SV Sound PB13 User Manual 2
SV Sound
OWNERS’
G
UIDE
SVS PB13-Ultra
Powered Box - Ultra 13” Woofer
Contents:
• Pages 2-3 Safety instructions
• Page 4 SVS Welcome
• Page 5 About your new SVS subwoofer
• Pages 6-8 Setup, integration, and calibration
• Pages 9-10 PB13-Ultra basic features
• Pages 11-12 Variable tuning feature
• Pages 13-15 Parametric equalizer (PEQ)
• Pages 16 - 18 Room compensation control
• Pages 19 - 20 Bass demos
• Page 21 Home Theater Terms
• Page 22 Specifications
• Page 23-24 Authorized Dealers, Terms and Conditions
Last update: 13 August, 2007
Page 2
SV Sound
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves,
or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of any polarized or grounding-type plug. A
polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding
type plug has two prongs and a third grounding point. The wide blade or
the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not
fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete
outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at
plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the
manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used use caution
when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Page 3
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long
periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required
when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply
cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into
the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not
operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, this apparatus
should not be exposed to rain or moisture and objects filled with liquids,
such as vases, should not be placed on this apparatus.
16. To completely disconnect this equipment from the mains, disconnect the
power supply cord plug from the receptacle.
17. The mains plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily operable.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an
equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the
presence of un-insulated "dangerous voltage " within
the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to
persons.
SV Sound
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in
the literature accompanying the product.
Page 4
SV Sound
SV Subwoofers
Page 4
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 built in our Liberty, Ohio USA factory by engineers, craftsmen, audio fans, some probably like you. Designed, and
tested using the latest state-of-the-art instruments, and assembled by
hand with the utmost care using imported and domestic components,
your SVS subwoofer is without a doubt one of the best investments
you’ll ever make in bringing music and theater home.
We’ll help set your sub up right, and in no time, you’ll be givin g
“demos” of your favorite movie or music selections to all your friends
and neighbors (be kind 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 labs, by the award winning SVS team.
You’re unlikely to have heard, or felt, bass like this before, unless it
was in a top-notch, commercial movie theater. High-fidelity sound in
your home will achieve new meaning. 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 easy to read and more
informative than most. Always feel free to call your authorized SVS
Dealer, or contact us directly. Someone who knows their stuff will
assist you with local expertise and in your native language (should it
not be English).
Maybe you just want to share a bit of bass news? Or perhaps you
have a story about your SVS subwoofer to share with us? Maybe
something we missed in our website? No matter, look to the back of
this manual for a full listing of our exclusive Dealers as of this manual’s printing.
SVS Customer Service
Liberty, Ohio, USA
SV Subwoofers
SV Sound
Page 5
About your SVS Subwoofer
There maybe be other subwoofers that look like them, but virtually
none work like them. SVS subwoofers are decidedly different in how they are
designed, produced, sold, and the exceptionally high quality components we
use. The best part? You could have spent much more and still not come close
to the performance our products provide. So, 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. At
SVS, performance is king... not shaving off a few dollars from our “cost to
build”. We meld the best and most suitable parts into carefully aligned audio
designs which define high performance home theater and music bass. If we
use it, you know “it” is satisfied some tough customers first… us.
Get “Boxed”. We try all our materials, and features in the real world, and test
size and even the enclosure shape, as you might, before any design is deemed
ready. Cabinet construction must ensure a rigid product both compact, and can
take the abuse your family and friends can dish out. SVS’s Ultra “Powered
Boxes” are no ordinary subwoofers: replete with internal reinforcement, CNCcut panels, t-nut fasteners, recessed components. Selling factory direct or
through select, exclusive regional dealers, means your sub, and not glossy ads,
get the priority at SVS. Tap the side of your sub, look at the solid construction
or remove your grill, and you’ll see (and hear) what we mean.
