Check out the all new MTS Family of Speakers on our Website-

Here is what John E. Johnson Jr. of "Secrets of Home Theatre and Hi Fidelity" has to say about the MTS-01                Floor standing model. Click Here to read the review.

PC Ultra

Here is what "ecoustics.com" are saying about the new PC Ultra from SVS.

Read the full Review here -

and here is what Ross Jones of "Secrets" has to say about the new PC Ultra.

Read his full Review here -
 

You thought maybe we'd want to keep the best music and home theater audio a secret? Not happening here! Even if we did, it's clear that "secret" got out a long time ago. Some how affordable world-class performance made us the hottest audio brand on the web. So don't just take our word for it, listen to people you know, or know of. Expect this list to grow, though only a selection is attached here. Got an SVS review you want to add?  Fire it off to us!

The Mighty SB12-Plus Shows How "Small is Done" at SVS:

We've said it many times, if you require a small subwoofer to fit a small space, or simply know that "small is the only kind of subwoofer that will pass the judgment of the decorating committee"... then you might already be prepared to give up real subwoofer performance, or cough up a lot of cash to get something that'll get the job done.

Yet sales of this little guy have shown what the reports are already indicating too: If you need a small subwoofer, the size and price of the SB12-Plus from SVS have already placed it on a very short list of "best of the breed" contenders.

First up was Dr. John Johnson from Secrets with this bit:

"... SVS has consistently released fantastic products, and this one is no exception ... if you have a limited budget, and yet very much want to have a subwoofer that will just have you running for an air raid shelter ... put the SB12-Plus on your short list."

John Johnson , Secrets of Home Theater and HiFi

Listen to the experts! The SB12-Plus went toe to toe with some very large competitors and more than held its own.

"... a small but very well engineered subwoofer.... the SVS was very impressive."

Ken Pohlmann, Sound and Vision Magazine.

As one of our export products, the SB12-Plus hit a chord with customers who typically have smaller spaces to fill and might not need "rip the walls down" output (you'll find a neighbor sharing your movie then). Competition in this market is intense, with plenty of tough home-grown contenders in the region.

L-Sound the Exclusive Importer of SVS products for Scandinavia discovered this from Lyd &Bilde (Sound and Vision) in Norway.

"... the SB12 is one of the toughest and most agile small subs that we have ever tested. The SB12 makes it hard for established competitors..."

Audun Hage, Lyd & Bilde, Norway

And lest you think that only "professional" reviewers know what matters in affordable high-end audio, or how to evaluate speakers and subs, think again. Today's measurement software, backed by people with great talent of observation, writing skills and extensive experience in listening to audio, (good and bad), all adds up to solid reviews from enthusiast web sites which rival if not surpass the insight you might gain from typical enthusiast magazine article. "Wayne P." is one such guy, and Home Theater Shack is one such place. Using one of the first off our Ohio production line (and with a gathering of local Texas audio nuts) he said...

"... there’s almost something magical about the SB12-Plus. Simply put, it’s just too cool for words...."

Wayne A. Pflughaupt, Home Theater Shack

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SBS-01/SCS-01 Surround Sound Systems:

SBS-01 Reviews

It can be a bit tough to promote a speaker package you can't keep in stock. Let's face it, we initially under-estimated just how wildly popular this first full range product would be and it's taken us a while to get more product in the pipeline. These are shipping now and stocks are holding fast finally!

How good is the SBS-01 family and our new spin on this line, the SCS-01(M)? Well, depending on who you listen to, it's either near the top of a large pile of competitive products, or it IS the top of a large pile of competitive products (and while some of those are not very good, some are very good indeed). The themes you'll see as you dig into the first round of professional and customer statements regarding the SBS-01? Namely that these speakers are incredible values, arguably on par with our subwoofers which have long set the industry's price/performance bar. Excellent for music and able to stand up to speakers many times their cost, and simply on a plane few if any products aspire to for home theater use.

The neutral character of these speakers, their accuracy, dynamics and ability to seemingly disappear are completely out of character with a package so affordable in price. For $1,000 you can have a 5.1 system that's arguably the last speaker set you will need for a small/mid-sized room.

With our legendary customer service, simple elegant styling, and exceptionally good music and movie audio this is product line you'll prize as one of your best upgrades, ever.

Sound and Vision Magazine confirms what thousands have discovered too. December, 2006:

"... terrific sounding speakers put your hard-earned dollars where you can hear them."

