Velodyne ULD 15 series II vs SVS CS-Ultra

[brad1138]

I love my Velodyne subs, but I ran across a deal on a pair of SVS CS-Ultras with original 500 wpc amp. These review awesome, anyone have a thought on if this would be an upgrade or not? They would cost me less than I could sell the Velodynes for.

The Velodynes are 15 inch sealed, with 400 watt servo controlled amp, the SVS 12 inch, ported, with 2 channel, 500+ WPC amp. The Velodynes are over 25 years old now. The SVS about 15.

Also, the SVS were designed with home theater in mind (which is what I use mine for), the surround is much larger than on my Velodynes. The Velodynes were made before "Home theater" was a thing.

Any thoughts,
Thanks.

[Dwayne]

Velodyne sub's are top shelf equipment in the audio business. Being that your's are over 25yrs old tell's me that it's time to replace/upgrade. SVS sub's are the best in the business for Home Theater use as the majority of the people that frequent this website will tell you. I say go for it on the SVS CS-Ultra's because you can't go wrong with anything that sport's the logo SVS. Good luck

[brad1138]

I picked up the SVS' today and have been listening to them all afternoon. The jury is still out on if I like them better or not. At this point, I am thinking not. I forget how freakin good the pair of ULD 15s are.

Before disconnecting the ULDs and hooking up the SVS', I put in Ironman (1), the opening scene is a great test. I hadn't watched it in a while, but even though I had heard it before, it still gave me a jaw dropping, spine tingling experience again. It sounded so freaking good.

I then switched over to the SVS' and I wasn't as impressed, not really even close. I have to watch it again tomorrow after having some time to get the levels better. I ran through my normal array of test material. IronMan Blue ray, P!nk- live in Australia Blu ray (If you haven't seen it, you should) and a 3 hour block of "bassy" music videos I recorded from Fuse (in DD 5.1) and a couple other random Blu Rays.

The SVS have a decent advantage in real low bass, but other than that, the ULDs sound much better across the rest of the bass range. One of the first things I noticed, was a loss of "warmth", even in dialog. The explosions in Iron man weren't as forceful, the SVS' would rattle the walls a bit more, but of the bass you can actually hear, it wasn't as enjoyable. And the ULDs will rattle the heck out of the walls when needed as well.

I am going to go out and pick up an XLR cable, so I can hook up both systems at the same time (My Prepro has XLR and RCA out for the Sub)

One other thing I noticed, is if you turn the volume on the SVS amp (Samson S1000) past 3 o'clock, you get a noticeable static hum coming through the subs, which is rather loud when volume is maxed. You would never hear it over any level of movie watching, but it bothers me anyway. With the volume set at 3 o'clock, I have to max out my sub out from the prepro at +10 dB.

The SVS' have more headroom than the ULDs, maybe considerably more. But the ULDs will blast everyone out of the house, I don't need more than that.

I'll test more tomorrow, and over the next few weeks, before I make my final decision.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by brad1138

I am going to go out and pick up an XLR cable, so I can hook up both systems at the same time (My Prepro has XLR and RCA out for the Sub)

You my friend are a perfect candidate for a MiniDSP 2x4 if you're using 4 subwoofers!!!! The ULD's are some of the best made for their time period and they are still highly respected. I have a pair of SVS CS 16-48 subs and a pair of P1512 subwoofers (15 inch driver and 2 18 inch passive radiators per cabinet). Each has their specific prowess, using the MiniDSP 2x4 and amplifying them on the same 4 channel amp (Behringer NU4-6000) - has blended these subs perfectly!

[Dwayne]

I really appreciate your honesty on the SVS sub compared to your Velodynes. Maybe SVS is not for you. Looking forward to your final decision .

[brad1138]

I just came home with a balanced XLR cable, and hooked it up and WOW... I don't know if there is a problem with the 1/4" input or the RCA to 1/4" adapter, but they sound like entirly different subs. Also, the static/hum is completely gone.

