SVS Recommendation (1 Viewer)

[Chet_W]

I am new to the forum and am in need of some advise. I have been looking at subs for several months now and after reading the reviews about SVS I have decided to buy one. I have received some great advise from Tom V. but would also like to hear from those that have similar room setups.

My listening area is 20x15x(8-18). It opens on one side to a kitchen that is also 20x15x8. Additionally, at the high end of the vaulted ceiling there is an opening to a loft.

My receiver is a SONY STR-GX909ES with Dolby Pro-Logic. The speakers are Def Tech BP-10s and Def Tech center/rear speakers.

I really only want one sub so my questions are:

1) Can I use the 20-39CS(+) effectively with my Pro-Logic receiver or should I consider the 20-39PC?

2) If I went with the 20-39PC would it provide enough bass in my room? Or maybe I should wait for the 20-39PC+!

Thanks for the help!

 

[Steve Stogel]

That is a huge amount of cubic feet. I think there is no way you should consider a PC. I'd say go for the CS+ (and maybe the 25-31CS+ at that) and hope it's enough. My living room opens to a breakfast "nook," the kitchen, and the hallway leading to, well, the rest of the freakin house. I bought a used 25-31CS and am powering it with a sub amp (dbx) I bought a few years ago to power a RatShack sub. It puts out 150W into a four ohm load. Now, I've got the sub in the corner, and I've got the couch pretty close to it on one side and the recliner even closer on the other (when you lean back, you can reach over your head and grab the SVS ).
Now, as for my house, it impressed the heck out of me. I figured I'd buy it to pass the time until the PC+ line came out or went for the Ultra, etc... But never having an adequate sub, I am very happy with the SVS right now. I haven't done a whole lot of measurements (ordered a test CD from Stryke but haven't gotten it yet), but I did hit 106dB, if I recall, on the couch (about 5-7 feet away) during the Matrix when Keanu streches at the very end. It just shakes my whole house. I haven't bottomed it out, and I don't think I can with my 150W. So, to sum up, the SVS was very impressive even with a lot of air around it.
So I'd either wait for the PC+ or get the CS+ now (which is probably a better option so you can add another sub down the line). Well, there's one guy's opinion.
Steve

 

[smcvick]

I purchased a 20-39cs last fall, and I have it set up in a room that is pretty similar to the one you described. Vaulted ceilings in the living room, opening into the house's front entryway (also with 20' ceilings), the dining room, and a loft area. Lots of cubic feet.
I'm driving the sub with one channel of an Adcom 555II power amp, that is rated at 325W into a 4 ohm load. Am I happy with the sub? Yes. But does it have problems dealing with the huge space? Definitely. I get pretty good performance from it, but I do pay a price for my vaulted ceilings and open floorplan. With a single sub in a REALLY big space, at really low frequencies you're going to have trouble generating the kind of bass that others are getting in smaller rooms. I've given serious thought to adding a second sub (I do have a second channel on my amp sitting idle ), or upgrading to the cs+. (or better yet, two of them) I swapped a couple emails with the SVS guys, and they agreed that one 20-39cs would have trouble with my room.
That being said, my system does sound pretty good. I just don't get quite the wall shaking experience that might be possible if I added another sub.

 

[Paul Seward]

I have a 39pc and a room that is 19' wide x about 26' long and with vaulted ceilings that at the highest point is (I am guessing) 15'. My svs has no problem what so shaking the walls. Not to mention producing clean beutifull bass. Actually any louder or lower and my wife would probably leave me
But, whatever you decide to go with... you will be happy with your choice to buy svs, trust me. It is by far the best money that I have ever spent for my HT.
just my 2cents.
Paul

 

[KevinHunt]

Look at the Austin guys gangin' up on the lad.
I just upgraded from dual 16-46CS's and S700 amp to dual 16-46CS+'s and S1000 amp. My setup is in a 2800 cubic foot room, which opens into, like Steve, the entire house both upstairs and downstairs. I new I would probably need dual subs and I get great performance with the CS+'s. If you are only going to get one, I would recommend the CS+ or Ultra with a powerful amp somewhere in the neighborhood of 400-500 watts@4ohms, and if you go duals, it will only help things that much more. Good luck