You might think veteran reviewer Ken Pohlmann liked the first full-fledged SVS speaker package. And you would be right. You don't put just any speaker in front of a music professor and contributing technical editor like Ken unless you have supreme confidence in quality, performance and value. Backed by another star SVS product the PB12-NSD subwoofer which completed the 7.1 SBS-01 surround system in this review, you would be hard pressed to find many systems to match it even at far greater cost. "Smooth and unfatiguing sound" is rarely this affordable, doubly so with "earth-shaking, deep bass" like this

Try an SBS-01 or the newly configured SCS-01 surround sound/music speaker system for 45 days and you'll echo the review:

"If you are after a system that takes a commanding position between low-cost and silly-expensive, the SBS-01 hits a sweet spot."

Ken Pohlmann , Sound and Vision Magazine

"If If you’re looking to upgrade your home-theater speaker system, or if you’re planning your first home theater and want to begin with an outstanding purchase, you can’t go wrong with the SBS-01. Once again, SVS has delivered the goods. The SBS-01 home-theater speaker system represents one of the very best values in the market.you’re looking to upgrade your home-theater speaker system, or if you’re planning your first home theater and want to begin with an outstanding purchase, you can’t go wrong with the SBS-01".

Randall Smith, SoundStage Network

"Simply stunning.  At this price point very little compares with it.... 

Prepare to be the envy of your friends and the bane of your neighbors."

Five Star Value. Tom Andry, Audioholics

"The SVS crew worked hard to build a good set of speakers, and they appear to have done the job right. At less than a kilobuck, you can't go wrong."

Product of the year 2005.

Dr. John Johnson, Secrets Editor in Chief

Guest Review: Periodically we provide no-strings attached equipment to knowledgeable audio experts. Rarely to we find one as meticulous or as experienced as Bill Message. Ex-HP Engineer, accomplished musician and certifiable audiophile. With experience like his we are always bound to learn things even we didn't know about superlative yet affordable gear like the SBS-01 bookshelf speakers and award winning PC-Plus subwoofers (the subject of Bill's piece). Folks often wonder if speakers this affordable can really render music well too, in this seemingly home theater crazy world. Fact is, ever SVS product must perform as well on music as it does for movies. Every one, always. Here's a bit more proof it's working:

... if you want truly wonderful reproduction of two-channel music, consider the SVS systems.

Five Star Value. Bill Message, Musician and Audiophile

For some time, SVS has been known for making great-sounding subwoofers at reasonable prices, and the SBS-01 bookshelf speakers live up to that reputation as well. There are other speakers in this price range that are worth auditioning before making a final decision, but, for many people, these will come out on top."

Great Buy! SVS PB10-NSD and SBS-01 combo

Eric Hetherington, "Good Sound"

But it's pretty clear the usually unflappable Mr. Ferstler was fairly smitten with the clean, powerful sound, efficient packaging and amazing features of this affordable SVS. Said Howard:  "... sensational subwoofer, particularly at the price." "...the PC-Ultra is a match (or better than a match) for any other sub I have ever reviewed...." "... the net result is probably the best and most sensible "super" subwoofer I have ever reviewed". Keeping in mind this SVS has  the same sort of technology as the dual woofer PB12-Ultra/2 and the upcoming PB12-Ultra single driver version, you can see there's both motive and opportunity to assault your upgrade funds on behalf of movies and music CD's you have yet to experience fully.

We said right from the start that the new entry level SVS, the PB10-ISD would shatter expectations about what you can get for music and movie audio performance in the $400 range.  Well we don't mind being right on things like this.  This "right sized" sub is not too big, not too small, but its more powerful, deeper, and more accurate than anything that's come before it.  Upstart subwoofer reviewer Ed Mullen ran it though a veritable shooting gallery of tests, and listened intently during all sorts of tough program material.  What did he hear? 

"amazingly wide and flat frequency response and outstanding bandwidth uniformity."

His conclusion? 

"The PB10-ISD... is a remarkable achievement, and truly represents a quantum leap forward in the $400 subwoofer class"

There are few folks doing more revealing reviews on subwoofers.  And in the end, it's just what customers have been saying too.  The PB10-ISD has no peers when it comes to providing you outstandingly precise and (literally) moving bass for any sort of movie or music.  You can't spend $429 more wisely when it comes to your sound.

