Customer Reviews: PB12-Plus

If you have the room for the PB12-plus then treat yourself to this BEAST!!! I was looking for a sub that would deliver the rumble and impact of what you hear in the cinemas and I finally found it! Trust me I had been through dual and triple sub setups. I tried klipsch, Definitive Tech Pro 1000's to the Supercube 2000 and the even the Supercube 8000...The PB12-plus chews them up and SPITS them out!!!
If you are looking for a sub that goes so low and punches you in the direct chest look no further. You will literally want to watch all your Blu rays over again!!!

BTW I almost sent the sub back because I initially thought
it had the same output as my supercube 8000 side by side. So when I emailed SVS,their awesome customer service guys Jack and Doug figured out my problem and had the walls in my theatre coming apart in no time!!!!

I am definitely doing the pair and ordering the second PB12-plus to go to the next level in my home IMAX BASS!!!

Thanks SVS you have a customer for life!!

ED Perez

I replaced my old DCM1212 with this sub and all I can say is WOW what a difference. I am very impressed with this sub and I am so glad I read all the reviews and bought this sub. Fantastic job SVS this sub knocks it right out of the park. My Denon 4306 amp with all B&W speakers this sub fits in perfect with the 7.1 I am running right now.

Jason
Aurora, CO

Awesome sub. Many years ago I started to build an HT system and got as far as the AVR, the front speakers and the center but stopped there. For some strange reason I decided the sound was enough and I didn't need anymore. I think the hit(s) to the bank account had something to do with it as well. :) When it came time to get a new receiver, my interest in HT was renewed once again but this time I wanted to complete the setup or at the very least, get a SW. Initially, I was going to pick up something from Amazon but the more I read, the more I realized I had no idea what to look for in a SW. After a week or so of searching the forums and online retail shops, I happened upon a few discussions about SVS. The talks were interesting and informative so I found myself on the SVS website looking at the PC12-NSD. The more I read, the more I wanted some guidance so I initiated an email thread to SVSound and within a day or so, got a response from Jack. I learned quickly the importance of matching room size to speakers with Jack noting that the PC12-NSD would serve the purpose but he recommended the PC12-PLUS for the 17'x30' room. The more I read, the more I liked his reasoning. Eventually, I found myself considering the PB12-PLUS over the ported cylinder deciding the lower profile was better suited for the room that a smaller foot print. After a few more emails to the very patient Jack, the PB12-PLUS is what I opted for and it is proving to be a really fine SW. I've since purchased some PSB Image T6 front speakers and a PSB Image T5 center speaker. Thanks again Jack for mentioning timbre matching my front sound stage...something else I didn't know about. The setup really sounds great together for both music and HT. I bet I've watch Avatar at least 20 times just to hear the war robots when they walk or drop to the ground. I'm very pleased with my purchase and much appreciative of the help from Jack and Ed w/the setup.

Just something to remember when considering this beast. It is a big, heavy SW but if you have a big room, it will look and sound phenomenal. Just plan to have someone help move it in place. I didn't seek help with placing it but it will sprout roots and grow where it sets before I move it again by myself. - James

