Sell SVS PC-4000 and buy two new subs for musicality

[vernonscriven]

I was looking to add another svs PC4000 sub to my system. But it was recommended that I sell the PC4000 that I already have and buy two new tighter, better sounding subs such as Rythmic or Arendal.
Question: Would this be an improvement in my system or a lateral move?

 

[lovinthehd]

Nothing wrong with the SVS so seems lateral to me, tighter/better means what particularly? Who recommended?

 

[ryanosaur]

The idea of "Fast" and "Tight" Bass or Subs being "Musical" is pure MYTH today.

The PC 4000s are by all accounts a well designed and very good Subwoofer.

I would not make the change and start over. Rythmic Subs are good, but based on 15 year old technology with no real improvements made since their inception. That they are still relevant today is a measure of how much better than the competition Rythmik was in the past: comparing their best Subs against modern Subs shows no measurable advantage to their product.
Arendal is by all account a very good company as well and their Subs perform admirably. Same with Monolith Subs from Monoprice.

Do the research yourself and see how they compare with each other. AH has reviews for most of them, and Rythmik reviews can be found on Data Bass as performed by Josh Ricci who used to be the tester here at AH.

Now, if you have a specific concern about what your Sub is doing, please let us know. But beyond that, almost all the Subs built by specialty ID companies today are performing so close to one another that it really comes down to aesthetics and user interface as the choice most people use in making their purchasing decision. One may have more efficiency in Mid-Bass, another may have better Infrasonic Extension...
But most are within a few dB of each other throughout the entire band.

 

[bigbassdave]

Dude, what you have is already incredible. Add another and be happy. At this point, I don't think you're going to find a much "better" sub.

 

[ryanosaur]

Dude, what you have is already incredible. Add another and be happy. At this point, I don't think you're going to find a much "better" sub.

Not without stepping up to Harbottle or Funk Subs.

 

[bigbassdave]

Not without stepping up to Harbottle or Funk Subs.

I should have said, "In or around the same price range." Even so, once you get up past SVS, you can do better but you're into diminishing returns. Have to spend a lot for a bit, or a ton for a lot

 

[TLS Guy]

I was looking to add another svs PC4000 sub to my system. But it was recommended that I sell the PC4000 that I already have and buy two new tighter, better sounding subs such as Rythmic or Arendal.
Question: Would this be an improvement in my system or a lateral move?

The sub you have is excellent. I would use it in the neutral mode and not extended, and certainly not sealed. It is an excellent sub, and if you get something else you have a very good chance of getting something worse and not lateral.

A sub is only part of the equation, the speakers it is mated with are the much larger part of the equation. I am pretty sure subs are blamed for ills they are not responsible for. The sub is the easiest of all the speakers to design, the rest much more difficult. The tightness of bass actually comes from the accurate reproduction of frequencies way beyond the sub range, and actually out as far as 4KHz! So the FRs, and especially tuning and phase response of the other speakers, are vitally important in the illusion of truly accurate bass. To be honest that is why subs and speakers are optimally designed as a totally integrated system. That is the way I design my systems.

 

[vernonscriven]

These answers were exactly what i needed!

 

[vernonscriven]

The sub you have is excellent. I would use it in the neutral mode and not extended, and certainly not sealed. It is an excellent sub, and if you get something else you have a very good chance of getting something worse and not lateral.

A sub is only part of the equation, the speakers it is mated with are the much larger part of the equation. I am pretty sure subs are blamed for ills they are not responsible for. The sub is the easiest of all the speakers to design, the rest much more difficult. The tightness of bass actually comes from the accurate reproduction of frequencies way beyond the sub range, and actually out as far as 4KHz! So the FRs, and especially tuning and phase response of the other speakers, are vitally important in the illusion of truly accurate bass. To be honest that is why subs and speakers are optimally designed as a totally integrated system. That is the way I design my systems.

 

[vernonscriven]

I have the Arendal 1723 Monitors and Center. My old LPs sound awesome.
You helped me stay with my original plan of two svs PC4000 for the movies and Star trek.

Thanks