SVS 16-46PC, 20-39PC, 25-31PC Owner's Manual

SV Subwoofers

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SVS “Powered Cylinders”™

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SVS Models

• Contents:

• Page 1 Welcome

• Page 2 About your new SV Subwoofer

• Pages 4-7 Setup, integration, and calibration

• Page 7-8 Powered Cylinder amp features

• Pages 9-10 Bass demos for your home theater

• Page 11 Home theater terms

• Page 12 Warranty

16-46PC 20-39PC 25-31PC

Last update 25 February 2001

Page 2

For technical assistance e-mail us at “[e-mail]”

Welcome.

From the entire SVS team, congratulations on your purchase of a

new standard in home theater bass!

Your SVS isn’t some generic black box built someplace you can’t
even find on a map. It’s made in Ohio, (as in USA), by home audio
fanatics, like you. Designed, tested and assembled by hand, this new
subwoofer is without a doubt one of the best investments you’ll ever
make in bringing theater home.

We’ll help you to set up your sub right, and in no time, you’ll be giv­ing demos of your favorite CD’s, DVDs and Laserdiscs to all your
friends and neighbors (we pity them if you live in an apartment).
This isn’t just a subwoofer after all, it’s a carefully designed audio
component carefully tuned in our shop by bass authority and
“Subhuman” Tom Vodhanel.

You’re unlikely to have ever heard, or felt, bass like this before,
unless it was in a top-notch commercial theater. Movies and music
in your home will never be quite the same again. We guarantee it.

Already have a question about your sub? You might answer it by

reading this manual, we think you’ll find it more informative than
most. For even more detailed discussion about set-up topics, check
out both SVS FAQs and Advanced Bass at www.svsubwoofers.com.
We touch on all the key points you need to know, and then some.

Maybe you just want to share a bit of bass news? Or perhaps you
have a story about your SV Subwoofer to share with us? Maybe
something we missed in our website? No matter, feel free to send a
note to: [e-mail] .

It’s not often you can talk to the guys who made your audio compo­nent. In this case, we look forward to it.

SV Subwoofers

Page 3

About your SV Subwoofer

No powered subwoofers look anything like them, and virtually none work like
them either. SV Subwoofers are decidedly different. The best part? You could
have spent much more and still not come close to the same bass performance our
Powered Cylinder line gives you. But what makes a subwoofer an SVS???

Quality components, sane prices. You might be surprised at how inexpensive

the components in some not-so-inexpensive subwoofers are. Make no mistake,
we comb the earth for the best, most cost effective parts (when we don’t make
them ourselves), melding them into finely tuned designs that define high
performance home theater (HT) bass. Want woofers, amps, or even binding
posts? We’ve tested and discarded plenty that didn’t meet our tough standards.
If we use it, whatever it is, it made the grade and met tough cost guidelines too.

Get “tubular”. Typical subs require heavy internal bracing and thick enclosure

walls because they’re boxes. But cylinders can’t flex the way boxes do. Ever
wonder why high pressure tanks are always round? At SVS form follows
function, and fortunately, functional designs can lead to simple, stylish and
elegant designs too.

Stable downward firing woofer. Our slender, upright design is one plus, but

we’ve also taken great lengths to allow for a downward firing driver. Coupled
with our unique base-plates, which minimize driver reactive forces, you’ll find
your SVS can take a tremendous amount of power and remain solidly planted on
your floor. Interchangeable foam rubber or heat-treated steel spike feet allow
for stable placement on a variety of surfaces (NOTE! spikes are not
recommended for concrete sub-floors or similarly hard non-compliant
materials).

Custom low turbulence port designs. When you listen to these low noise, 4”

flare ported subs you’ll hear (and feel) bass like never before, with amazingly
little distortion. Movies or music, SV Subwoofers handle it all with grace and
efficiency, never sounding “boomy” —– even at their limits.

Stylish, and understated. From the simple top grill, to the elegant base-plate

you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to lose your sub in a corner. They’re big, but
it’s one of those times size does matter. There are hundreds of hulking “black
box” subs out there. Fortunately you didn’t just unpack one of them.

World class power. Our amps are designed in Germany and built with a level

of fit and finish, plus a collection of features, practically unheard of at this price.
And power? It’s there in spades (though we rate them conservatively at 190
watts). SVS starts with efficient subwoofer designs which don’t require
equalization to go low and flat. This way our amps can be dedicated to
reproducing bass, not making up for a lack of enclosure space (the bane of deep
bass). As a result, we don’t require the mega-watts some subs need. And they
run cool and powerful in those vented cylinders too. We import these wunder-
amps ourselves so you don’t have to.

Page 4

For technical assistance e-mail us at “[e-mail]”

Setup, calibrating and integration

W

hat’s to know? Well, first of all, setting up an SV Subwoofer is

pretty darn easy. There are a few key things to get right though, if you
want to get the most out of your sub…

U

npacking. You’re probably eager to fire up your sub (we’re the same

way), but take time to carefully unpack your sub. Set the box and other
protective shipping coverings aside, just in case you need to return the
sub for any reason.

L

ocation. They say it’s ALL about location right? It’s the same with

setting up your subwoofer. So, where to put it?
can, and avoid putting your sub where it might adjoin large open areas
Studies have shown that the deepest and flattest bass response is
typically attained when a subwoofer is placed within a few feet of one
of your home theater’s corners. The upright configuration of SV
Subwoofers makes this easy. Whether you put the sub in front or to the
rear of your seating area makes surprisingly little difference. Deep
home theater bass, like that from Dolby Digital (DD) “5.1 channel”
DVDs and Laserdiscs is non-directional. You can’t tell where it is
coming from, even though you can hear, and feel it (and how!).

H

ook-up (see fig. 1). There are a variety of ways to configure your

new sub. Usually, a simple mono, shielded 75 Ohm A/V RCA type
cable (a.) is used to take the subwoofer output of your DD/DTS
surround sound receiver
amp. There is no need to “split” the signal and feed both inputs on the
sub, since the inputs are “summed” before the amp stage.

(a.)

Go for a corner

(b.)

and feed the low-level input of the sub’s

NOTE: Stop now if you aren’t

!

TOTALLY familiar with your receiver’s
manual. Ensure all power to your equip-

ment is off when making these connec­tions. Also, be certain your power outlet can
handle a minimum of 200 watts. (Use of
“convenience outlets” on receivers are not
recommended for your SVS PC).

if you

.

Fig. 1

(b.)

DD/DTS Processor/Receiver
(Subwoofer “Out”)