It's called "piling on".  You might think from the below that the PB12-Ultra/2 (new name) is all the rage.  And you would be right.  While the fine textured black is the only color available until wood units are back in supply, you can rest assured that three consecutive rave reviews for this top Powered Box sub from SVS are not some fluke.  This is honestly one of those audio products that WOULD be "a bargain at twice the price".  At only $1,999 for black (and when available again, $2,399 in real wood finishes)... the PB12-Ultra/2 is yet another sub to lust for, even if two grand isn't exactly "chump change" for most audio enthusiasts.

You can spend more.  But you would be hard pressed to GET more than what the PB12-Ultra/2 brings to the table.  SoundStage bestowed yet another "Reviewers' Choice" award on SVS for just that reason.

Not one but two guys at Secrets had their hands on a PB2-Ultra (now called the PB12-Ultra/2).  None other than Dr. John Johnson for instrumented testing and reviewer Paul Taatjes spent time with SVS's best self-powered sub.  Words like "fantastic", "dynamite", "took my breath away" and "in a class of its own" make it evident that once again we'd moved up the bar in a still affordable price point.  At only $1,999 in black (wood finishes temporarily on back order but still reasonably priced at $2,399) it's quite simply the most accurate, powerful and complete subwoofer package on the market.  Keeping to just the features and elegant designs SVS is famous for.  Ones that consistently work better than other brands with fussy, over-engineered "features" no one really needs or even wants.  You could easily spend twice as much today with other OEMs and get far far less performance.  Could another Product of the Year from one of the most prominent audio web pages around be in the offing?  Made in the USA performance from SVS.  Soon to be dubbed the PB12-Ultra/2 it's indeed a subwoofer like no other.

Still not convinced?  Well Ed Mullen, independent reviewer par excellence at Home Theater Forum...  did a thorough thrashing of his own PB2-Ultra and was likewise blown away by the subtle articulation (a hallmark of the SVS TV-12 "Ultra" woofer), depth and power of this SVS.  Having tested quite a few subs Ed's quickly made a name for himself as applying rigorous scientific method and not mincing words about what's done right, and not.  You can read a lot of magazine reviews and not get 1/10th the good information you would get from this guy.

Jeff McNeal at "The Big Picture DVD" has long been one of our favorite DVD and equipment reviewers.  Why?  Because he's not afraid to pull punches when an OEM or major studio stumbles on its commitment to great products, and he has the industry experience to know standouts when he sees (or hears them).  With years in radio, he was also a pioneer in publicizing DVD, front projection and surround audio for home theater.  The fact he's the marvelously trained voice of some of your favorite movie trailers and has a booming Hollywood career doing voiceovers means he knows what sounds right, and not.

What sounds right when it comes to music and movie bass?  Short answer: SVS.  He sampled a 20-39PCi some time ago and was astounded at what he'd been missing with his old cube subwoofer.  So some months ago we decided to up the ante.  An SVS PB2-ISD. 

Said Jeff: 

    "It's going to rock your world, while leaving your savings account (mostly) intact.  It has the performance, the power and the subtle refinement that has foreign speaker makers sweating nervously over the rumbles that are emanating from a product designed and built in the U.S. of A."

Now some words from SVS customers.

Spend $5,000?? Or spend $1,200 and get more, get better... get SVS?

Sure, it's easy to drop $5K on a subwoofer.  That's actually entry level stuff for the rich and famous.  And there are plenty of OEMs that cater to this "price no object" demographic.  But where do you go if you want the performance, but can do without the boutique name and mortgage-busting price?  Why, SVS of course!  Few people have had three of the most well-regarded subs in their room...  but Kris Deering of Home Theater Spot is one of them.  He spent some time with our latest box sub and summed things up thusly:   "I’ve heard are the Krell Master Reference Subwoofer ®, the Martin Logan Descent ® and the Wilson Watchdog ®....  but the PB-2 Plus adds itself to these ranks easily. "

Color us, not  surprised.  For music, for movies, for anything, there is probably no better performing sub at this price, period.  That you can spend far far more, and still  not get performance the American made  PB2-Plus brings to the table is just another small miracle from SVS .

Think that's just one guy's opinion?  Maybe we're stacking the deck with some hand-picked reviewer that "owed us" (for the record, we'd only seen his reviews on HT and HiFi Secrets prior to the "Spot's" request for a review sub)???  Guess again, and read on.

