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SVS Pc 4000 Review

Short Description SVS Pc 4000

Reference Caliber Bass with Less Floorspace Required With a footprint measuring just 16 in diameter the iconic cylinder subwoofer design is only available from SVS and achieves unparalleled low frequency output and deep bass extension per inch of floor-space. Sophisticated DSP technology in the PC-4000 creates three port-tuning modes each with individual response curves to achieve the most accurate in-room frequency response possible. The PC-4000 also comes standard with the SoundPath Subwoofer Isolation System for cleaner sounding bass with increased definition and more punch without room rattle and reduced bass bleed to the rest of the house.

Pros and Cons SVS Pc 4000

Pros:

Great bass

Built-in parametric equalizer

Convenient mobile application for remote access

Cons:

No automatic calibration

Unusual form factor

SVS Pc 4000 Price:

Verdict

If room space is an issue but you still want great bass, the SVS PC 4000 is the perfect choice.

The SVS has been a staple in the home theater industry for 20 years now and I have been the proud owner of one of the PC-Ultra barrel subwoofers for the past 13+ years.

Most people prefer to have their subwoofers in a box rather than a vertical cylinder for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, if floor space is an issue, a cylinder (depending on its height) can provide a similar volume to a smaller cabinet. The PC-4000 with a 13.5″ driver is 16.5″ in diameter. But it’s just under 47 inches, so unless you hide it behind a house tree, it won’t exactly disappear into the room.

The SVS PC 4000 refers to the recently released 400 SVS series subwoofers that use some of the technology developed for the PB16-Ultra and SB16-Ultra flagships that I reviewed in late 2016 ($2,500 and $2,000 respectively, Feb/March 2017, soundandvision .com). The PC-4000 has two single-level field form elements, the isolated SB-4000 ($1,500) and the PB-4000 ($1,900), which, like the PC-4000, is portable and contains the same hardware. The PB-4000 has a significant depth of 20.5 x27.7 inches and it weighs 60 percent more than the PC-4000 (153 pounds vs. 92).

The power rating of the PC-4000 is slightly less than that of the PB-4000. The last subwoofer is a few Hz deeper (3Hz deeper in extended mode than the PC-4000 rated at 16Hz, according to the spec), and this provides a few more decibels of output overall.

Old friend

As noted below, I now use multiple subwoofers in my system. But I’ve had the only cylindrical model subwoofer for a long time. In my room, the sweet spot for the subwoofer is in the front left corner. This arrangement provides the most performance due to the amplification of the room. Unfortunately, there is a fireplace that detracts from this area, and placing a sub in this corner is impossible without unwise changes to the room. However, the cylindrical subwoofer fits nicely into the room.

The SVS PC 4000 arrived with a shipping box that looked terrible. I was nervous as I unpacked, but the well-packaged sub arrived without a hint of damage; SVS certainly knows how to pack their goods for the long journey to a customer’s home. Although the sub is heavy, most of its weight is in the base where the driver and amplifier are located.

Compared to my Vintage PC-Ultra, the SVS PC 4000 has a new look. First, the top ring finishes with a black lacquer sheen, which is nice. Also, the fabric wrapped around the tube is not as fuzzy as my base subwoofer and has a thinner, more refined quality. The PC-4000 comes with SVS’s standard SoundPath subwoofer isolation system (review on our website), accessories that I added to my PC-Ultra. Another change in design concerns the body base. My older stand has a wooden plinth about 2 inches below the woofer (with the legs attached to the bottom). The PC-4000 lacks this, so I’m curious to see how it balances when on carpet.

The technical details are extremely impressive, highlighting the powerful new 4000 series driver. Besides its 13.5″ diameter, it weighs 49.6 pounds and is equipped with an eight-layer aluminum flat wire 3″ voice coil as well as two complex ferrite magnets. Turning on this impressive woofer is the Sledge STA-1200D amplifier, rated at 1200W and over 4000W (see Tim “Tool Man”). The amplifier has both balanced and unbalanced inputs/outputs, a 3V-12V trigger input and a detachable grounded power cord.

APP SETUP

For the initial setup, there are three options for configuring the various controls. Above the SVS logo next to the base of the cylinder is an LED display as well as control buttons. If you don’t want to bend over, you can do all the manipulations with the IR remote (line of sight required). Or better yet, download the SVS app from the iTunes Store or Google Play and use your phone/tablet to connect to the sub via Bluetooth. This is the most convenient of the three options as you don’t have to learn how to navigate through a somewhat complicated menu tree.