Sealed, or vented, down-firing and ultra compact “foot-print”. This SVS
hallmark design is not only built exceptionally well, but it fits in spots most
super-subs can’t come close to. While stability can be a problem with some
speakers, you’ll find this sub’s weight is low, and remains rock solid even at full
throttle. Compliant rubber feet or optional metal cones allow for stable
placement on a variety of surfaces. No rattling, or buzzing allowed!
Features and controls. A veritable Swiss Army knife, this subwoofer has
every useful control device and feature we’ve yet developed. Variable phase,
tuning, room-compensation, parametric EQ, defeatable crossovers and hi-pass
filters allow easy “daisy chaining” of dual subs too. Classic tools for power
users. Any or all these are easy to switch off for novices looking for basic setup
too.
World class power. Our Canadian assembled amps are designed and
manufactured with a level of fit and finish, and real power, practically unheard
of at this price. Loaded with comprehensive set of easy to use amp-mounted
controls, our tremendously efficient Ohio-built “Ultra” woofers achieve massive
amounts of excursion to get down exceptionally low, with impact and clarity
that will defy their size, and competitors alike. Extra thick anodized amp plates
add still more rigidity and even help shed heat from the likewise efficient BASH
amp chassis.
SV Subwoofers
SV Sound
Setup, calibrating and integration
Page 6
What’s to know?
Well, first of all, setting up an SVS subwoofer is
pretty darn easy. There are a few key things to give attention to if you
want to get the most out of your sub.
Unpacking.
You’re probably eager to hear your sub, but take time to
carefully unpack everything. Save the box and shipping materials, just
in case you need to return the sub for any reason.
Location.
subwoofers. So, where to put it?
putting your sub where it might adjo in large open areas
They say it’s ALL about location right? It’s the same with
Go for a corner
if you can, and avoid
.
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 room’s
corners (leave about 3” in the back for cable clearance with any wall or
other surface). A corner near your favorite seat is often the best location
of all. Whether you put the sub in front or to the rear of you r seating
area makes surprisingly little difference. Deep home theater bass, like
that from “7.1 channel” movie or music is non-directional. You can’t
tell where it is coming from, even though you can hear, and feel it.
Hook-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 going to the sub (c.).
(b.)
and feed one low-level input of the sub’s
You
can feed either one of the two amp inputs, it doesn’t matter, right or
left.
making these connections. Also, be certain
your power outlet can handle a minimum of
1000 watts. (Use of “convenience outlets” on
receivers are not recommended for your sub).
NOTE: Stop now if you aren’t
TOTALLY familiar with your receiver’s manual. Ensure all power
to your equipment is off when
(c.)
(a.)
(b.)
DD/DTS Processor/Receiver
(Subwoofer “Out”)
Fig. 1
SV Sound
SV Sound
Page 7
More Setup, calibrating and integration
If you are running a pair of SVS subwoofers (Fig. 2), you will need to use an inexpensive “Y” cable adapter (d.) From the “Y” cable you can run a standard 75 Ohm
RCA or XLR signal cable (e.) to each sub, thus “splitting” the Low Frequency Effects (LFE) and other bass from your receiver, and effectively feeding both subwoofers with the same signal. Alternatively, you can switch off “Hi-Pass” RCA or XLR
output filters and “daisy chain” subs from one’s output to the other’s input. Always
calibrate dual subs one at a time, and adjust phase on one so as to achieve a combined 6dB increase when both are set to the same levels measured individually.
Power off sub with main switch when changing
connections or moving the sub. High current amp
design requires two minutes of “OFF” time before
sub will resume “ON” status again.
(e.)
Fig. 2
(d.)
“
Calibration
” isn’t only for tech minded folks, it’s
figuration of your home theater sound system. Fortunately, adjusting channel
balance (essentially all “calibration” amounts to) is as simple to do as it is
important. The first order of business is making sure your DD/DTS surround sound system is set up properly. We recommend you consult your
audio/video receiver (or processor) manual to refresh on the procedures to
do this. Generally, this requires ensuring the receiver’s test tones, or a special test disk (like Ovation Software’s
from each of your system’s speakers. That’s speakers at left, center, right,
left surround and right surround (and if equipped, center rear speakers), plus
the subwoofer . (More on sub level in a second). Skip to page 9 (“Powered
Box Features”) if you aren’t familiar with your sub’s amp, and come back to
calibration.