I've never written a review on a company or product in my life. I'm compelled today because, in my 42 years on this planet, I've never dealt with a company so eager to please a customer. (and do it with a smile in their voice!) My endeavor started with a purchase of a PC12-NSD sub that arrived as a D.O.A. (things happen) I called and actually spoke to a live person who was truly concerned that this happened and tried to troubleshoot the unit with me over the phone. Long story short - bad amp. The point is that the person was genuinely concerned and apologized up and down for the inconvenience and offered immediately hot swap the sub. This, in and of itself, is a step above most companies in that they will send a new unit BEFORE they receive the D.O.A.. This eliminates a lot of wasted time waiting for the return of the unit, the credit process, and the shipping of the replacement unit.However, in my haste, and never having dealt with the SVS brand or an internet retailer for such a big ticket item, I questioned my original choice of the PC12-NSD and opted to upgrade to the SB-12 plus. All I can say is that this is a phenomenal sub. It is musical and can literally "energize" the entire room (mine is 18x28) with deep, deep bass that you can sometimes feel but not hear. It is built like a tank and the fit and finish is first rate.So here comes the part of why I am compelled to praise SVSound -Upon receipt of the SB12-Plus I immediately hooked it up and - no sound. Now agitated, as I THOUGHT I had another d.o.a. I called SVS and again, spoke immediately to a salesperson and let him have it. The gentleman patiently walked me through some troubleshooting and it was found out that I had turned down the volume to 50 (I did this as a precaution so I would not blast myself out of the room when I turned the unit on) It was explained to me that the volume control on the unit is not like the volume on a tv and that by turning it to -50, It was actually turning the unit way below half way. - Boy did I feel embarrassed but it was explained to me that I was not the only person who has done this.And here I am today (3 weeks later) -For as fine a sub as the PB12-Plus is; It is a very large sub. Over the course of the past few weeks that I've had the pleasure of owning it, my wife and I have had no less than three "discussions" (mind you these discussions were one way - her to me) over the necessity of having such a large sub in the decor of the now dually purposed, living/theater room.One more embarrassing call to SVS had to be made - I had to change my order once more. This time, and after a lengthy review process and assurance from my better half, -for dual PS12-NSD's. To my amazement, this call was handled with the same genuine concern for my satisfaction as my original call for the PC12-NSD. They are issuing a call tag and I am placing the order for the PS12-NSD's.Thanks Jack! Anyone who may be having second thoughts about purchasing a big ticket item through an internet retailer rather than a brick and mortar store -- Rest your mind. SVSound is hand's down, the best company I've had the pleasure of dealing with in my life! Just wish I could have been a less pain in the arse customer.G.C.

I have been listening to my system with the PB 12 Plus for about 2 weeks. The first thing that I noticed with the sub in my system was an increase in the depth of sound at about 40hz and below. This was not just a deeper sound,in terms of lower frequency, but an increase in how solid the sound is. My speakers had no trouble in the 30 to 40hz range but the sub adds a dimension to the sound in this range that adds to the pleasure of listening.I also listen to some pipe organ music from time to time and the sub produces frequencies that I never heard from my system before. Truly low frequencies (16hz?) and shuddering air are present.Ed Mullen was also quite helpful in suggesting setup.Needless to say,i'm very happy with my sub. I think that the PB 12 Plus is a great value too.

The black piano finish is just beautiful to look at. The design is of this subwoofer is abstract and simple which I like. The best subwoofer I have ever heard. The bass is tight and controlled. Outstanding for movies and music. If you like to listen to SACD music format like myself, you will love this subwoofer. I am planning to buy another one.Shipping was really fast!! Thank you SVS!!

I have had my PB12-plus for almost 3 weeks now and I have been very pleased for far with the performance of this fantastic sub. I previously had the SVS 20-39PCi which was a great sub, but this new one is certainly a step above.

I talked to Jack Gilvey before I made the purchase and he advised me on the right size and model for my room. I live in a one bedroom apt, upstairs and I had help in getting it up the stairs, but we managed to get in my living room and it sounds so nice.

Music is really a treat with accurate bass and a very clean sound. I love sacd and dvd audio discs such as Donald Fagen's Night Fly and Kamakiriad. I also have Steely Dan's Gaucho on sacd and the PB-12 plus plays this with authority.

Movies are great as well with plenty of punch in blurays like Lord of the Rings-FOTR, Dark City and Toy Story. I balanced everything with the AIX bluray setup disc and then used Real Traps test CD to find a bass peak at 40hz which I was able to bring down a bit with the PEQ feature. I like all ports open of the 3 configurations which are available.

I think it is important to give this sub a little breakin time because I feel like it has sounded better with each day that I have had it. I also want to thank Ed Mullen for answering all my questions regarding setup and he was very patient and helpful. I may end up getting a riser for my sub.

