My first impressions of the SVS PB-Ultra 13

[Bloodstriker]

I can't wait for The Incredibles to come out on HD/BD. It's strange though. I didn't find the bass in LotR to be that fantastic. Maybe I need to check to see if there are any nulls?

 

[avaserfi]

I can't wait for The Incredibles to come out on HD/BD. It's strange though. I didn't find the bass in LotR to be that fantastic. Maybe I need to check to see if there are any nulls?

For nulls/peaks I would look into using Room EQ wizard over at hometheatershack. It was a great start for me to place my sub in its ideal location. Later I moved up and got an SMS-1 which is great.

As far as great movies for bass check out the second Spider Man when the Doc breaks free his metal arms were really cool.

Also, most of the movie Apocolypto was great I watched that at near reference levels and felt as if my chest was being pounded (this refers to the BD although I am sure the SD version is good too).

Lastly check this link out as we have discussed this before .

 

[mike c]

bloodstriker,

interesting choice on the bone thugz cd ... I also come from the car sub - rap background. I felt the DD18 though incredibly accurate to all other genres felt incomplete when playing rap songs with the constant thuds.

do you consider this a negative point to the ultra?

what was your previous sub?

TIA

 

[Bloodstriker]

mike c,

My previous sub was a PSB Subsonic Alpha 5. It definitely didn't do rap very well. It was great for accoustical instruments though.

I can't really say that it's a negative point to the Ultra.

Car systems are not the most accurate systems out there (well, at least the majority of them). For the most part, they are made to pound hard and loud. I remember that a lot of people I knew with massive subs had to turn the sub off to listen to anything other than Hip Hop/Rap/Rave. Try to put in a nice slow ballad.. it turns to mush.

I think the disappointment is really due to the fact that I haven't really heard rap/hip-hop on an accurate system. On one hand, I think - this is what it's supposed to sound like. But on the other hand, I think - where's the boom!? This sounds like wuss rap. Personally, I like to listen to that kind of music on the boomy side. All that exposure to crappy speakers has really changed my opinion. I mean, how many times do you go into a club and say "wow, that's amazingly accurate?" When you're in a club, you just want to feel the thump and dance to it. (Even though I don't dance very well.)

Overall, the only real negative point to the Ultra is its size. (Yup, I went there again.)

My feeling is that there isn't a system that can do the "car audio" sound while providing accurate home sound.

 

[mike c]

thanks bloodstriker! hmmm ... I will have to do an A/B test again with one of my distortion subs for rap and movies.

 

[AdrianMills]

I saw two of the Ultra13 at the Horten Hifi Show last weekend - it's still not available here in Europe, and probably won't be until December. I guess the people demoing it forgot to tell the hotel that it lacked CE certification.

My first impression, which will be strange to some I know, is that the subs weren't that big. At least, not that big compared to my plus/2. I know the volume of the two models is about the same but because the Ultra13 is lower to the ground it seems less dominating.

It was hooked up to a new Audyssey equiped Denon receiver - one of the 08's, I forget which.

I was a little disappointed by the sound - I expected more, um, presence I suppose. Given the majority of rave reviews I guess it wasn't set up properly or the guy had messed up the Audyssey sampling. It's not putting me off from preordering a gloss black version though.

 

[Bloodstriker]

AdrianMills,

I guess if you compare it to the plus/2, then it won't seem as huge. I guess the reason I find it so big is that it's waaay bigger than anything else in my system and that it's bigger than any subwoofer I've ever seen so far.

I can see how you're disappointed by the sound. The Ultra 13 definitely is a very tight sub and not boomy at all. I guess it really comes down to personal preference. Ultra 13 = Less boom, more punch.

 

[AdrianMills]

I can see how you're disappointed by the sound. The Ultra 13 definitely is a very tight sub and not boomy at all. I guess it really comes down to personal preference. Ultra 13 = Less boom, more punch.

