Svs pc13-ultra

[Bone-Head]

I have an average/small size room with solid wood floor first of all. I would love to take the plunge and get the PB13-ULTRA but seem to be a bit hung up on the size and cost. The PC13-ULTRA as far as footprint and cost seem more attractive. I just seem to be hung up on the tower look(which I can get over) and wonder how much of a loss if any would I have between the two in performance. The whole cylinder design just throws me off. I am no audiophile and guess anything in this class would blow me away. I would love it if somebody could knock down these barriers I seem to have about the PC13-ULTRA so I could just buy it. I also am interested in the Rythmik FV15HP.

Thanks for any help

 

[Pyrrho]

The cylinder design will give you almost identical performance. It is a different shape, but the woofer does not care much whether it is in a rectangular box or in a tube. The reason the cylinder is so much lighter is because a curved surface is inherently stronger than a flat surface, so it can be thinner and lighter while having the same strength, without needing a bunch of internal bracing that also adds weight. This helps makes it cheaper to make, and cheaper to ship (which, since shipping is built into the cost you pay, this is part of the difference in price). It also is a much easier shape to grab onto, and since it is significantly lighter, it is much, much easier to move than the box version.

I personally would not even consider the box version, as it is a bad value compared with the cylinder version. I own a pair of SVS cylinder Ultras (an old version, not the current one), and love them. I am glad I have the cylinders. The boxes waste your money, gives you something more difficult to move, and takes up more floor space. Judging by the specification differences, the boxes likely have a slightly larger interior volume than the cylinders (the exterior volume is significantly greater, but much of that is taken up by thicker sides and internal bracing that is necessary for it to equal the strength and rigidity of the curve of the cylinder). So there is a very slight difference in performance. The other downside is that the cylinders are taller. Not much in the way of downsides compared with all of the upsides.

It turns out, though, that many people buy their gear by how it looks as much as (or more than) by the sound, and many people have a prejudice about the cylinders. So many people spend extra money. But in a darkened home theater, you will not see either one very well or at all.

Here you can read more about the cylinder version:

http://www.soundandvision.com/content/test-report-svs-pc-13-ultra-subwoofer

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/subwoofers/subwoofers-reviews/a-secrets-subwoofer-review.html

Buy the cylinder version. It is the more practical, logical choice.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum! I have been using a PC13-Ultra since summer 2007 and really like it. Back in 2012, I was able to audition (and then later bought) an SB13-Ultra and compared it against the PC13-Ultra in a review here. If you're interested in the SVS Ultra line, I highly recommend considering the SB13-Ultra, too. In my experience and at my listening levels, it performed very similarly to the PC13. What drove me to the cylinder in 2007 was the lighter weight and smaller footprint, and the SB13 is very close to the PC13 in both regards - but it is much, much shorter (and you can see them side by side in my review). If you have any questions about either one, please feel free to ask.

 

[Basshead81]

The Rythmik FV15HP is what I would go with...it's tough to beat at it's price point. The PC13 would be next in-line of choice, followed up by the SB13.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

OP, please define "small/medium" size room. Is it open to other spaces? What is the total volume of space which is open?

Also is the space is not too large you could easily get a small sub like PC12-Plus and not loose any performance...

Also FV15-HP mentioned above is great value compared to ultra subs

 

[TheHills44060]

I think Pyrrho summed up the virtues of the PC quite beautifully however with performance being equal or close to equal my preference between the two would be to spend the extra cash for PB. I like the looks of a box over a cylinder, I like the finish options of the PB and I don't like the fabric exterior of the PC. If I needed to save money for investment of another piece of equipment in the chain then maybe I'd make the compromise. Like Pyrrho said though, if you are using it in a theater type setting you may never even see the thing so it's comes down to preference.

 

[kini]

IF the PB13 takes up too much floor space the FV15 won't be much better in that regard. I have a PC12+ in a 1650^3' room. It makes the walls, floor and ceiling flex.

The PC Ultra, Plus and NSD take up about the same amount of floor space. The main difference is in the height. Mine is in the front right corner and it pretty much just disappears. I have it turned so the amp is facing out. I like that I can do that so if I need to make changes or check the settings I don't have to move it or try to get behind it. Plus it can be pushed right up to the walls since the cables are now facing out.

 

[mikey d]

awsome post, thank you. pc vs pb is something ive been researching alot.

 

[TheWarrior]

As an owner of dual PC's, I think their design alone makes them a top pick. And I have the step below PC-12's. When you can have that much rigidity thanks to the curved body, it makes moving, AND ADJUSTING them a cinch! You would not believe the difference moving the sub a couple inches makes, and then you have a 155lb+(the PB-13 Ultra) box to slide vs. the 90lb cylinder which gives you mechanical advantage and nice soft bottom to slide across across the floor. Cylinders rock! And in my very subjective opinion, I think they 'play' better with the room!

 

[budbrande]

I just went through what you are dealing with but in the end I decided on the PC13 Ultra and here is why. My theater room is not large. It is 12' wide by 18' deep. The room is built over my garage and has an A frame ceiling with a height of 5' on the side walls. All of my equipment is on one end of the room on the 12' wall. I have a 60" television sitting on a stand that is about 65" wide and beside the stand I have two Jamo C809 tower speakers. To the left I have my equipment rack and to the right I have my subwoofer in the corner. I did have room for the PB13 Ultra but it would have taken quite a bit of floor space and stuck out further in my room which I took in to consideration. Like most people we associate boxes to subwoofers as a tube design is not the norm. Thankfully in my years of audio I have come across quite a few tube subwoofers, mostly home made designs, and many that really impressed me with their sound. Realizing this I decided to take a test drive and ordered the SVS PC13 Ultra. I figured that if I wasn't happy with the performance I could box it back up and return it for the PB13 Ultra. Needless to say that didn't happen. Not only am I totally satisfied with the performance of the sub, quite honestly I am blown away! I have an Emotiva XPA-2 Gen2 running my Jamo towers and an Emotiva XPA-3 Gen2 running my Jamo C80 center and surrounds. The PC13 Ultra has no problem at all keeping up with the Jamo's and in fact it can completely shake my room apart with it's output! I have owned this sub since Late October and in this time I have yet to hear it bottom out or run out of power for that matter in any of the music or movies that I have thrown at it! I will say that it does pull some power. When I installed the amplifiers I decided to run two dedicated 20 amp circuits to the room for my amplifiers. I already had a 15 amp circuit in the room for the lights and other receptacles. At first I had the SVS plugged in to one of the 15 amp receptacles and noticed that it was dimming the lights in the room. I ended up moving it to one of the 20 amp receptacles and plugged it in with the XPA-3. The rest of my equipment including my preamp, Playstation, CD player, television, etc are plugged in to my Panamax power distribution.

Design wise, the PC13 Ultra is a remarkable speaker. I can't say that it is a beautiful speaker because it isn't, even so it is not ugly. I have two dogs and a cat in my home and the carpet that they use to cover the speaker is a freaking hair magnet. Our cat likes to rub up against it and leaves white hair all over it! Thankfully she has no claws because it would be a very tempting scratching post!!! I do like the fact that it takes up very little space and the height thing does not bother me considering I do have tower speakers. It sits nicely in the corner of the room taking up little space. Needless to say it makes for a good conversation piece when your friends come over as most people are used to subs being in a box!