[medium jim]

For the fear of being called heavy handed, please knock it off or this thread is going to get binned.

Thanks,
Jim

[Freo-1]

Great post. I bet a pair of the smaller SVS "toy" subs would sound better than a single monster sub in a music oriented system, in average size rooms. 

For HT, I enjoy overkill and don't mind when the booms are bigger thab the real thing.  For music, it's a different t matter.  My subs use the Peerless XXLS drivers and they sound great for music and they play high enough to allow for easy integration. 

For a HT system, I'd be willing to give up some "musicality" for boom that would knock pictures off the walls of my neighbor's house.  That Genelec sub looks like it can do both but $10k is more than I can spend for a sub.  I wonder how it would stack up versus ten SVS smaller subs.   

The short answer is: No, not necessarily.  While I do intend to get a second SB13-Ultra down the track when spare funds allow it, the advice from the pros at SVS suggested that a single SB13 over a pair of lesser subs would be a better option based on the quality of speakers and electronics involved with my setup.  If anyone thinks they know more than their experts, then by all means, go for it. 
One other factor to consider is the fact that the SB13-Ultaa has a much more powerful amp, so the distortion will be less (all things being equal). 

[JohnR]

It should be here Tuesday.

So... did you get it?? 

I don't see max output specs but the curve looks impressive for a sealed sub.

[Freo-1]

So... did you get it?? 

I don't see max output specs but the curve looks impressive for a sealed sub.

Yes sir, I did indeed.  It arrived late yesterday.  It's going to take some time to "dial in", but right out of the box, it is mighty impressive.  It lifts the overall performance of the system remarkably.   
 
Will post some observations over the week end. 

[gkinberg]

Freo, I'm a little surprised that you are looking for a new sub. You sounded very please with your TBI Magellan viii su . So please in fact that it convinced me to look into it. Any reason for the change in interest or am I missing something? Just curious

Thanks, Garth

[Freo-1]

Freo, I'm a little surprised that you are looking for a new sub. You sounded very please with your TBI Magellan viii su . So please in fact that it convinced me to look into it. Any reason for the change in interest or am I missing something? Just curious

Thanks, Garth

Completely different application.  The TBI is in a two channel only setup in a smaller room.  The SVS is in a combo music/HT rig in the main living area, which is quite a bit larger square footage wise. 
 
Hope that clears things up. 

[gkinberg]

Yes it does, thanks

[JonnyFive]

Thanks!  This is the kind of feedback I was looking for.  How easy was it to set up?  Any tips on setup?

I use Audyssey XT with mine, and I've been really pleased with the results.  The only knobs I tinker with are the level.  Since Audyssey had it set to -12, I set the volume on the SVS to about -10 or so.  I have it crammed up against a wall (probably less than ideal), so I use a hand mirror to look at the display on the back and adjust the level.  You have to read backwards and upside down though.  Lol.  I'm using an RCA cable, but when I move it to nearfield near the couch I'll need a longer run, I'll probably switch to XLR at that point.

Also, I picked up a SubDude platform, that really helped in my application.  I have hardwood floors above a 3' crawl space and I was getting some resonance.  I have a large lizard in my living room, her entire cage rattles when the sub is on.  She doesn't seem to care one way or another which is a complete surprise.  I was worried she'd go insane and I'd have to move her.

Let us know what you think of it when you've had some time to play with it.

PS-I found crossing over at 60hz gave more seamless integration than crossing at 80hz, although it does push the midwoofers in my monitors a little harder.  Let us know if you have any setup questions.

[Freo-1]

Have not had a chance to get it fully "dialed in" yet.  Took some quick measurements to get it to output roughly at the correct level for the volume setting, low pass crossover.  Maybe this weekend.  I uploaded the REW software from the HT Shack website, so I'll give that a go, and see how that works.
 
I've got it hooked up from the preamp out of the Pass Labs INT-150 via XLR. 
 
I'll say this much:  This sub will change one's outlook on what it meat to reproduce the bottom octave correctly.  There is NO chuffing, no boom, no one note sound, just clean accurate bass. 

[Andre2]

I have bought and received a nice SVS SB12-NSD Friday a week ago, and I have a question on connectivity to you all experts.  I thought I would ask on this thread, instead of opening a new thread.  Please help, if you can.

I had the sub connected through one rca sub-out cable from a pioneer home theater receiver that I have on my living room for movies, and it works fine. 

So, here is the question I have:

Last night I moved it into my two channel room, where I have an Eastern Electric M88 integrated amplifier, which drives two GR Research N3s.  So, I thought, okay, speaker wires to sub in-left channel (per SVS instruction manual), and from sub out to N3.  However, the banana plugs do not fit into the sub rca  input    Sooo, how do I incorporate it in my two channel rig? 
(I apologize in advance for my ignorance on this.)

[srb]

Some subwoofer plate amps have speaker level inputs, but the SVS SB12-NSD does not (although the cheaper SB-1000 does).  You can't connect a speaker output into a line-level input, banana plugs not fitting into RCA jacks not withstanding!    The other alternative is to connect integrated amplifier or preamplifier preamp outputs to the line level inputs on the SVS, but the Eastern Electric M88 doesn't have pre-outs either.

Your only alternative for this particular combination of your amp and sub would be to get an accessory speaker-to-line-level converter box.

Steve

[Andre2]

Thanks.  okay I see (literally  ) what you are saying regarding the cheaper SB-1000.   Here is the SB-1000 picture with the speaker inputs:


I guess I will keep the SB12-NSD permanently on my HT rig.  I am quite happy with my N3s anyway.

[Andre2]

Well, I was reading the SVS guide again, and I also have a Eastern Electric DAC Plus which is sort of acting as a pre-amp.  So, can I connect the out from to DAC to the Sub, then out from the sub to the M88 integrated?  I believe this is what the SVS guide is saying, is it not?

Thanks for any help on this. 

[srb]

Yes that will work for your digital sources.  You can use the regular line-out outputs from the sub to run your mains full-range, or you can use the high-pass outputs if you want to limit the mains from playing 80Hz and below.

Some benefits of the high-pass approach can be a clearer midrange, greater SPL capability and less load on the main amplifier when the main speakers are relieved of low bass duty.  Other folks like to run the mains full-range adding additional bass with the subwoofer.  It varies from person to person and setup to setup, but an easy change of the RCA plugs will let you compare to see what sounds best to you.

Steve