BrianKR
Second Unit
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2002
- Messages
- 498
I have been debating back and forth on how to best give my opinion on the SVS B4-Plus "super sub" for the past week now. Finally I thought I’d just wing it as I fumble through my notes, trying to make sense of it along the way 
The reason for my indecision on how best to tell people about this sub is because of just how long and frustrated a search it has been for me. I want people to understand just how the B4-Plus stacks up against all of the other subs I have tried over the past 2 years. Two years is a long time to look for just a sub to complete a Home Theater setup. I have tried a wide assortment of commercial subs to compliment my B&W speakers for both music and movie listening. When I started piecing this setup together I thought the sub was going to be the easy piece of the puzzle, so I figured I would do that last.
I just wanted to buy a sub that didn’t stand out over the rest of the speakers and integrated seamlessly with my setup, unless of course the scene/soundtrack called for some bass intensive punch.
The first few subs I tried were just thunder/boom boxes. They stood out and overpowered the rest of the speakers like a sore thumb. Music and movies just didn’t sound good on them. I was always finding myself tweaking those subs so they would blend in better with music or give more punch for HT, without drowning out the rest of the audio. It took me a few months and several failed attempts into my search before I realized just how hard it was going to be to find a sub that would do everything I wanted the way I wanted.
The problem I had finding a sub that I could be satisfied with was that, none of them ever seemed to do the job equally for both music and HT. If it sounded great with music it usually lacked impact (SPL slam) for HT and if it had the impact for HT the clarity seemed to suffer during music, this wasn’t always the case but usually. I have come close several times to finding a sub I was satisfied with, but I always found myself wanting more, whether it was detail or volume. I did run across a couple subs that played well for both music and HT but it didn’t give me enough volume for bass intensive scenes so I tried adding a 2nd with those brands, in most cases I still wasn’t satisfied. At one point I tried using two different brand subs at the same time one that was good for music and the other that performed well for HT, but I didn't like the way any combination I tried sounded together. One thing I learned from all of this, my basement is extremely stubborn on bass resonating within the room.
I was at a point where I was just going to go to a local audio store and buy 2 of what the salesperson considered their stores flagship sub. Thank God I didn't give up due to frustration, because my search for a subwoofer "has" finally come to an end, "The SVS B4-Plus!"
The appearance of the B4-Plus:
First off, the packing of the crate was astonishing! It was sent via a freight company, shipped on a pallet, with ¾” MDF board screwed and steel banded together to the pallet. The driver and I, set the crate on my porch by the front door. I couldn’t wait to take the crate apart and peek inside! Once I got the top and walls off of the crate, I was surprised to see more foam (9” of it on each side!) protecting the sub; it too was steel banded together with some type of treated corner board (compressed cardboard) protecting the foam itself from the bands. This sub could've been airdrop via parachute into my backyard, and it would have been scratch free. When I finally hit pay dirt, nothing prepared me for just how beautiful the finish on this beast was. The pictures Ron S. from SVS posted on the forums (the very sub in my home) do this sub "ZERO" justice! You have to see it in person to understand just how beautiful the finish and design of this sub is. I was simply in awe. This is a beautiful "grade A" quality piece of furniture, which is built like a tank (and almost as heavy as one), with not one flaw to be seen anywhere on the cabinet. (Tom V. asked me to go over it with a fine toothcomb upon its arrival. It was a first for him to use a freight company and he was very concerned with how they would handle it.)
The only drawback in the subs appearance (to be honest it’s a pretty big drawback) is the exposed drivers on the front, back and side (but this was to be expected it being a beta version of the sub). It really takes away from the subs overall appearance, and also is cause for concern having kids in the room. I am working out some ideas to cover the drivers, especially the front driver, which is in the direct line of fire. It's my understanding SVS is looking into grille options, which will be included with the B4-Plus in the future.
If you are to order one, know that you will need no less then 2 adults to move this box around.
