SV Sound
OWNERS’
GUIDE
SVS SB12-Plus
Small Box — Plus 12” Woofer
Contents:
Chapter 2 Safety instructions
Chapter 3 SVS Welcome
Chapter 4 About your SVS subwoofer
Chapter 5 General subwoofer features
Chapter 6 Setup, integration, and calibration
Chapter 7 Room compensation control
Chapter 8 Parametric equalizer (PEQ)
Chapter 9 Subwoofer specifications
Chapter 10 Terms and Conditions
Last update: 27 April, 2008
Chapter 2-2
SV Sound
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 liq-
uids, 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.
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.
Chapter 3
SVSound
Welcome!
At SVS, you can actually hear the
tireless research and design efforts
built in to our subwoofers and speak-
ers. Years are spent developing any
SVS product — with work typically
spanning from our Ohio headquar-
ters… to US west coast technology
centers… and over to the finest component suppliers in Asia and
Europe as well. Nothing in our speaker offerings is an ―off the shelf‖
product. SVS is committed to making better sound systems with ele-
gant looks, robust construction and world-class technology and materi-
als. We believe you deserve nothing less.
This manual and the printed ―Quick Start‖ sheet will help you integrate
speakers and subwoofer quickly and with professional results.
Armed with only a few basic tools, such a sound pressure level (SPL)
meter, and the test tones built in to most audio/video receivers (AVR),
you will achieve smooth, detailed and powerful reproduction of all your
favorite music and movie audio. Expect to hear things you never
heard before… and expect not to hear some of the artifacts you might
have accepted in the past with inferior brands.
Have a question about your surround sound system? For more
information about SVS products check out our US website, or the ex-
clusive dealer for your region, contact us via phone or e-mail should
you have questions regarding our products.
SVS was founded by audio enthusiasts — our commitment to service
is the only thing that rivals the products we create. Our resellers
around the world feel the same way.
The SVS Team, Ohio, USA
September, 2008
Chapter 4
SV Sound
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. You could have spent much more on other brands
and still not come close to the performance our products provide. 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 cutting a few dollars from our
―cost to build‖.
Innovative designs, rich materials. We test all our materials, and
features in the real world, and test size and shape, before any design is
deemed ready. Cabinet construction must ensure rigid and durable
products. All our subwoofers offer computer controlled panel cutting,
steel fasteners, and recessed components. Tap the side of your sub,
look at the solid construction or remove your grill, and you’ll know what
we mean.
Sealed, or vented, down-firing or front-firing cabinets. An SVS
tradition is to offer a variety of ―form factors‖ which provide exceptional
performance yet also a compact ―foot print‖ which complements your
room style.
Features and controls. Variable phase, crossovers which can be
defeated, and on select models, variable tuning, equalizers or other
advanced controls are built in to allow customers to make their SVS fit
their needs. Spend time exploring this guide and contact your dealer if
you require assistance on any feature.
World class power. Our advanced amplifiers are designed and
manufactured with a level of fit and finish, and genuine power which is
rare at our competitive prices. Loaded with comprehensive of easy to
use controls, and our tremendously efficient Ohio-built woofers, all our
subs achieve exceptional depth, tremendous power and flat, natural
sound. Hear everything on your music CD’s and DVD’s with SVS
products..
SV Sound
Chapter 5-1
Powered Subwoofer Common Features.
SVS subwoofer amps use the most durable and accurate designs
possible. Get familiar with yours!
Volume/Gain Use ―gain‖ (in conjunction with your Audio Video Re-
ceiver (AVR) subwoofer output level control) to achieve bass level
calibration to your liking. Start your setup with the sub’s volume/gain
no more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up (turned clockwise from the
left).
Crossover Frequency. If you use your AVR’s internal crossover to
manage bass frequencies (highly recommended), the setting of this
knob on your SVS sub is irrelevant. (Note: Use the sub’s crossover
―Enable/Disable‖ switch discussed below to take advantage of this
configuration.)
Phase. Think of long bass waves as conflicting or enhancing each
other, depending on the timing of their arrival at your listening location
(either together, or not). Set phase to zero if your AVR offers set-
tings for the distance from your seat to your subwoofer. Adjust in
small steps for smooth sound with music playing if your AVR lacks a
subwoofer distance setting.
