Saved by SVS...!!!

[Chopin_Guy]

After a good deal of juggling with ideas and trying to get things right in my room I have definitely made to right choice with SVS, and I want to thank everyone who chimed in with their thoughts and helpful suggestions. Even after all the wonderful posts and great reviews, I still wasn't prepared or aware of what would in store when my SVS 16-46 PC Plus arrived at my door.



Which do you think is going to sound better?? For comparison, that is an RTi12...this thing is huge!



This arrival has spurred much interest.



In place in the corner...ready to pound....



The theater setup....

RTi12's--Front
CSi5--Center
FXi3's--Surround
**SVS PC 16-46 Plus**
Denon AVR-987 (2808)
Denon DVD-757
Denon DCM-280
X-Box 360 Elite
PS-3 40 gb
2 Monster Power HTS-1600
Velodyne SMS-1 (on the way)
Logitech Harmony One (on the way)

I have to say that initially I am floored with the performance of this sub. Going from the Velo SPL-1500r to the 2 MiniVee 10's to now the SVS is like night and day....this thing has a ton of head room in my space. Until I move into a house I will not even be able to begin to open this puppy up.

I will be doing much more Blu-ray and audio testing tomorrow as it is a bit late now for true testing. I did listen to the open sequence from 'Swordfish' on blu-ray...and I think it was about bring down the concrete piling in the corner!! Deep, Controlled, and Impact are the only words that come to mind for it. If anyone has reccomendations for test material please chime in. Other material I was going to do (on blu-ray): 30 Days of Night (opening sequence), Batman Begins, Harry Potter--Order of the Phoniex, I am Legend, and The Patriot.

I also have a Velodyne SMS-1 coming which should help me tune this into my room a great deal more....there will certainly more to follow...

 

[mike c]

congrats and enjoy!

 

[mazersteven]

"War of the World"
scene 5

 

[Adam]

Congratulations! I'm glad that you got one that you liked.

I can fully appreciate the experience of seeing the box and unpacking that sub. I have the PC13-Ultra that is the same size. Awesome, isn't it? I took the time to calibrate mine in the first couple of days (set the tuning to 15Hz, and so forth), and I'm really glad that I did. It's worth the time.

Again, congrats!

 

[bandphan]

hope you dont have any RTA furniture... enjoy

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Adam you are right--I really need to get a SPL meter and test disc so I can get my system dialed in correctly. As for the subwoofer I know that the Velodyne SMS-1 is going to take care of the majority of the tuning issues that I would have would it....

 

[Midcow2]

Nice Sub !

Adam you are right--I really need to get a SPL meter and test disc so I can get my system dialed in correctly. As for the subwoofer I know that the Velodyne SMS-1 is going to take care of the majority of the tuning issues that I would have would it....

SVSs are great subs and Adam gives excellent advice!

Enjoy!

Radio Shack SPL : http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667&cp=&sr=1&kw=spl+meter&origkw=SPl+meter&parentPage=search

SPL test disk: http://www.autostyle.co.za/prodview.php?prod_id=16647&pid=&cid=&pg=104&showall=&brandstr=&str=
http://www.amazon.ca/Avia-Guide-To-Home-Theater/dp/630551982X

 

[billy p]

lol

hope you dont have any RTA furniture... enjoy

RTA=ready to assemble heh..

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Ha ha....and no thank goodness I don't have any RTA furniture, otherwise it would disassemble itself from the impact this thing puts out...

 

[Chopin_Guy]

SO...I have some setup concerns with the new sub as well as my whole system and wanted to put this here and not start a new thread....

1. I had to turn the level on the 16-46 + to about 40% and the SW output on my AVR-987 is at +16db....to get the level of bass I wanted....I am inclined to think that this is excessive or running too hot...???

2. I am getting in a SMS-1 in the next couple days and I read somewhere that a hot input level into the SMS-1 can cause distortion....so will I need to back off that +16db level and instead use the volume control on the unit.

3. I have noticed that some devices are louder than other in my system....like the CD player (Denon DCM-280) I only have to turn to about -32 to listen to fairly loudly in the apartment....while watching Blu-rays on PS-3 and DVD's (DVD-757) I have to turn to -16 sometimes in quite passages. I do know that movie sound tracks tend to be very dynamic but is there anyway I can adjust the source levels so I don't have to run the amp so hot on movies.....

This is a start....thanks for the help??

 

[Adam]

To address two of your questions:

1. You may find that you'll turn the sub volume down once you calibrate your system using an SPL meter in conjunction with a test disc or test tones. The same might be true for when you hook up the SMS-1. Maybe not. I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as it sounds good to you. The +16dB sounds high to me, but that's just based on the way that I do things. I'd tend to turn that down a bit and increase the volume on the sub itself.

2. [No idea.]

3. This seems pretty typical. Different sources have different volume levels. Nothing to be concerned about. You can reduce the dynamic range of your movie soundtracks, though, if you want. I'm sure that your receiver has a setting for that, and I'd be happy to look into the manual if you have any questions. It might just be a setting for "dynamic range", or it might have some other name like "midnight mode". Reducing the dynamic range would make it so that explosions weren't as loud relative to dialogue, and quiet passages weren't as quiet relative to other things.

Adam

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Congrats on the new SVS Sub! Your in good hands with Adam helping you. In the last few months there have been so many positive threads about all kinds of SVS subs. I have a PB13-Ultra box sub, and man do I love that sub! It never runs out of output, it just digs deep and loud! It's scary watching Blu rays, you never know when small objects on shelves are going to fall, dry wall damage will occur, or angry family members complain about the loud bass in other parts of the house!

Enjoy your SVS, I know I'll continue to love mine.

 

[johnnybon]

PB12/+2. Most powerful sub I ever heard.

 

[Chopin_Guy]

So, I got in the Velodyne SMS-1 and got it all set up and equalized with the system and now I can truly say that the 16-46 PC Plus is over the top in my space. I thought I loved the sound and output before the SMS-1 but now I am completely blown away--the response is even, deep, and crystal clear.

My room is very resonant (a loft with concrete floors, ceiling, and one wall), so I get alot of sound pressure with the sub being in the corner. After doing more listening now I do not miss whatever extra output the 20-39 might have had as I appreciate the native 16hz on this model. Sometimes I honestly think the concrete pillar in the corner is going to crumble....

So to anyone considering the PC-Plus line and wants to deepest output, this unit is extremely capable. The 16-46 Plus can turn your stomach in 'War of the Worlds' and is just as adept in producing agile bass in music from Paul Oakenfold to Mahler....

 

[croseiv]

Good for you! Sounds like you have it dialed in perfectly.

 

[Warpdrv]

PB12/+2. Most powerful sub I ever heard.

Blah.... I got two of them, and its still not enough...

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Well you must have a theater room the size of the grand canyon. When I get a house, then four 16-46's will certainly be in my theater....but until then, I will have to do with one as it's all my neighbors can take....lol.

 

[Adam]

When I get a house, then four 16-46's will certainly be in my theater...

BAM. That would be awesome. I'd sure be jealous!

 

[Chopin_Guy]

It would be awesome, perhaps a bit much....but all in time. I am just trying to make it through the night with power at the moment...lol...have to stay awake incase I have to pull that new sub into another room...lol...oh riding out the hurricane...

 

[Adam]

To you and all around you, I wish you well with the incoming storm.