Dimensions of B4-Plus: 25" x 25" (with a 2" pedestal making it 27") x 32 1/2", weight 195lbs.
Appearance = A-
The Build quality is top notch but the lack of grille covers and the overall size of this "beast" (WAF, may be a problem for some due to the size of the cabinet), is the reason there isn’t a plus (+) next to that A
Performance of the B4-Plus:
I took some SPL measurements after calibrating all of the speakers to 85dB using an Avia disk.
The room dimensions: 24 x 16 x 8 ½
Amp used to power B4: QSC RMX2450 (2400w)
Rane Parametric Equalizer (PE17) only used as a subsonic filter for these measurements.
Radio Shack SPL meter connected to a tripod @ 40" height (ear listening position), set to C-weight & Slow-response
I took the measurements of each scene @ 2 distances and settings.
All ports opened with SS Filter set to 20hz @ a distance of 1 & 4m (4m being m listening position)
2 ports blocked with SSF set to 16hz @ 1 & 4m.
Volume set to –5dB under reference.
First row of numbers are all ports opened and sub filter set to 20hz. 2nd row of numbers 2 ports blocked SSF @ 16hz.
Movie scenes:
THX Opening in Star Wars PM
@1m 113dB @1m 112dB
@4m 108dB @4m 107dB
Star Wars PM: Chapter 22 scene "Lap Two" / Time 1:04:17
@1m 112dB @1m 111dB
@4m 107dB @4m 106dB
Star Wars AOTC Ch 1 "Return to Corusant" / Time 0: 02:01 & 0:02:08
@1m 118dB @1m 117dB
@4m 112dB @4m 112dB
Star Wars AOTC Ch 1 "Return to Corusant" / Time 0:03:24
@1m 121dB @1m 120dB
@4m 113dB @4m 112dB
Titan AE Ch16 "In the Ice Ring" / Time 1:03:47
@1m 116dB @1m 114dB
@4m 111dB @4m 109dB
The Matrix Ch32 "Rooftop Rescue" / Time 1:51:16
@1m 115dB @1m 113dB
@4m 108db @4m 107dB
Jurassic Park III Ch5 "The Spinosaurus" / Time 0:24:05
@1m 116dB @1m 114.5dB
@4m 111dB @4m 109.5dB
Pearl Harbor "Attack" Ch22 / Time 1:29:58
@1m 124dB! @1m 123dB
@4m 117dB! @4m 116dB
I took these measurements with a couple of friends over while getting their opinions/impressions of the subs performance and sound quality. Of all the movies we viewed/listened too, Titan AE's "In the Ice Ring" scene was our favorite. The crackling of the ice breaking apart with the spaceships engine rumbling, and ice colliding into each other, is a great mix of highs and lows that sent the room into a frenzy and had all of our jaws on the floor. We were all blown away and thought it simply sounded incredible! The most "fun" scene (as my friends described it) was the Pod Race scene in Star Wars Phantom Menace. The resonating of the room while playing this particular scene was unbelievable. It felt like you were right there while the ships were passing by and exploding through the tunnels. But the shocker to us all was Pearl Harbor. None of us had any idea there was such tremendous bass in certain scenes of that movie. Previously I only watched the movie once, in my family room, which has no surround sound (it's a chick flick after all). My friends and I almost jumped completely out of our chairs during the attack scene when the black cook, watched nervously, while the propeller on the bomb stopped spinning, and he said, "Son of a BITCH!" OMG this explosion caught us totally off guard, which was one of the loudest explosions we have ever heard in a movie. It not only shook the room we were in, but my "ENTIRE" house. It scared the hell out "most" of us (some of my friends needed a trip to the bathroom immediately following that scene
). Before I started replaying this scene to measure it's output I went upstairs (no kidding) to make sure nothing was broke. Actually I found myself doing this several times throughout the day.