 

[Eric A]

I had a 25-31Cs and I just got my 25-31CS Plus. There is definitely a difference between the two. I purchased the 25-31 because it will give you the most output (other than an Ultra). This would be your best bet in a room that size. I think you would appreciate the extra output versus the extra extension. The CS+ gives you the option to use the port block and get greater extension. I am using the port block and still get greater output than I did with my regular CS. I would say get the CS+ and look for an amp such a NHT SA-3. This amp has a xover and gain control. It is conservatively rated at 250 watts into a 6ohm load (NHT's SW-3 is rated at 6ohms). Also you could get a plate amp and build a small box for it. Both these options would give you xover and gain and allow for upgrades down the road.

 

[Steve Zimmerman]

My room size is at least as big as the original poster and I have the CS-Ultra with the S1000 amp. I'm not sure how someone with the PC sub measures the maximum output but with the external amplifier it is pretty easy: you've reached maximum output when the clip light on the amp begins to flicker.
Because it is MUCH easier to produce loud volumes at higher frequencies, the best way to tell how much output you are getting is to unplug everything but the sub and play a low-frequency tone (20 to 25 Hertz) and carefully turn up the receiver volume until the clip light begins to flicker. You know you have reference volume capability if the frequency-adjusted reading on the sound level meter (remember you gotta add 5 dB to the reading for a 25Hz tone and 7.5dB for a 20Hz tone) reaches 115 dB.
The best "test tone" for taking this reading that I know of is the opening scene in Toy Story 2 where the ground begins shake beneath Buzz's feet and open up to reveal the secret tunnel to Zurg. It lasts long enough to take a good solid reading. The best way to take the reading is to start WELL below reference (say -20db on your receiver) and run the scene and then increase the receiver volume by 3-5 dB and take the same measurement.
You simply CANNOT accurately determine the output capabilities without a sustained low frequency tone and a sound level meter. Getting to reference volume at 80Hz is no problem--reference volume at 20Hz is freaking amazing.
In my extremely large HT room, one CS-Ultra cannot reach reference volume. It would take another Ultra, maybe even a third. That said, I would NEVER actually watch a movie at reference volume so one sub is quite enough... for now...
--Steve

 

[Shawn Shultzaberger]

I run dual 25-31CS's with Samson S700 in a 4500cu.ft. room and they put out more than I need. They still have a lot of head room left. And my wife really didn't hate them. She just wishes they could be more "pretty".
I opted for the 22Hz tune/port option.
With as much bass as these two put out I wonder why others go with a single 20-39 other than maybe room aesthetics or the SAF.
I have a lot of room to fill and these two perform admirably!

 

[Chet_W]

Thanks for all your advise. I just pre-ordered a 25-31PCi. I am opting for the SPLs rather than the extension. The new, more powerful amp, should help out in that category too! I am glad the guys at SVS increased the power of the built-in amp. I tend to favor the all-in-one approach to subs.
Thanks again!

 

[SVS-Ron]

Chet,

I think that will be a good choice. What caught my eye is that you mentioned this is a Dolby Pro Logic receiver (I once could recite every Dolby Digital receiver from every make, now I have no idea what Sony that is ;^(? Does it have a subwoofer signal output? If so then you can connect with a single cable. If it does NOT have a sub out then you will need to use the high level inputs from your main right/left speakers to feed the sub.

If it's a Dolby Digital receiver you have several options for hookup. Either way the PCi is going to work great for you.

Ron

 

[Chet_W]

Ron,
The Sony Pro-Logic Receiver does have a sub-out RCA jack with a fixed output and crossover. But that should not be a problem with the PCi. I ordered the cable to go along with the speaker. I can't wait until the PCi arrives!
Thanks again.
Chet