It's no coincidence that this month's issue of  Wide Screen Review came to a similar conclusion about the PB2-Plus.  In this case, veteran equipment reviewer John Kotches likewise grappled with the imposing SVS and came away utterly impressed with its transparent depth and power on demanding music favorites spanning acoustical jazz ... to Blue Man Group. 

Said John:  "outstanding... with performance that will be right at home in any enthusiast's two-channel or multi-channel music system".

Naturally he spent plenty of time with movies too, spinning "The Core", and classic "Dark City" in the process.  He came away "mildly shaken by the intense Low Frequency Effects (LFE) channel experience".  The usually understated Mr. Kotches finished up simply by saying:

   "Given the low audible distortion, prodigious output, and remarkable acoustical blend with other loudspeakers, this is one tremendous product."

Pick up the November issue of WSR on newsstands, or better yet, subscribe to what's certainly one of the leading home theater magazines in the world today.

Had enough?

Or are you thirsty for more???

Bring on the big guns.  Dr. John Johnson is one of our favorite, if torturous, reviewers.  Why?  Precisely because he's not one to baby your product, nor does he spare words.  When he got one of our B4-Plus subs with a Crown K1 for power, we actually caused him some problems.  See, despite the fact that a pair of Velodyne ® 18" subwoofers had been his previous benchmark, he had to completely change his test regimen with the arrival of this SVS.  At no point could he come close to stressing it in his house.  He was driven instead to come up with procedures to test outside.  The depth, the power and the clarity of the B4-Plus was more than he bargained for in other words.

Still, despite all the trouble this caused Dr. Johnson, we feel his comments tended towards praise?

   "...the B4-Plus, it is obviously the most powerful subwoofer ever constructed for consumer use."

In case that was too subtle for some folks, he wrapped up with this:

   "SVS has done it again. For anyone who wants to have the Darth Vader of subwoofers, the B4-Plus is it. With almost unlimited power and low distortion, the B4-Plus is definitely one of the Masters of the Universe."

Then again, maybe he says that about all the world's subwoofers with quad opposed, 12" long-throw proprietary woofers, in a world-class American made clear hardwood maple cabinet that's custom stained for you?

Maybe. 

More awards, more competitors laid waste.

You don't waltz into these guys and expect to win their top award.  Sound Stage writers typically review gear which costs more than some of us earn in a month.  But they know standout gear when they see and hear it.  The SVS 25-31PC-Plus is one such piece of gear.  With over 500 watts RMS, one of the finest woofers in the world (built in the USA) and three user -selectable "tuning points", it's no wonder reviewer Jeff Fritz was blown away by this subwoofer's accuracy, power and depth.  Said Jeff:

     "I certainly have not heard this kind of bass from a sub-$3000 subwoofer, ever -- and the SVS 25-31PC-Plus is $775! "

We're not even going to tell you what happened when he led a liked price competitor sub... "like a lamb to slaughter"...  into a head to head comparison.  Let's just say the results were predictable if you know anything about SVS.  Jeff's conclusion?

    "The SVS 25-31PC-Plus is a groundbreaking subwoofer in the under-$1000 price category. In fact, I have not heard a better subwoofer at several multiples of its price. Rarely do I get so excited about a product that I call my buddies to tell them about a new find. This case was different: "You’ve got to hear this sub. It is blowing my mind," I told my bass-freak friends. So now you -- the bass-addicted readers of Home Theater & Sound -- know too."

Find out why Sound Stage's Home Theater Sound is one of the top "webzines" in the business.  Superbly written and with equipment you'll drool over.  Hey, we don't send review samples to just anyone! 

 

 

Beating up on other subs, Part 2.

"At its price point, I don't know of any sub that can compete against it. All contenders are welcome. The other subwoofer companies better watch out, SVS is coming!"

Hey, we didn't mean to make other subs seem wimpy by comparison --- it just sort of happened that way.  The SVS 20-39PC-Plus.  You can spend more, but the only place you can buy better ... is from us.  

Here we go again.

Dr. John Johnson, Editor in Chief at Home Theater and Hi-Fi "Secrets" has made it clear he's out to conduct some of the most thorough and revealing subwoofer testing ever seen in the home market.  While most speaker manufacturers shy away from the professional reviewers armed with state of the art test gear, at SVS we actually seek them out!  We figure than anyone willing to cut through the all too common marketing buzz-words by applying both measurements and  an experienced ear, will also know how to spot a world class gem in the sea of "me too" subwoofers. 

