The SVS PB12-Plus DSP subwoofer has a solid sound, and overall excellent performance.  My testing was mainly concerned about usable low distortion output, so I paired the sub with a pair of the high efficiency (about 97.5dB/watt) prototype B52 Matrix 1000 Version 4 satellites driven with a 725 watt per channel amp.  The SV Sound sub seemed to run out of steam at about 80 watts RMS level into my satellites, which is about 115dB in my lab.  That's LOUD; REALLY LOUD.  I was able to play this sub about as loud as any other in the shootout or more so.  The system was pushed very hard, and with the low pass filter set to 80 Hz, no matter how hard I pushed it, is sounded under control and played without perceptible distortion.  However, with the crossover set up as high as 120Hz (necessary to allow some overlap between the satellite speakers which only went down to 100 Hz), Listening to the sub alone playing material, I thought I could hear some distortion products from pushing the compressor hard.  I am doubtful that with the tops also playing, this would have been anything other than a slight annoyance, if it was even audible at all.  We encourage anyone considering purchasing this subwoofer for home theater usage to pair it with a multi channel speaker system that plays flat down to 80Hz anyways. The SVS handled everything I threw at it, and performed essentially without flaw.  This is something we could not say about some of the other subs in our comparative shootout. 

Application

Given the large bandwidth and output of this box, I can recommend it for either Home Theater or Audiophile use.  Home theater use is a bit more difficult as sound effects are often kicked up for dramatic effect to levels at extremely low frequency output (below 40 Hz) that you might only find at a Rave or a Rap concert.  If you are more interested in music reproduction, you can push the box a little harder and count on more output.  The PB12-Plus DSP should be fine in medium to large size living rooms, with more than adequate output for normal use.  It is not a small box, but if you want real performance down to 20 Hz, the wife needs to give up some real estate.  While this won't drive home comfortably in the back seat of your compact car, it will fit nicely into your SUV or pickup truck.  Don't count on lifting or placing it by yourself unless you move refrigerators for a living.

Visual Impressions

Of the several B52 employees who saw the cabinet, no one really liked the appearance of the American Cherry veneered cabinet.  SV Sound offers this cabinet in 4 finishes (1 more being closed out). When I first took it out, I spent about 5 minutes looking at it, trying to decide whether or not the finish was real veneer, or just vinyl. (If I was smarter, I would have just checked the outside of the cardBoard box...) If vinyl, I suppose that would be good.  If veneer, not so much.  The color was a strange cast of red.  Now Cherry is one of my favorite woods, and it is supposed to be reddish.  I prefer the darker reds to the lighter ones.  When our chief carpenter looked at it, his first impression was the wood was pine.  Then he said, no, maybe maple.  It seems pointless to argue taste, but no one who saw it really liked the veneer or the color all that much.  Everyone who saw it, had to look at it for a while, and no one seemed really sure what they heck they were looking at!  I was surprised at how uniform the visual response to the cabinet finish was, but felt better knowing it was NOT just me.... Having said all that, after seeing it for a week, I have grown accustomed to its shade, and am sure someone somewhere with a room full of Cherry furniture thinks this reviewer simply has no taste.  Since a picture is worth a thousand complaints, you can judge for yourself by looking online and see if you like the finish or not.   http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb12plus.cfm#

Strong Points in Favor of the SVS PB12-Plus DSP Subwoofer

The SVS engineering was flawless.  I could not find any major or minor issues with the performance at all, save for what sounded a little like clipping with the LP control set to 120 Hz, which might well have been the signal, not compression artifacts.   The cabinet build was solid, and there were NO audible artifacts from any overloading of the ports, even when driven with maximum pulse amplitudes at 20 Hz.  SVS recommends a step down mode if the system is to be driven below 20 Hz, as the box unloads below this frequency, so the distortion rises quickly as does the driver distress.  Just for the hell of it, I went down to 16 Hz, and near maximum amplifier power, the driver was definitely in distress.   For those of you unwilling to give up anything between 20 Hz and 16 Hz, SV Sound even includes foam plugs to re-tune the box lower to avoid these ill effects.  Seems they thought of everything!  Remember, a sealed box will be much stiffer on the cone than a vented box driven below the box tuning frequency.  That means a slower roll-off (12dB/octave vs 24 dB/octave) as well as the natural mechanical protection of the sealed box.  The settings of the amplifier compressor were so conservative in fact, I suspect that this will provide high reliability and long service life.  This is a product which is well engineered, fine tuned, and finished. (Unlike some lesser entries, it is ready for prime time!)

Conclusion

While the SV Sound subwoofer is not inexpensive, it is at a level of performance more than justified by the modest price.  Those who have been to the CES Show can go from room to room looking at $50,000 per pair speakers, as if this were a common thing.  I have done this, and after a while you begin to believe the prices set at this level are simply arbitrary.  The SV Sound PB12-Plus DSP sub is solidly built, carefully and artfully engineered, and will no doubt give its owner years of worry free high performance service. SVS won't be winning any beauty contests for this product but that's not what it's all about.  From its ungodly output capabilities, true 20Hz extension, and ability to play clean and distortion free, the PB12-Plus DSP has truly earned the right to be called a "subwoofer".  It's no wonder this mighty sub was the recipient of the Audioholics coveted 2010 Product of the Year award in the subwoofer category.

Performance does come at a price however, SIZE and weight.  Unless the prospective buyer lives in a large castle populated with multiple servants all capable of lifting this 100 plus pound box, I suggest you have a friend or two handy to help move it into your theater room.  Of course before soliciting for some extra muscle, make sure you know exactly where you want to place this behemoth.    This is not a portable product.  The cleaning lady is not going to lift the corner to vacuum under it.  Make sure, you have the space, and know where you are going to plant it.  The physics of making loud low distortion bass demand this kind of size and weight, so be prepared for it.

 
About SVSound
SVS offers an extensive line-up of high-performance subwoofers and loudspeakers.  SVS has light manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Taiwan, with several satellite offices spread across the United States. SVS sales in the USA are internet-direct, with international sales worldwide via an exclusive dealer network.  Visit www.svsound.com for more information.