Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Underwhelmed with SVS 25-31PCI

So I recently purchased a SVS 25-31PCI tuned to 22hz. It's been calibrated with avia and a SPL meter. After about 2 weeks of in home use I'm pretty underwhelmed.

My room size is 20*12*7. Maybe I was expecting too much. It definitely puts out bass, but nothing to bring pictures down from the wall as I hear others mentioning. It's definitely not bass I can feel. When I crank up the gain, the bass becomes so localized it's distracting.

Any advice? Was I expecting too much? Is the sub too small for my room? I still have the box do I send back? Get another? Help!

What were you using prior to the SVS?

Did you move it around a bit to find the proper placement for your room?

Room placement can play a part in this as well. Experiment a little. I have the PCi 20-39 and I have it at about 30% of max volume and it is loud. I have a home theater area in my basement so I have a lot of air volume to push around (the half of the basement that is used by this is about 12x45x8, and the whole open basement area is about 900 sq feet (7200 cu feet) and I feel the bass at that setting and that is without it seeming to be "cranked up" or anything.

You have pretty much the same sub components as mine, but mine is a little tall and can go a little deeper, but you should be feeling the place shake.

An old bad JBL PB-12. I've moved it around as much as the room allows. I'm pretty limited in options. It will ping the SPL meter but I don't feel the bass as much as hear it.

I've heard the expression car audio bass in the past. I know it's nearly impossible in a much bigger room, but I was expecting better then what I have now.

Tom, as they say in real estate - It's all about Location, location, location. Walk around the room while it's playing. I'm sure there are spots (especially near the outer walls) where the bass is over powering, and definitly kicks you in the chest. When I first got my EP600, I plopped it down where the old sub was. The system is on the main floor, open concept. (A little over 10,000 cu ft) In the "sweet spot" - there was absolutely no bass whatsoever. In fact, the entire couch seemed to be in a bass null. Move to a chair that was FAR off centre and on an outside wall, and you couldn't sit there the pressure was so strong. It took 3 tries in completely different locations to get it right. Even though the 600 is infinitely better than the old sub, I found it extremely harder to place.

Any way of posting pics or drawings of the layout?

Here you go



did this in about 5 mins with visio so it's a bit ugly

TC,

Try physically setting the sub in the "Sweet Spot". Then play a DVD or CD with a recognizable bass segment on repeat. The Menu for "Lost in Space" or "Godzilla" do a good job. As the DVD or CD plays, literally crawl around the perimeter of the room, even back near the stairwell, etc...and listen for the most bass. You will probably find more than one spot. The one with the best bass will be where you would "want" to put the sub provided the room or furniture will allow...that is why you keep track of the other locations...you may have to settle for the second best spot or third...may also consider re-arranging the furniture...

When you have found the spot, put the sub there and re-calibrate...

An additional observation: I had one of the SVS tubes as well but my room was 13 X 18 and I was told by Tom at SVS that the 20-39 PC Plus would be the best for my room...your room looks a bit bigger than mine and so you may need more sub...A call to SVS may also help to figure out if you need more...they will not attempt to oversell you...similar customer service to Axiom...

My 20-39 PC Plus would rattle doors and knock figurines off the walls with the gain only up about a quarter...not to mention scare my son and his friends with the T-Rex fight against the Spinosaurus in Jurassic Park III.

Talk to SVS...

Hope this helps.

WhatFurrer

PS: I now own an SVS PB 12/2 Plus.

updated drawing of basement theater, with accurate dimensions.



Some additional features. The floors are all Pergo wood, the walls are painted paneling. It's basically a half basement, 5ft below ground level with 7' ceilings.

This is in a basement? Concrete is not a friend of huge sounding bass. I'm currently battling this fact. I built a DIY sub recently to replace an old (crappy) DIY box I had. Let's just say when you are upstairs it sounds like the house is falling apart but downstairs, esp in the sweet spot is very underwelming. I'm just as disapointed as you sounded like in your org post.