Upgrade SVS CS sub with only 150W amp? (1 Viewer)

[Steve Stogel]

Hi, all.
I just bought a second-hand SVS sub (31-25CS with 22Hz tuning) not too long ago. It is very impressive . The question is whether the new driver would be something I should even consider. I have a very large area (living room opens to kitchen and breakfast area, halls, rest of the house, etc...), but I'm using a cheap 150W sub amp to power it. While I can't achieve reference level bass in my room, it's still awesome, and I can't bottom out the SVS. I'm pretty sure the amp is giving out before the SVS. So would there be any point in upgrading the driver? Seems that the main benefit is the extra headroom (or is there another aspect of the performance that the new driver would improve), and the SVS seems to have more headroom than my amp anyway. I'll most likely wait to get a PC+, so the extra $90 may not be warranted in my situation. Any opinions?
Steve

 

[SVS-Ron]

Steve,

Much as we'd love to sell you a driver upgrade kit, I really thing this is one of those instances where saving up for another CS, and/or a more powerful amp would be the smart move. It's really the folks with 300+ Watt/ch. Samsons that can benefit from the new driver. As we've already heard from some of the beta-testers the Samson was capable of bottoming a rev. 1 CS driver fairly easy in some cases. The old CS/PC driver WAS very good indeed. But with 300 or more watts on tap you might want the best we can produce in this price range, and this "ISD" (Improved Standard Driver) is it.

If you are looking to upgrade down the road (and have a stereo amp already), I'd go with either another CS or a CS-Plus, then an amp with 300 watts or better per channel, and do it in that order.

If you happened on a bigger amp at a great price now, then for sure our ISD is worth considering.

Ron

 

[Steve Stogel]

Thanks, Ron, for the reply.
That's kind of what I thought. It's really okay as I just got my SVS and am still as giddy as a school girl with it. I know the amp is quitting on me, but before it does, I get some pretty awesome bass. It may not be reference, but it's enough to keep me happy until I get used to it and decide "time for real reference bass" and move up to a Plus (or two ).
Steve

 

[Vin]

If you are looking to upgrade down the road (and have a stereo amp already), I'd go with either another CS or a CS-Plus, then an amp with 300 watts or better per channel, and do it in that order.

.....are pushing me in that direction.
The only thing stopping me from pulling the trigger now is the latest announcement from SVS about something new coming down the pike.....as much as it's killing me, I think I may wait a little longer before I decide.
Itching for an SVS in NJ,
Vin