Applying his trademark battery of objective and subjective criteria to a 25-31PCi  recently, Dr. Johnson was astounded, saying, "...I have never seen a sub less than $1,000 - from any company other than SVS - that performs like this."  Who are we to argue?  After all, that's what we've said all along.  You should find it refreshing nonetheless, to know there are gutsy experts that see past all the expensive glossy ads and optimistic specifications and hyperbole of our would-be competitors.  While John is no stranger to subs that would cost most consumers a couple of house payments, he summed up our stunning PCi's performance by saying, "Frankly, it is almost beyond belief what this thing does for $549."   If you read some of our other reviews below, you'll see a strong trend forming.  Wimpy subs, beware.

Face Off!

Brian finally woke us up with the revelation that some of the previous benchmarks in the home theater industry were in this unbiased review.  Who?  First, to our surprise, was the well-regarded Hsu VTF-3, (at $849, significantly more costly than our entry!).  Second was the slick looking Canadian built Axiom Audio EP350.  The results?  In short, SVS handily won the contest.  While the other subs did well in some categories, when the dust settled, and the whopping $300 price differential over the runner-up (the Hsu VTF-3) was considered, Brian indicated:

"the SVS emerges as the winner of this face-off. You'll also be surprised to learn it is the cheapest of the group! It just goes to show you that more expensive doesn't always mean better. At just $549, the SVS is the best bargain in bass".

Go to this page  for a full text of the review.  More proof that you can get the straight scoop from the web if you know where to look!  Spend less and get more.  That's SVS all over.

Customers say the darnedest things!

Sometimes, due to professional courtesy to our competition we don't say what we really  think, especially about other brand subs that cost too much and perform too poorly.  Likewise, professional reviewers are sometimes constrained by a number of factors, and in any case only get a chance to collect up so many similar products at a time, and rarely at that.  And, for all our objective perspective on bass performance and intimate knowledge of competitive brands, even we don't have time to live with "the other guys'" products for long.  Not like customers do!  Frequently our customers know the competition very well, and once they have an SVS, certainly form their own opinions quickly.  As it stands, we have a return rate on subs so low, we don't even keep track of it; so we must be doing something right.  Consider this however... only a fraction of SVS customers are buying their first sub.  Most are upgrading from something else. 

So what happens when some of the top rated subs run up against SVS in home like yours??  Sparks fly, dust settles, and sometimes, (often actually) other subs once thought to be "the bomb" ... just find themselves in the next garage-sale instead.  Two customers had just such an experience lately when their just released PC-Plus subs showed up.  Pity the competition?  Not. 

Unedited customer letters sent to us, and reprinted with their permission:

Find out about Robb's 20-39PC-Plus here, and just how it outclassed his old sub.

And Criag's 25-31PC-Plus and 16-46PC-Plus subs here, and why he switched from Velodyne and gave his twin VMPS subs to his nephew!.

Or... if you own another brand of subwoofer, you might want to stop reading already....

PC-Plus subwoofer reviews burst on the scene

Still, the rave reviews for the PC-Plus have been astounding from the start.  If you want to keep your subwoofer budget under $1,000, this is your subwoofer.  The most technology, most research and testing we've poured into a product yet, the PC-Plus has no peer for deep, clean and articulate bass. 

Music, movies, whatever you have, this new SV Subwoofer model line may well include the last subwoofer you ever buy.  Said early adopter Ed Mullen:

"This is the absolute BEST investment I have EVER made in my HT system - BAR NONE. My hat is off to SVS - they are truly THE BASS AUTHORITY."

SVS owners are rightfully proud of discovering something different, something no other product in the industry can match.  Find out what Ed already knows.

Why should CS-Ultra customers get all the attention??

Just how much did our $599 20-39PCi impress this industry veteran?

"It is so far superior to my old cube (which is now being used as an end table) that it isn't even funny."

That just about says it all  we think; but if you want to read the entire glowing review,  visit "The Big Picture DVD", just a click away.

Dr. John E. Johnson - Editor, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity

 

"...astonishing performance."

What happens when one of the the most respected names in the business says "it's high time I hear what everyone is raving about with SVS"???  Well you send him your best.  Dr. Johnson (AKA "JJ") has forgotten more about subwoofers than some reviewers will ever know.  We figured... "No guts.  No glory".  Honestly, even though we know the recently improved CS-Ultras are very very good, we weren't sure if they'd pass muster with this critic,  well known to have an affinity for  musical sounding, high-end gear.  Turns out ...we needn't have worried. 