The next 2 movies I tried were Jurassic Park III "The Dino Duel" scene and Star Wars AOTC “the Return To Corusant" scene, where the ships fly overhead, also the assassination attempt. These scenes give most subs “fits”, and I wanted to see how the B4 measured up to this challenge of mine. It handled both movie scenes flawlessly, even at reference levels! During all of these bass intensive scenes, the "B4" not only did not show any signs of driver strain or port noise; it didn't even break a sweat.
None of us could believe what we were hearing & feeling from this "BEAST"!
W/ HeadRoom - HeadRoom - HeadRoom & no port noise or noticeable distortion of any kind even when hitting 130dBs, "The Performance of this beast is just Off the Charts!"
Performance = A+++
Summary:
Up until I received the B4-Plus sub, the SVS CS+ subs were what I preferred most for my basements HT room; even then I felt I needed more punch to get my stubborn basement room to come alive. So I contacted Tom V. at SVS and told him I was returning the CS+ subs to purchase a set of Ultra's for additional output. Even though I knew it was a minimal increase in performance, I thought it might just be enough for this room. He told me if I wasn't happy with the output of dual CS+ subs; Ultra's were not going to do it for me either. Then Tom let me know a new creation was emerging from the R/D skunkworks that no one outside of SVS had heard of yet, and that it would have the headroom/power of roughly 4 SVS Ultra's. He went on to tell me how it would play at reference levels in most size rooms with little to no distortion. To say I was intrigued would be an understatement; I was salivating. He said if I was interested and didn't mind waiting he would send me a beta version when they were ready. This was a couple months before the PC+ series was about to be released but this is exactly what I was looking for most in a subwoofer so I didn’t hesitate to say “YES!”
BTW, I had other subs to keep me company while I waited.
The wait was much longer than Tom or I had anticipated but DAMN was it worth it!
The B4-Plus integrated beautifully with my B&W Nautilus speakers. During music it never stands out unless you count having your chest pounded during kick drums or room resonating during horn music. I played over 50 music CDs on it from classical to heavy metal. Every type of music I ran through this sub was a new experience. I can’t recall ever having a sub that I didn't have a complaint or two about while playing such a wide variety of listening material. I have yet to be displeased while playing "any" music or movies on the B4-Plus. Plain and simply, the bass reproduction is flawless.
I am hearing detail in music and movies I have viewed/listened too dozens of times that I have never heard before. This is an outstanding subwoofer, with extremely tight deep bass that you have to witness for yourself to truly appreciate. No ones written words will do this subwoofer justice. You just wont believe the shock waves of bass you hear and feel from this box. When I would play material that has "deep" bass with very high SPL (115dB+), I would go over and stand next to the sub to see if I could hear “any” distortion from the drivers or ports. I never heard distortion of any kind but my pants legs would be blowing from the air the drivers were pushing around even though the box barely shook/vibrated at all. When I would place my hand on the box it was a mild vibration. I'm assuming this is because of the weight of the cabinet and or just how solid it’s built. Most likely this sub could be used as an end table. I am looking into buying a sheet of glass to go on top if it, more so to protect the finish, than to place anything on top of it.
This sub is so subtle and yet so powerful at the same time. The sound that it produces is so clean, fast, and deep; with insanely powerful (SPL) and pinpoint accurate bass. It just boggles my mind and puts a big silly grin on my face every time I fire it up.
The B4-Plus outperformed all the other subs I have ever auditioned in this room, in quality and quantity, and that’s a lot of subs.
Pros:
A gorgeous cabinet with outstanding build quality, extremely tight, deep, accurate bass reproduction that plays extremely loud (possibly enough output for a movie theater), and will blend very well with any system. Powerful, seamless integration (easy to make "disappear" with speakers), excellent for music and home theater with unmatched performance with very detailed output. The value/bang for the buck with this sub is unparalleled (it would take 4 or 5 subs to match this subs headroom/performance). Simply put this sub has insane SPL capabilities at a huge range of frequencies!
