Comes with two apps, one to control all aspects of the sub and the other to control the built in Anthem Room Correction. Sub can also be configured for front or down-firing.

I recently bought a pair of SVS 300 micros and they are great. Lots of output for their size.

I've owned a bunch from Rel the older Studio 3, S/3, S/5, Rythmik FG12, SVS SB3000. I owned the Rythmik and SVS side by side. I thought the Rythmik maybe had a slight edge. Fast forward a few years and had a system with a sub again I checked Rythmik and they just had nothing on hand. I ended up with the SVS SB3000. Awesome sub, easy to use and adjust with phone app, zero complaints. 

 The Rels I owned never went deep enough for my tastes. I find Rel to be like Bose, not a knock on sound or quality but a king of marketing- they're on it, maybe the best. I think that's where a portion of the cost goes instead of building a sub that can hit a solid 20hz. Just my experience.

I currently have SVS, Rythmik and REL subs in my system. Of the three, Rythmik has the best sound followed by the SVS. The Rythmik has a little less output power than the SVS and the REL. The REL was the toughest to integrate due to the lack of a variable phase control. I also had to make a very minor modification to the REL so it would be compatible with the other two

I wondered if the Rel was as strong without the high level inputs.

IMO, I found using the line level inputs on the REL improved its sound. It was cleaner, i.e. less distortion.

The good reports regarding the Rythmik subs make me second guess. The cons are the size and expense of the Rythmiks F12se vs the 3000 micro. I’d planned to put a sub behind each main and I like the compact size of the micros. 
 

I went with wireless speakers and streaming to simplify and streamline my setup, the compact sub idea is an extension of that goal.  
 

Thanks again for all of your input and consideration! Have a great weekend!

FYI, I have an older Mirage 10” sub the size of a small steamer trunk and a Svs Sound Cylinder 12”. They are just too large to tuck away. I use the larger subs in a home theater room. That may be another reason a compact sub is appealing.

Again, thanks for the help!

+1 SVS here..

Love mine, great customer support also.. had my hardwood floors replaced and ended up losing the power cord when everything was pulled for the work, I emailed SVS support looking to buy a replacement and they sent me a brand new one free!! 👍