Dr. Johnson summed things up by saying simply...

"The sound quality of the SVS CS-Ultra is really quite spectacular." 

We're not surprised in the end; but it's still nice to know superlative performance and value can also satisfy those used to using and owning the best gear in the business. 

Music, movies, even intense instrumented testing, all passed this Editor's gauntlet.  Color us ... relieved.

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David Bott's Home Theater - Audio Video Interiors

AV Interiors has long featured systems and whole theaters only available to those who have truly arrived.  Forget about their "ship coming in"... the folks making it into this club typically own  the ship. Still, it was probably only a matter of time before the "price, no object" performance of SVS made its way into one of their featured theaters, at an affordable price (don't tell anyone).

David Bott, of AVS Forum fame, was the willing victim of the AVI treatment for a second time. David's "workingman's" approach to home theater managed to include a full-up, dual CS-Ultra system. What he called "one of the best sounding subs in the business".

You may not have a home theater quite as posh as David's, but you can certainly afford to drool over each Audio Video Interiors issue. And maybe with some savings here and there you can aspire to world-class bass at SVS's always affordable prices.

Read about David's system here, and don't forget to subscribe to AVI... if you can stand looking at "systems to die for" month after month that is!



 

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Brian Weatherhead - Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity

So what's that smack dab in the middle of some very serious competition? An SVS CS-Ultra package of course! Brian's findings? How about that the SVS's pulled a solid 110dB at 20Hz (measured from 4 meters), while the venerated HGS-18 (retailing for $700 more) only managed a respectable, but comparatively sedate, 101dB. The big Velo met its match, and then some.

A few other tidbits about the SVS?

• "...took my breath away."
• "...felt like it was going to rip up the floorboards."
• "...never sounded muddy, just clean and violent...."
• "What great subs!"
• "These things rock."

Class picture of some tough competition. When the smoke cleared, nothing came close to the deep bass performance of SVS's CS-Ultra package. The same you can get for $2,295...including dual subs, and 1000 watt pro-amp.

 

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Howard Ferstler - "The $ensible Sound" Nov/Dec 2001, Issue #88

Sound, Howard is famous for his subwoofer tests. All the best have graced his tests. Still, for 2001 he made the 16-46PC one of his "Staff Picks" in the Nov/Dec issue (#88). His review extends nearly 6 pages, but perhaps these few quips sum up his feelings best:

"...I know of no subwoofer in its $800-$900 price range that can stand up against it in terms of overall low-bass performance."

"Alone or in pairs the SVS 16-46PC subwoofer (or 16-46CS outboard powered version) offers up world-class subwoofer performance, and does so at an unbeatable price."

"...virtually every other subwoofer I have reviewed, including the Hsu TN1220HO and the Paradigm Servo 15...fell short of the 16-46's elevated output."

And lest you think the SVS PC's limited to HT use, Howard adds this prior to his extensive music evaluation: "...the 16-46 is more than able to very effectively deal with serious music source material."



 

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Guy Kuo - Ovation Software

Guy Kuo is one of the master-minds behind one of the most popular DVD test disks on the planet..."Avia". Guy probably has hardware makers throw gear at him all the time. When Guy ordered we were uncharacteristically out of touch with current events and industry personalities... and had the audacity to treat him like a regular customer, (which he took quite well by the way). That is, he got great customer support and paid up just like everyone else! When he started telling folks about his new found love for SVS, we declared "Oh, that Guy Kuo". Here's a bit of what Guy declared. Or go here for his full unedited comments:

"The multitudes of positive owner reviews of SVS Subwoofers are no exaggeration....A new depth and ambience filled the room. Good clean bass with tremendous extension, dynamic range, but no hint of boom."

"They blended well for music. Bass notes were distinct, not muddy. The subs rocked the room with LF effects effortlessly and convincingly."

"...another veil lifted... they are an addition sure to put a grin on a home theater owner's face. Definitely recommended."



 

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"Fire it off to us" is just what customer Adam Kmiec did!

Here's just the bottom line of Adam's foray to a local high-end dealer, with a first-generation SVS 20-39PC in tow (imagine if it had been our new and much improved PCi version at only $599!)

