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Back to the drawing board

I hate to start this again. I really had my heart set on 2 svs sb3000. But know after careful listening or maybe this time around I realized what was happening.  So I went to best buy just to re evaluate my decision and noticed I did not like what I was hearing.  Thus time around I had a couple of hours and has my significant other with me, oh no what we heard totally ruined our previous thoughts.  In one room I listened to the rel t9i and the svs sb2000.  The svs had the out put but not the detail and it really hurt the mid range and uppers. Lower base was not full or detailed. Now the rel, wow it just blended really nice and was full, detailed and just sounded right. I'm thinking to myself this can't be right. So off to the other room, svs sb 4000, 16 ultra and the rel s5. Now again the svs has the output or pressure. But the s5 totally beats both of them on detail, disappearing,  tight,  full and more sound stage. I went back and forth between these 2 rooms, playing the same 2 tracks I have always demo with. I know my ears would not lie. So now unfortunately I am reading again. I am considering 2 t9i or 1 s3.  I think I will also demo the JL e110 and paradigm defiance x12.  Wish I could demo a rymthik,  but don't know any places to demo. I will make the trip and one place has the JL and rel. 5 miles further down I can demo the x12.  I now know the sound I want and unfortunately it's not svs with its great price and impressive output. I'm sure the subs are great, but not what me and the ms want in our system.  Has anyone demo JL and rel side by side?  I love the rel sound, is paradigm or rymthik as tight as rel. I've never listened to JL.  I guess a road trip is due. Room is 8ft ceiling 14x24, hardwood floors. Thanks for any help you can give. Pete
pcc67
pcc67 OP
49 posts
 
Thanks Big,
I totally agree with you and the others. Especially when I researched so much about svs. I read everything I could find on svs and never read anything really negative about them. Everything was very positive.  I need to talk with the misses tonight about a road trip tomorrow. I spoke with a couple audio places today and one place has both JL and rel.  The other store has paradigm and svs, plus many other subs. Both stores are hi end.  I was there couple months ago when I purchased my winds. Hopefully she will be into a road trip. Both places will also let me take home for demo. But I can't do it until I come from vaka. Then I will order an svs sb3000, and borrow the JL, rel and paradigm.  I really appreciate everyone's response.  Doing all this is so difficult when u need to drive far.  Hopefully i will also demo the anthem avm 60 and mrx 720. If they are both the same on music I will opt for the 720. Save a few bucks. One more question.  When I called one of the hifi stores I asked about discounts.  They said 10 percent.  Is this the norm? If not, how can i get more, they seem to be steady on 10 percent. Thank you all so much. Pete
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
2,164 posts
 
Let me know how I can help get the Vandy working well, those were $1,600 each before the model 3 came out, they are very fine
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gdnrbob
2,421 posts
 
@tomic601 
+1, as always.
I was going to mention the sub 3's, but you beat me to it.
If the OP has the 2wq's, I think he should try them before getting the SVS or REL. The crossover makes it so easy and seamless, at least to me.
Plus, the Vandy's are built like tanks. The 2w's I have for sale are still fully functioning despite being a bit long in the tooth.
If you do pursue the Vandy subs, Johnny Rutan (audioconnection) can give you some guidance.
Bob
audiokinesis
1,872 posts
 

Adjusting the controls on the subwoofer amp for best performance is critical; a mis-adjustment can easily make much more of a difference than the variations among competent subwoofer brands.  Here is the sequence I generally suggest:

1.  Adjust the level of the sub(s) to blend well with the mains;

2.  Adjust the lowpass filter frequency of the sub(s) to get a better blend;

3.  Adjust the phase to get an even better blend;

4.  Go back to step 1 and cycle through these steps a couple more times.

This sequence was suggested to me by an award-winning acoustician, Jeff Hedback.  These steps are included in the setup guidelines for the subwoofer system I make. 

Setting the level is especially critical because the ear is quite sensitive to differences in SPL at low frequencies.  A 3 dB mis-match at 40 Hz is comparable in audibility to a 6 dB mis-match at 1 kHz.  And to make matters worse, the relative level of bass energy on the recording can vary significantly from one recording to the next.  So it is not unusual to occasionally tweak the level of the sub(s) long after the initial setup session. 

Duke

alucard19
60 posts
 
Find someone near you that has an HSU VTF-3 MK5 that will let you listen to it.If you like the SVS subs then you will really like the HSU sub.Check out their reviews online. VTF-3 MK5 HP Subwoofer

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