SVS PB13 Ultra (Tuning Questions)

[Gimpy Ric]

Just ordered one of these in Piano Black, to match my Aperions, and have a few questions about the Parametric EQ, tuning and port plugs

First, I can't put the sub in a corner because of the room, windows and furniture layout. Its happy home will be in between the mains, crossed over 80 Hz. I already own a meter, so I purchased the Avia 2 DVD to help me out with tuning.

I like music. A lot. If I'm not otherwise occupied, I'm listening to music all day long, and all night. I like Rock & Roll the most, but also enjoy Country, Pop, R&B, Trance and more Rock

PB13 Ultra owners: How much effect on output is there when using port plugs? I understand a compromise must be made to get tight bass, but also I need high output, as I'm a bass pig. When adding or taking away plugs, do you have to adjust any of the EQ settings?

Anybody with PB13 Ultra suggestions please post!!!

 

[AdrianMills]

Just ordered one of these in Piano Black, to match my Aperions, and have a few questions about the Parametric EQ, tuning and port plugs

First, I can't put the sub in a corner because of the room, windows and furniture layout. Its happy home will be in between the mains, crossed over 80 Hz. I already own a meter, so I purchased the Avia 2 DVD to help me out with tuning.

I like music. A lot. If I'm not otherwise occupied, I'm listening to music all day long, and all night. I like Rock & Roll the most, but also enjoy Country, Pop, R&B, Trance and more Rock

PB13 Ultra owners: How much effect on output is there when using port plugs? I understand a compromise must be made to get tight bass, but also I need high output, as I'm a bass pig. When adding or taking away plugs, do you have to adjust any of the EQ settings?

Anybody with PB13 Ultra suggestions please post!!!

1) Just because it's not in a corner doesn't mean it'll have bad performance. Some rooms have so much gain that corner loading just adds too much any how.

2) If you're crossing over at 80hz I'd really recommend you set your mains to small. I set my B&W 804S to small and the Ultra13 integrates perfectly; as a bonus it takes a hell of a load off the amp too.

3) The built in room correction is essentially meant to tame too much room gain. The vast majority of people I've seen posting leave it off, as do I. You can find some SMS-1 graphs of the different settings I posted here a while back and you'll see that, in my room, the correction didn't do any good at all.

4) I use one port plug in the 15hz tune - yes, you need to set the subsonic filter switch at the back of the sub to match the port tuning you choose or risk damaging your driver. Most people choose the 15hz tune for the best compromise between max depth and output. Really, this sub can go LOUD in the 15hz tune. ** edit ** Oh I see you said eq settings. Well, no, I wouldn't have thought that adding or removing port plugs should necessitate you changing the PEQ for instance. Hm, but maybe if you suddenly have a huge 15hz peak because you just changed the tuning you may want to try switching on the room correction but I think that's an unlikely scenario.

5) I don't use the built in PEQ as I have an SMS-1 but I've read that some people find it a bit tricky to dial it in on peaks. Having said that, it seems to work well once set properly.

6) Play, tweak, experiment and have fun.

 

[croseiv]

If you try any tuning besides the 20 Hz mode you should plug the proper port(s) and adjust the subsonic filter. Otherwise, you may damage the sub woofer.

I use 15 Hz mode and have found it to be the best for me. It only loses a little output compared to 20 Hz, but the extra bass extension is very noticable.

 

[mike c]

if your main purpose is music ... i don't see a need to plug a port or lower the tuning ... 3rd party tests have shown that even at "20hz tune" the PB13 goes well below 20hz even on ground plane.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Thanks for the responses, and warnings, just the info I was looking for

 

[Warpdrv]

if your main purpose is music ... i don't see a need to plug a port or lower the tuning ... 3rd party tests have shown that even at "20hz tune" the PB13 goes well below 20hz even on ground plane.

An excellent point of view...

Even in 20hz modes, most subs will perform extremely well, and provide an overwhelming amount of bass that most people aren't even familiar with..

The Ultra 13 has measured extremely well in all tunes and is surely one of the best subs available in looks, performance, and SQ in its price range..

SVS seriously hit a home run with that sub...

Too bad it was to large for my bedroom... Or I would have one..

 

[jcPanny]

New sub

Rick,
Didn't you just get 1 or 2 of the new Aperion subs?
While you are at it, order two of the MFW-15's from AV123 and change your screen name to RickSub!

Enjoy the SVS Ultra. For music playback at reasonable SPL levels the difference in tuning modes shouldn't matter. Take a picture of it next to the Aperion.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I can't wait for the PB13-Ultra to arrive, I'm taking everyones advice, no room correction, and no plugs. Probably will not even mess with the EQ. I've had the following subs in my system, so "I've played the field some"

M&K MX 200 - Sealed
Infinity PS-12 - Ported
Velodyne Mini Vee - Sealed
Hsu Research VTF-3 HO Turbo - Ported
Aperion Audio Bravus 12D - Sealed

This SVS will have to be a keeper, at 155 pounds I don't think I'll ever move it, once in place

I thought I might hold out for the Emotiva system, but I can't live without a good sub. And the SVS has almost a cult following with all of their subs, you can't forget that

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Rick,
Didn't you just get 1 or 2 of the new Aperion subs?
While you are at it, order two of the MFW-15's from AV123 and change your screen name to RickSub!

Enjoy the SVS Ultra. For music playback at reasonable SPL levels the difference in tuning modes shouldn't matter. Take a picture of it next to the Aperion.

Sorry I won't be able to put the SVS side by side with the Aperion, as The Aperion must go back, and the SVS is on order, not shipping till the end of the month.

Funny you should mention the av123's! I'm leaning towards 2 of those for the living room Can anybody say disco! Party Time

I only tried one Aperion and its a terrific sub, but it lacked the guts of the Hsu VTF-3 HO Turbo. It may not be in its proper location either, being space limited, and a quadriplegic, I can't move the subs around to find the BEST spot for them. Don't get me wrong, the Aperion Bravus 12D is bad to the bone, but not a contest winner in SPL. For music its Awesome.

 

[mike c]

hey Ric, i think its about time you played with an sms-1.

 

[AdrianMills]

Gimpy,

you can see my (updated) U13 thread here.

 

[rynberg]

I disagree with some of the opinions above....when set to a lower tuning, the Ultra has lower group delay and shorter decay times in the audible range. The frequency response will also be flatter at 15 Hz tuning than 20 Hz tuning in many real-world rooms.

If your main concern is music, the slight reduction in output in the 20-25 Hz range should not be any consideration at all.

 

[mike c]

I disagree with some of the opinions above....when set to a lower tuning, the Ultra has lower group delay and shorter decay times in the audible range. The frequency response will also be flatter at 15 Hz tuning than 20 Hz tuning in many real-world rooms.

If your main concern is music, the slight reduction in output in the 20-25 Hz range should not be any consideration at all.

but also consider, what music goes to 15hz?

and there's the high pass filter each of the SVS tunings have.