In addition to volume control, the app lets you set a low-pass filter, phase, polarity, and room gain compensation (a very important feature in rooms where the lowest frequencies are exaggerated), and even includes a parametric equalizer (PEQ). PEQs are convenient because they allow you to set your desired filter frequency (from 20 to 200 Hz), increase or decrease the SPL gain (dB) or filter band attenuation, and adjust the bandwidth (Q factor) to adjust the subwoofer output to match. with your room. In addition, there are three user presets (Movie, Music and Custom) to save settings for different listening scenarios. You can select them from the app with the click of a button.

I have four subwoofers: an SVS PC Ultra, a 15″ Hsu Research VTF-15H MK2, and two 10″ JL Audio Fathom f110s, all of which have been meticulously calibrated with miniDSP along with the free Room Equalizer software. For this review, I originally ran the PC-4000 on its own with no equalization applied, but I ended up using Anthem Room Correction (ARC) from my pre/pro AVM 60.

I ran all my tests in the sub’s default mode, but SVS provides ports that allow you to customize to your liking. Plugging in one port – and changing a setting in the SVS application – puts the sub in advanced mode. This means that it will have more power below 20Hz, but less than maximum performance compared to the standard mode. If you isolate all three ports, the resonance below 35Hz will be reduced in level, but the bass will be a bit tighter and more controlled. If I were to use this sub for music only, I would prefer isolation. Keep in mind that each mode works well with all types of content, so you choose to question your environment, your preferred listening levels, and how you like when your bass sounds.

Isn’t that a hit?

Listening to subwoofers is one of my main things. (However, I have found that my wife and dog don’t seem to appreciate the deep bass scenes that are played at control levels). Luckily, there are plenty of movie-worthy moments that highlight the sub’s ability to play deep and loud.

By far my favorite Michael Bay movie is 13 Hours, which tells the story of the survivors of the Benghazi attack. Whether or not you agree with the film’s subtle political undertones, the Blu-ray is worth a look at the Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Sure, the overhead effects are great, but the bass response is what really sets it apart. The latest assault on the CIA has it all: shots including small arms and 50 caliber pulse weapons, and mortar rounds that generate a lot of bass. The PC-4000 lived up to every expectation I had for this film. I could not only hear the kick of the bass, but feel it as an underground sound shook my room on its raised foundation. Hearing a .50 caliber machine gun is impressive enough, and every shot,

Hans Zimmer : Live in Prague is the newest addition to my Blu-ray library and its mix with Dolby Atmos bass addition is outstanding. The concert features various versions of his films, including excerpts from Gladiator, Inception and Pirates of the Caribbean. « What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World? ‘ from Man of Steel is one of the best tracks on the disc as it features a full orchestra, especially the bass section. The SVS PC 4000 paired perfectly with my M&K Sound S-150 satellite system as the Blu-ray dropped below 80Hz. Zimmer loves to use drums, cellos and bass, so a subwoofer that fits the job is a must.

Two is better than one

I really like the PC-4000. Sure, it’s about 8 inches taller than my base subwoofer, and with the upgraded internals it has more output and can dig deeper. This was especially noticeable on tracks that went below 18Hz bass that was felt rather than heard. And setting up this subwoofer is a lot easier given its remote access and handy phone/tablet app.

My only issue is that I would like SVS to provide a microphone and software (or app) to allow the built-in PEQ to be used without having to use a third party software solution or manually create custom curves with SPL and a spreadsheet. Of course, this would add cost, and it may not be necessary for many users given how good room correction software is in most AVRs these days. Small things aside, this is a fantastic subwoofer, and if space is an issue for your system, it’s worth checking out using the SVS 45-day trial at home. Even better, take two to enjoy lighter sound and more even coverage in your listening environment. Highly recommended.

Specifications SVS Pc 4000

Power 1200 W

Max power 4000 W

Class D Amplifier

Inputs: RCA (LFE), RCA (linear), balanced XLR 2 pcs., trigger

Outputs: RCA (LFE), RCA (linear), balanced XLR 2 pcs.

Dimensions (HxWxD) 119×41.9×41.9 cm