"...So after the tests were done I had them open their eyes and showed them their winner. I know many of you are wondering, what did Mark choose. Well out of the 9 tests he chose the SVS 7 times and the Sunfire ® twice. The two times he picked the Sunfire ® were for Armageddon and for Dark Side of the Moon. The thing was these guys didn't know how much the SVS was. So after some chit-chat, I said to Mark and the guys, "Hey how much do you think the SVS costs?" I got answers ranging from 1200 to 2000. When I told them $750 SHIPPED, they were amazed, wish I had a picture of what they looked like."



 

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John Kotches - Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity, June 2001

John is a professional "bottom trawler" ... the sort of guy for whom bass can't go too low, or too tight, or too "musical". A critical ear is there ever was one, John had this to say about our ultra-low performing 16-46CS line:

"With my reference subwoofer, I couldn't really feel the sub-20 Hz tone, but with the single SV it was a different ballgame."

"...my entire home theater room was rumbling...."

"My reference subwoofer was never quite capable of delivering this level of bass reproduction without a sense of strain and an immediate reach for the remote control to mute and turn the volume down."

"...reference level, reference quality bass as low as 16 Hz for a ridiculously low price."

I guess we shouldn't have been surprised when John decided to buy his review sub!

Thanks to John, Editor in Chief "JJ", and the entire crew at "Secrets"!



 

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Tom Nousaine - "The $ensible Sound" June/July 2001, Issue #86

AKA, "TN" and "The Ace of Bass" is, in our humble opinion, the toughest and most objective audio reviewer in the business... and he specializes in torturing subwoofers. A regular contributor to top-flight magazines such as Sound and Vision as well as The $ensible Sound, we naturally were thrilled when he agreed to look at some very early SVS production samples.

What about it? Well, he confirmed what we've been alluding to for some time: Namely, that we offer "the most performance a $1,000 bill can buy today". This is the most feared reviewer in the world saying this mind you! The 20-39CS he tested was further referred to as "world class bass for under $500" and "in the class of products that cost $2,000 and more".

Some of the accolades vary because Tom was well aware that you don't even need to buy one of our amps to get this sort of performance. Just about any good old power amp will do to power your CS SVS. A situation in which he felt the SVS was "frighteningly inexpensive". The subs he tested are now only $449 each, plus shipping costs.

When he summed it all up, Tom had this to say: "This is serious bass. Easily the best current value on a dB per-$ basis." And "...a fantastic deal." Now read Tom's entire review! Captured here with permission from the great guys at The $ensible Sound!



 

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Peter Staddon - 20th Century Fox

Yes, that Peter Staddon, in charge of home video for that stalwart studio. As one of the movers and shakers at Fox Home Video, we were understandably flattered when Peter's order came in -- a clear indication that word about SVS had really gotten around. It's probably safe to say Peter is exposed to some of the best movies and equipment available to home theater today. So in an effort to "field test" some prototype SVS's, we sent him some special subs based closely upon our current line of CS-Ultra subwoofers.

"I have found new dimension to films that I thought I knew very well over this weekend. As one of my guests put it, this sounds better than many of the local theatres."

Elsewhere, Peter was literally at a loss for words saying...

"Words are failing me now so I'm going to stop... you'll have to pardon me if I substitute the excitement and giddiness of a kid who got his Christmas presents a couple of weeks before everyone else!!"

Some day all of Hollywood might catch on to what Peter already knows. We recommend you get in line for your SVS before that happens.

 

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Dr. Robert A Fowkes -  Home Theater Forum

Dr. Robert A Fowkes one of the Home Theater Forum's administrators (and Demented Video Dude since 1997) ordered one of the first production Powered Cylinders. Was he impressed? Oh, you could say that. "RAF" waited a long time for his sub, and hoped for something special, but what he got exceeded all expectations. The review his sub got exceeded even ours. His bottom line?

"Someone asked me if I had it all to do again would I have purchased an M&K subwoofer or even another Velodyne? After seeing and hearing the SVS I can honestly say, “No.”

And we couldn't resist adding this gem...

"Even it your budget is limited for a subwoofer you should be looking toward SVS as a viable option. We are talking about subwoofers costing hundreds of dollars that perform like subwoofers costing THOUSANDS, and I mean MANY THOUSANDS of dollars."

The best part? RAF had to wait MONTHS for "Serial Number 0001 16-46PC". They now typically ship in only a matter of a day to two.
 

PS  The Dr. has also take the time to upgrade his original PC woofer to the new Improved Standard Driver.  For more on the easy steps involved and his impression of the ISD go here.