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SV Subwoofers 20-39 PC Plus
Cylinder Subwoofer
Manufacturer: SV Subwoofers

By Ralph Potts
SPot Senior Editor

Model number: 

2003-10-02 - " SV Subwoofers is a speaker manufacturer whose sole focus is the design and manufacturing of subwoofers. "

Review:

Over the past several years they have gained notoriety for their PC ( Power Cylinder ) subwoofer designs which have become all the rage among audio enthusiasts who have been smart enough to purchase one. SV Subwoofers can only be purchased direct from SVS via their website or over the telephone. The purchased unit will then be shipped directly to you via UPS.

The subject of this review the 20-39 PC Plus is a cylinder style subwoofer which is in the middle of the SVS PC Plus line. The 20-39 derives it's name from it's factory tuning of 20 Hz and it's height which is 39 inches tall.

The 20-39 arrived via UPS right on time from SVS. The unit was carefully packaged and I found that extreme care was taken to ensure it arrived safely. The unit comes with the owner's manual, two port blockers ( more on those later ) and separate power cord. Unpacking the 20-39 was uneventful and quick. The first thing that struck me about the sub was it's size. I think initially it seemed imposing, however once it was in place it was amazing how little floor space it took up. Overall the build quality of this subwoofer is excellent. The supplied power cord is plenty long and made of sturdy components. Aesthetically the unit is pleasing to look at with it's deep black fabric wrap around cover, raised base plate/floor mount, and of course the SVS logo. Upon closer examination I noticed that the face of the driver is located directly above the base plate. It can easily be touched by placing your fingers in the slot above the base plate. Not really a problem unless you have small children who might be curious or a playful cat. For most though this is not a concern as the driver is pretty well protected.

The PC Plus series subwoofers contain a 525 watt BASH flush mount amplifier. The controls for the amp are located on the rear of the sub and are not visible from the front. The amp's panel contains the following:

  • Gain controls
  • Phase control ( Adjustable from 0 to 180 degrees )
  • Auto on/On switch
  • Crossover control ( adjustable from 40 to 120 Hz )
  • Line level ( low ) inputs/outputs
  • Speaker level ( high ) inputs/outputs
  • Subsonic filter control ( adjustable to 12, 16, 20, or 25 Hz )
  • Power cord socket
Setup of the 20-39 was a breeze and the supplied owner's manual does provide good advice with regard to setup. Using my Radio Shack analog SPL meter allowed me to dial in the unit's output for a perfect blend with the other speakers in my system. I set the phase and gain controls, disabled the unit's crossover ( I utilize the crossover in my preamp/processor ) and set the Auto on to detect an incoming signal and power up the sub.

The unit's Subsonic filter setting allows the user to change the tuning of the subwoofer's low level output. From the factory the 20-39 is tuned to 20 Hz which should be more than adequate for most users. However in the event that you decide that you want to experiment and lower the sub's tuning it can be done. The unit comes with two port " blockers ". The port blockers are designed to be placed in one or two of the units 3" Tri flow ports which are located beneath the top grill. The grill can be removed by inserting the tip of a flat head screwdriver between the grills edge and the edge of the sub's frame ( where the two meet ) and gently prying it up. Inserting one blocker into one of ports and switching the Subsonic filter to 16Hz will lower the sub's low level output accordingly. The same can be done by inserting the other port blocker into one of the remaining ports and switching the filter's setting to 12 Hz.

Experimenting with this yielded results that were actually very good and worked as advertised. I did find though that overall output ( SPL ) was reduced somewhat each time the tuning was lowered. I did not find it to be a problem at all though and sound quality did not suffer as a result. The real benefit from this came with classical pipe organ and chamber music. Trying it with jazz, or pop music almost seemed to " muddy " things a bit. I found the factory tuning of 20 Hz to be plenty of low level bass in my room and preferred it over either of the other two settings. I did not test the unit at the 25 Hz setting.

I listening to DVD Audio and Super Audio CD high resolution discs and wanted to give the 20-39 a chance to expose it's dynamics. The first disc I popped in was Steeley Dan's " Two against nature ". The second track " what a shame about me " is my favorite song. The song started out as it always does until the bass drum kicked in. I could not believe the depth of bass " punch " the 20-39 delivered with each bass drum hit. The bass was tight, deep, and had an expansive delivery which seemed to extend further into the room than I have ever heard. Bass guitar lines were well defined with plenty of snap. James Taylor's " Hourglass " on SACD was simply truly a new experience. Track 4 " Gaia " contains great bass lines along with some drum hits that contain fair bass extension. The 20-39 kept up and reproduced it with superb clarity, and no hint of sluggishness. The " Generals " from Jerry Goldsmith's SACD was breath taking. The bass could be felt throughout the entire front soundstage which really immersed my listening position in rich, tight smooth bass. I found the 20-39 to be very musical subwoofer in that it did not lag behind on pop or jazz recordings as some large subwoofers tend to do.

I was chomping at the bit to run the 20-39 PC Plus through it's paces with movie soundtracks. My test DVD's were :
  • Blade II
  • Lord of the rings - Fellowship of the Ring - Extended Edition
  • The Haunting - DTS ES discrete version
  • U571
Starting with chapter 10 from the Haunting pretty much left me with the feeling that there was no turning back. I then moved onto Chapter 35 of LOTR, the scene in the mines where the bucket falls into the well and the Orks attack. Chapter 15 from U571 has been a staple for bass demos ever since I first heard it and of course it had to be included. Lastly I went to chapter 2 from Blade II. My first impression of the 20-39 PC Plus was that it's bass response is capable on many levels. First, it can reproduce bass which is not necessarily loud or apparent but in the background. An example of this is in the scene from LOTR mentioned above. After the bucket falls there is a slight pause followed by a low level rumble which begins to get stronger as the Orks approach. Secondly, the unit can absolutely bombard you with raw bass SPL's which don't get fatiguing but rather completely immerse you in textured low level bass. An example of this was in U571. The depth charges didn't just rock the submarine it moved it. The bass reached down into limits that have not been explored in my room. The Haunting was probably the most notable as it contains very heavy low frequency effects. The 20-39 reproduced every single effect with unbelievable impact, depth and out and out rumble. I would describe the 20-39 as an incredible performer with digital movie soundtracks. It’s ability to reach into the depths of bass’ lower limits with little effort is awesome. I loved it!

Conclusion:

SV Subwoofers is definitely a viable contender for your low bass needs. The 20-39 PC Plus reproduced the lowest, flattest bass response I have ever heard in my listening room. It can handle what ever you throw at it for music, and movies. Customer support is of premium importance to the team at SVS which will make your buying experience all that much smoother. I highly recommend this subwoofer as it represents a tremendous value especially considering it's superb performance.

Features:
  • SVS " db-12 " 12 inch subwoofer driver
  • Integrated base plate with a down firing woofer design and floor mounts
  • "Tri-power " high flow ports
  • Resonance free protective top port grill
  • 525 watt BASH Amplifier
  • Flush mount amplifier configuration
  • Architectural grade black fabric exterior
Rating:

Performance:

Value:
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