Here are the Benchmark data on the PB12:

 

Evaluation Criteria	20 Hz Tune Rating (1-5)	16 Hz Tune Rating (1-5)	Summary/ Comments
Part I: General Information/Features
Packaging Solution	4.50	4.50	Package is very protective of the subwoofer, and should withstand rough handling during shipment.
Owner's Manual	4.25	4.25	Well written and comprehensive, with good diagrams and instructions on using the PEQ.  Suggestions for bassy demo scenes needs updating to reflect more current blockbusters
Size/Weight	3.00	3.00	This is a large and heavy subwoofer with a big footprint.  Make sure you have the space for it.
Floor Interface Solution	4.25	4.25	The base plate design is attractive and provides a consistent firing surface.  The optional soft rubber feet can tear off if the subwoofer is moved.
Aesthetics	4.50	4.50	The cabinet design is contemporary and handsome, and looks good from all angles.
Fit/Finish	4.75	4.75	The piano gloss cabinet finish is deep and lustrous, with no flaws in the finish.  The amp and vents were well fitted.  All screws were properly torqued and seated.
Available Finishes	5.00	5.00	A wide array to suit anyone's budget, tastes, and décor: Textured black, piano gloss black, and four real wood veneers (oak, maple, cherry, rosewood).
Part I: Raw Score	4.32	4.32
Part II: Amplifier Controls/Features
Amplifier Class			BASH Digital Hybrid.
Amplifier Power			525 watts continuous into 4 ohms.
Front Panel Controls			No.
Remote Control			No.
Main Power Switch			Yes: 2 way rocker.
User Replaceable Fuse			Yes.
Detachable Power Cord			Yes: 3 prong.
Auto-On	0.25	0.25	Yes: 2-way toggle with red/green indicator light.
Low Level Inputs	0.25	0.25	Yes: Left/Right RCA jacks.
High Level Inputs	0.25	0.25	Yes: Left/Right 5-way binding posts.
High Level Outputs	0.25	0.25	Yes: Left/Right 5-way binding posts with fixed 100 Hz high pass, 1st order slope.
Low Pass Filter	0.25	0.25	Yes: 40-120 Hz continuously variable, 2nd order slope.
Low Pass Filter Defeat/Bypass	0.25	0.25	Yes: Enable/Disable switch.
0/180 Phase Switch	0.00	0.00	Not applicable.
0-180 Variable Phase	0.50	0.50	Yes.
Overdrive Protection	0.25	0.25	Yes - attack/sustain limiter, clipping, thermal.
Single Band PEQ	0.75	0.75	Yes: cut only - frequency, Q, amplitude.
Multi-band PEQ (external or on-board)	0.00	0.00	No.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Chip	0.00	0.00	No.
Advanced Digital Bass Management (Auto EQ, GIU)	0.00	0.00	No.
Servo Feedback System	0.00	0.00	No.
Part II: Raw Score (Determined by adding scores in the 14 columns above)	3.00	3.00
Part III: Objective Testing
Quasi-Anechoic Frequency Response	4.25	5.00	Goes very deep in both tunes, but the mid-bass peak in the 20 Hz tune prevents a higher score.  The 16 Hz tune is outstanding and very flat (+/- 1.5 dB from 14-100 Hz).
Deep Bass Output Compression	5.00	4.50	Plays very loud on the FR sweeps with minimal deep bass compression.  The 16 Hz tune can be pushed into minor compression at the limits.
10% THD Output Limits 16-80 Hz	-	4.23	Very high output limits (especially at the deepest frequencies) before distortion reaches 10%.  20 Hz tune is stronger in the 22-32 Hz region.  16 Hz tune is stronger below 18 Hz.
10% THD Output Limits 18-80 Hz	4.25	4.18
10% THD Output Limits 20-80 Hz	4.41	4.08
10% THD Output Limits 22-80 Hz	4.33	3.95
10% THD Output Limits 25-80 Hz	4.21	3.94
10% THD Output Limits 32-80 Hz	4.20	4.03
Bandwidth Linearity 16-80 Hz	-	4.50	Excellent bandwidth linearity in both 20 Hz and 16 Hz tunes with respect to distortion-limited output across the pass band.
Bandwidth Linearity 18-80 Hz	4.50	4.50
Bandwidth Linearity 20-80 Hz	4.50	4.50
Bandwidth Linearity 22-80 Hz	5.00	5.00
Bandwidth Linearity 25-80 Hz	5.00	5.00
Bandwidth Linearity 32-80 Hz	5.00	5.00
Group Delay	3.25	4.25	Both tunes hold GD below 1 cycle down to 30 Hz or deeper thus minimizing audibility in the bass music regions.  GD never exceeds 1.5 cycles and the curve shows a steady rise with no abrupt changes.
System Ringing and Stored Energy Release	3.25	3.50	Exhibits a longer than average ring time, but stored energy release occurs at very deep frequencies, thus minimizing audibility.
Part III: Raw Score	4.37	4.39
Part IV: In-Room Evaluations
In-Room Frequency Response	4.25	5.00	Both tunes exhibit a mildly rising but otherwise linear in-room response.  The PEQ was useful for taming an upper-bass peak.  Extension with the 16 Hz tune is outstanding.
HT Performance	4.75	4.50	Awesome HT performance.
Music Performance	4.20	4.45	A balanced and solid performer on music.
Part IV: Raw Score	4.40	4.65
Parts I-IV: Weighted Total Score	4.29	4.38
Final Score: Total Score With Price Considered	4.72	4.82	The PB12-Plus represents an outstanding performance value at the $1,000 price point.

For details on how these numbers were calculated, see the Subwoofer Benchmark Formulae document located here.

Conclusions

The PB12-Plus is a contemporary and handsome subwoofer with excellent fit and finish, and enough finish options to fit any décor. SVS is known for making large subwoofers, because a high cabinet volume is so beneficial to good performance and efficiency at the deepest frequencies. The PB12-Plus is no exception, so make sure you have the space in your music/theater room for this large subwoofer.

The efficient and cool-running Indigo BASH amp has useful features like an electronic limiter to help protect the woofer under extreme operating conditions, a PEQ control (premium finishes only) for taming an in-room response peak, and a continuously variable phase control which allows optimum phasing of the mains and sub and easy integration of multiple subwoofers.

The PB12-Plus variable tuning design allows the enthusiast to easily and quickly select the best combination of output and extension to suit his/her particular preferences and room size. I like the new porting arrangement which features a 20 Hz tune with all three ports open, and a 16 Hz tune with two ports open. Retaining two 3" vents in the 16 Hz tune will minimize the potential for port chuffing at high playback levels.

Since the PB12-Plus performed very well in the objective tests, its strong performance in home theater applications was no surprise. In my mid-size room, the 20 Hz tune provided impressive dynamics and authority, with useable extension to 17 Hz. Maximum output in the 16 Hz tune was somewhat more sedate, but extension improved to a subterranean 13 Hz.

For music, I found the PB12-Plus exhibited good detail, excellent deep extension, and well-preserved pitch. I preferred the 16 Hz tune over the 20 Hz tune for music applications, likely due to its flatter in-room FR and marginally better phase and decay behavior.

If you have the space for a large subwoofer, the PB12-Plus offers class-leading performance value at the $1,000 price point.
 

- Ed Mullen -