Yes, well maybe but my plus/2 is fairly flat to 20hz with the help of my SMS-1 and not at all boomy - although that was definitely not the case before I EQed it. I guess I'll know for sure when I get one.

 

[Bloodstriker]

Yes, well maybe but my plus/2 is fairly flat to 20hz with the help of my SMS-1 and not at all boomy - although that was definitely not the case before I EQed it. I guess I'll know for sure when I get one.

Are you saying that you prefered the sound of your plus/2?

 

[bigbangtheory]

Damn, this thing scares heck out of me.

As it should!

Btw, can you turn it down a little. I can hear it from my house...in Texas!

 

[Ron Temple]

Anyone that's got a Plus/2 or a pair of Pluses isn't going to be amazed at the quantity of the U13s bass. It's about the same, in fact the Plus/2 in native tune is noticeably louder above 25hz, about equal in 20hz and loses ground at 16hz. What you get with the U13 is texture, fast attack and decay and at least for me a seamless blend with my mains...without outboard eq. The SQ difference was immediately apparent and I, at least, only needed about 30 seconds to decide to sell my subs. Not everyone will agree with me and those with duals, /2s or U/2s should consider this. There is a big difference, they are both excellent, but you might prefer what you have already.

 

[mike c]

Anyone that's got a Plus/2 or a pair of Pluses isn't going to be amazed at the quantity of the U13s bass. It's about the same, in fact the Plus/2 in native tune is noticeably louder above 25hz, about equal in 20hz and loses ground at 16hz. What you get with the U13 is texture, fast attack and decay and at least for me a seamless blend with my mains...without outboard eq. The SQ difference was immediately apparent and I, at least, only needed about 30 seconds to decide to sell my subs. Not everyone will agree with me and those with duals, /2s or U/2s should consider this. There is a big difference, they are both excellent, but you might prefer what you have already.

ron, so reading between the lines, does that mean if I were a pure HT user, that the pluses (depending on taste) be better than the U13?

 

[AdrianMills]

Are you saying that you prefered the sound of your plus/2?

Yes.

But my plus/2 is EQed flat and integrated pretty much seamlessly with my 804S/HTM3S and the Ultra3s were in a hotel room and probably hastily set up. I don't think a show room is necessarily the best place to draw conclusions either especially given there's a bunch of other people in there. Still, however much I rationalize it I just expected more and better.

I guess the morale of the story is not to expect to get too much out of a show environment.

 

[AdrianMills]

An improvement in sound quality is what I'm hoping for; even though I think I have my plus/2 tweaked to about as good as it can get at my place there are times when the granularity of the bass appears to be too coarse and there seems to be a lot of missing detail. I think it's more apparent with music than with HT but I guess that even HT would improve if the bass were more detailed/textured.

As for the quantity; most people will think that the max SPLs of any of these subs is extraordinary - I doubt if I've ever exceed 2/3 of my plus/2 max volume and that was literally scary to the point that it raised a sweat (well, the first time anyway ). It’s only those that have very large spaces to fill that need more output – or those willy wavers that are obsessed with having a sub with the biggest numbers associated with it.

Anyone that's got a Plus/2 or a pair of Pluses isn't going to be amazed at the quantity of the U13s bass. It's about the same, in fact the Plus/2 in native tune is noticeably louder above 25hz, about equal in 20hz and loses ground at 16hz. What you get with the U13 is texture, fast attack and decay and at least for me a seamless blend with my mains...without outboard eq. The SQ difference was immediately apparent and I, at least, only needed about 30 seconds to decide to sell my subs. Not everyone will agree with me and those with duals, /2s or U/2s should consider this. There is a big difference, they are both excellent, but you might prefer what you have already.

 

[Warpdrv]

An improvement in sound quality is what I'm hoping for; even though I think I have my plus/2 tweaked to about as good as it can get at my place there are times when the granularity of the bass appears to be too coarse and there seems to be a lot of missing detail. I think it's more apparent with music than with HT but I guess that even HT would improve if the bass were more detailed/textured.

