Not impressed with the SVS NSD 12

[spongeracer]

I recently consulted a friend on a HTS. He mentioned that his budget was around 1000-1300 so I recommended a SVS 5.1 system, since I once felt a SVS sub before and was impressed (don't remember which sub it was though...). Soon the equipment came and was installed. I must say that I was not impressed at all with the sub. It has hardly any hit from the mid bass range and even down to the lower Hz like 40-20. I tried adjusting the crossovers on the amp and the sub and just could not find "that sweet spot". I am running at my home the same receiver (sony STR DH800) with dual Accurian 8" subs (radio shack 100 bucks a piece). My subs kick the pants off the NSD 12. Anyone have any ideas if I am missing something? I have read many positive reviews here about the SVS subs but I am not seeing it. Would you recommend getting some towers for the fronts to make up the mid bass levels? I must say I am not at all impressed with the SVS 5.1 system and regret recommending it. Luckily my friend thinks his system sounds great, so I am in no trouble yet.

 

[skers_54]

There's a couple options. Could be bad placement causing large suckouts at the listening spot. Could also be a set to an inappropriate level or lower than you're used to. Since you said you played with the sub's crossover, it could also be crossover interference (you don't want to use the one on the sub at all). The last thing could be you're not used to clean, accurate bass. Better subs will sound like there's less bass at first because they are properly damped and not distorting. I had a similar impression when I upgraded from a crappy MTX sub, and I have a friend who things my Kappa Perfect isn't loud enough because it's much more accurate than his sub.

Did you level-match or run an auto-setup routine? How did you decide on the placement of the sub? How big is your friend's room? Are the mains set to large or small and at what crossover frequency? What material did you use to evaluate the system?

 

[j_garcia]

My guess is exactly the third thing skers said: this is accurate and not boomy like most people are used to. This is a surprisingly common comment about good subs. A sub should NOT draw attention to itself except when necessary. I thought the same thing when I went from my bass heavy towers to a decent sub. I learned the err of my ways long ago.

 

[anamorphic96]

skers sums up most of what I would have said.

1. Make sure the crossover on the sub is not on or it should at least be turned all the way up. The receiver is the crossover. If its the smaller SVS speakers use an 80hz crossover point. Set the phase at 0 to start on the sub.

2. Level match the system with the auto setup in the Sony or use an SPL meter. Set all channels to 75db.

Then listen to the system. If the bass still sounds weak then try and move the sub around.

As J Garcia also mentioned a good sub may sound like it has less bass when in fact it's just more linear and flat. You should never be able to tell the sub is their. It should integrate seamlessly.

Most people in fact do have there subs set way to loud as well.

 

[Alex2507]

Better subs will sound like there's less bass

A sub should NOT draw attention to itself

You should never be able to tell the sub is there.

According to all this my 10" Infinities must be worth their weight in gold.

 

[walter duque]

I think you have this backwards. Your subs are localized and that gives you the impression that they are better subs when they are realy not. Seems to me that they don't intergrate and that what gives you the impression that they kick a.., fart boxes are not considered beeing good subs, no insult intended.

 

[annunaki]

What size room is he attempting to run this sub in (dimensions)? Where is the sub placed within this room then?

What are the actual settings from the amplifier on the sub itself?

This sounds like it could be any number of issues. Set up is the first one to eliminate.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Proper sub placement can be an important factor too. I found when mine was improperly placed I heard little bass at the listening position but standing a few feet behind it the bass was quite good. Start with this article, crawling for bass, to help ensure the sub is properly located.

 

[markw]

Sub woofers aren't supposed to do mid bass.

If they were, they would be called mid-woofers. ...but they're not.

They are made to do the bass that comes in below (hence the "sub") where the mains don't do well and fall off into oblivion. When properly integrated into the system, they should not impinge on the mains.

If you're expecting them to do mid bass and augment your mains, you've got the crossover set way too high and very likely running into conflict with your mains.

 

[MatthewB.]

I agree with what has been said, bass should be felt and not heard and most store bought subs all you are hearing is distortion (that crackling sound after an explosion) while with SVS you don't hear it all, but feel it and what you do hear is deep and well controlled. Years ago I had a Sony sub 10" with 250 watt amp and trust me my SVS NSD 12/2 not only blows it away it makes that Sony cry and whimper.

As mentioned you may have the sub in a null void which is understandable, when I got my SVS I placed it in front and got no bass in back (where I sit) so I placed it in back and got no bass up front (seems the shape of my room in the only two places I could fit a sub where the only two places that created null voids on opposite sides of the room, so I bought powered towered (DefTech BP7001s with built in subs) and placed those up front, placed my SVS in back and now I get more bass than I can handle (also have it sitting on a Gramma pad also helped with all the shaking going on in the room. In fact I used to have the gain on the Sony set at 9, my SVS has never gotten above 3 because it is far too powerful above that level.

You should try different placements of the sub or in my case buy a second sub to cancel out the null voids. And again deep bass should be felt and not heard.