Cons:
This is a very big & heavy cabinet that requires at least 2 adults to move around, so setup/placement could become a headache if you don't have help on hand. Also WAF "may" be a problem with some that might not go for (hopefully the style and finish of the cabinet will win them over. Just coordinate with SVS and do your best to match the furniture or speakers in the room it's going in) the shear size of the cabinet. Other than that I can’t think of any, unless you count possible damage to household items or the home itself :frowning: and making neighbors your enemy.
Subwoofers owned/auditioned in home the past 2 years:
Klipsch RSW 15, Infinity IL 100 & 120, Polk PSW650, Mirage bps400, Dual HSU VTF-3's, Dual Paradigm Servo -15's, Sunfire Signature, Velodyne HGS 10 & 18, Rel Storm, Super Nova MKIV & SVS CS+ series w/1000w Samson amp (20-39 & 16-46 CS)
But honestly, I have never used "ANYTHING" that outperforms this sub in sound quality or quantity!
Conclusion:
If you are like me, and have been looking for a sub to play both music and movies with no sacrifices to be made of any kind. A sub that can play reference levels in most any size room (within reason, it wont power a stadium, at least I don’t think it will) with little to no distortion (I have yet to witness any) then this is “THE” sub for you!
And again, in my opinion, because this really can’t be said enough, the finish on the cabinet is simply stunning and the build quality is outstanding! It's a true furniture grade finished cabinet that is as solid as it is heavy! IMHO, this is better than any larger diameter sub I have ever tried. Incredible volume, low bass extension, and definition like nothing I’ve ever heard before.
The bass is so far beyond what I have ever experienced---musically and on DVDs, I have never heard such limitless/effortless bass reproduction.
Overall this sub is OUTSTANDING A+ all the way!
I just wish I could afford a 2nd, for aesthetics purposes only.
SVS should put a Disclaimer on this sub:
If you are on speaking terms/friends with your neighbors, it's not advised to purchase this sub! If you don't get along with your neighbors and want them to move out, BUY THIS SUB TODAY! Furthermore: SVS is will not be responsible for "any" structural damage to your home or household items/collectibles or those of your neighbors. Finally, you might want to consider asking your insurance agent if quake insurance exist in your area, if not, will they make an exception
The reason for my indecision on how best to tell people about this sub is because of just how long and frustrated a search it has been for me. I want people to understand just how the B4-Plus stacks up against all of the other subs I have tried over the past 2 years. Two years is a long time to look for just a sub to complete a Home Theater setup. I have tried a wide assortment of commercial subs to compliment my B&W speakers for both music and movie listening. When I started piecing this setup together I thought the sub was going to be the easy piece of the puzzle, so I figured I would do that last.
I just wanted to buy a sub that didn’t stand out over the rest of the speakers and integrated seamlessly with my setup, unless of course the scene/soundtrack called for some bass intensive punch.
The first few subs I tried were just thunder/boom boxes. They stood out and overpowered the rest of the speakers like a sore thumb. Music and movies just didn’t sound good on them. I was always finding myself tweaking those subs so they would blend in better with music or give more punch for HT, without drowning out the rest of the audio. It took me a few months and several failed attempts into my search before I realized just how hard it was going to be to find a sub that would do everything I wanted the way I wanted.
The problem I had finding a sub that I could be satisfied with was that, none of them ever seemed to do the job equally for both music and HT. If it sounded great with music it usually lacked impact (SPL slam) for HT and if it had the impact for HT the clarity seemed to suffer during music, this wasn’t always the case but usually. I have come close several times to finding a sub I was satisfied with, but I always found myself wanting more, whether it was detail or volume. I did run across a couple subs that played well for both music and HT but it didn’t give me enough volume for bass intensive scenes so I tried adding a 2nd with those brands, in most cases I still wasn’t satisfied. At one point I tried using two different brand subs at the same time one that was good for music and the other that performed well for HT, but I didn't like the way any combination I tried sounded together. One thing I learned from all of this, my basement is extremely stubborn on bass resonating within the room.
