[markdj79]

morning all

iv posted a thread on here about dispensing with my pv1
some of you gave some really interesting replies, it is now apparent that the pv1 isnt a great all-rounder so im after a new sub

the shortlist was

bk monolith (massive size so girlfriend is pulling a face)
bk xxls (great size, but no real bottom end)
svs sb12 (as per xxls)
svs pb12 plus ff (again massive but its lower overall as it lies down opposed to the monolith)

now the problem i also have is the size of my room, its 12.5'x8'5'x8.5' (945sq' minus the chimney breast)small i know

however, i have a knock through on one of the side walls in which i will be putting two glazed interior doors

do i add the size of both rooms together? or just the one as im having doors dividing the two rooms

i would really appreciate help before i start shelling out on the wrong sub

i want real low end but without a massive box, the pb12 would be great as it goes loud and low, even tho its big it can be disguised as a table

im wondering if it might be too much given the size of my room, and i can only have it pointing one way(and it aint at the lstening area)

please please help guys

my money is in your hands

thanks

mark

[Moonfly]

Rule of subs:

Price
Performance
Size

You can only pick 2, and the other one will have to give. You want the performance, and at small size, so its going to cost a bit. Your budget seems to be £500, but does that include the sale of the PV-1 or will that be added.

IMHO, the PV-1 is a good sub with a nice sound. Its just expensive given the performance it can deliver and on here its all about performance per pound.

If you planning on filling the gap with doors then you only need take the listening room into account, just be aware that when you fit the doors, it might be worth looking into methods of dampening them to prevent rattles from a good performing sub.

To be honest, I wouldnt get rid of the PV-1 just yet as its going to be hard to find a sub that sounds at least as good, performs better and itsnt much larger. The xls-400 springs to mind, but how much more than a PV-1 it will deliver will be difficult as I havent heard one myself, perhaps Russell can help out there. The only subs I can think off involve either a touch of DIY or a cash injection, but M&K MX series subs spring to mind.

Sorry can't be of more help.

[markdj79]

thanks for the reply moonfly

i do like the pv1, but it aint doin what i want, i do want room shaking bass if the time arises, the pv1 just cant do it, it looks ace but i guess its a case of style over substance, it does sound good but when i watch films i can sense something is happening in the lower frequencies but just dont hear it properly, i guess my mind is made up, i will prob sell the pv1 or maybe put it in my small room where my turntables are just to give DM601's some more scale, i could prob stretch to about £800, i do like the look of the pb12+ ff


what you reckon?? overkill? or fine for the job?

[Moonfly]

Nothing is ever overkill, only better

I'd say go for it, or try find the MK MX, it'll be just what your looking for!!!!!!!!

[jordandy512]

Your quote about the sb12 and xls400 having no bottom end is a little far from correct! I had an SB12, and in my 5m x 4m room it had plenty of low end grunt as does the xls according to Russel's review. Both will comfortably eat the pv1 alive (it will curl up in a ball in the corner and wimper - oops that's why the thread was started lol). The guy who purchased my SB12 was more than happy with the performance.

Andy

[Moonfly]

I've heard an SB12, although briefly, and I dont think it has much to offer over a PV-1 in all honesty, certainly not the kind of gains the OP seems to be after. Its impressive for its size, but size has its limits.

[markdj79]

jord, thats the kind of answer i need, thanks

i am v tempted to go for either the xxls or the sb12

just a couple of questions for ya

will either of them go louder than my pv1?
how low can i expect them to go really?
would two of them solve room issues like sweet spots?
will either work with my m1 speakers?

i do want power and pressure

but i want musicality too

give me your thought please

thanks

mark

[jordandy512]

Sorry to disagree but having owned a couple of SVS sub's and heard a number of PV1's I would have to say that the PV1 is outclassed by the SB12 at lower frequencies with less distortion. In most reasonable sized rooms (such as the op's) the SB12 will give a good performance.

Andy

[jordandy512]

The SB12 does have a basic on board eq to help with room problems. I previously owned an SVS 20-39+ which was great deep down but I thought the SB12 was a much more musical sub. If you can get an MK MX at a good price tough it will go well with your satellites although it is a bigger sub.