I certainly did a great deal of research on the web and read as many reviews as I could find from professional reviewers and actual end users of the PB-12 plus, and I feel like I made the right choice. Great job SVS for the wonderful subs you design and make.

Many thanks to Ed for listening to my countless questions regarding my upcoming purchase. After measuring the room and the spot in which the sub would reside, I finally ordered the PB-12 Plus. Simply put, there's no other sub on the market that touches the quality or performance of this product for the money. Needless to say, I'm excited once again to watch movies! For someone who's been in the A/V industry for 10+ years that saying alot. My hats off to the entire SVS Team. You guys make home theater fun again. Thank you all so much.

My wife and I are together when it comes to audio equipment, (except I am willing to spend More). Both of us enjoy music and movies. We will sit with a glass of wine and listen for hours. We jointly own -2-5.1 and a 7.1 systems. Of everything that I own this sub is the one thing that I am the most satisfied with. It's very musical and performs wonderfully with all kinds of music. We listen to everything from classical to jazz to country and rock, so it gets a good workout. I have been able to stress this sub, with movies, which is why the 4 and not a 5 star rating. This is also why I am in the market for another (SVS) sub to add to the one I have. I do not have the new DSP version. This sub performs well within +/-3 db from 18hz to 120hz in my room. I have a bass bump at 50 and that was easily taken care of with the sub's eq. So at this time this is the best I have ever heard or owned. I would highly recommend this sub (or a pair of them) to anyone who is serious about audio.

I purchased a home theatre system 2 yrs ago. Everything about the system rocked except the subwoofer. It was way underpowered and I felt like my system was average at best because of this.

I negotiated with my wife to buy a new subwoofer. Once she gave me the ok I started my research.

I researched every possible audiophile message board for two months and SVS always received glowing reviews.

i made the plunge and purchased 2 subs even though I had no place to test them out

I was nervous and praying I made the right decision.

Once delivered, I got them in the basement with the help of my neighbor. Once set up we tested the cannon scene from Master and Commander, ACDC live at Donnington, and Queen rocks Montreal.

My basement is a 2ft slab of concrete with carpet. The subs were placed on each side of the entertainment furniture.

The cannon scene made my couch shake, I could feel the bass hit my chest. We had the biggest grin you can imagine. I was like a 5 yr old on xmas day! The concerts were equally impressive. Everyone now wants to come over to watch movies and concerts.

This was one of the best purchases I ever made period.

The only negative was that my wife gave me the ok to buy 1 sub not 2 so she was pissed at me but it was well worth it.

Thank you SVS for making a product that looks awesome, has excellent build quality, and puts a smile on my face every time I watch a movie or concert.

Looks scary and intimidates people easily ... like "hell no" or "wow" ... other than that, it is a good sw I've ever own ... this is un upgrade for my HSU VTF1 ... very heavy tight bass and good for both movies and musics

AWESOME!!! I really do not know where to start. This Sub woofer has exceeded my expectation. I purchased this Sub woofer last year to replace my old one and everyone always ask me what have you done different to your sounds system because it sound 100% better. All I did, it was to put the PB 12+ in movie room and I get the big WOW effect now. This product would blow away every other company and competition. Just Try it and you will know the difference!!! I got the Piano Polished and it looks very elegant and matched my other speakers. If you have the room for this sub woofer, The PB 12 plus will do the rest!! Hands down the BEST product and great prices!!!

Fantastic company, product and experience. I have owned my PB12+ now for a while and it still amazes me every time I turn my system on. It is hands down the best piece of audio equipment to add to your system.

It adds a seamless extra dimension to TV, movies and games...one of those things that you don't know what you are missing until you have it. Fantastic bass is a must for audiophiles, however, I seem to convince non-audiophiles when they get a chance to listen to my setup.

