Svs ultra bookshelf

[shadyJ]

I've never listened to line array, heard great and bad things about them. I'm more intrigued by the great. And of course any speaker would have negative reviews.
How would you compare it to Martin Logan electrostatics? It seems alot of people are not impressed, but to me they are very open airy and crisp, I enjoy really enjoy them.

The MartinLogan electrostats that I have heard don't have that 'wall of sound' effect that I have heard from line arrays. They have sounded nice to me. The only problem is the MartinLogan Electrostats I have the most experience with is the Neoliths, and those probably aren't all that representative of ordinary ML electrostat speakers. I don't remember hearing anything 'off' in any of the other ML speakers that I have heard though.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Svs ultra tower $2000, Ascend acoustic tower non RAAL $2000, Ascend acoustic tower with RAAL $2700, RBH impression tower elite $2000, RBH SV-661R $2700, Salk song3 $3000, PSA 210 $2150, Aperion audio towers $2500, Kef r500 $1900

Really doing an in-home audition for all these speakers? Very ambitious!

 

[mx416]

Thought I would revisit this thread. I Order the SVS ultra towers and the ultra center to give a go. They should arrive Friday.

 

[ryanosaur]

Give us a follow up after you get them in place!

 

[Danzilla31]

Thought I would revisit this thread. I Order the SVS ultra towers and the ultra center to give a go. They should arrive Friday.

Thank you for your observations on the ultra's I own the prime towers and really enjoy them but really have had issues with the tweeter on occasion so it's nice to know that the step up addresses this issue and also improves the excellent soundstage imaging and detail that I got out of these speakers.

I'm looking forward to your review on the ultra Towers as I'm making a purchase in 2 to 3 weeks and am either rounding out my SVS setup I've been building or just rebuilding from scratch. Your observations will be most insightful and very helpful

 

[mx416]

BOOM! They have arrived!

 

[mx416]

These things are packaged very well and are surprisingly easy to unbox. The whole side of the box opens and the foam/cardboard just pulls open.

 

[mx416]

Inside and ready to play!

 

[CB22]

I will keep folks updated on the tower speaker search. My list to try out and test is growing:

Svs ultra tower $2000

Ascend acoustic tower non RAAL $2000

Ascend acoustic tower with RAAL $2700

RBH impression tower elite $2000

RBH SV-661R $2700

Salk song3 $3000

PSA 210 $2150

Aperion audio towers $2500

Kef r500 $1900

Ambitious indeed! I would love to get your opinion of the the Song3's vs the Ascend Tower. The RAAL they use on that one (I think it's called the "D-70") is supposed the be more "detailed" than that of the BMR and Song 3-As. Your in for a very fun month. Keep us posted.

 

[mx416]

Play away. (Yes they are not setup optimum. This is my room and restrictions.) maybe in due time I will be able to position perfectly

 

[Danzilla31]

Play away. (Yes they are not setup optimum. This is my room and restrictions.) maybe in due time I will be able to position perfectlyView attachment 28704

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

 

[mx416]

Ran audyssey.

Current setup for two channel is

LFE+MAIN
Crossover @ 60hz to the 2x LV12R

Movie for tonight is :
Mission: impossible
Fallout

The plan is to leave it at LFE plus main. I believe i have it set to 80hz cross for the lfe for movie. Should be fun.

 

[mx416]

I would appreciate an opinion on my settings. I’m looking for fronts to play full range during the movie and the subs to do what they do.
Audyssey can be confusing.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

That should do it. But the HPF for LFE isn’t the XO. The LFE channel encoded on movies goes from 3-120hz. Basically you just chopped off the top. That should be at 120hz.

 

[mx416]

Appreciate the reply. So if I understand you correctly, I’m cutting 40hz lfe from my subs (120-80). But I am still getting through my fronts ? Correct?

 

[Sef_Makaro]

Appreciate the reply. So if I understand you correctly, I’m cutting 40hz lfe from my subs (120-80). But I am still getting through my fronts ? Correct?

That’s how I understand it. Running the fronts as large makes them full band. The LFE channel is separate with its own crossover. In theory the fronts should get everything and the subs get up to the LFE crossover. I’m just not 100% sure if the crossover for the fronts overrides the large setting and engages bass management.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Yes. But IME, this is not the way to go. I’ve found this setting to “muddy” up my bass. Also, since the towers are playing full range signals it takes a LOT more power and your AVR might complain. By setting to small with an XO of say 60hz, your AVR’s load will be reduced, and you’ll have more headroom and unclipped power. The ultra towers are probably all done by about 28-30hz so there isn’t much point in sending them full range signals. IMO, towers, like yours are still suited very well at delivering great dynamics above the XO than bookshelf speakers of the same line so I would set them to small and find an XO that works.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

That’s how I understand it. Running the fronts as large makes them full band. The LFE channel is separate with its own crossover. In theory the fronts should get everything and the subs get up to the LFE crossover. I’m just not 100% sure if the crossover for the fronts overrides the large setting and engages bass management.

When set to large, AND LFE+mains the XO becomes active. Basically it’s an LPF for the duplicate signal sent to the subwoofer.

 

[Sef_Makaro]

When set to large, AND LFE+mains the XO becomes active. Basically it’s an LPF for the duplicate signal sent to the subwoofer.

Gotcha. Just to confirm for my own understanding. In this scenario, the mains are full range and the subs get <80hz from LFE and <40hz from the mains but that 40hz XO doesn’t apply a HPF to the mains?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Gotcha. Just to confirm for my own understanding. In this scenario, the mains are full range and the subs get QUOTE]

Yep. Although he should set the lpf of lfe to 120hz to get the full signal to the subs. And IMO not use lfe+mains. That’s my opinion however, and he may love it.