Line In/Out. Use either of the sub’s ―Line In‖ jacks (RCA or XLR
type) to connect the subwoofer to the output jack of your AVR. Feed-
ing just one input is enough. If you are using a conventional amp
and/or a stereo setup you can use the ―Line Out‖ jacks to send sound
(filtered of deep bass information) back to your system amp, or switch
off this filter. A simple RCA signal cable is all you need for either type
configuration. See ―Crossover Feature‖ discussion below for more on
Line Out options.
Auto-On. Your Powered Box allows itself to be in an ―Auto-On‖
mode… or ―On‖ all the time. With the former setting (the switch in the
―Auto‖ position) your subwoofer will ―sense‖ that a DVD or CD etc.
has begun and switch its audio circuits on immediately (the ―hard‖
power switch mentioned below must be set to ―on‖, naturally). A few
minutes after a movie, the Auto-On light will turn from Green to Red,
switching portions of the sub’s power supply back off.
SV Sound
Chapter 5.2
Sometimes, with very low listening levels, your subwoofer might not
get enough of a bass signal from your AVR to ―trip‖ the Auto-On
circuit. Should you ever find this to be the case you may leave this
switch to ―On‖, or turn up the AVR’s subwoofer level some (be sure
to recalibrate channels levels with your sound meter afterwards).
Crossover Feature Switches. If you allow your DD/DTS surround-
sound receiver or processor to manage bass frequencies (again,
highly recommended), this switch should be set to ―Disabled‖, elimi-
nating the effects of the ―Crossover Frequency‖ knob and allowing
your sub to reproduce just what is fed from the receiver. If you use
the sub in a two channel (stereo only) configuration, then ―Enable‖
the crossover and adjust the knob to best blend the sub into the out-
put of your speakers.
Power. This heavy-duty two-position switch next to the power cord
will completely cut the power to your sub amp. Flip this switch to off
before you ever move the sub or change inputs or outputs. Do not
plug this sub into receiver convenience power outlets. Allow five
minutes of ―off‖ time before switching back ―on‖.
Fuse. User replaceable, contact your dealer if you have trouble find-
ing one. The fuse can be accessed by a small door immediately
next to the power cord fitting
(where you should also find a spare one for your use).
Read ahead for advanced features including Room Compensa-
tion, and Parametric Equalization (PEQ).
Chapter 6-1
SV Sound
Setup, calibrating and integration
What’s to know? Setup is easy! However, there are key steps
which must be done carefully and correctly, read on:
Unpacking. Take a few moments to carefully unpack everything. Save
the box and shipping materials, just in case you need to return the sub
for any reason.
Location. Where you put a sub is important to how it will sound. Use a
corner if you can, and avoid putting your sub where it might adjoin large
open areas. 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). Whether you put the sub in
front or to the rear of your room makes surprisingly little difference.
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 or XLR type
cable (a.) is used to take the subwoofer output of your AVR (b.) and feed
one low-level input of the sub’s amp. There is no need to ―split‖ the
signal going to the sub (c.). You can feed either one of the two amp
inputs, it doesn’t matter, right or left.
NOTE: Take time to review
your AVR manual. Ensure all
power to your equipment is off
when making these connec-
tions. Also, be certain your power outlet
can handle a minimum of 500 watts. (Use
of ―convenience outlets‖ on receivers are
not recommended for your sub).
(a.)
(b.)
DD/DTS Processor/
Receiver
(c.)
Fig. 1
SV Sound
Chapter 6-2
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 stan-
dard 75 Ohm RCA signal cable (e.) to each sub, thus ―splitting‖ the Low Fre-
quency Effects (LFE) and other bass from your receiver, and effectively feed-
ing both subwoofers with the same signal.
NOTES: Determine if you want
―ON‖ (always on) or ―AUTO ON‖
which turns your sub on only when
a bass signal is present. High
power amp designs can require five minutes
of ―OFF‖ time before sub will resume ―ON‖
status again.
(e.)
―Y‖ cable/splitter from AVR
AVR (Subwoofer ―Out‖) jack
RCA/XLR
(d.)
Fig. 2
―Calibration‖ isn’t only for technically minded sound enthusiasts. It is ’s criti-
cal to a proper configuration of your home audio system. Fortunately, adjust-
ing channel balance (essentially all ―calibration‖ amounts to) is simple to do.
The first requirement is to ensure your AVR is ready. Thus we recommend
you consult your AVR manual to review the choices you have regarding
setup. Generally, this requires your receiver’s test tones play back at the
same volume from each of your system’s speakers. Of course this can in-
clude speakers at left, center, right, left surround and right surround plus the
subwoofer itself.
