Which SVS sub should I get?

[JDawg]

I'm thinking of upgrading to a better sub and after doing lots of research the name SVS keeps coming up. I have a 10" Quest sub that I bought 6 or 7 years ago but it only goes down to 36Hz. So i'm thinking of getting the PB10-NSD, PB12-NSD or the 20-39PC Plus. The NSD subs are within my price range but the 20-39 is a little over my budget. My living room is 240 sq ft but it extends into the kitchen so its actually one big 420 sq ft room. Is there any difference in sound quality between the NSD and the 12.3 woofer thats in the 20-39? I've read great reviews for their NSD subs so it makes me wonder how much better their Plus series are. I'm thinking either of the NSD subs will be good enough for me but which one would you guys recommend?

 

[Ron Temple]

The new PB12NSD is a very good buy. You'd probably be more than pleased in your room for output and definition, especially if compared to your existing sub. Supposedly the new NSD driver is close to or the equivalent of the old 12.2 Plus driver. Even so, if you can afford the new Plus, you'll get better SQ, more headroom and will definitely notice the improvement over the NSD. If you're going to always be wondering, go with the Plus now.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

PB12-NSD - that's an easy one.

 

[bandit]

I've been wondering a bit about the SVS's too. I was looking for reviews here of the "cylinder" subs from SVS but I've only reviews on the "box" subs. If you read into what SVS says about it - it seems that you get a bit more bang for the buck on the cylinder subs.. I wouldn't mind seing a review or two on the cylinders...

 

[agarwalro]

Even so, if you can afford the new Plus, you'll get better SQ, more headroom and will definitely notice the improvement over the NSD

I agree. Go with the Plus or even the Plus 2. Subs are like cars, more is better

 

[Ron Temple]

I've been wondering a bit about the SVS's too. I was looking for reviews here of the "cylinder" subs from SVS but I've only reviews on the "box" subs. If you read into what SVS says about it - it seems that you get a bit more bang for the buck on the cylinder subs.. I wouldn't mind seing a review or two on the cylinders...

There are a few older cylinder reviews circa 2001-2003 hanging around the net if you dig, but the cylinders perform identically to the boxes. Their benefit is in shipping, ease of movement and unique design (if that's a benefit) vs. possible very low WAF. I like mine, but it's tucked away out of sight.

 

[Nick250]

Since they are round, do they impact room acoustics differently than a box and require different setup or placement strategies?

Nick

 

[abboudc]

Since they are round, do they impact room acoustics differently than a box and require different setup or placement strategies?

Nick

No. Unless of course you want to use a box as an end table, then you need to find a spot near your seat. With either boxes or cylinders, you should find a corner to put it in.

Check out the FAQ on the SVS website. They have a very thorough pro's and con's for cylinders vs. boxes:
http://www.svsound.com/questions-faqs.cfm#cylinderorbox

 

[JDawg]

It looks like i'll most likely be getting the PB12NSD hopefully this year or sometime next year. I might consider saving up for the 20-39PC Plus but whichever sub I choose in the end will sound a lot better then my crappy Quest sub.

Does anyone know if SVS or Sonicboomaudio ever has any sales on their subs?

 

[Sheep]

It looks like i'll most likely be getting the PB12NSD hopefully this year or sometime next year. I might consider saving up for the 20-39PC Plus but whichever sub I choose in the end will sound a lot better then my crappy Quest sub.

Does anyone know if SVS or Sonicboomaudio ever has any sales on their subs?

I believe only B stock items get discounted.

Hey, Vancouver! Where abouts are you?

SheepStar

 

[abboudc]

It looks like i'll most likely be getting the PB12NSD hopefully this year or sometime next year. I might consider saving up for the 20-39PC Plus but whichever sub I choose in the end will sound a lot better then my crappy Quest sub.

Does anyone know if SVS or Sonicboomaudio ever has any sales on their subs?

Check audiogon. Once in a while someone will be selling SVS's there for about 60% of retail. Of course they're used.

 

[JDawg]

I believe only B stock items get discounted.

Hey, Vancouver! Where abouts are you?

SheepStar

Well without being to specific I live somewhere in East Vancouver.

Anyways on to more important things! I just placed an order for a 20-39PC Plus so it should be delivered just before Christmas or a few days after. I was going to get the PB12-NSD but I saw pics of how big it was and it would've taken up too much floor space. So I thought about it some more and decided to go with a Cylinder sub instead. I kept reading that it was better to get the 20-39 Plus or the box equivalent because it can be tuned with the port plugs and its got a more powerful amp and sounds better. So I figured I would be getting more for my money if I just saved up a bit more for the Plus instead. I'm looking forward to seeing what this sub can do and i'll probably be spending my holiday watching movies or listening to music.

 

[mkossler]

I for one think you'll be very happy with your choice. Then again, I'm a 20-39 cylinder owner . Having a friend with a box, though, my experience has been that both form factors offer equivalent performance - in equivalent configurations. SVS' position has traditionally been that the lower cost of design and construction of the cylinder allows them to offer slightly more peformance at a lower price point vis-vis the Boxen. My experience seems to bear that out.

Oh and by the way, if you haven't seen one in person, they're bigger than you think.

Congrats, have fun, and enjoy!

Happy holidays -Matty K.

 

[JVC]

You should contact SVS, with your room deminsions, and they will help you figure which is the perfect sub, for your needs. Folks I know, that have done this, say that they will not try to sell you one you don't need.
Good luck!

 

[abboudc]

I was going to get the PB12-NSD but I saw pics of how big it was and it would've taken up too much floor space. So I thought about it some more and decided to go with a Cylinder sub instead.

I think you'll be surprised when you get the cylinder how big it is I know i wasn't ready for it.

 

[Ron Temple]

You'll really like your sub...unpack and hide the sub before your wife sees it. Yes, it's 16" in diamater...and yes it looks like 3/4s of a water heater...yes, you'll be grinning ear to ear.

 

[just_visiting]

You'll love it. I, myself, got a 16-46 PC+ and it rocks. I was watching Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift and it was awesome. It's in my room right now and it's not even setup properly but it'll do for now until I move into a better house.

 

[JDawg]

The UPS guy just delivered my sub and this thing is huge!!! I thought it was going to be a lot smaller when I measured it out with a measuring tape. Well i'm gonna get it hooked up so I can see how this thing sounds

 

[JDawg]

I just finished testing my sub and this thing goes way lower and louder than my old one. I was playing some test tones with the Avia DVD and when it got down to the lower frequencies things started rattling and not just in my living room either. Apparently stuff upstairs in other rooms were rattling too! I don't think i'm used to this kind of insanely low bass so this might take some getting used to. I was watching scenes from U571 and I could feel my pant leg vibrating which my old sub never did. I think i'm gonna have to calibrate the sub so its a few db's lower than the other speakers to keep it down to a more reasonable level. I did notice some distortion during the depth charge scene in U571 but it went away when i turned it down. I'm guessing it just needs some time for break in and it should be fine. Well i'm gonna go try some music and see how it sounds.

Here's a pic of my new SVS sub and my old one next to each other. I couldn't believe how huge this thing was until I actually saw it.

 

[mkossler]

...I couldn't believe how huge this thing was until I actually saw it.

Ah, another addition to the cylinder brotherhood .

That 20-39 is a familiar sight. I think you'll find, though, that the cylinder does tend to blend in once you have it placed (I'm assuming you'll end up with a corner-loaded placement, though your mileage may vary). My wife barely mutters under her breath these days when she walks into the media room .

Enjoy your new acquisition. I'm happy to read in the other thread that you worked out your distortion issue.

Cheers,

Matty K.