I was at a point where I was just going to go to a local audio store and buy 2 of what the salesperson considered their stores flagship sub. Thank God I didn't give up due to frustration, because my search for a subwoofer "has" finally come to an end, "The SVS B4-Plus!"
The appearance of the B4-Plus:
First off, the packing of the crate was astonishing! It was sent via a freight company, shipped on a pallet, with ¾” MDF board screwed and steel banded together to the pallet. The driver and I, set the crate on my porch by the front door. I couldn’t wait to take the crate apart and peek inside! Once I got the top and walls off of the crate, I was surprised to see more foam (9” of it on each side!) protecting the sub; it too was steel banded together with some type of treated corner board (compressed cardboard) protecting the foam itself from the bands. This sub could've been airdrop via parachute into my backyard, and it would have been scratch free. When I finally hit pay dirt, nothing prepared me for just how beautiful the finish on this beast was. The pictures Ron S. from SVS posted on the forums (the very sub in my home) do this sub "ZERO" justice! You have to see it in person to understand just how beautiful the finish and design of this sub is. I was simply in awe. This is a beautiful "grade A" quality piece of furniture, which is built like a tank (and almost as heavy as one
), with not one flaw to be seen anywhere on the cabinet. (Tom V. asked me to go over it with a fine toothcomb upon its arrival. It was a first for him to use a freight company and he was very concerned with how they would handle it.)The only drawback in the subs appearance (to be honest it’s a pretty big drawback) is the exposed drivers on the front, back and side (but this was to be expected it being a beta version of the sub). It really takes away from the subs overall appearance, and also is cause for concern having kids in the room. I am working out some ideas to cover the drivers, especially the front driver, which is in the direct line of fire. It's my understanding SVS is looking into grille options, which will be included with the B4-Plus in the future.
If you are to order one, know that you will need no less then 2 adults to move this box around.
Dimensions of B4-Plus: 25" x 25" (with a 2" pedestal making it 27") x 32 1/2", weight 195lbs.
Appearance = A-
The Build quality is top notch but the lack of grille covers and the overall size of this "beast" (WAF, may be a problem for some due to the size of the cabinet), is the reason there isn’t a plus (+) next to that A
Performance of the B4-Plus:
I took some SPL measurements after calibrating all of the speakers to 85dB using an Avia disk.
The room dimensions: 24 x 16 x 8 ½
Amp used to power B4: QSC RMX2450 (2400w)
Rane Parametric Equalizer (PE17) only used as a subsonic filter for these measurements.
Radio Shack SPL meter connected to a tripod @ 40" height (ear listening position), set to C-weight & Slow-response
I took the measurements of each scene @ 2 distances and settings.
All ports opened with SS Filter set to 20hz @ a distance of 1 & 4m (4m being m listening position)
2 ports blocked with SSF set to 16hz @ 1 & 4m.
Volume set to –5dB under reference.
First row of numbers are all ports opened and sub filter set to 20hz. 2nd row of numbers 2 ports blocked SSF @ 16hz.
