Dual SVS PB10 vs. Dual Polk PSW505

[PolkThug]

Finally got enough time to do this right. These measurements were taken from the listening position in my home theater room. TrueRTA was used as the tone generator, fed directly into my receiver. I used Snapbug's worksheet for the correction factors. For now, I'll let the picture speak for itself, I'm off to job #2.

[disneyjoe7]

Looks Sweet. :)


Why does Polk roll off so quick? It just seems they can make better / Great subs.

[VR3]

Very nice! Just as Doc predicted!

That thing is flat down to 16hz....jesus

[fireshoes]

That is nuts man.

[PolkThug]

With the PB-10's. I was able to play 20Hz at100+db's. The door on the far wall of my room started shaking violently. :D

[RuSsMaN]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
That thing is flat down to 16hz....jesus

I see almost a 10db variance at different points in the graph, what do you see that is flat?

Not knocking the subs, just keeping the terminology from getting abused. Flat is flat (+/- 3db or less imo), not a variance of over 5, and as much as 10 db.

The Polk subs actually have a 'flatter' response from 25Hz up, per the data provided, no?

Cheers,
Russ

[up2youjoe]

PolkThug,

I'm just curious as to why you didn't go with the PB12-ISD/2? It would have cost $200 more but you would have the 12" woofers. In any case, enjoy the new subs.

Joe

[VR3]

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
I see almost a 10db variance at different points in the graph, what do you see that is flat?

Not knocking the subs, just keeping the terminology from getting abused. Flat is flat (+/- 3db or less imo), not a variance of over 5, and as much as 10 db.

The Polk subs actually have a 'flatter' response from 25Hz up, per the data priovided.

Cheers,
Russ

Perhaps I did word that wrong, sorry...

How about this - It extends to 16hz ;)

Either way, that is amazing for a 400 dollar subwoofer!

[PolkThug]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by up2youjoe
PolkThug,

I'm just curious as to why you didn't go with the PB12-ISD/2? It would have cost $200 more but you would have the 12" woofers. In any case, enjoy the new subs.

Joe [/QUOTE

You have to draw the line somewhere. Sure for $200 more I could get model X, but then if I spend just $300 more I can get model Y. It never ends in this hobby. (Also, I think the new PB10 drivers may have lower THD.)

Regards,
PolkThug

[dorokusai]

The man wanted two subs....he bought two subs, forget the why.

THD doesn't quite matter with this brand IMO, but have fun, you sure have the ability to do so.....now, haha.

[disneyjoe7]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
Perhaps I did word that wrong, sorry...

How about this - It extends to 16hz ;)

Either way, that is amazing for a 400 dollar subwoofer!

$400 dollars for that subwoofer Impressive

[fireshoes]

It's +/-5db overall and +/-3db above 30 hz. i don't think too many people are going to complain about a sub being slightly hot from 16-30 hz. Nearly a perfect curve if you ask me!:D

[fireshoes]

So how low can you hear? (Actual tones from the sub, not just household items shaking?) ;)

[gatemplin]

$400 dollars for that subwoofer Impressive

$400 times 2, but yes impressive performance.

i don't think too many people are going to complain about a sub being slightly hot from 16-30 hz.

Hell no! I EQ mine hot from 16 to 30. That is a very good room.

[PolkThug]

Originally posted by gatemplin
Hell no! I EQ mine hot from 16 to 30. That is a very good room.

lol, yeah, looks like a room "problem" I don't want to correct.

:D

[Dr. Spec]

Yeah, it's just room gain down low. SVS tunes the subs for a flat FR anechoic, so it will meet rated specs in a large room. In a small room you will start to see a boost down low, which is never a bad thing and compensates for the ear's lack of sensitivity to really deep bass.

That's really the whole premise of the house curve; a flat response in-room tends to sound a little anemic to most people, actually. The house curve tries to compensate for the Fletcher Munson effect, and the result ends up sounding "about right" to our ears. Fortunately, the SVS has a built in house curve in most rooms, and will exhibit some level of room gain below about 30 Hz.

[Tour2ma]

Yeah, that effin' Fletcher... if I ever get my hands on him... :D

PT,
Just curious, were the sub pairs stacked in the identical location for each test?

[PolkThug]

Originally posted by Tour2ma
PT,
Just curious, were the sub pairs stacked in the identical location for each test?

Yep

[dorokusai]

No, he had one in the kitchen and one in the garage....sheesh.

[Tour2ma]

Thanks, PT...

Dedicated effort there, many would have set them side-by-side and called it a valid test.

[disneyjoe7]

Originally posted by dorokusai
No, he had one in the kitchen and one in the garage....sheesh.

No it was in the living Room you felt it outside of the garage ;)

[PolkThug]

Originally posted by Tour2ma
Thanks, PT...

Dedicated effort there, many would have set them side-by-side and called it a valid test.

Yeah, it was a pain to swap them around and stack them. One advantage the Polks have is that the power cords are longer for the 505's. I couldn't use the SVS power cords in my room setup, which is a shame because the SVS power cords look a little beefier. :(

[dkg999]

It would be nice if SVS put a longer power cord in with their subs! I had the same problem, the power cord on my SVS 20-39 PC+ wouldn't reach to the outlet I had my PSW-505 plugged into. I had to use a short heavy duty extension cord. Once I get my new Tripplite LCR-2400 power conditioner, I will be able to plug it directly in.

[Tour2ma]

Sheeeet... just throw an 18 ga extension cord or two on that rascal and "fire" away.... ;)

Perhaps literally as well as figuratively...

[Dr. Spec]

I've got a faster way to generate sweeps for you..........

Run the QuickSweep on TrueRTA. Export the data from TrueRTA and import it to an Excel spreadsheet. Add RS correction factors, and voila - FR spits out.

Not as clean or easy as a calibrated mic, but better than manual plotting using TrueRTA as just the sine generator.

[PolkThug]

Originally posted by Dr. Spec
I've got a faster way to generate sweeps for you..........

Run the QuickSweep on TrueRTA. Export the data from TrueRTA and import it to an Excel spreadsheet. Add RS correction factors, and voila - FR spits out.

Not as clean or easy as a calibrated mic, but better than manual plotting using TrueRTA as just the sine generator.

Doc,

I started going down that path, but it seemed really cumbersome. Snapbug only provides a few correction factors, so I had to estimate to fill in the gaps.

Can you set the frequencies of the quicksweep? (ie 10Hz-80Hz only)

Also what db should the Rat Shack meter dial be on? 70, 80, other? It definitely makes a difference.

Thanks,
PolkThug

[Dr. Spec]

Just pick up an ECM8000 and a preamp for $80 or w/e. Life will be much easier.

You can alter the upper limit of the sweep frequency by changing the input frequency (8 kHz is the lowest you can select, which will terminate the sweep at 4 kHz).

And you can alter the screen scale so all you see is 10-100 Hz or 10-200 Hz, etc.

[PolkThug]

Originally posted by Dr. Spec
Just pick up an ECM8000 and a preamp for $80 or w/e. Life will be much easier.

Cool! Do you have recommendations for a preamp?

Thanks,
PT

[dkg999]

Tour - I felt much safer using a 10 gauge extension cord out of my woodworking shop!

[Dr. Spec]

The UB1002 is nicer, but the UB802 will get the job done for less $$.