Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners EP800 vs SVS PB13-Ultra Subwoofer

Hi again,

I just want to ask one more thing:

Did anyone have the opportunity to test the SVS PB13-Ultra Subwoofer and compare it to the EP-800? What do you think about?

What kind of amplifier does the EP800 use?

Does anyone have the EP800 measurements?

I believe only one person on this forum has had the opportunity to be able to compare those 2 subwoofers. Myrison had the PB13 and compared it to his then EP600. He now has an EP800 but no longer has the PB13, but he would be the best person to contact about his thoughts of the 2 subs.

I have also compared my PB13 with the EP600 and I felt the PB13 has more low end feel to it than the EP600, but the PB13 sounds dry in comparison with music. IIRC, Jason(myrison) stated that the EP800 has the same tactile feel as the PB13 along with that textured/rich sound Axiom has in their subs; to me this would make the EP800 the perfect sub.

Nickba, you of course can get EP800 specs here on the Axiom page.

I have an EP500 but also put together an HT for in-laws with the SVS PC-13 Ultra. I conversed with Jay (Jakewash) about the subs before making the final decision for my in-laws. If I had to do it over again I'd consider an FO EP800 based on everything I've heard about that bad boy! After some time now going back and forth between my setup and my in-laws with the SVS, I fully agree with Jay's summary. The Axiom just has a richness and detail to it that's hard to describe compared to the SVS. The EP800 wasn't in full production form at the time, so I steered them to the SVS - they also have a large room so I wanted to make sure it could be filled with bass. Hope that helps.

Cheers,

I've not heard the PB13 but I did hear the PC13 Ultra and liked it. I chose the EP800 over SVS though for very much the same reasons Jay and Dan have mentioned.

The EP800 goes lower than the SVS, and for my HT application that was important. The reports of the EP800 blending better for music also factored in, though I did not test the SVS with music so I have no firsthand comparison. I will say the EP800 is outstanding with music, so I feel like I've got the whole package, so to speak.

Additionally, I needed to keep the sub footprint as small as possible and that is another area where the EP800 has an advantage over the PB13. The EP800 is also DSP controlled, which was another big plus in my book. Finally, as far as cost goes, the shipped to my door cost for the EP800 was only $130 more than the PC13 Ultra, and in my mind well worth it considering all of the advantages I get with it over the SVS.

For many people, though, and especially those in the U.S., the SVS will be a better bargain, and by all accounts they do make great subs so you should be happy either way

I won't argue with any of the good advice already offered.

I did not know that Jason upgraded from the EP600 to EP800. I was able to hear the PB13 Ultra and the EP600 at his home one evening, and concur with the comments presented here. Both subs were fantastic, but they also sounded distinctly different. I preferred the greater perceived articulation of the Axiom sub, and expect that the EP800 would be significantly better yet.

I just checked on pricing for the PB13 Ultra up here(sonicboomaudio) and it has really gone up since I bought, ~$2100 delivered to my door while the EP600 is ~$1900 and The EP800 is ~$2400. If I had to choose now I might have gone with the EP600 over the PB13, the extra $ for the EP800 I think is still beyond my threshold.

Yeah, that's what I thought initially too. Boy, am I glad I didn't listen to myself though

I rarely do as well , good thing my conscience is always there to keep in line.

Thanks for all your comments.

Regarding the specs, I would like to see a graphical measurement like the ones you can find on the EP500 and EP600 page.

Regarding the price, the EP800 would be almost US$1000.00 higher than the SVS PB13-Ultra in my country. As I will buy 2 subs, it would cost US$2000.00 more for the EP800. But if it worth it, I would go for it.

Does anyone know the kind of amplifiers EP800 uses? Class ?

Wow, I love my EP800, but I don't think it's $1000 better than the PB13 Ultra. Personally, I think that amount money can be better utilized elsewhere.

They're class D, designed and built by Axiom.

The amps were originally the same amp that is in the EP600 but the amps have now been reworked specifically for the 800; or so I have read on the forum.

The EP350, 500, and 600 amps have also been upgraded.

Thanks for that tid bit of information, I knew the 500 had undergone some changes with the trim setting being removed etc., but never thought about the changes as being upgrades.

I love my EP800s, too, but I agree with this sentiment.

Luckily for us the EP800 is only a few hundred more than the PB13 which makes that decision much harder. If I ever go to a dual sub system I will undoubtedly add an EP800 to go with my PB13.

Agreed. The total landed cost difference between the EP800 and PB13 will vary depending on where one lives.

That is the problem!! In some countries is better to have a dealer or distributor as the custom taxes will be lower and the customer will have a better price and local stock.

I was looking at SVS. They sell direct by internet, but in my country they have a distributor.

Nickba, both the EP series and the SVS's are very capable subs. You'll be happy either way. I just reread my previous post and wanted to clarify that that the SVS is an amazing sub too. These are subtle 'shades of gray' that I am trying to describe.

Thanks for your final comments Dan.

I am about to pull the trigger for a Axiom 11.2 Syste, including 2 EP-800 subs.

I didn't find any graphics for EP800...

I only found a test for the EP600 here:
http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/subwoofer-tests-archived/973-axiom-ep-600-2nd-test.html

But seems that the Harmonic distortion is too high and compression too. I am wondering if these problems will happen on the EP800?

That distortion is also noted as sounding good and the compression is only at max volume which those tests were done for.

I can tell you the Axiom subs sound much better with music than any of the subs they tested that I have heard. That distortion adds some richness to the sound that the others lack. My PB13 sounds very dry in comparison. The EP600 sounds more natural to me.

So maybe the EP800 will have the distortion too? I really don't think that a distortion can be good...

Does anyone have the the EP800 graphic measurements?

It is not so much distortion as it is harmonics and resonance and it is a very good thing for music.

Even relatively high levels of distortion are inaudible at low frequencies.

So any EP800 graphic measurements??

None so far that I know of.

We have a winner! I remember the two direct comparisons and everyone described the differences as subtle. The biggest thing missing from the EP600 was bottom end rumble and that will be there in spaces with the EP800.

The only graphs that I know of are in the Audioholics first look here, but the amplifier has since been redesigned. I would be interested in current graphs, too.

If any Axiom member is reading this, please post graphic measurements!!!

Nickba, have you contacted Axiom directly for this yet? If not I'd guess a quick email or phone call would do the trick.

I tried to request by email, but they don't have the measurements. :-(