Best SVS Subwoofer 

The American-made enclosed active subwoofer was tested in a well-designed movie theater. The appearance is aesthetic and modern. It has a glossy black surface with rounded edges and a square front display that’s extremely visible from 15 meters away, but can be dimmed or even turned off if it’s distracting. Thanks to the closed and stable MDF casing, vibration is minimal. Fitted with a fiberglass plastic composite cone, a steel grill protects the speaker, which is a very practical solution but not too nice.

Best Dual Subwoofer Deals:  

Amazon

SVS PB16-Ultra 1500 Watt 16″ Ported Cabinet Subwoofers – Pair (Black Oak Veneer)  –   $5,599.0 You can also pay monthly for $466.58/month

World Wide Stereo

SVS SB16-Ultra 1500 Watt DSP Controlled 16″ Subwoofers – Pair (Piano Gloss Black)  –  $4,399.00 You can also pay monthly for $153/month

Crutchfield

SVS SB16 Ultra Review

The glossy case surface is quite delicate, so it must be handled with care and attention. The 55kg 40cm device is rated at 1500 watts and peak power of up to 5000 watts via a MOSFET circuit. Such high performance was required because airflow within the enclosed speakers could reduce performance, so design engineers had to find a solution to compensate for sound problems caused by low SPL.

Force enclosed in a box

The Class D Sledge amplifier is powered by a 50 MHz signal control processor. This is worth mentioning because the SB16’s main goal is not to radiate wall-breaking bass, but to convey the sounds of the broadcast clearly, intelligibly, and in detail. The amplifiers are made in Canada.

The transmission frequency is between 16-460 Hz. Thanks to the 4 ferrite magnets in the cast aluminum basket, the 20 cm diameter pendulum coil, and the heat-resistant NOMEX pickup, distortion is extremely low. The size of the pendulum coil is remarkable since 50mm pendulum coils have been used before, in the case of the SB16 this coil is 200mm, and huge ferrite magnets are also used, which will make the sound much more stable, and balanced and clear. The 200mm pendulum coil definitely requires huge magnets. A lot of force is required to move the membrane firmly, barely suspended. The SB16 Ultra subwoofer has a closed system, so the air flowing inside resists the membrane completely.

The remote control is the size of a credit card. The subwoofer also has rubber feet to prevent scratching your floor. Even though the subwoofer has been given a really solid casing, it is worth considering placing a granite speaker pad below the subwoofer and the other speakers, or even on top of them, which reduces resonances completely.

SVS sounds even in the lowest and deepest ranges without distortion. The subwoofer has a wide range of settings, also thanks to the parametric EQ.

Nowadays, it is almost a basic expectation among audio and HiFi fans to have calibration software available for the speaker as well. This is no different for the SVS subwoofer. You can also adjust the filter modes, frequency responses, volume, and phase with the software. This app can also be operated via a mobile phone, but you can also make settings using the infrared remote control.

Of course, room calibration software alone won’t solve the problems of an untreated room with poor acoustics, which is why it’s important to treat room walls, ceilings, and window surfaces with the right acoustic products. If the sound is ideal in a room, room calibration programs can really work effectively.

It is really easy to install and configure, it did not cause any difficulties. Balanced stereo XLR and unbalanced stereo RCA inputs and outputs, a 12V trigger jack is located on the unit. If you want to filter out the bass from the main speakers, it is also recommended to use a stereo preamplifier or surround sound processor with a built-in subwoofer. The mobile app also runs on Android or iOs devices, of course, the subwoofer also has a Bluetooth connection. Up to multiple SB16 Ultra, devices can be controlled at the same time. You can also set Music and Movie modes.

Sound

We first tried the subwoofer while watching a movie. We watched the adventure movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, released in 2017. Combined with the Dynaudio Contour 60 speakers and Denon AVC X8500H home theater amplifier, the SVS subwoofer worked great. While watching the movie, we experienced very natural and clear sounds. Placed in the middle of the acts, the subwoofer, with its intense beautiful balanced sound and ideal bass, gave us an accurate, dynamic, and detailed experience.

We also tested the performance of the subwoofer in the field of music. We listen to the song Master of Puppets by Metallica. Dynamics and precision, as well as detail, turned out to be absolutely perfect. However, for higher bass, we did hear some sound issues. The performance and sound could have been even more perfect for the upper bass sounds.

Verdict

The SB16 Ultra subwoofer can be a good choice for any home theater or music fanatic. Thanks to its respectable size and power amp and DSP processor, it can deliver even the lowest and deepest sounds without distortion. The closed MDF casing also ensures distortion-free operation. The exterior has a really nice gloss piano lacquer finish. However, the lacquered surface is delicate and shows fingerprints. Of course, it also has a useful and easy-to-configure room correction program. With the help of a downloadable app that can also be controlled via mobile phone, we have a wide range of setting methods. The screen can be read very well even from a greater distance.

The steel grill that protects the speaker is practical, but not aesthetic. We found some sound bugs in the high bass, the upper bass could be further refined and improved. On the negative side, we would mention the large and heavy sizes and the rather high price. Compared to its predecessor, there have been no significant changes in quality, but at the same time its price has become much higher. While the SB16 isn’t perfect in every way, it deserves a high position among its competitors in the market.