The folks at SVS have done an incredible job and have earned a lifelong customer. I must say though, they make a fantastic product, and you won't be a repeat customer because you have to replace something, it's because you will want to upgrade. I will be seriously planning a dual sub setup when I purchase my next house with a larger living room.

I can't recommend SVS highly enough to anyone that is interested and they have subs to fit every budget. Sit down and think about the money you spend compared to use and any SVS woofer is a bargain. You won't regret it.

Amazing is the only word to describe this subwoofer. Make sure your house foundation can take the power this sub puts out - amazing clarity goes with the power along with truly impressive quality.

First class personal customer service - the kind you come to expect from a small company.

I recommend SVS and their Sub without reservations!

From the moment the semi-truck rolled down my street to unload the pallet containing my new SVS PB-12 Ultra Sub-Woofer I was impressed. Never before has electronic equipment I’ve ordered arrived on a semi-truck. It took two friends to help me move the box into my living room to be unpacked. Anxious to see the contents, the box was carefully opened and a beautifully constructed and aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture was revealed. The cabinetry is solid, well constructed and brilliantly finished. The size and weight of the unit is impressive and I quickly realized why a semi-truck was required for delivery.

The build quality did not stop with the cabinet. The grilled front looked like a handcrafted piece of medieval armor, all while eloquently accentuating the cabinetry. Particularly impressive is the air space deliberately left between the grill and the working parts of the sub-woofer such that the grill does not vibrate and interfere with the quality of the sound, while it shields the sub-woofer. Of course, the true test and the primary reason I purchased the PB-12 ultra would be the sound quality.

Within minutes of its arrival, I was able to unpack and connect the new addition to my home theater system and prepare for the first of a series of sound and positioning checks. I wanted to run it through its paces, but I first decided to test the PB-12 with its factory settings to establish a baseline for a before and after comparison. I was overwhelmed with the quality of the sound it produced right from the box. I have made some minor adjustments to calibrate the unit to my room and system, but I have yet to be disappointed with any of the various combinations of settings I have tested. Simply put, the engineers knew what they were doing and constructed a sub-woofer that knows how to handle sound well.

From the moment I plugged it in, it has performed exactly as a high quality sub-woofer should. Its ability to play with my other speakers is awesome. It quietly lies in wait in the corner of the room like a gentle lion drawing no attention to itself (I sometimes look to see if it is even on) while my main speakers and center channel handle the front high to mid-range sounds while my surround sound speakers do the same for the rear. When the PB-12 plus is needed for the deeper base sounds, it roars and sends clear, crisp and clean sound waves that ripple across the room and send chills up my spine with such great ease due to its plentiful amplification. The pb12 plus greatly compliments my other speakers in the low frequency department. The subs easy to understand digital interface upon the rear panel host a plethora of adjustment options to make intergration into your theater or sound room a breeze. It is precision craftsmanship at work and the penultimate in tight detailed base.

From the pod racing scenes in Star Wars to the action scenes in Batman Returns, it makes movies sound better than they do in most theaters. It also handles all forms of music I have tried with accuracy and ease. From hip hop, to classical masterpieces, it simply makes the deep base notes come to life and hang in the room with absolutely no distortion. It is a beautiful thing. I am more than satisfied. The PB-12 plus is a perfectly crafted component that is everything the manufacturer said it would be and then some. It is a revered beast and one of the most important elements to any true home theater. I cannot wait to purchase my second one. And customer service is first rate!

One helluva a subwoofer! The build quality is superior and the sound is clear, deep and full. The amp provides a wide variety of customizations that I still haven't completely explored. This sub continually puts a smile on my face when something explodes on screen.

The staff at SVS is second to none.

I was so satisfied with my purchase..my father bought one.

A truly outstanding subwoofer. I have heard many of the highest-end subs, but--dollar for dollar-- I've never heard anything that comes close to this one.

This thing simply rocks the house.

Great product with excellent customer service...would buy SVS again in a heartbeat!

Customer Reviews: Dual PB12-Plus