SV Sound 16-46PCi, 20-39PCi, 25-31PCi User Manual

SV Subwoofers

OWNERS’

UIDE

G

SVS “Powered Cylinder,
Improved” (PCi) ™

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

Last update: 13 March 2001

16-46PCi 20-39PCi 25-31PCi

Page 2

SV Subwoofers

Welcome.

From the entire SVS team, congratulations on your purchase of

a new standard in home theater and music bass!

Your sub 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, your SV 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 DVDs or Laserdiscs to all your friends and
neighbors (we pity them if you live in an apartment. Please, be kind!).
This isn’t just a subwoofer after all, it’s a carefully designed audio
component carefully tuned in our labs, by bass authority and “Sub­human”, Tom Vodhanel.

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

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
our FAQs page 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 me at:

[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.

Ron Stimpson

Director, SVS Customer Service

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 scour the earth for the best, most cost effective parts (when we
don’t make them ourselves), and meld them into finely tuned designs that define
high performance home theater (HT) and music 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, you know it made the grade.

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. Take one look at our subs and you’ll know this is true.

Stable downward firing woofer. Our slender design is one plus, but we’ve

also taken great lengths to design a downward firing driver. Coupled with our
unique base-plates, which minimize driver reactive forces, you’ll find our subs
can take a tremendous amount of power and remain rock solid. Compliant foam
rubber feet on our innovative base plates allow for stable placement on a variety
of surfaces. No rattling, or buzzing allowed!

Custom low turbulence port designs. When you listen to our trend setting

ported subs you’ll hear (and feel) bass like never before, with a exceptionally low
noise and distortion. When you experience genuine SVS bass you’ll know
something special went into it.

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. SVSs are
big, but this is one of those times size does matter. There are hundreds of brands
of “black box” subs out there. Fortunately, you didn’t just unpack one.

World class power. Our amps are designed and built with a level of fit and

finish, plus a collection of features and power, practically unheard of at this price.
Did we mention power? It’s there in spades (though we rate them
conservatively). And 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 clean,
deep bass). As a result, we don’t require the megawatts some subs need. Plus
they run cool and powerful in those vented cylinders. We sweat the details on
integrating a top of the line amp in your sub, so you don’t have to.

Page 4

SV Subwoofers

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.

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.

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).

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
need to “split” the signal going to the PCi. You can feed either one of the
two amp inputs, it doesn’t matter, right or left.

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

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

Go for a corner

There are a variety of ways to configure your

(b.)

and feed the low-level input of the sub’s amp. There is no

NOTE: Stop now if you aren’t

(a.)

!

TOTALLY familiar with your receiver’s

manual. Ensure all power to your equip­ment is off when making these connections.
Also, be certain your power outlet can handle a
minimum of 300 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”)