New sub needed (£500 - £1000) I'm struggling!!

mrbink · 14-11-2008, 7:38 PM

Hi all,

I have just purchased a whole new home cinema setup but there is one thing I am finding difficult to choose...The sub.

My new system includes the following:

TV: Pioneer 500A
AMP: Onkyo 906
BD: Denon 2500BT
SPEAKERS: Dali Ikon 6 speaker package (without the sub)

I have been reading all about the Monolith but every time I make a decision, I read something that puts me off.

I have heard plenty about how good the SVS PB13 Subs are but I'm struggling with the idea that it will make £1000's worth of difference over a Monolith.

I appreciate that they are radically different in price and that I have just spend a reasonable amount on the other equipment and so compromising on the sub would be silly.

I guess the best thing is to have a listen although that may prove tricky with the Monolith.

The room it's all going in is about 5.5m x 7.5m.

If anyone has another suggestion or can give an opinion I would be very grateful.

Many thanks

Andy

tony brazao · 14-11-2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbink

I have heard plenty about how good the SVS PB13 Subs are but I'm struggling with the idea that it will make £1000's worth of difference over a Monolith.

Yep, I see what you're saying the PB13 at £1400 odd is a fair amount of dosh, when monolith's cost around £450 ish.

Have you considered the PC13? It's about £1085 new for avforum members.

Tony

Russell.Williams · 14-11-2008, 11:04 PM

If you can accommodate a PB13 in terms of size, then I can tell you, based on personal experience of both subs, to buy a PB13 and stop wondering.

They are completely barking and the first SVS subs that offer truly decent music performance too - assuming you're prepared to investigate EQ if required.

Power, as they say, is nothing without control.

Russell

eviljohn2 · 15-11-2008, 11:02 AM

I think I'd want to hold off and wait for the new mid-range SVS subs to come out. I'm expecting the PB12+ and PC12+ to be very impressive. I'm even trying to work out how I could get the PC12+ into my room somehow as I'm expecting 90% of the Ultra performance.

I guess it depends where your priorities lie but don't expect things to get cheaper with the pound sinking back to normal levels against the dollar.

mrbink · 16-11-2008, 8:08 AM

Thanks for all your replies.

I like the look of the PC13...it's certainly a bit of a beast although the smaller footprint is good.

I'm imagining it will give similar performance to the PB13.

One thing that does worry me a little. Having read these foums, it seems you really have to know your onions when setting one up or it could end up sounding horrible. Is that the case?

The PC12 plus seems a little less frightening. Being brand new I would guess it will be very good indeed. The only problem is the delay in getting one.

I spoke with Subsonic Sounds yesterday and it seems the next crate is being shipped over at the end of November with deliveries, all being well, before Christmas.

Crikey, this is so much harder than I had first thought.

I think I need to make a journey to Kent to see for myself.

Thanks again for all your help.

Regards

Andy

eviljohn2 · 16-11-2008, 8:42 AM

It's not all about knowing your onions but spending a few pounds on an SPL meter and a bit of time reading about how to, and subsequently putting the effort into setting your unit up properly makes far more difference than spending extra money on a better unit.

An expensive subwoofer set up badly will still sound frustratingly bad whilst a cheaper subwoofer set up with a bit of care can be far more enjoyable. Of course the trick is to find the balance.

At the very least, be sure to get an SPL meter if you don't already have one as it will transform the cohesiveness of your entire system and is very easy to do. Obviously there's far more to it but that's covered elsewhere in detail and is beyond the scope of this thread really.

stevefish69 · 16-11-2008, 9:49 AM

You could always bribe a local forum member to help set it up. Beer and Pizza normally has the desired effect

I now have the PC-Ultra which replaced my old PC+ and the difference was night and day. I found it lightning fast on transients, digs much lower, has more headroom, sounds MUCH better with music and i have yet to bottom it out

I was reminded of this on Friday when i spent the evening at my mates checking his settings. Remember this was the PC+ with the old 12.3 driver, not the new 12.4 that is in the PC12

Where are you based BTW

mrbink · 16-11-2008, 2:50 PM

Thanks EvilJohn, that seems to make perfect sense to me. You make it sound like it's not too tricky, it's just a question of time and effort........sounds fair enough.

Steve, Beer and Pizza eh........sounds cheap at half the price!!

I'm actually based in Northamptonshire, near Daventry.

My house is actually being knocked about by the builders at the minute. I've had someone mount the TV bracket and run the cabling and I'm just waiting for the house to be finished and decorated before calling the shop I bought my other home cinema bits from so they can come along, install it and set it up. I was really hoping to get the sub before they come and install the the TV etc.. so they can set that up at the same time. The only problem with ordering an SVS sub is that I would be lucky to get it before Chrsitmas and settting it up myself might prove tricky.

In case you're wondering, I can't do all this myself due to having a little aciddent a few years ago that put me on four wheels.

Thanks for all you suggestions and comments. All very helpful.

Regards

Andy

Russell.Williams · 16-11-2008, 6:44 PM

I'm only about 50mins from Daventry if you need help.

Russell

stevefish69 · 16-11-2008, 8:20 PM

I'm a little further away (Nr Heathrow) but would gladly give up a Saturday to help if needed

mrbink · 18-11-2008, 12:56 PM

Hi Steve and Russell,

Thanks very much guys for both of your very generous offers. The chance of free Beer and Pizza is tooo strong eh.......LOL.

As mentioned above, I really need for the builders to move out and for the house to be finished before I can get my main set of AV bits in. (TV, BD etc..) I haven't ordered my sub yet as I'm still wondering if I should wait for the new PB12 plus. I found a picture of the PC13 and the PB13 Ultra's which showed the scale of them compared to ...say a door...............hehehehehehehe............they' re big aren't they............lol. I did laugh when a saw the PC13.....It definately has the wow factor...even before turning it on!

Thanks again for your help and kind offers. I will PM you when I finally get the builders out. That should be in about 3 weeks. fingers crossed.

Regards

Andy

Andori · 18-11-2008, 1:46 PM

To give you an indication of the size of a PB13

mrbink · 18-11-2008, 3:16 PM

Andori, did you need to build an extension for it.............What a beauty..LOL

Lovely looking thing though. Who said "All good things come in small package". They were lying.

Thanks for the piccy.

AngelEyes · 18-11-2008, 3:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbink

Andori, did you need to build an extension for it.............What a beauty..LOL

Lovely looking thing though. Who said "All good things come in small package". They were lying.

Thanks for the piccy.

You mean the carpet didn't detach your retinas? I am still struggling to see my keyboard...

Adam

Andori · 18-11-2008, 3:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelEyes

You mean the carpet didn't detach your retinas? I am still struggling to see my keyboard...

Adam

I must have grown accustomed to it by now after 12 years... It was in there when I moved in.

They do look nice in gloss black, but you need your white gloves to go anywhere near them lol.