There’s nothing exciting to report about the setup on the PB12-NSD, because it’s such a straightforward sub. I placed it in my usual “subwoofer sweet spot,” connected the sub’s left-channel input to the subwoofer output of my Denon A/V receiver, balanced the levels, and I was done. I used the PB12-NSD with a 5.1 system based around MartinLogan’s EM-ESL, another 5.1 system using a quintet of Sunfire CRM-2s, and a stereo system using Hsu Research HB-1 MkII speakers. With all these speakers, I set my receiver’s crossover point to 80 Hz so the sub was handling all the bass.
In addition to playing the PB12-NSD on its own, I placed it side-by-side with the Hsu Research VTF-15H sub I use as a reference standard, then plugged both subs into my custom-built testing switcher. The Hsu was configured with one of its two ports plugged and set for EQ mode 2 and Q of 0.5. For these tests, I didn’t know which sub corresponded to which number on the switcher, and I kept the grilles on so I couldn’t see the woofer cones moving. Thus, the test was blind.
“Pretty amazing for a 12-incher,” I noted when I played the “Toccata and Fugue in D minor” from keyboardist Don Dorsey’s Bachbusters, a 1980s synth-baroque masterpiece that a reader under the pseudonym “trosse02” tipped me off about in the comments after my recent piece on ultra-deep bass recordings. When I cranked the system, the PB12-NSD responded with serious shaking of my listening chair and various unsecured objects in my listening room.
Action movies like the bass-intensive Blu-ray Disc of Thor showed that the PB12-NSD could deliver all the bass I wanted and even more. I never pushed it past its limits, even when I played the system at pretty stupid-loud volumes (loud enough to hear clearly out on the street in front of my house even with the front door closed), and it never failed to give me the quantity and quality of bass I wanted. I never heard a trace of distortion or port noise. I later found that the PB12-NSD’s internal limiter is set conservatively, operating through the entire bass region rather than just 40 Hz and up as with most subs, so there’s no way I could have pushed it past its limits anyway.
I went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth between the PB12-NSD and the VTF-15H, trying to hear differences, but it was tough. Subwoofer A might sound a little better on, say, the depth charge scene from U-571, but then subwoofer B might sound better on the scene in Thor where a giant demon robot thing attacks a small town. Likewise, sub A would sound better on Steely Dan’s “Aja”, while sub B would sound better on Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart.” I never developed a preference for one or the other.
Maybe, though, the PB12-NSD sounds ever-so-slightly more tuneful and defined. If so, the difference is extremely subtle — a home theater fanatic wouldn’t care at all, and only the most demanding audiophile would even notice.
This is all quite a testament to the quality of the PB12-NSD, because the VTF-15H is one hell of a subwoofer. And the PB12-NSD is just 67% of the volume, 56% of the weight, and 76% of the cost of the VTF-15H. The bigger VTF-15H does enjoy a performance advantage over the PS12-NSD, as we’ll see in the Measurements section, but it’s not an advantage I could exploit in my listening room, even at levels several dB higher than my normal.
Good Morning Mr. Brent Butterworth. I enjoyed this review. I have noticed that you have compared this subwoofer to The Hsu Research VTF-15H subwoofer. In fact, in other reviews i notice that The Hsu Research VTF-15H is compared often. Because of this i may have made up my mind about which subwoofer i want in the future. My choice was Rythmik F-25, SVS PC-13 Ultra and the The mighty Definitve Technology "TRINITY" Super Cube. But based on price alone the VTF-15H is what i'm leaning towards.. I love it's bass frenquency of 16hz!!! That is incredible!!! Plus i also like the look. I feel with this subwoofer all my movies will sound amazing. I currently have two PARADIGM PW-2200. I love thoses subwoofers and they have served me well. A very good friend who starting her own HomeTheater wishes to buy my subs. Once again thank you for the good review. And thank you for helping me make up my mind. Have a great day. Mocha6ft3.
Hi, Mocha. Glad you liked the review! I have to point one thing out - my reasons for choosing a product as a reference standard are complicated. Although the VTF-15H is worthy of comparison to anything on the market, it's not necessarily the best sub I've ever tested. But for my purposes, it's an ideal reference sub. There are so many ways to set it up (sealed, 1 port, 2 ports, two EQ modes, adjustable Q) that it can fairly be compared with practically any other midsize-and-up sub on the market. Yet it doesn't have all sorts of digital EQ modes or room correction that I might accidentally leave switched on. Also, Hsu was kind enough to loan it to me long-term - and Hsu is only about 60 miles from my house, so if any problems arise with the sub I can get them solved fast. Last, those ports make great handles, so the VTF-15H is easy to pick up for such a large, heavy sub. When you reconfigure your system every few days, these things matter!
Mr. Butterworth, I see that Hsu and SVS garner the sort of raves about their subwoofers that are rarely seen being earned by the other manufacturers, except for their super high priced exotic products. So what do these two scrappy companies know that, say, NHT, doesn't?
@Harbir: NHT used to be that scrappy little company and maybe they are now again. They started small, got bought by International Jensen, which got bought by Audiovox, and is now back in private hands under the leadership of one of the original founders. (I think I have that timeline right.) And they've made really good subs - the U2 comes to mind.
But yeah, Hsu and SVS seem to have an edge when it comes to delivering high performance subwoofers at low cost. I guess it's because both companies have specialized in subwoofers for a long time. Of course, Velodyne has focused on subs for even longer, but I think Hsu and SVS' direct sales model gives them more incentive to get their manufacturing costs down. People who buy through independent A/V dealers are not as price-conscious as Internet shoppers.
Mr. Butterworth:
I was fwd this link article from AVSForums as I was deciding on my current sub-woofer (Martin Logan's Dynamo series 700 sub (10")). I got my first true HT system through Magnolia Audio/Video and got a packaged deal (tv, speakers, blu, etc...). Everything I researched I got, but I had forgotten that subs are something of a speciality. And although ML makes subs, I know their forte is their speakers. I smiled when I read your article as I have the same setup: ML Electro-Motion Series ESLs from my front left, right, along with the C2 center.
So my research is pointing to getting 2 subs for a smoother response and a deeper base, and instead of getting another ML Dynamo 700, I was looking at either a pair of Outlaw LFM-1 EXs or a pair of these you're reviewing (SVS PB12-NSDs). I like the sealed versions and the look of the Outlaw (similar to the ML Dynamo). Any thoughts on the Outlaw compared to the SVS?
Thanks,
newbie HTS afficionado
I have just returned from completing cedia boot camp and have decided to buy two subwoofers instead of one. I had plans on buying the svs pb12 plus but have now decided to buy 2 subs for around the same price. I just read your reviews on the svs pb12 nsd and it appears that you thought it was a great subwoofer for the price. I am just wondering why you did not certify and recommend it. I have been a fan of sound and vision and a loyal reader for many years now. I have always trusted your reviews and any input you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
@jaramill: Sorry, I have no experience with the Outlaw subs, so I can't say anything about them.
@zachary: Good move getting two subs! I have to admit that while the "Certified and Recommended" thing has become a fixture of the print magazine, we haven't been vigilant about applying it on the web-only reviews. Please consider the PB-12 NSD Certified and Recommended. I wouldn't have the slightest hesitation about recommending it.
Why no Rythmik reviews??