Some things to check as you get ready to calibrate:
Are your speakers set correct to the correct “size”? Your
AVR should allow you to your speakers be set to ―Small‖ or
―Large‖. Selecting the size accordingly will ensure bass goes to
most appropriate speakers, and use the subwoofer correctly too.
―Small‖ is nearly always the best configuration with a good sub-
woofer.
SV Sound
Chapter 6-3
Also, is your subwoofer turned ―ON‖? We don’t mean ―is your sub-
woofer amplifier on?‖ but rather, is your AVR sending a bass sig-
nal to your sub amp? This can only happen if you say ―Yes‖ (or
―ON‖) in the ―Subwoofer‖ selection during the setup of your AVR’s
setup menu.
Is your receiver connected to the sub amp? Use a well-shielded
―RCA‖ or XLR cable (sometimes called a ―patch cord‖) to connect the sub-
woofer output of your AVR to either input jack of your subwoofer’s dedicated
amp. Again, you’ll need to ―split‖ the bass signal with a ―Y Cable‖ if you
have a pair of subs. But you only need feed one of the two inputs (it doesn’t
matter either Right or Left) of any SVS Powered Box sub.
Is your Radio Shack ® sound pressure level (SPL)
meter ready? This tool is absolutely essential to proper
home audio setup. It’s akin to a tire pressure gauge for
your car. Set the meter to ―Slow‖ and ―C-weighting‖ (and
turn the dial to 70dB. If using Avia for calibration tones, set
your meter to 80dB instead.
Getting ready to start now: Make sure your receiver or proc-
essor’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 adjust-
ment ―up‖.
It’s also critical to check the subwoofer output level control of your AVR before
you begin the test tones. Set the AVR’s subwoofer output to about 1/3rd up too.
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 AVR’s internal test noise “tones” so you have something to
measure with your SPL meter. When the tones start alternating from speaker
to speaker (watch your sound meter now), set each speaker’s volume to about
75 dB by using the receiver’s dedicated channel level controls (leaving your
AVR’s master volume the same).
We recommend you turn down the AVR’s subwoofer channel output level before
you significantly lower your subwoofer’s gain control. This helps keep distortion
sent to your SVS to a minimum. Note: You should not set the AVR’s subwoofer
level control much lower than the first 1/4th of the receiver’s control range.
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.
Chapter 6-4
SV Sound
But what’s “too high”?? Tastes vary, and do movie soundtracks, but your
SVS subwoofer is capable of tremendous levels of low distortion, low fre-
quency bass — far more than most subs in this size or price class. Take
advantage of this, especially if you like action movies with lots of ―.1‖ channel
(LFE) bass action, and give the sub a bit extra gain during calibration. Keep
in mind too that the human ear is relatively insensitive to low frequencies.
This, coupled with the fact most folks don’t watch movies at full ―theater lev-
els‖ means raising the bass up a few decibels (dBs) usually yields a more
satisfying movie and music experience.
What bass levels do we recommend? If you watch movies at moderate
sound levels, a good start is a range of +1dB to +3dB above your other
channels (as measured with your sound meter). This means the test tone
will waiver about 78 dB for the subwoofer portion of the calibration run using
your receiver test tones.
Note too that many modern A/V receivers allow a variety of subwoofer level
settings, depending on the ―listening mode‖ you are in. With ―Dolby Digital‖
as your ―mode‖ use the above calibration routine. You may well find that CD
―Stereo‖ music calls for a lower bass settings. The above is a guide… ex-
periment! The louder your master AVR volume however, the more you
should reduce the subwoofer’s playback level to compensate. You should
always avoid your driver ―bottoming‖, resulting in a loud ―clack‖!
Location and measurement. You should take the above measurements
from your typical preferred seat for watching movies. Be advised, strong
bass levels can vary tremendously simply by moving your seat, or your sub-
woofer, just a short distance. Such is the nature of long wavelength, deep
bass sound. Do not hesitate to try different locations and different levels for
your subwoofer.
Setting playback levels on the sub which are too high (and often, too low) is
the most common theater/music setup error.
SV Sound
Chapter 9
Advanced Features: Room Compensation
In typical home theaters a phenomenon known as ―room gain” can play a
major role in how accurately bass is produced.
When any subwoofer produces notable bass energy below 27Hz, the output
you will perceive is different than the sub’s normal output would be (if unaf-
fected by your room’s walls).
