Norm S.

I would like to report what I found.
It seems the original sub sent to me SVS felt as though the internal amp was malfunctioning, so SVS did in fact send me a new amplifier to install and see if that fixed the problem of no volume, as well they sent me a new replacement screen which was somehow was bent not sure if it was this way from the factory or during the shipping.

I did have my audio guy come over and replace the internal amplifier which is very straight forward when you remove it back it is self-contained, we then fired the sub up went thru the programming of the sub and set it up to SVS specifications, as well as had a SVS technician on the phone at the same time walking us thru the process. While I can report the bass in fact is very solid and deep there was just not any real volume that came out of either amplifier. We had the sub set on 0 which you could hear some distortion as maybe it was clipping a bit, when we lowered the sub to say -15 to -20 dB as the SVS technician stated most people list to the sub at we simply could not get enough volume out of the sub. This time we did a side by side comparison and I had my Paradigm Seismic 12" right next to my SVS PB16, and with the technician on my speaker phone we went back and forth from one to another, I hate to say it but all 3 of us could hear my 12" Paradigm shake my room and was quite a bit louder than the SVS PB16 at full volume.

Summary, in the end SVS did stand behind their product they did send me a new amp to replace the one they thought defective, I was however disappointed that they did not feel any urgency to get it out to me, it took them a week to get it to me, I would say if I purchased their flagship model and something was defective, I would have overnighted the amp to any customer. The sub is huge and by huge I means it looks amazing, it is beautiful and if I could recommend any finish it would be the piano black. The speaker does take up a lot of real estate but man it looks killer, the fit and finish is absolutely 1st rate. You would be proud to have this piece in your house. This sub is a piece of art.
In the end I did in fact return the sub to SVS, they were great at taking it back, they sent the shippers back out to pick it up within a few days, and said they will refund my money within a few days, so as for the manufacture SVS does for sure stand behind their product, if you are looking for a tight background bass, that does not shake your room, or blow your hair back, or a sub you can turn it up until your ears bleed then you have to say I give, this sub is for you. If you are looking for a sub to piss off your neighbors, make your room shake your painting vibrate off your wall this sub is not for you. If I can leave any take away this sub just does not have much volume or punch at all, its full, rich, and deep, but it will not impress you. As I stated earlier in a side by side comparison my 12" Paradigm not only was louder but seriously shook my room compared to the SP16. If someone were to judge what this speaker should sound like based on its dimensions I understand how truly awe inspiring it looks, but if you are looking for hard hitting loud bass, or bass which would do justice to Dr. Dre this speaker simply does not deliver... at -15 to -22 were SVS claims most folks would listen to it honestly it is very weak, at 0 its better but still not much volume and you can hear it clipping. In fairness to SVS perhaps this speaker was damaged in the shipping or is defective during the manufacturing, I am not sure. In the end with the disappointing sound, having to wait a week for a replacement amp, then incurring several hundred dollars of labor for my stereo guy to come out set it up, replace the amp, set it up again, and again having a amp that simply I don't know how to make this any clearer, it just does not have any volume what so ever. I am walking away from this looking to purchase another sub, I would not say that SVS does not make other high quality products as I do not have any personal experience with them, but after several weeks from start to finish, I am now starting the process to find new subs all over again, the PB16 will not be on my recommend list or would I purchase it again. I hope this provides very honest feedback to those of you considering SVS PB16. I do not understand how so many reviewers rave about this sub, unless they are getting paid for their review. Just talking to SVS again this week, looking at other subs they informed me the 2nd amp they sent me also might have been defective. One would think for their flagship model a customer would not have to go thru this. I will not be purchasing any SVS sub now or in the future. I am very disappointed, I was its biggest fan, but in the end, I had to let it go...

I would stay away from this company. I have been trying to order tee shirts for 4 out of the last 5 days their website has been down due to high traffic. You canny t contact them thru their help app as the webiste is closed down, there is no phone number to call in your order since eir website is closed. I have go e back to purchasing my tee shirts from my favorite store. This company has some pretty cool tee shirts but you have to really want to do business with them. In fact I got a discount code that expires in 48 hours but now since heir website has been closed the offer has expired