If you want a home theater experience that rivals a premium movie theater, you can't skimp on the bass. Good solid low bass can turn an enjoyable home viewing experience into an exciting event. According to SVS CEO Gary Yacoubian at a product launch event at Electronics Expo last week, "Bass provides at least fifty percent of the viewing and listening experience." With this in mind, the company has unveiled its largest - and most expensive - subwoofers yet, the SB16-Ultra ($1,999) and PB16-Ultra ($2,499).
Our own Greg Robinson reviewed their little brother the SB13-Ultra and rated it 3.5 out of 4 stars. Greg said the SB-13 offered, "Incredibly deep and richly detailed bass." That model earned our coveted "BIGGIE" Award for exceptional performance and value. But SVS felt they could push the envelope even further: bigger, deeper, more powerful bass suitable for any sized listening room. Hence the 16-Ultra subwoofers were created.
The two subwoofers in the 16-Ultra series use the same newly designed bass driver: a massive 16-inch driver with 8-inch edge wound voice coil. They also share the same amplifier: a MOSFET beast, rated for 1,500 watts continuous power and 5,000+ watts peak power. And in case you like to tweak your bass during the movie, both models can be controlled via an all new smartphone app (available for iOS and Android) which allows the user to adjust bass output, tweak the parametric EQ and even tinker with advanced DSP settings. Changes are reflected in real-time on the new front-facing display. And since it's a two-way Bluetooth connection between subwoofer and app, any changes made on the subwoofer itself are also reflected in the app display.
Said Yacoubian, "When we showed these last week at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, we had customers ask if there was a way to turn off the display entirely, for more of a stealth look. And after talking to the engineers, I'm confident we can deliver this as a new feature in the app. Then the app can deliver the necessary code directly to the subwoofer via Bluetooth to update the on-board processor. That's the beauty of a system like this - it keeps getting better over time without the customer having to lug his subwoofer in for updates."
When asked about the differences betweeh the two models, Yacoubian had this to say, "Both 16-Ultra subwoofers feature advanced driver and amplifier designs that push the boundaries of low frequency performance. Physically, the ported box PB16-Ultra has 40% more cabinet volume and weighs 65 lbs. more so it can produce slightly greater SPL output with deeper bass extension. It also offers the option of variable tuning with the included port plugs. An achievement in its own right, the sealed box SB16-Ultra is a tour-de-force with incredible slam and pinpoint speed in transients as well as unmatched musicality for a subwoofer of its size, or any size. Both subwoofers are as refined and powerful as any in history, and it's more a matter of personal listening preferences and room dimensions when it comes to choosing between the two."
I heard the sealed version (the SB16-Ultra) at the Electronics Expo event and though the listening room was a challenge (a huge wide open showroom), the bass was firm, deep and palpable. I look forward to hearing it again under more ideal conditions.
The two models in the 16-Ultra line are expected to begin shipping to customers next month (November, 2016).
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