PC-Ultra vs. EP-500

[jrice2487]

I have recently purchased an Axiom M22 setup and have been looking for a good HT sub. My room is 11x17x10 and i have narrowed it down between the Axiom EP-500 and the SVS PC-Ultra. Both subs are $1200 but i have not found to many reviews for the PC-Ultra to compare it with the EP-500. I have heard many great things about both subs and i am really just looking for opinions between the two. Thanks

 

[Sheep]

I would take the PC-Ultra.

http://www.avtalk.co.uk/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=13375&start=0&rid=7736&SQ=1145996469

The only area it didn't to that great in was group delay.

EDIT: Oh yeah, that room is tiny. You could get away with a PB-10.

SheepStar

 

[j_garcia]

Not that there really is such a thing as too much, but those subs are definitely a lot of sub for that size room. What subs have you heard that you might comment on? I haven't heard the Ultra, but I was already very impressed with just the Plus subs from SVS.

 

[RMK!]

I have recently purchased an Axiom M22 setup and have been looking for a good HT sub. My room is 11x17x10 and i have narrowed it down between the Axiom EP-500 and the SVS PC-Ultra. Both subs are $1200 but i have not found to many reviews for the PC-Ultra to compare it with the EP-500. I have heard many great things about both subs and i am really just looking for opinions between the two. Thanks

There is a member here (Jakeman) who has (or had) both of these subs in his HT. You may want to send him a PM and get his first hand impressions of these subs.

 

[craigsub]

We have the PB12-Ultra and the EP-500 here - The M-22's need to be crossed over at 80 Hz. The EP-500 will probably work better in this set up, because you need a subwoofer which is going to match well with the M-22's in the critical 40 to 80 Hz range. I doubt there is a subwoofer in its price range that will mesh better with the M-22's than will the EP-500.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I have recently purchased an Axiom M22 setup and have been looking for a good HT sub. My room is 11x17x10 and i have narrowed it down between the Axiom EP-500 and the SVS PC-Ultra. Both subs are $1200 but i have not found to many reviews for the PC-Ultra to compare it with the EP-500. I have heard many great things about both subs and i am really just looking for opinions between the two. Thanks

The PC Ultra is probably a better "pure" HT sub, expecially for that ultra low bass. Like Craig said, the EP500 will do a great job in the 40-80Hz range - very important for music.

 

[scotty11]

Id go with the ultra.

I have the ISD/2 in a 18x23 ft room and I have never turned up the gain past 3 but its nice to know the potential is thre if i ever move and have a larger room.

 

[craigsub]

The PC Ultra is probably a better "pure" HT sub, expecially for that ultra low bass. Like Craig said, the EP500 will do a great job in the 40-80Hz range - very important for music.

Buckeyefan ... you are on the right track, IMO ... let's say he was talking about 6000 cubes instead of 3000 - then the choice would be ... neither.

I would have to say PB12-Plus/2 in its native 25 Hz tune in that case, or maybe dual Hsu VTF-3 Mark II's. The room size and main speaker capability needs to be taken into account.

We had the M22's for a couple of years, and they just don't have bass. In fact, I crossed ours at 100 Hz ... and would suggest that configuration with the EP-500.

Here is the response curve of the M-22's

Note the roll off below 100 Hz ...

They are amazingly accurate from 100 Hz and up, and really dynamic, too. The tradeoff is bass response. They really need a subwoofer with flat response UP to 100 Hz.

 

[Ilkka]

Not that Ultra would be a bad option, but I think I would choose one of the Plus series subs instead. Those new Plus 12.3 woofers are said to have better frequency response and more mid/high bass headroom than the older Plus woofers. Some early betatesters reported enhanced music performance with those new woofers. So 20-39PC+ or PB12-Plus would be my choise.

I haven't heard the EP-500, but its bigger brother EP-600 is a fine sounding subwoofer. EP-500's tuning frequency is 25.8 Hz, so it won't extend as low as ~20 Hz tuned subs. Although most of the important material is above 25 Hz, so this is not a big deal to many.

 

[Ilkka]

We had the M22's for a couple of years, and they just don't have bass. In fact, I crossed ours at 100 Hz ... and would suggest that configuration with the EP-500.

Here is the response curve of the M-22's

Note the roll off below 100 Hz ...

They are amazingly accurate from 100 Hz and up, and really dynamic, too. The tradeoff is bass response. They really need a subwoofer with flat response UP to 100 Hz.

It is often suggested that speakers should have at least 1/2 octave or preferably full octave extension below crossover frequency. So 100 Hz is the absolute minimum for those speakers, but they would definitely benefit from stereo subwoofers and from 120 Hz or even 150 Hz crossover. With only mono sub that is a little bit too high. One thing about Axiom's subs. They have almost a brick wall LP filter at 100 Hz, so 100 Hz is their maximum possible crossover frequency.

 

[craigsub]

The M22's (as a pair) retain excellent linearity above 100 Hz to over 100 dB in an anechoic setting @ 2 meters. The EP-500's 100 Hz "brick wall" is as good a match as one can get for this speaker. In his room, the OP can expect clean output to 110 dB from the mid 20's and up with the EP-500/M-22 combo, as well as a 40 to 100 Hz band which matches the sonics of the M22's perfectly.

 

[jrice2487]

Thanks for all the posts. I am new to HT, for the past 2 years i have been using a $400 all in one pioneer set, and have just recently had a chance to upgrade. I know that the sub is a bit large for that room, but i plan on moving into a bigger are within a couple of years and these 2 subs seem to be the best for what i can pay. However, i am leaning toward the PC-Ultra mainly because i have heard it is the best for HT. I will use sub 90% of the time for HT and rest for Music. I have never heard eithier sub or anything close to it and since the closest axiom retailer is a 7 hour round trip for me i am trying to base my decions off reviews which is proving to be somewhat dificult. Again i thank everyone for the posts and will be able to make a better decion on which one to choose.

 

[jhan1000]

Jrice,

After going through the subwoofer hunt myself, I can appreciate what you are going through. The best advice I can give you is to get both subwoofers and listen to them yourself. You lose some money on shipping, but at your ears will be the deciding factor, rather than the ears of others; you can determine what sounds better to you. OTOH, you probably can flip a coin; I think you will be very happy with either subwoofer.