As for the quantity; most people will think that the max SPLs of any of these subs is extraordinary - I doubt if I've ever exceed 2/3 of my plus/2 max volume and that was literally scary to the point that it raised a sweat (well, the first time anyway ). It’s only those that have very large spaces to fill that need more output – or those willy wavers that are obsessed with having a sub with the biggest numbers associated with it.

Well Said Adrian....

And SQ is exactly what Im after.... I Have my Plus/2 and Plus in the same room, 8200^3 open to all sorts of areas... Both of those subs produce... and boy do they produce... but its no where near as clean and tight as I would like it to be, nor is it tuned as low as I would like either. Im sure that I could easily clean it up with a pair of Ultra 13's, but I thought for $3000.00 that I could build something far better. My 2 15" TC-2000's tuned to 14hz (or so) should easily dig down low (roll off around 10hz) and still be cleaner with the build quality of those drivers with the enormous amount of amp power I will be throwing at them... Now granted when its all said and done, I will have invested more then $3K, and the Boxes will each be almost twice the size of a single Ultra, but I have the room... but the finish quality will be Real Wood, and Granite on top...

With both of my drivers and my amps, I have already spent $2K, but I went overboard on the amps. When Im finished with the project, I will probably have about $500.00 more then dual Ultra's would cost me.

In the end, it will be a phenomenal step up in quality, and headroom, but will I ever use that headroom...? I doubt it... Will I embrace the far superior SQ of my Plus's... FO SHO...

 

[BabelFish]

I can't wait for my PB13-Ultra.. I had them hold in until later this week but it ended up being delayed anyways due to backorders... Thats fine.. I am still working on my room.. lol

 

[AdrianMills]

I hope those subs sound as good as they should.

I've been contemplating going the DIY sub route too now and then. I'm also intrigued by DIY amps, probably more so than DIY subs. Not sure if I ever will get around to trying to build anything though.

Well Said Adrian....

And SQ is exactly what Im after.... I Have my Plus/2 and Plus in the same room, 8200^3 open to all sorts of areas... Both of those subs produce... and boy do they produce... but its no where near as clean and tight as I would like it to be, nor is it tuned as low as I would like either. Im sure that I could easily clean it up with a pair of Ultra 13's, but I thought for $3000.00 that I could build something far better. My 2 15" TC-2000's tuned to 14hz (or so) should easily dig down low (roll off around 10hz) and still be cleaner with the build quality of those drivers with the enormous amount of amp power I will be throwing at them... Now granted when its all said and done, I will have invested more then $3K, and the Boxes will each be almost twice the size of a single Ultra, but I have the room... but the finish quality will be Real Wood, and Granite on top...

With both of my drivers and my amps, I have already spent $2K, but I went overboard on the amps. When Im finished with the project, I will probably have about $500.00 more then dual Ultra's would cost me.

In the end, it will be a phenomenal step up in quality, and headroom, but will I ever use that headroom...? I doubt it... Will I embrace the far superior SQ of my Plus's... FO SHO...

 

[Warpdrv]

Im really starting to get all my stuff put together to get started...

Picked out and got prices on Granite for the top, got my bar stock of 2" alluminum to cut and polish for the legs, Just getting everything lined up has been more of a task then I thought it would have... but no biggie...

Can't wait for the Making of the sawdust...

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Awesome Warp and why is Babel on here all the sudden?

 

[md1953]

I have been upgrading my living room HT over the last few months: Aerial Acoustics Model 9s and CC5 center, Parasound Halo A51, Denon 3808. The living room itself is not that large, but it is open to the dining room, kitchen and second story loft area. I presently have the PB12 Ultra/2 and am presently considering dual PC Ultra 13s (space contraints), dual F113s (wallet constraints), and the new and promised offerings from Epik.

I am happy with the impact of the Ultra/2, my question is trying to quantify the improvement I could expect in SQ from either of these subs.