SVSound SB12-Plus Review

April 28, 2017 Speakers Subwoofers

SVSound SB12-Plus

Product Name: SB12-Plus
Manufacturer: SVSound
Performance Rating:
Value Rating:
MSRP:
$
699 (Vinyl) $749 (Veneer)

Specifications

Sensitivity (2.83 V/1m):
86.5 dB spl

Amp. Power: BASH© High-efficiency 425W hybrid-class,
digital-switching power amp

Rated Impedance: 4
Ohms

Frequency Response (+/- 3, -6, -10 dB): 22 Hz (-3 dB) –
300 Hz (+ .2 dB); 20 Hz (-6 dB) – 300 Hz (+ .2 dB); 19 Hz (-10 dB) – 300 Hz (+
.2 dB)

Bass
Principle: Acoustic Suspension

Cabinet Dimensions (W x H x L): 13.5″x 13.5″x 13.5″
(342.9mm x 342.9mm x 342.9mm) without grill cloth

Active Processors: Crossover: active lowpass filter,
variable,40 – 120 Hz
Parametric EQ: Variable Q (.1 to .9 octave), variable
attenuation level (0 to -12 dB), and variable frequency (20 –80 Hz);
Variable
phase (0 –180 degrees), and Room Compensation (variable slope highpass filter)
(Small, Medium, Large Bypass)

Connection: Line Level: RCA & XLR jacks; speaker level:
5-way, gold-plated binding posts

Recommended
Placing: Corner placement suggested

Shipping Weight:
40 lbs (18.1 kg)

Pros

Near-20Hz -3dB point in a small cabinet
Full Spectrum processor set
5 available finishes
Updated driver & well constructed cabinet

Cons

Driver Mildly Noisy At Max Levels

Introduction

SVSound is no stranger to the hallowed pages of Audioholics.com. Building their reputation on products with a high bang-for-the-buck value (and this small sub is one impressively big bang-for-the-buck product), they are renowned for their comparatively large products, such as the mighty SVS PB12Plus-/2 reviewed earlier in this web page.

SVSound is no stranger to the hallowed pages of Audioholics.com. Building
their reputation on products with a high bang-for-the-buck value (and this

small

sub is one
impressively big bang-for-the-buck product), they are renowned for their comparatively large products,
such as the mighty

SVS PB12Plus-/2

reviewed earlier in this web
page.

Wait a sec…

small

?

Huh SVSound?

SVSound has a product line that is in a constant state of evolution and the SB12-Plus
is their answer to the needs of the market segment that has been clamoring for a smaller sub for those
applications where something like the PB12Plus-/2 would be outright overkill and not likely to meet
with the approval of any significant others dwelling within earshot of said item.

First Impressions

Unpacking the
SB12-Plus was pretty quick and I had it out of the box and up
&
running in under 5 minutes. As has
been my experience with other SVSound products, the design of the shipment carton
&
packing is well
thought out and provides for a safe transport container.

Right from the get-go its obvious SVSound has spared nothing where it came to
distilling their engineering know-how into this small (for them!) subwoofer. They’ve brought
forward most of the same processor features found in their larger, more costly products, fitted it out
with a seriously tweaked 12″
driver and packed it all into a cabinet with a footprint only
slightly larger than 1 square foot.

Small.


Black Vinyl	Oak	Maple	Gloss Black	Rosenut

SVSound offers the SB12-Plus in a variety of finishes (Black Vinyl, Oak, Maple, Gloss
Black and Rosenut). Whether you’re choosing the finish to minimize visual impact, harmonize with
your décor or just keeping the significant other happy, having a variety of available finish options is
important.

The model delivered for review featured a maple finish ,a clean faceplate, (no mount
points!) and a back panel bristling with enough knobs, switches and jacks to keep all but the most
terminally tweak contented.

The Driver

The driver chosen for this model, the Plus 12.3 is the 3rd version or generation
(hence the “.3”) of a driver that has already established a successful track record with
SVSound. Two years in the making, it represents a significant advancement over the original item.
Here’s a current list of design highlights:

Bi-filar wound, high-temp, 4-layer 2″aluminum voice coil with Mil-spec polyimide
insulation

High temperature polyamide voice coil bobbin/former
Dual progressive poly-cotton spiders with integrated power leads
Custom tooled spider landing for increased lateral stability
Cast aluminum frame with integrated cooling vents –
epoxy powder-coat finish
Chrome plated spring loaded push terminals
Integrated single piece rubber wrap-around gasket
Black anodized high grade aluminum cone diaphragm with inverted aluminum dust-cap
High-excursion, custom SBR surround (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber)
Dual stacked select grade ferrite magnets
Low carbon 1008 steel single piece T-yoke and gap plate –
electrophoresis finish
Absolute highest quality acrylic adhesives used throughout
Extreme excursion capability, enhanced efficiency and durability
Small batch, hand-built in SVS’s dedicated Ohio assembly line