SVS PB17-Ultra R|Evolution, 17" Driver, 6000+ Watts Peak Power Ported Subwoofer - Black Oak

The first subwoofer I purchased came from SVS in 2006. It was the Ultra PB13 that rocked two spider 12" subwoofers. It traveled with the family to three homes. I've always enjoyed great sound but spent little time understanding the physics of sound and the relationship between speakers and room acoustics over the years. That changed this last year. I would deeply dive into the world of acoustics and immerse myself in educational content. I am convinced the pursuit of great sound should be an Olympic sport. The fundamentals of a great audio experience for home theater and music begin with three key components: A room, a sound source, and speakers. We have all watched countless YouTube videos with $100,000 speakers fantasizing about how they would look and sound in our rooms. Indeed, there must be a reason for the high price tag. This is not a reality for many, and the options become even more confusing. In audio, the placebo effect is real, and people will convince themselves that spending more money equals more quality. This may be true in some cases, but how many can afford to test this? After receiving my Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speakers, I considered sending them back and possibly staying with my Ultra towers. The problem was the difference in character and bass was staggering. But was it enough to justify the cost? Without dealing with the first of three components mentioned, maybe not. Not only was I trying new speakers, but I was also trying a new processor and amplifier. You know, the source of where the magical sound would originate. I replaced my Monolith HTP-1 with the Marantz AV10. The processor is expensive! Would I keep it? I am past my return option, so I am keeping it because it is truly amazing. There is a fourth component tied to the source: room correction. This makes all the difference in the world in helping with non-perfect rooms. My family room is our home theater. I dream of a dedicated home theater room, but that's not happening soon, so you must be creative. I wish I had the depth of knowledge to dial in all of my speakers manually. I don't. But Dirac Live with Bass Control does, and it does it well! But is having a good sound source, room correction, and great speakers enough? Sadly, no. When I mentioned the first component, being a room, I left out some crucial details. A room is not a room until you treat it. I would spend hours gathering information on what to get and how to apply it. Luckily, I found Gik Acoustics, which helped me develop a fascination and love for sound treatment. Why had I not done this years before? There we have it: a winning combination to a great start to great sound. Let's talk about the details now. After all, this is supposed to be about the Ultra Evolution PB16 subwoofers._x000D_ _x000D_ Two days ago, I unboxed two Ultra Evolution PB17R subwoofers. I had flashbacks of the first time I unboxed two Ultra PB16 speakers a few years ago. These are huge and heavy. I used carped pads under the isolation feet to make moving these much easier. I also have 3-wheel casters under my PB16 subs to move them around. You may ask why you would get two new subs when you already have two outstanding ones. I asked the same question every day until two days ago when I heard the kick drum and bass sounds I have always missed. I have placed my two PB16 subs in almost every location. Deep, they are. Loud, they can be. My Ultra Evolution Pinnacles sounded better with music alone than when adding my PB16 subs. This was driving me crazy! I was obsessed with REW and chasing the elusive 50-70hz frequencies for that thud factor. On a good note, the Pinnacles simple are amazing on their own, but in stereo or Auro-3D, you want that punchy bass that is clean, not bloated, and boomy. When I heard the PB17 subs for the first time, I immediately heard a different character in the mids. This made me smile, and I hadn't begun finding the perfect location for them. I would spend two days experimenting with positioning and testing with REW and Dirac Live with Bass Control. I firmly believe you should first use REW before trying Dirac Live. While my room will never be perfect for sound, it is exceptional for what it is - a functional family room home theater. You will see what I mean in the photos._x000D_ _x000D_ Seeing impressive subs next to the TV looks cool, but subs need to be placed where they work best based on the room treatments applied. I don't know if I will ever stop trying to improve my room, but at some point, you have to sit down and watch a movie or listen to great music; knowing the work you put into it makes it so worth it._x000D_ _x000D_ Beyond my impressions of the new SVS Ultra PB17 subs, Ultra Evolutions Pinnacles, and new Ultra Elevations (yes, so much better!), their support has been exceptional.

Originally purchased the pb4000 which i wasnt quite happy with. after speaking to your staff for some time, we figured out that it wasnt big enough for my room. since your staff was so helpful and your product seemed very good, i felt it was right to give your company another shot with the bigger pb17. It is defiantly a great product, but i still need alittle more. i will be purchasing another sub in the future, probally the sb3000 for additional base. i have my old bose 501 sub working with the pb17 and it made a huge difference, so i figured the 3000 would be a step up from that. Thanks again for being a great standup company!