SVS Nervana!

[steveinaz]

Interesting development; while slowly backing-off on the level adjustment, something changed...phase. Or it could be that the higher level was "hiding" a phase problem.

I went ahead and ran new sweeps this morning and noticed that all of a sudden, the 0 phase waveform looked like hell. ???? I figured it had something to do with the level changes I've made, so I started from scratch. Sure enough, not only did 90 degrees phase clean-up the wave form, but it sounded better than the sub has sounded since day 1. I went ahead and plotted every increment on the phase dial, and 90 both looked and sounded best.

[Dr. Spec]

Welcome to the world of subwoofer tweaking, where open windows and doors, moved furniture, and even changes in atmospheric conditions can alter the look of the curve.

Moving the low pass up to 50 or 60 Hz (can't remember where you last left it), can also have an impact on what phase setting works best.

It pays to run an FR sweep every now and again, just to see what's happening in the room. Conditions can and do change in the living space

One guy I know has two PEQ curves - one for windows closed, and one for windows open. And it's not BS - windows can really alter the FR at the seat. Try it and see!

Glad you are getting really "dialed in" - that CV phase control is awesome.

Doc

[steveinaz]

Thats for sure, I made sure that my glass sliding door was closed each time! Now I'm hearing the solid, bloat-free bass I had read and heard about. My $600 Athena's sound like some $5000 towers now!

I've been holding back on a formal review because I knew in the back of my mind something was not quite right, and I didn't want to jump to conclusions and assume the SVS wasn't up to the challenge---good thing I waited. Review to come.

[Dr. Spec]

Now I'm hearing the solid, bloat-free bass I had read and heard about. My $600 Athena's sound like some $5000 towers now!

Tom V tunes each subwoofer outside, using ground plane monitoring. No sims, no programs, no freeware, none of that BS. Build, measure, tweak, repeat.

Each tune setting on the 25-31 PC+ took an average of 3 months to perfect.

The FR at 2 meters GP on that sub is ruler flat from 100-25 Hz.

As you are finding out, what happens in the room, and with other speakers, is a totally different animal. You're making great headway, Steve. The potential is there - you just have to extract it.

[monkeyphant]

My $600 Athena's sound like some $5000 towers now!

Yeah, Steve...them Athena AS-F2s ain't a bad deal for 600 bananas:
Monkey's front soundstage:
Athena AS-F2 Towers and Athena AS C1 Center Channel powered by a Parasound HCA-1205A Amp...and the PB2-ISD. :D :D :D

MP

[steveinaz]

Did you see Audio Advisor selling them now for $399....unbelievable!