Some things to check as you get ready to calibrate:
•
Are your speakers set correct to the correct “size”?
processor should allow you to indicate if your speaker s are “Small” or
NOTES: Now is a good time to
select if you want “ON” (always on)
or “AUTO ON” which turns your sub
on only when a bass signal is present.
“Y” cable/splitter from
DD/DTS Processor/Receiver
(Subwoofer “Out”)
critical
Avia
) play back at the same volume
to a proper con-
Your receiver/
Page 8
SV Sound
“Large”. Selecting the size accordingly will ensure bass goes to most appropriate speakers, and use the subwoofer correctly too. Also, is your subwoofer turned “ON”? We don’t mean “is your subwoofer
on?” (that’ll be important later too) but rather,
bass signal to your sub amp
? This can only happen if you say “Yes” (or
is your receiver sending a
amplifier
“ON”) in the “Subwoofer” selection during the setup of any typical Dolby
Digital/DTS capable receiver (you’ll need to enter your receiver’s setup
“menu” to check these critical choices).
•
Is your receiver connected to the sub amp?
cable (sometimes called a “patch cord”) to connect the subwoofer output of your
DD/DTS receiver to
you’ll need to “split” the bass signal with a “Y Cable” if you have a pair of subs.
But you only need feed
either Right or Left) of any SVS Powered Box sub.
•
Is your Radio Shack ® sound pressure level (SPL) meter ready?
theater audio setup. It’s akin to a tire pressure gauge for your car
(you don’t set tires by “feel” right?). Set the meter to “Slow” and
“C-weighting” (and turn the dial to 70 or 80dB depending on your
test tone source). Haven’t got the meter yet? Order one from
your SVS Dealer. We prefer the analog instead of the digital
display model to ease visual notes of the levels being played.
Getting ready to sta rt now: Make sure your receiver or processor’s master volume is
set to “00 dB” or some other easy to remember “reference level”. Then, ensure your
sub’s volume/gain control is set no more than 1/4 to 1/3rd up, for now, leaving plenty of
adjustment “up”. It’s also critical to check the subwoofer output level control of your
surround receiver before you begin the test tones. Set the receiver’s subwoofer output
to about 1/3rd up too. Your receiver’s LFE “trim” or “peak limiter”, if you have one,
should be set to 0dB (with the least effect). Turn off any sound-field processing schemes,
“Mid-night Mode”, “DRC” (dynamic range control), “Movie Mode” etc. If it is an option in your system, route your LFE to the “subwoofer only”, not “mains + sub”.
Now play your receiver's internal test noise “tones” so you have something to measure with your SPL meter. Or, better yet, buy a test DVD such as Ovation’s Avia. A
test disk’s tones ensure your entire signal path, from the DVD player to your speakers, is
set correctly. Whatever you use, when the tones start alternating from speaker to speaker
(watch your sound meter now), set each speaker’s volume to about 75 dB (or 85dB if
using Avia) by using the receiver’s dedicated channel level controls (leaving receiver’s
master volume the same). We recommend you turn down the receiver’s subwoofer
channel output level before you significantly lower your sub’s volume/gain control. This
helps keep distortion sent to your SVS at a minimum. Note: You should not set this
control much lower than the first 1/4th of the receiver’s control range however, since
some downward adjustment may be needed to fine tune levels later. If your subwoofer’s
SPL meter reading is still too high, then turn down the sub’s amp volume a little with
each run of the test noise signal, as it cycles from speaker to speaker and the subwoofer.
either
input jack of your subwoofer’s dedicated amp. Again,
one
of the two inputs (it doesn’t matter
This tool is absolutely essential to proper home
Use a well-shielded “RCA”
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