The difference in theoretical bass, versus actual bass response, is depicted in
the graph below. The red trace indicates a subwoofer response outdoors, but
line in blue indicates the same subwoofer’s response in a mid-sized room.
―Room gain‖ can create excessive deep bass which can sound exaggerated
simply due to interaction with your room .
SPL vs Freq
dBSPL
115
110
105
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
10 Hz
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
6: Anechoic
7: 2800ft^3
Enclosure
Shop
Person: Jim Farina
Company: SV Sound, LLC
Project: Room Compensation
File: Room Compensation.led
Jul 18, 2006
Tue 4:42 pm
5.2.0.350 Jul/15/2005
Use the below chart to help tailor your SVS sub to your room’s size. Vary the
room size knob up or down one size should you determine that sound’s best
for your music and movies. Bypass mode is deepest of all and most suitable
for the largest rooms.
Approximate Room Size
Room Compensation Setting
LARGE
> 2400ft3 (68m3)
1400ft3 – 2400ft3 (40m3 – 68m3)
MEDIUM
SMALL
< 1400ft3 (40m3)
SV Sound
Chapter 8-1
Advanced Features: Parametric Equalizer (PEQ).
Important Note: Until you are ready to use the PEQ feature set, it should be
disabled by setting all three controls to the full counter clock-wise position.
Background Information: Direct and reflected bass waves in the listening
room will create ―standing waves‖ and associated peaks and nulls in the sub-
woofer frequency response (FR). The PEQ allows you to reduce the severity
of a peak in the subwoofer frequency response, thus obtaining a more accu-
rate sound.
Control Explanation: The PEQ has three controls: Frequency, Bandwidth,
and Level. An image of the PEQ control is provided below (your subwoofer
controls may vary).
The Frequency control (labeled ―Freq.‖) affects the target the frequency
where the PEQ cut will take effect, and has a control range of 20-80 Hz.
The Bandwidth control (labeled ―Q‖) affects the width of the PEQ cut. The
―HI‖ setting is the narrowest bandwidth, and the ―LO‖ setting is the widest
bandwidth. In most cases, it is best to start with a Hi Q setting (narrow band-
width).
Below is a frequency response graph of the SVS SB12-Plus as measured
under quasi-anechoic conditions. This set of curves illustrates how the PEQ
function works and what type of cut effect you can expect from various Q
settings.
Green Line: Native frequency response of the subwoofer.
Purple Line: Frequency = 50 Hz, Q = HI, LEVEL = MAX.
Yellow Line: Frequency = 50 Hz, Q = LOW, LEVEL = MAX.
SV Sound
Chapter 8-2
“Q” Control Effects
Measuring The In-Room Frequency Response: In order to use the PEQ
effectively, you must measure the in-room FR of the subwoofer at the lis-
tening positions. This can be done manually using test tones and an
spreadsheet, or it can be accomplished using software such as ―TrueRTA‖,
or ―Room EQ Wizard‖. SVS does not provide technical support on the set-
up and use of any software, but it can make measuring the subwoofer FR
easier and faster than manual methods.
To measure the subwoofer FR using a manual method, you will need an
SPL meter, a basic working knowledge of Microsoft Excel (or other spread-
sheet program), and a means to generate sine wave test tones. There
are several sources of sine waves and/or tone generators on the internet.
A popular tone generator is the NCH Tone Generator (http://
www.nch.com.au/tonegen/index.html) which is freeware for personal
use, but may also be purchased for a nominal fee.
Place the SPL meter on a tripod and set the controls to C-weighted, Slow,
and the 70 dB scale (you may need to alter the dB scale during the meas-
urement process). Place the meter at head level at the primary listening
position with the meter pointed toward the front stage and pointed toward
the ceiling at a 45 degree angle.
SV Sound
Chapter 8-3
To set the overall test level, play a 25 Hz frequency and adjust the sub-
woofer gain (option 1 below) or the processor master volume (option 2
below) until the SPL meter reads about 75 dB at the listening position.
Run each tone only long enough to get a stable reading from the meter
(about 5-6 seconds), and then give the subwoofer about 10 seconds to
cool off between test frequencies.
Option 1: Measure The FR of the Subwoofer Only:
To measure the FR of the subwoofer only, connect your sound card out-
put directly to a line level input on the subwoofer. Use the Excel spread-
sheet named Subwoofer Frequency Response, which will plot the fre-
quency response of the subwoofer from 11.2 Hz to 100.8 Hz. Input your
raw (direct read) values from your SPL meter into the green band of fre-
quencies in the Raw SPL Data worksheet, and the Frequency Response
worksheet will plot the FR of the subwoofer.
