Will the SVS PB13 Ultra outperform an Earthquake MKV-12?

[Inertia]

I was wondering if the SVS PB13 Ultra would outperform an Earthquake MKV-12? I understand that the Earthquake sub I mentioned is not the newest version of this sub.
Thanks guys for your time!

 

[agarwalro]

NOTE: The Earthquake has only numbers that by themselves are meaningless. No guidance on what parameters those numbers have been obtained under. For example, did it produce the sound level over an extended period of time or play for 2 seconds and then explode...

To give a super dumbed down response to a tough question: Yes, based on this being for the 15" version,

 

[j_garcia]

I've never heard that particular sub, though I have heard other Earthquake subs. Tough call having not heard it, but I've heard the Ultra a few times and I haven't heard many subs that sound as good with that kind of output.

 

[gene]

the data table gives very little info on how the subs were tested (ie. test signal, duration, distance to mic, distortion level, measurement method, etc)

 

[agarwalro]

the data table gives very little info on how the subs were tested (ie. test signal, duration, distance to mic, distortion level, measurement method, etc)

Exactly why I started off with an "all bets are off"

NOTE: The Earthquake has only numbers that by themselves are meaningless. No guidance on what parameters those numbers have been obtained under. For example, did it produce the sound level over an extended period of time or play for 2 seconds and then explode...

Got the numbers from here...

http://www.earthquakesound.com/supernova15.htm

 

[jcl]

Here's an older review (2004) on the SuperNova MKV 15 with some measurements. Not the same sub, but I imagine the 12 wouldn't perform as well as the 15

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_4/earthquake-supernova-mkv-subwoofer-10-2004.html

"From 50 Hz to 20 Hz, the response is down 12 dB. This is a very good result."

I'm not sure if this is a good result for a $2700 sub. I'll leave that to the experts. I haven't been looking at subs in that price range and probably won't any time soon.

 

[gene]

Here's an older review (2004) on the SuperNova MKV 15 with some measurements. Not the same sub, but I imagine the 12 wouldn't perform as well as the 15

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_4/earthquake-supernova-mkv-subwoofer-10-2004.html

"From 50 Hz to 20 Hz, the response is down 12 dB. This is a very good result."

I'm not sure if this is a good result for a $2700 sub. I'll leave that to the experts. I haven't been looking at subs in that price range and probably won't any time soon.

Ugh, all of their measurements were done in room and the frequency response graph has a 140dB scale. Reviews like that inspired me to write an article like this: Audio Measurements: The Useful vs the Bogus

Unfortunately, one must tread lightly with Earthquake b/c if they don't like your measurements, they threaten legal action. IMO, they seem to NOT want their subs measured outdoor groundplane and much prefer inflated in-room measurements that don't truly gauge product performance.

 

[Inertia]

Well I am not going to be paying that price for the Earthquake sub I found a used one.

 

[lsiberian]

Well I am not going to be paying that price for the Earthquake sub I found a used one.

No. The SVS Ultra is the commercial king of all the sub measurements I've seen done properly with a ground plane measurement. At that level I'd argue you don't really gain anything by going with any other options. The only reason you'd get something else is to save space or money. For space you'd need a P-Red sub, but realize the driver will probably be lower quality if the sub is cheaper, because P-Rs aren't exactly cheap.

Not sure I like the sound of a company threatening lawsuits for measuring stuff. Companies that abuse lawsuits don't get my business.

 

[jcl]

That earthquake is probably closer to the Emotiva Ultra 12 than the SVS.

For that form factor I'd look at the Rythmik Audio 12" or 15".

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Lets start from Scratch :
What's your budget, room size and intended use?

 

[Cruise Missile]

Wait.... I'm calling foul on that sub review!

He used cardas caps on the unused RCA terminals. Everyone knows that makes a sub more linear.

 

[j_garcia]

Ugh, all of their measurements were done in room and the frequency response graph has a 140dB scale. Reviews like that inspired me to write an article like this: Audio Measurements: The Useful vs the Bogus

Unfortunately, one must tread lightly with Earthquake b/c if they don't like your measurements, they threaten legal action. IMO, they seem to NOT want their subs measured outdoor groundplane and much prefer inflated in-room measurements that don't truly gauge product performance.

So, they like to present their numbers like Def Tech

 

[agarwalro]

Here's an older review (2004) on the SuperNova MKV 15 with some measurements. Not the same sub, but I imagine the 12 wouldn't perform as well as the 15

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_4/earthquake-supernova-mkv-subwoofer-10-2004.html

"From 50 Hz to 20 Hz, the response is down 12 dB. This is a very good result."

I'm not sure if this is a good result for a $2700 sub. I'll leave that to the experts. I haven't been looking at subs in that price range and probably won't any time soon.

I love to read the reviews on that site, but know, anything they say needs to be taken with a big heap of salt...

 

[Inertia]

I want to spend about 1200 tops on a sub... my room is 20'x18'x8' and the sub will be used for 50% music and 50% movies.

 

[GranteedEV]

I want to spend about 1200 tops on a sub... my room is 20'x18'x8' and the sub will be used for 50% music and 50% movies.

In this budget, I would be looking at two $600 subwoofers like the Rythmik FV12

 

[Pyrrho]

I want to spend about 1200 tops on a sub... my room is 20'x18'x8' and the sub will be used for 50% music and 50% movies.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/rythmik-fv15hp

See also:

http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/2010-subwoofer-shootout-room

 

[agarwalro]

Nothing useful, just a shameless plug for my PB 12 Ultra on sale in the classifieds here

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76284

Here is what I said about the output and sound quality of this beast.

I completely agree on the output. I had it playing in my living room which is 15'x18' and "open floor plan" to kitchen and dining area for another 15'x20'. Then, this whole area is connected to the main entrance and passage to bedrooms. Even then, my neighbor, one floor up and on other side of the building was complaining that I was rattling things in her bedroom, which is on the other side of the condo... very good person, and jocularly she said, and I quote, "when my coffee is showing ripples, I am calling you to lower the volume". One time, I had someone from the next building over come and ask me to turn it down .

As for the quality, I can only compare it to my Etymotic ER6 headphones (which set the bar very high for "reference"). Not as deep and tight, but after a lot of tweaking for placement and room corrections, man it was close... which speaks volumes.