Subwoofer Questions

[jared555]

I am considering purchasing a subwoofer within the next 2-4 months.

The specs I am looking for are at least 20hz-80hz. I am considering a SVS PB10-ISD (that is the apsolute high end on price).

My room/system are far from optimal for quality and layout, but there isn't much I can change. The room is 11'x15'x8' and I am facing the 15' wall with open closets (around 2'x10' total) behind me (where the back surround speaker is sitting).

The room is carpet, two desks (against the left 11' and the 15' walls) with shelves, etc. above the screen.

The current components are:
Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR602
Mains: Pioneer Bookshelf Speakers S-H253B-K
Center/Surrounds/Back Surrounds: Polk Audio R15

Yes I do have plans on buying a true center channel and upgrading it to 7.1 eventually.

The only other sub besides the SVS that even comes close on specifications is the Sony SA-WX700 which is available fairly localy.

This will be used for a mix of music, movies, and games.

I have a few questions:
1) What kind of frequency response/SPL could I probably expect out of the SVS sub?

2) What kind of distance should I put between the sub and computer systems and the monitors?

3) What is probably the greatest safe distance to run a subwoofer cable, especially when it will be fairly close to a lot of other power/signal cables. (I think I only have two spots away from computers that would work, both of them a good distance away.

4) Is there any good reason to get the sony sub instead of SVS? Also are there any other good subs with frequency response down to at least 20hz in the price range?

5) How much weight would it be safe to have sitting on top of the sub, and also I assume it would be a bad idea to set the receiver on top of it.

 

[louhamilton]

The SVS will be the only decent one that I know of that will get you down to 20Hz (I'm considering this one as well). HSU would be another one, but in that price range you only go down to 25-30Hz.

The ideal place is in a corner, but I have seen where it is closer to the equipment rack that a room corner. Most are magnetically shielded so the computer equipment should be safe (vibration is another story).

I would not advise putting anything on it althought I have seen people use SVS's as end tables.

So to answer yous questions:

1.) http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-10isd.cfm. The response curve is at the very bottom of the page.
2.) Most subs today are magnetically shielded. However, a couple feet should be pretty safe.
3.) The have 40' subwoofer cables. I use a 14' cable but only have it about 10' from my receiver.
4.) I have a Sony sub and I don't like it. SVS and HSU are the only decent ones that will get you close. Velodyne are also good, but I think a little more expensive, especially if you want wood grain.
5.) I don't think I would put a Yugo on one or anything, but they are made of 3/4" - 1" MDF with internal bracing. Therefore, physics alone would say they could handle a substancial amount of weight. I would say at least a few hundred pounds. A receiver would not be too much weight, however, I would not put any components on a sub due to vibration.

-Lou

 

[Sheep]

1.) In your room, I would expect output to atleast 15Hz. He did
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_4/svs-pb10-subwoofer-10-2004.html

2.) 2 feet

3.) How ever long it needs to be to reach the sub. Try to keep space between power cords. Its easy, with a little time and patience

4.) If you want to talk about how you bought an infeirrior subwoofer.

5.) Lots. This thing weighs 60Lbs. You can put a couple hunder on. And it would actually help decouple it from the floor because they have short spikes and you have carpet.

SheepStar

 

[jared555]

Thanks, the only reason I would set something on top of it is if I have apsolutley no extra room (I am close to it now).

On the power thing, it would be pretty easy to avoid once I got away from my desk/receiver but around that area I have to play avoid 25+ power cords, and massive numbers of signal cables (whether it be ethernet, tv, vga, speaker, etc.).

Is that response curve on their site at approximately 1 watt, 10 watt, or some unknown number?

How far away should it be from electronics to prevent disassymbling them with vibrations?

Also I did check with SVS a long time ago and they said the sub wasn't magnetically sheilded.


Are there any issues with having the sub directly behind you, or not having a straight path between you and the sub? (I have been trying to find a location but so far the only two locations are the wall on the other side of my room or in the open closet where the back polk audio speaker is.

 

[Sheep]

That site has the dB level at which the subwoofer it playing. The first Graph, the one within 1 dB is anechoic (outside) and the second one is in room. Notice the how much lower the sub went in a room due to room gain. Your room isn't that big. So you should get what he got too.

SheepStar

 

[jared555]

I was referring to SVS's, but thanks. My issues will probably be the many surfaces for sound to reflect off of badly, too much vibrations into the computers, and rattling my desk.

Thanks for all the help, hopefully I will be able to get the sub around the end of march.

 

[jared555]

I was wondering, how would the SVS compare to my parent's Cerwin Vega Sub-150 (15", 200 watt) that we have in the living room?

 

[vividere]

It was more than I had intended to spend, but I bought a PB-10 yesterday locally from a guy who bought it and then got a deal on an Earthquake so he sold me his new PB-10. On the Video Essentials DVD where they sweep the frequencies I hear the PB-10 around 19hz, pretty much like the guy's chart shows. I watch a part of the Matrix and the speaker seemd to do a pretty good job. It is my first sub so I have nothing to compare it to however.