SVS PC ultra has SERIOUS bass

[dobyblue]

Making sure I can feel a clean 12Hz is important to me and if you do use a test tone disc you'll find at that level every Hz shows a big difference.

The PB-13 Ultra has good output at the lower Hz, but lots of distortion.
I sacrificed straight dB output for low distortion going with the Paradigm Servo 15v2.

At 95dB output the Servo will hit 15Hz at -10dB with 3% distortion.
At 95dB output the PB-13 Ultra will hit 15Hz at -12dB with 16% distortion.

Those measurements are taken in 20Hz tuning mode for the SVS, because in any other mode distortion goes through the roof in those lower frequencies.

Originally Posted by mr peepers

The only time you're able to hear anything in the 20hz range and 20khz range is when you're a new born baby. the high and low end spectrum of your hearing has since been VERY degraded. so i'd be really impressed if any of you could still hear below 30hz.

That's not true at all, the lower end of the hearing rarely degrades.
The higher end does, but even into your 30's and 40's plenty of people can still hear 18kHz and beyond. I just listened to an 18kHz test tone and it's VERY loud. The 20kHz is noticeable, but nowhere near as much.

You can google test tones to get some free ones.

Originally Posted by MacDaddyOJack

Pipe organs can go down to 12Hz. And you must not have ever heard an SVS! I'm not sure about 10Hz, but I know they can hit 12 in the proper configuration. While you won't hear it that low, you will certainly feel it.

There aren't too many dvd's or BD's with frequencies that low. And classical music is what has the most data recorded in frequencies that low. However, there are plenty of BD's with strong activity at or below 20 Hz so it is definitely not a waste to get a good subwoofer.

The lowest note on a pipe organ is 16.4Hz.

The first octave runs through 16Hz to 30Hz.

Because lossy encoding doesn't remove much in the low end, some DVD's do hit extreme frequencies. There are passages on The Incredibles that hit 5Hz.

I was listening to a 10Hz test tone on my Paradigm, it makes it move with some serious force, but there isn't much output. Paradigm claims 12Hz and there is definitely much more movement throughout the room when it hits 12Hz. As it passes through 16-21Hz you're definitely feeling it in your chest and in your breathing. It's a pretty awesome experience.

Here's a pretty cool review of the Servo 15v2 - I link to this because it lists some of the time codes on the passages of The Incredibles.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...05-part-2.html

Rocket Blast Blows Out of Tunnel; 105-108 dB: Talk about infrasonics - this sequence has strong content right down to 5 Hz! This is another extremely demanding passage where I could induce some output compression if I pushed the Servo-15 too hard. At about 10 clicks under Dolby Reference Level, the Servo-15 sounded great on this scene, cleanly digging to below 20 Hz with authority. As bass heads and fans of this DVD will attest, the rocket lift-off sounds eerily lifelike with the right subwoofer. The Servo-15 nailed all the subtle nuances and sound effects – especially the knocking and rattling sound effect toward the end of this passage.

When I get a bigger HT room, I'll add another Servo15v2.

This is a pretty cool depiction of the orchestra and what frequencies are re-produced. Of course, with synthesized music all bets are off, but for most known instruments this is the approximate frequency response.