SVS SB-1000 Pro Paired with Focal Aria 926

[OldRaggedDog]

I've become irritated by not being able to hear bass content on certain electronic music. I can hear everything perfectly well on my Focal Listen Pro headphones, but my speakers simply don't go much lower then 40hz.

I am considering adding a sub and after researching for a couple days I am considering SVS SB-1000 pro. I live in an apartment building and the placement options are few so this sub feels like a good option.

What concerns me is:

* Will it provide enough value for me considering that I'll probably cross it over at around 45-50 Hz, which will effectively make it responsible for 20Hz-45Hz region
* Is the group delay in this region something I should be concerned about if I plan to use it exclusively for music?

My problem is, although this one is considered a capable unit for the money, my use case is only concerned with the frequency range of 20Hz to 45Hz in which this sub may not be as good.

To get more context, here's my audio space and the sub is probably going to sit in one of the two spots between the speaker and the TV stand.


Will be happy to hear any thoughts and feedback. Maybe someone could recommend better alternatives then SVS that can go as low at 20Hz and of roughly similar sizes and can provide better performance?

 

[delta76]

Kef KC92. but that is very expensive.
similar price to SB-1000 Pro, P12-300SB-PR has better performance, but limited availability and support.

 

[Willem]

Since you live in an apartment,and probably have a relatively small living room, reducing room modes and their bass peaks will be important. The best way to good bass that does not annoy the neighbours would be to have two small subs and use dsp room eq. Two subs will spread and smoothen the peaks, and room equalization will do that even more, particularly with multiple subs. The SB1000 pro will give you some filters, but costs rather more than the SB1000 classic. So my sugestion would be to get two classic SB1000s, and use an external DSP unit. Multi Sub Optimizer software and a miniDSP 2x4HD is ideal, although quite hard work. And of course your electronics will have to allow for the line level insertion of the 2x4HD.

 

[OldRaggedDog]

Since you live in an apartment,and probably have a relatively small living room, reducing room modes and their bass peaks will be important. The best way to good bass that does not annoy the neighbours would be to have two small subs and use dsp room eq. Two subs will spread and smoothen the peaks, and room equalization will do that even more, particularly with multiple subs. The SB1000 pro will give you some filters, but costs rather more than the SB1000 classic. So my sugestion would be to get two classic SB1000s, and use an external DSP unit. Multi Sub Optimizer software and a miniDSP 2x4HD is ideal, although quite hard work. And of course your electronics will have to allow for the line level insertion of the 2x4HD.

My room is actually not that small - it's about 35 square meters (375 square feet), but the listening position is around 8-9 feet from the main speakers). I am planning to add miniDSP later in the game, as well as the other subwoofer if I see the potential with the first one. My understanding SB1000 PRO is more stable at the lowest frequencies so it may be a bonus. It's more costly but maybe it's worth it

 

[Willem]

My room is actually not that small - it's about 35 square meters (375 square feet), but the listening position is around 8-9 feet from the main speakers). I am planning to add miniDSP later in the game, as well as the other subwoofer if I see the potential with the first one. My understanding SB1000 PRO is more stable at the lowest frequencies so it may be a bonus. It's more costly but maybe it's worth it

Room acoustics are far more important than minute differences between subwoofers, and multiple subs are really useful, particularly of you want wider/multiple listening positions. See here: https://archimago.blogspot.com/2020/05/musings-measurements-subwoofers-to.html
Does your amplifier allow you to insert a 2x4HD?
I just found this simple explanation by KEF: https://uk.kef.com/blogs/news/multi...hzezHvsEuIgPuxCLPL5gh_n_4iwlzuVDqJul6-QV7Ut-E

 

[anotherhobby]

I'd also recommend two subs, one by each main, with a miniDSP, and it sounds like you are headed that direction anyway. The other tip is that I would not cross so low, but instead at 80 Hz. You will get better results, as your 926's aren't that strong down low. I have Aria 936's with a pair of JL Audio e112's and cross over at 80 Hz.

 

[OldRaggedDog]

I'd also recommend two subs, one by each main, with a miniDSP, and it sounds like you are headed that direction anyway. The other tip is that I would not cross so low, but instead at 80 Hz. You will get better results, as your 926's aren't that strong down low. I have Aria 936's with a pair of JL Audio e112's and cross over at 80 Hz.

I've come with some sort of strategy - I will be as conservative with the sub as possible - lower crossover setting, lower gain. I will play it with my bass-heavy music for some time and try to decide whether I hear what I need to hear (I have some recordings which know should provide more detail to the bass). If I still can't hear the content which I know is there, I will increase the volume and possibly change the crossover setting to a higher frequency.

This may be a silly plan but it feels like I might be able to blend it in better.

I am considering adding a miniDSP, but I have an integrated amp and I feel it may be tricky trying to get miniDSP to get along with it (I will need somehow to come up with a fixed volume on the integrated and change the volume on miniDSP itself). What I'm currently considering is using built-in DSP of the SVS subs and use miniDSP for the mains exclusively. This way I may be able to change the volume on my integrated and the calibration should remain in tact. But I've never done things like that before. The UMIK-1 is on its way.