John Stone
Supporting Actor
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2001
- Messages
- 680
I've had my SVS for a few days now, and just wanted to post some comments on the 20-39CS. I had not planned to post "yet another review" on the SVS, but I think something about these things compels their owners to tell the world. 
First I want to detail my experiences with providing power to the sub. I had planned to use an old Sony receiver to power the sub, (model STR-AV920, circa 1990, which claims 190 + 190 watts @ 4 ohms). I carefully calibrated the sub and speakers using Avia and a Radio Shack analog SPL meter and popped in SW:TPM. The "exploding ball" logo was sounding really good, but when the ball exploded all the bass dropped out and the old Sony was flashing "protect". I had the main volume at a moderate level, way below reference. After several more tests, I knew that the old Sony was not up to the task. I decided to run up to Best Buy and get the $99.00 KLH receiver that some have reported good results with. Ewww. The KLH cut off at even less volume levels than the old Sony. I emailed Tom at SVS to make sure I had everything hooked up correctly. He was surprised to hear about the KLH, since he had used the same receiver (or at least the same model number) to drive 2 SVSs about a year ago. I found the KLH to be completely anemic. By the time I backed it off to the point that it was no longer cutting off during very low and loud bass sequences, it was not providing house shaking bass, just good solid bass. Don't get me wrong, it sounded good, but I knew the SVS was capable of much more. Frustrated, I ran up to Absolute Sound and picked up a Marantz MA6100 monoblock amp. The amp is completely silent. It provides about 180 watts RMS at 4 ohms, which is still less power than the SVS can handle, but at least I knew the stated power rating was accurate. I popped in SW:TPM again and watched the "ball explosion" logo at just below reference level. WOW! Problem solved! The SVS kicked the hell out of chest and nothing sounded strained or weak. I could not believe the sound and feeling of the incredible low, clean bass my SVS was putting out.
Over the next few hours I threw in every test disc that I could think of: U-571, Saving Private Ryan, Toy Story II, Titan A.E., the Haunting, The Matrix, Armageddon and so on. I can't properly describe the feeling of hearing and feeling movie theater bass in my own home. As a matter of fact, I can't remember ever feeling bass like that, even in a theater. I watched Titan A.E. from start to finish and I had a silly grin on my face the entire movie. When the film was over I felt like I had just stepped off a roller coaster, my entire body was still shaking. SVS subs should come with a copy of Titan A.E., it's a "must-have" DVD for SVS owners.
Some of you may remember my SVS and wife - help! thread, which I posted before I ordered my sub. Thankfully my wife was grinning just as much as I was, and I'm pleased to report that she loves it, too. I was needlessly worried about the house coming down around us. It took us about 10 minutes to isolate a few rattles and straighten a few pictures. The dogs are not bothered by the bass either, which was another concern of ours. Both of them slept on the couch next to us during Titan A.E.
I also tried quite a lot of music CDs, and was equally as impressed. Put in track 2 of the Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique" and try not to dance around. You can't do it. The bass is just alive! I also used Bass Mekanik's "5.0" CD to test the sub. With a few notable exceptions I'm not much of a rap fan, but there are test tones on that disc from 20-99 Hz. Great for checking out your room with an SPL meter at various frequencies.
To sum up, the SVS certainly lives up to all the hype. If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive way to add real movie theater bass to your HT rig, there are not many choices. For me, there is no choice: SVS all the way. From the excellent customer service before and after the sale, to the quality of the product that was delivered to my door, I could not be more impressed. This was the best money I've ever spent on my HT. Perhaps others have had better luck using old receivers as amps for their SVS, but I would suggest purchasing a good amp such as the Samson S700 that SVS offers. At $350.00 for 350 watts x 2, it's a steal. I may return the Marantz (which I really like) and get the Samson since it has 2 channels.
I put a few pictures up on my web site. Got some cool shots of the "tissue dance" too.
THANKS SVS!
First I want to detail my experiences with providing power to the sub. I had planned to use an old Sony receiver to power the sub, (model STR-AV920, circa 1990, which claims 190 + 190 watts @ 4 ohms). I carefully calibrated the sub and speakers using Avia and a Radio Shack analog SPL meter and popped in SW:TPM. The "exploding ball" logo was sounding really good, but when the ball exploded all the bass dropped out and the old Sony was flashing "protect". I had the main volume at a moderate level, way below reference. After several more tests, I knew that the old Sony was not up to the task. I decided to run up to Best Buy and get the $99.00 KLH receiver that some have reported good results with. Ewww. The KLH cut off at even less volume levels than the old Sony. I emailed Tom at SVS to make sure I had everything hooked up correctly. He was surprised to hear about the KLH, since he had used the same receiver (or at least the same model number) to drive 2 SVSs about a year ago. I found the KLH to be completely anemic. By the time I backed it off to the point that it was no longer cutting off during very low and loud bass sequences, it was not providing house shaking bass, just good solid bass. Don't get me wrong, it sounded good, but I knew the SVS was capable of much more. Frustrated, I ran up to Absolute Sound and picked up a Marantz MA6100 monoblock amp. The amp is completely silent. It provides about 180 watts RMS at 4 ohms, which is still less power than the SVS can handle, but at least I knew the stated power rating was accurate. I popped in SW:TPM again and watched the "ball explosion" logo at just below reference level. WOW! Problem solved! The SVS kicked the hell out of chest and nothing sounded strained or weak. I could not believe the sound and feeling of the incredible low, clean bass my SVS was putting out.
Over the next few hours I threw in every test disc that I could think of: U-571, Saving Private Ryan, Toy Story II, Titan A.E., the Haunting, The Matrix, Armageddon and so on. I can't properly describe the feeling of hearing and feeling movie theater bass in my own home. As a matter of fact, I can't remember ever feeling bass like that, even in a theater. I watched Titan A.E. from start to finish and I had a silly grin on my face the entire movie. When the film was over I felt like I had just stepped off a roller coaster, my entire body was still shaking. SVS subs should come with a copy of Titan A.E., it's a "must-have" DVD for SVS owners.
Some of you may remember my SVS and wife - help! thread, which I posted before I ordered my sub. Thankfully my wife was grinning just as much as I was, and I'm pleased to report that she loves it, too. I was needlessly worried about the house coming down around us. It took us about 10 minutes to isolate a few rattles and straighten a few pictures. The dogs are not bothered by the bass either, which was another concern of ours. Both of them slept on the couch next to us during Titan A.E.
I also tried quite a lot of music CDs, and was equally as impressed. Put in track 2 of the Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique" and try not to dance around. You can't do it.
The bass is just alive! I also used Bass Mekanik's "5.0" CD to test the sub. With a few notable exceptions I'm not much of a rap fan, but there are test tones on that disc from 20-99 Hz. Great for checking out your room with an SPL meter at various frequencies.To sum up, the SVS certainly lives up to all the hype. If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive way to add real movie theater bass to your HT rig, there are not many choices. For me, there is no choice: SVS all the way. From the excellent customer service before and after the sale, to the quality of the product that was delivered to my door, I could not be more impressed. This was the best money I've ever spent on my HT. Perhaps others have had better luck using old receivers as amps for their SVS, but I would suggest purchasing a good amp such as the Samson S700 that SVS offers. At $350.00 for 350 watts x 2, it's a steal. I may return the Marantz (which I really like) and get the Samson since it has 2 channels.
I put a few pictures up on my web site. Got some cool shots of the "tissue dance" too.
THANKS SVS!