Below is an example of a subwoofer FR. Notice the large peak from 35-
55 Hz.
To correct a peak such as that above, start by setting the Frequency to
about 40 Hz, the Q to HI, and the Level to MAX. Re-measure and re-plot
from 30-70 Hz to evaluate the effect.
SV Sound
Chapter 8-4
Option 2: Measure the Combined FR of the Speakers and Subwoofer:
To measure the combined FR of the front speakers and subwoofer (to in-
clude the digital crossover in your processor), connect your sound card
output to an analog input on your processor. Make sure the analog input is
configured to use the digital crossover between the speakers and the sub-
woofer. Use the Excel spreadsheet named Speaker And Subwoofer Com-
bined Frequency Response, which will plot the frequency response from
11.2 Hz to 201.6 Hz. Input your raw (direct read) values from your SPL
meter into the green band of frequencies in the Raw SPL Data worksheet,
and the Frequency Response worksheet will plot the combined FR of the
speakers and subwoofer.
Adjusting The PEQ: Identify the largest/widest peak in the response and
target it for reduction with the PEQ control. When making adjustments to
the PEQ control, there is no need to re-plot the entire FR for interim adjust-
ments simply re-plot the affected section of the curve to verify your PEQ
adjustments are having the desired effect. When you are done making
adjustments, you can re-plot the entire frequency response to obtain a final
curve.
SV Sound
Chapter 8-5
Set the Frequency control to the approximate center frequency of the
largest peak. Set the Q control to HI (narrowest bandwidth), and set the
Level control to MAX. Play the test tones again and re-measure and re-
plot the affected portion of the FR curve and visually evaluate your re-
sults. Simple trial/error will then allow you to adjust all three controls to
shape the PEQ cut to achieve the desired effect.
The previous image shows the results of the first PEQ cut attempt. The
Frequency and Cut effect look correct, but the Q is too narrow. Adjust
the Q about 25% wider and try again.
The graph above illustrates the results of the wider Q setting. Notice how
the cut effect is wider. This is now a satisfactory result.
SV Sound
Chapter 9
Specifications
Model Name:
Configuration:
Design:
SB12-Plus
Small Box, front-firing 12‖ woofer
Sealed
14‖ High x 14‖ Wide x 15‖ Deep
Dimensions:
H x W x D
36 cm H. x 36 cm W. x 38 cm D.
40 lbs (18 kg)
Weight:
110~120V/60hz (US/Canada/South America)
220~240V/50hz (Europe, Russia, other)
Voltage (fixed):
Driver:
12‖ SVS designed/built ―Plus‖ woofer with high
- excursion synthetic surround, aluminum cone
with cast basket, high-temp US voice coil and
integral cooling vents
Frequency Response: 22Hz - 150Hz ± 3dB (typical in-room response
(quasi-anechoic)
3-5Hz deeper) with 20hz tuning
RCA, XLR (low level) and speaker level
Inputs/Outputs:
Gain, continuously variable phase, crossover
(defeatable), auto on, PEQ, room compensa-
tion and high-pass filter switches
Controls:
425 watt RMS
Power Handling:
Crossover:
High pass: 12dB/octave @ 80Hz
Variable low pass: 12dB/octave (40-120Hz)
.75‖ to 1‖ Medium Density Fiber-board (MDF)
with internal CNC’d bracing, and wood, gloss
or charcoal black finishes
Enclosure Material:
Chapter 10
SV Sound
Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions: Details are available on request, please contact
your Dealer for more. Note that these terms and conditions do not affect
your statutory rights.
Shipping: When you receive your new subwoofer, please check to en-
sure there is no damage. If after unpacking you discover any damage that
may have been caused by transportation on your product, we request you
contact SVS or if outside the USA your Dealer immediately and if possi-
ble, provide a photo of damage in question to them to ensure the fastest
possible correction to the situation.
Warranty: The product has a 3 year warranty against defects in materials
and workmanship. Upon return, the products will be repaired, and redeliv-
ered. Naturally, this warranty does not cover any product subjected to
misuse or accidental damage.
The bottom line: We’re proud of these subwoofers and want you to be
as happy owning one, as we are selling one (or more) to you. E-mail your
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