SVS Extension Mode - Which do you use?

sgtpepper9

sgtpepper9

Audioholic
As the title implies, which extension mode (20 Hz, 15 Hz, 10 Hz, Sealed) do you use?

I started at 20 Hz for music and 15 Hz for movies but after a while I just left it at 15 Hz really liked the way it sounded for music much better.
 
Adam

Adam

Audioholic Jedi
I used a test tone CD and an SPL meter to measure my in-room response. Through iteration, I set the extension mode, room compensation, and PEQ. I ended up using the 15 Hz mode (along with plugging one port) to get the flattest response.
 
annunaki

annunaki

Moderator
When I was using my SVS PB-12 Ultra (which is for sale by the way :D ) I used it exclusively in the 16hz tune (one port plugged). It offered the best compromise of low extension & output. It was quite good in terms of quality of sound, but I preferred the 16hz for music.
 
Midcow2

Midcow2

Banned
Running 20Hz

I don't have any ports plugged but it sounds like I should plug 1. I find it interestig, but itmakes sense from a pressure dynamics standpoint that the options are none, 1 or 3 ... not two! you can't suck and blow at the same time :D through the same opening

Take care -- I just installed an RF-20 power pack. Easy install and now i am behind closed doors :cool:

Take care !

MidCow2
 
G

Gov

Senior Audioholic
When you guys are saying 16hz tune is great for music, can I assume you listen to the pipe organ a lot? Correct me if I am wrong, but there is not musical notes that go down under 20hz besides the pipe organ
 
Adam

Adam

Audioholic Jedi
I don't have any ports plugged but it sounds like I should plug 1.
IMO, it depends on your in-room response, MC. I did that because it gave me the flattest response. Well, flattest between using the 20Hz and the 15Hz. I never tried the 10Hz or the sealed.
 
sgtpepper9

sgtpepper9

Audioholic
No, I don't listen to a lot of pipe organ music but, in my experience in my listening room, I've found that 15 Hz sounds a bit more natural than the 20 Hz tune. Then again, I've never measured so this is just based off hours of listening.
 
sgtpepper9

sgtpepper9

Audioholic
IMO, it depends on your in-room response, MC. I did that because it gave me the flattest response. Well, flattest between using the 20Hz and the 15Hz. I never tried the 10Hz or the sealed.
I still haven't tried 10 Hz or sealed either...I should probably change that.
 
Adam

Adam

Audioholic Jedi
I still haven't tried 10 Hz or sealed either...I should probably change that.
I never did the 10 Hz because the manual said to contact SVS before doing it...and I was too impatient and lazy, and then I forgot about it! :D

Maybe I should contact them. Hmmm.
 
sgtpepper9

sgtpepper9

Audioholic
I never did the 10 Hz because the manual said to contact SVS before doing it...and I was too impatient and lazy, and then I forgot about it! :D
That's strange, I don't think I read that anywhere in my manual. I wonder what sort of precautions they would need to give you. I can't imagine them giving you the option if it could damage the sub. The amp and driver handle the 15 Hz with no problem. Maybe it's like the previous poster said "can't suck and blow through the same hole"? But that doesn't seem like it to me as the ports aren't one way streets in the first place. They all just empty into the cabinet.
 
GlocksRock

GlocksRock

Audioholic Spartan
no ports plugged on my 20-39PC+ so I guess that puts it in max output mode. If the room it was in was smaller, I would run plug one of the ports, but I don't want to risk bottoming the sub out.
 
Adam

Adam

Audioholic Jedi
That's strange, I don't think I read that anywhere in my manual.
I see that their latest version of the PC13-Ultra manual (linked here) doesn't give that note. It still has an "*" on page 12 of the PDF file next to the "With two ports-blocked" row (the 10 Hz mode), but there is no longer the corresponding note to it. My PC13-Ultra was one of the first back in July 2007, and I have an earlier manual. You probably just have a different version of the manual than I do.
 
Chopin_Guy

Chopin_Guy

Senior Audioholic
Currently use the 15hz mode (one port plugged) on my PB13....as has been said previously, this seems to be the best compromise between output and extension...
 
Pyrrho

Pyrrho

Audioholic Ninja
As the title implies, which extension mode (20 Hz, 15 Hz, 10 Hz, Sealed) do you use?

I started at 20 Hz for music and 15 Hz for movies but after a while I just left it at 15 Hz really liked the way it sounded for music much better.
If you were going to set it differently for music and movies, I would expect it to be better the opposite to the way you originally chose to set it. Typically, with movies, the bass needs to be louder, and the sub will play louder without distortion if it is set to a higher frequency. For music (at least some of the music I listen to), setting it for about 15 Hz (or lower) would be necessary for having the deepest bass properly played.

I own 2 SVS CS-Ultra subwoofers ("old" 12" models), and I have them set to 16* Hz because that is deep enough for my music, and that way they can play louder than if I set them lower. Probably, I could get away with setting them lower anyway, but it isn't necessary, and this way I am less likely to have audible distortion in the unlikely event that I will ever push them to their limits.

My advise is to play with all of the possible settings, being sure to re-calibrate your channel levels each time you change the subwoofer settings, and decide for yourself which of the settings you like best.

_______________________

* Mine are an older model; they used to call the intermediate setting 16 Hz, the lower setting 12 Hz, and the upper setting 20 Hz. But none of these labels are precise, as the subwoofer is rated to be -3 dB at 18 Hz in the 20 Hz setting.
 
croseiv

croseiv

Audioholic Samurai
I go between 20 and 15 Hz from time to time. Presently, I'm running 20 Hz after a tour of duty running 15. It's nice to have the flexibility to change tuning modes. I like the extra SPL capability of 20 Hz mode.
 
R

Ron Temple

Senior Audioholic
I think most run the sub in 15hz mode for balance. It's about flat response for me. Extention is fine, but I want it lively and natural. I tried 10hz, but too big a hit on dynamics. 20hz sounds great, but I was able to acheive a better in room response at 15hz w/o losing the upper bass slam. Sealed is just too much of a hit for a combo rig after watching a couple of movies and I'm too lazy to get up and change back and forth for music.
 
newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top