Andy

[markdj79]

you know what?????

i think ill just get a pb12+,

like i say, it sits lower than a mono, as the mono is too high, altho having said that, iv just been speaking to my good lady and she just said get any i want so i may get a mono df

would this pressurise my room and go loud??

i could prob fit any sub now i have permission

but more importantly, will it integrate with my small m1's

[jordandy512]

I would go for the MK, loud and deep is not the only thing a sub has to do when working with small speakers. The MK will be cleaner higher up the frequency range than the PB12. If you are going for the SVS, I would spend the extra on an ultra.

Andy

[markdj79]

i doubt i could stretch for the ultra

it looks more like ill be going for a mono df

will i be happy with one of these?
i made a cardboard mock up of a mono df and although its massive, it can fit nicely at the side of my chimney breast where a lamp or photos can reside on it, (until im home alone then ill have to take them off as ill be upping the volume a tad)

tell me im doing the right thing please

[Moonfly]

Originally Posted by jordandy512

Sorry to disagree but having owned a couple of SVS sub's and heard a number of PV1's I would have to say that the PV1 is outclassed by the SB12 at lower frequencies with less distortion. In most reasonable sized rooms (such as the op's) the SB12 will give a good performance.

Andy

No problem, your probably better placed than I to state that anyway, but I reckon the SB12 will be a drop in sound quality (although maybe not depth), it depends on the levels the OP is trying to acheive I guess.

[Moonfly]

Originally Posted by jordandy512

I would go for the MK, loud and deep is not the only thing a sub has to do when working with small speakers. The MK will be cleaner higher up the frequency range than the PB12. If you are going for the SVS, I would spend the extra on an ultra.

Andy

IMO, the M&K's sound significantly better than the PB13U. Not quite as deep, but more than enough for the OP if you ask me

[Moonfly]

Might be of interest

http://www.avforums.com/forums/speak...ano-black.html

[Russell.Williams]

You could always DIY.....

I'll get me coat.

Russell

[Moonfly]

Ive had to learn to resist the urge to say that in every thread

[namuk]

What we need is a AVF Blue peter badge award for the Best Diy sub

[markdj79]

i thought of building my own but then i think about the R&D that these companies put into their products and i think why should i bother as mine wont come close, and i would have wasted time and money

russ, is a mono too big for my room honestly??
its 945 sq' minus the chimney breast

[sULs]

Don't know if it helps you any Mark but I run a mono DF in a room not massively bigger than yours currently (12ft X 12ft ) without too many issues.
The way I viewed it at the time of purchase was that the sub was likely to long out live the room so it would pay me to purchase what I utimately wanted and use the volume knob accordingly.
I'm mid terrace as well atm which doesnt help but a larger sub doesn't have to be loud to be good.
At the end of the day I had to push my budget at the time to go to a monolith (the other/sensible option for me being the XLS200) but I just knew I would spend the rest of my life wondering "what if I'd got the monolith" if I was sat there with the XLS watching a film etc. I've not looked back since and still have a grin factor from time to time with the monolith some 8 months into ownership.
Whether the monolith is the best of the subs you've mentioned the others are better placed to answer than me as I've not heard them. But as to having a big sub in a smaller room if you have the space, budget and permission I'd say go for it and spend the time you would have spent worrying about it making sure you set it up correctly.

HTH suls

[indus]

Mark, don't forget that though the Monolith is big it can be disguised as furniture. It is so beautifully finished that I feel it actually compliments a room. I had one in gloss black (as I've got other gloss black cabinets etc) and wife said it blended in really well.

If you have oak furniture (for example) then an oak one will just look like a really well finished oak side table. If you have the physical space for it don't right it off because you think the size may overpower the aesthetics of your room.

My room is 6m by 4m and semi open plan to a kitchen thats bigger, the Monolith had no problem pressurising the room/rooms

[markdj79]

my mind is made up now anyway

monolith it is

my gf has warmed to the idea now, she knows it means a lot to me so she folded under the pressure

it was a lot of pressure to be fair, but like iv posted elsewhere i do like her to show interest, and to be fair she does like the surround sound when we watch films, albeit not as loud as i like it