I'll report back after some more listening.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by brad1138

I just came home with a balanced XLR cable, and hooked it up and WOW... I don't know if there is a problem with the 1/4" input or the RCA to 1/4" adapter, but they sound like entirly different subs. Also, the static/hum is completely gone.

I'll report back after some more listening.

XLR's are the way to go if your runs are long or if you have the available ins/outs!

[brad1138]

Originally Posted by prerich

XLR's are the way to go if your runs are long or if you have the available ins/outs!

This is only a 6 ft XLR cable. There was a definite increase in gain, at least 3 dB (as a guess), and it seemed fuller. I don't know if there was an issue with the 1/4" input on the Samson amp or what, but it certainly has made a noticeable improvement. Also, it looks cool

[brad1138]

Although I still need more testing, and the XLR made a sizable difference, the SVS is seriously lacking in the "mid to upper"subwoofer range. I am guessing that 40Hz is the turning point. Under that and there's no competition, SVS flat kicks butt. But over that, where a lot of explosions are heard (especially like the opening scene to Ironman) the Velo is MUCH more prominent. Also I should say, the Velo is rated flat to 16 Hz, so it is no slouch in that area, the SVS just has much more in that range.

I am going to play around with the built in PEQ in the emotiva. Yes I know I should get a computer program and do it right, but I don't have that, so I am going to wing it a bit and just go off my gut quite a lot of experience.

I love the real deep bass of the SVS' a lot, but if I try to crank them up a bit to bring up the upper range, the walls will start to come apart, and it really isn't pleasant (according to my wife )

I think I am going to try +6dB @ 80 Hz with about a 1 octave Q setting and maybe -3 dB @ 15-20 Hz, again with a 1 octave Q. And then go from there. I am shooting for sounding (more) like the Velos with more deep bass. I also read that the CS-Ultras can get carried away with really low/subsonic frequencies at high volumes, and it isn't a bad idea to have a filter cutting off below 15 Hz or so. I could set a PEQ setting @ -12 dB or -15 dB with slightly under a 1 octave Q at 10Hz.

I'll let you know how that goes.

[brad1138]

OK, after enough time to get the levels (more or less) correct, and A/B with the Velos, the perceived lack of "mid to upper bass" from the SVS' isn't what I originally thought it was. The SVS' are really shining They are tighter and more dynamic. I noticed it in the drums in the P!nk concert, my wife noticed voices sounding clearer. Now, I am noticing it everywhere. The Velos are muddy by comparison. The Velos did have a bit more presence in that upper bass range, but not significant.

My previous post about boosting upper bass 6 dB was a bit ignorant, that is way more than needed. I did, with a Q setting of ~1 octave, increase 80 Hz by 2.5 dB and decreased 20 Hz by 1.5 dB, and I will continue to play around with those settings.

But the SVS' are nothing short of amazing, so damn happy I happened across that add. They ROCK

I did toy with the idea of keeping the Velos also, but I really don't want to add that muddyness back into the system, aside from needing the $. I am going to keep my eyes out for another set of the SVS' though

[DangeRuss]

Congratulations ........... and welcome to the DARK SIDE

I own a pair of what was once their entry level subs and I'm STILL impressed with them ............... I'm afraid of what an upgrade would do to this room

It reminds me of this video

SVS Subhuman Subwoofer Animation - YouTube

[Billy13]

After reading through this thread, I knew the OP would come around.

[brad1138]

Pulled and ready for sale

[prerich]

Originally Posted by brad1138

Pulled and ready for sale

How much?

[brad1138]

Originally Posted by prerich

How much?

At the moment, I have the whole set listed at $1,000 on Craigslist. I have seen the ULD 15 set recently go for around $400 each, and the amp only for around $200. Having the matching set I hope is worth something by itself.

I may not get that much, but as long as I get $700 to cover the cost of the SVS', I'll be happy.

I am going to keep them at $1,000 for a few weeks on CL. I want to see if I get any action over this weekend at $1,000, but to anyone from this forum that might want them, local pickup only (western WA State), I'll do $800 after this weekend.