Movie scenes:
THX Opening in Star Wars PM
@1m 113dB @1m 112dB
@4m 108dB @4m 107dB
Star Wars PM: Chapter 22 scene "Lap Two" / Time 1:04:17
@1m 112dB @1m 111dB
@4m 107dB @4m 106dB
Star Wars AOTC Ch 1 "Return to Corusant" / Time 0: 02:01 & 0:02:08
@1m 118dB @1m 117dB
@4m 112dB @4m 112dB
Star Wars AOTC Ch 1 "Return to Corusant" / Time 0:03:24
@1m 121dB @1m 120dB
@4m 113dB @4m 112dB
Titan AE Ch16 "In the Ice Ring" / Time 1:03:47
@1m 116dB @1m 114dB
@4m 111dB @4m 109dB
The Matrix Ch32 "Rooftop Rescue" / Time 1:51:16
@1m 115dB @1m 113dB
@4m 108db @4m 107dB
Jurassic Park III Ch5 "The Spinosaurus" / Time 0:24:05
@1m 116dB @1m 114.5dB
@4m 111dB @4m 109.5dB
Pearl Harbor "Attack" Ch22 / Time 1:29:58
@1m 124dB! @1m 123dB
@4m 117dB! @4m 116dB
I took these measurements with a couple of friends over while getting their opinions/impressions of the subs performance and sound quality. Of all the movies we viewed/listened too, Titan AE's "In the Ice Ring" scene was our favorite. The crackling of the ice breaking apart with the spaceships engine rumbling, and ice colliding into each other, is a great mix of highs and lows that sent the room into a frenzy and had all of our jaws on the floor. We were all blown away and thought it simply sounded incredible! The most "fun" scene (as my friends described it) was the Pod Race scene in Star Wars Phantom Menace. The resonating of the room while playing this particular scene was unbelievable. It felt like you were right there while the ships were passing by and exploding through the tunnels. But the shocker to us all was Pearl Harbor. None of us had any idea there was such tremendous bass in certain scenes of that movie. Previously I only watched the movie once, in my family room, which has no surround sound (it's a chick flick after all). My friends and I almost jumped completely out of our chairs during the attack scene when the black cook, watched nervously, while the propeller on the bomb stopped spinning, and he said, "Son of a BITCH!" OMG this explosion caught us totally off guard, which was one of the loudest explosions we have ever heard in a movie. It not only shook the room we were in, but my "ENTIRE" house. It scared the hell out "most" of us (some of my friends needed a trip to the bathroom immediately following that scene
). Before I started replaying this scene to measure it's output I went upstairs (no kidding) to make sure nothing was broke. Actually I found myself doing this several times throughout the day. The next 2 movies I tried were Jurassic Park III "The Dino Duel" scene and Star Wars AOTC “the Return To Corusant" scene, where the ships fly overhead, also the assassination attempt. These scenes give most subs “fits”, and I wanted to see how the B4 measured up to this challenge of mine. It handled both movie scenes flawlessly, even at reference levels! During all of these bass intensive scenes, the "B4" not only did not show any signs of driver strain or port noise; it didn't even break a sweat.
None of us could believe what we were hearing & feeling from this "BEAST"!
W/ HeadRoom - HeadRoom - HeadRoom & no port noise or noticeable distortion of any kind even when hitting 130dBs, "The Performance of this beast is just Off the Charts!"
Performance = A+++
Summary:
Up until I received the B4-Plus sub, the SVS CS+ subs were what I preferred most for my basements HT room; even then I felt I needed more punch to get my stubborn basement room to come alive. So I contacted Tom V. at SVS and told him I was returning the CS+ subs to purchase a set of Ultra's for additional output. Even though I knew it was a minimal increase in performance, I thought it might just be enough for this room. He told me if I wasn't happy with the output of dual CS+ subs; Ultra's were not going to do it for me either. Then Tom let me know a new creation was emerging from the R/D skunkworks that no one outside of SVS had heard of yet, and that it would have the headroom/power of roughly 4 SVS Ultra's. He went on to tell me how it would play at reference levels in most size rooms with little to no distortion. To say I was intrigued would be an understatement; I was salivating. He said if I was interested and didn't mind waiting he would send me a beta version when they were ready. This was a couple months before the PC+ series was about to be released but this is exactly what I was looking for most in a subwoofer so I didn’t hesitate to say “YES!”
BTW, I had other subs to keep me company while I waited.
The wait was much longer than Tom or I had anticipated but DAMN was it worth it!
The B4-Plus integrated beautifully with my B&W Nautilus speakers. During music it never stands out unless you count having your chest pounded during kick drums or room resonating during horn music. I played over 50 music CDs on it from classical to heavy metal. Every type of music I ran through this sub was a new experience. I can’t recall ever having a sub that I didn't have a complaint or two about while playing such a wide variety of listening material. I have yet to be displeased while playing "any" music or movies on the B4-Plus. Plain and simply, the bass reproduction is flawless.
