Just Upgraded the 20-39PC+ to the PB2+ !! (1 Viewer)

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

First off, I must say that the PC+ has been a great unit for the 5 months that I've had it. It just was a little undersized for my room (Tom V. calculated ~10,000 cubic foot including adjacent spaces). Actually with that space to fill, a single PB2+ is probably undersized, but a second one is not in my budget. (Yet...)

First off, I must say that this is physically a nice unit - well put together and has a nice new organic solvent smell fresh out of the box (I work for a chemical company). My brother-in-law has a Hsu VTF-2 and I figured that the finish on the PB2+ would look similar to the VTF-2's. The Hsu finish isn't bad, but I happy to say that the PB2+ is much, much nicer.

So I drug it over to the corner, hooked everything up and calibeated with Avia (~1 dB hot, not including RS correction factors). This was the same level I'd calibrated my PC+ to, so I put in Star Wars II and did some SPL comparisons (with all speakers running, I was too lazy to disconnect them and just run the sub). With the master volume set at -5 dB, I had readings of 100 dB during the THX intro, 101 dB on the fly-bys at the beginning, and 103 dB on the explosion with the PC+. With the PB2+, I had 105, 107, and 107 dB on the same 3 scenes. These are the best readings I could get with the meter set to fast response, but it seems that the new sub added about 5 dB across the board. Not too shabby.

Doing a quick test sweep with Avia, it does roll off noticeably in the 20-25 Hz range (as you would expect), while the 20-39 didn't (again, as expected). I haven't played yet with anything other than the stock tune. The sweep test also revealed a few new things in my room that rattle.

Overall, a great upgrade. If you have a somewhat smaller room, my old sub is for sale on the hardware forum. Althogh while I still have it, maybe I'll hook them both up and see what it sounds like...

- Kevin

 

[Steve Stogel]

That, I'm afraid, would be a mistake. You will find the PC+ much harder to part with, I think, if you do that.

Steve

 

[Jon-C]

Kevin,

When did you order your PB2+?

 

[Edward J M]

Doing a quick test sweep with Avia, it does roll off noticeably in the 20-25 Hz range (as you would expect), while the 20-39 didn't (again, as expected).

The quick roll-off below 25 Hz was probably due to the SS filter kicking in more than an inherent limitation with the sub.

While the PB2+ is advertised as a 25 Hz tune with all ports open, with room gain you should see considerably more extension if you drop the SS filter setting to 20 or even 16 Hz.

While I have obtained good results with the 3/16 setting, this practice should be approached with caution as it increases the potential to bottom the woofers. I see you are in a really huge room and if you are going for max SPL then the 3/25 setting is definitely the best/safest way to go, and SVS has a stern warning to this effect in the PB2+ tuning sheet.

Nevertheless, you might want to experiment at safe lower levels just to see the effect of lowering the SS filter and allowing the sub to trail off naturally and taking advantage of room gain. If you like the results, you might want to consider duals like Joel-S; he is running his dual PB2+ in the 3/16 setting in a large room with good results and no bottoming thus far, even at high levels.

Regards,

Ed

 

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

Good point Ed, I just tried it and dropping the filter does produce less roll-off at the bottom end. I'd read your post on how you set up your sub, but i think I'll stick with the stock tune for myself - I don't want to risk bottoming the drivers.

A second sub would be great, aside from $$, not having a good spot to put it, and having my wife drive the nearest sharp-pointy object through my heart. Also, at this point my sub outclasses the rest of my system (Paradigm Monitors, CC-370, and Titans + Mission 773 for the rear-back) so if I upgraded anything I'd probably spend it on the front mains.

Jon-C: I ordered on June 7, so a two month turn-around time for me. But they threw in a free T-shirt! Unfortunately it's size XXL and I'm just under 5'6". :frowning:

 

[Ron Stimpson]

XXL!

Sorry Kevin, you sounded so much larger in your e-mail. 8^)

Tell the wife it's really for her, it's not a t-shirt BTW, it's a mini-skirt ;^)

Ron

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

10,000 cu. ft. room = need to run both. A future upgrade should be a parametric EQ.

 

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

No problem, Ron - my wife already claimed it as a nightshirt.

A future upgrade will definitely be a parametric EQ. As an engineer, I'm always interested in making things better when possible. Although having gome from a JBL "sub" with nothing below 40 Hz, to a PC+, to a PB2+, I'm curious how much better things can get!

- Kevin

 

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

BTW, I quickly hooked up both subs - no optimization of placement or phase - and got about an extra 2 dB or so on the same scenes.

- Kevin

 

[steve nn]

HEADROOM is a good thing. I just watched SW-I at +2 and at a +3dB sub calibration. Absolutely incredible.

 

[Carlo_M]

10,000 cubic feet!

Run both, baby!

 

[CurtisSC]

First off, I must say that this is physically a nice unit - well put together and has a nice new organic solvent smell fresh out of the box (I work for a chemical company). My brother-in-law has a Hsu VTF-2 and I figured that the finish on the PB2+ would look similar to the VTF-2's. The Hsu finish isn't bad, but I happy to say that the PB2+ is much, much nicer.

For what its worth, the VTF-2 now uses a smooth black paint finish like many other big name companies. It looks very nice.