I am hearing detail in music and movies I have viewed/listened too dozens of times that I have never heard before. This is an outstanding subwoofer, with extremely tight deep bass that you have to witness for yourself to truly appreciate. No ones written words will do this subwoofer justice. You just wont believe the shock waves of bass you hear and feel from this box. When I would play material that has "deep" bass with very high SPL (115dB+), I would go over and stand next to the sub to see if I could hear “any” distortion from the drivers or ports. I never heard distortion of any kind but my pants legs would be blowing from the air the drivers were pushing around even though the box barely shook/vibrated at all. When I would place my hand on the box it was a mild vibration. I'm assuming this is because of the weight of the cabinet and or just how solid it’s built. Most likely this sub could be used as an end table. I am looking into buying a sheet of glass to go on top if it, more so to protect the finish, than to place anything on top of it.
This sub is so subtle and yet so powerful at the same time. The sound that it produces is so clean, fast, and deep; with insanely powerful (SPL) and pinpoint accurate bass. It just boggles my mind and puts a big silly grin on my face every time I fire it up.
The B4-Plus outperformed all the other subs I have ever auditioned in this room, in quality and quantity, and that’s a lot of subs.
Pros:
A gorgeous cabinet with outstanding build quality, extremely tight, deep, accurate bass reproduction that plays extremely loud (possibly enough output for a movie theater
), and will blend very well with any system. Powerful, seamless integration (easy to make "disappear" with speakers), excellent for music and home theater with unmatched performance with very detailed output. The value/bang for the buck with this sub is unparalleled (it would take 4 or 5 subs to match this subs headroom/performance). Simply put this sub has insane SPL capabilities at a huge range of frequencies! Cons:
This is a very big & heavy cabinet that requires at least 2 adults to move around, so setup/placement could become a headache if you don't have help on hand. Also WAF "may" be a problem with some that might not go for (hopefully the style and finish of the cabinet will win them over. Just coordinate with SVS and do your best to match the furniture or speakers in the room it's going in) the shear size of the cabinet. Other than that I can’t think of any, unless you count possible damage to household items or the home itself :frowning: and making neighbors your enemy.
Subwoofers owned/auditioned in home the past 2 years:
Klipsch RSW 15, Infinity IL 100 & 120, Polk PSW650, Mirage bps400, Dual HSU VTF-3's, Dual Paradigm Servo -15's, Sunfire Signature, Velodyne HGS 10 & 18, Rel Storm, Super Nova MKIV & SVS CS+ series w/1000w Samson amp (20-39 & 16-46 CS)
But honestly, I have never used "ANYTHING" that outperforms this sub in sound quality or quantity!
Conclusion:
If you are like me, and have been looking for a sub to play both music and movies with no sacrifices to be made of any kind. A sub that can play reference levels in most any size room (within reason, it wont power a stadium, at least I don’t think it will
) with little to no distortion (I have yet to witness any) then this is “THE” sub for you!And again, in my opinion, because this really can’t be said enough, the finish on the cabinet is simply stunning and the build quality is outstanding! It's a true furniture grade finished cabinet that is as solid as it is heavy! IMHO, this is better than any larger diameter sub I have ever tried. Incredible volume, low bass extension, and definition like nothing I’ve ever heard before.
The bass is so far beyond what I have ever experienced---musically and on DVDs, I have never heard such limitless/effortless bass reproduction.
Overall this sub is OUTSTANDING A+ all the way!
I just wish I could afford a 2nd, for aesthetics purposes only.
SVS should put a Disclaimer on this sub:
If you are on speaking terms/friends with your neighbors, it's not advised to purchase this sub! If you don't get along with your neighbors and want them to move out, BUY THIS SUB TODAY! Furthermore: SVS is will not be responsible for "any" structural damage to your home or household items/collectibles or those of your neighbors. Finally, you might want to consider asking your insurance agent if quake insurance exist in your area, if not, will they make an exception
