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There are some really cool innovations in the driver and amplifier that enable these not only to hit those impressive numbers in terms of output and deep bass extension, but also in usability and how they operate in a normal home.

You might ask, Mark, what are those innovations?

MH: Yeah, that looks crazy. That motor is a monster.

NB: This is a 60-pound motor. It’s a quad-ferrite magnet motor toroidal. We had eight-inch voice coils in our 16 Ultra to control that driver. So how do you make that better? You double it. We now have a dual eight-inch voice coil design being fed by a dual monoblock amplifier. Each voice coil gets a discrete current from the dual monoblock amplifier, which allows us to run with greater efficiency and increase the magnetic force within that motor to control the driver with absolute precision. So even at those extreme output levels, you're getting musicality, pinpoint accuracy, and pristine details. It's really refined, even for a 17-inch driver, which, as you know, can be harder to control with precision as it gets bigger.

MH: Dual eight-inch coils? That's double what you had before?

NB: Absolutely. Double the magnetic power, but also greater efficiency. The other big part is the DSP. It has five times the processing power of the 16-Ultras. It’s a 295 MHz analog devices DSP. With subwoofers, the brain isn't always as sexy as the brawn, but the amount of advanced calculations and adjustments this DSP is making in real time are critical to the subwoofer's performance.

One important factor is that you're up against the limits of what a 15-amp circuit in a home can handle. This subwoofer has power factor correction and a switch-mode power supply that regulates the power, so you always have enough current to get optimal performance out of the driver, no matter what’s coming out of the wall. A lot of that is thanks to the DSP, but also the dual mono amplifier design.

MH: Right on. And you must have really worked on that cabinet if you've got that much power going on, right?

NB: You know, that’s part of it. The cabinet is roughly the same size as the 16-Ultra models. We removed the front panel display because it really wasn’t needed anymore, thanks to how much the app is used and how effective it is. With the 17-inch drivers, we were able to maintain roughly the same cabinet volume while still achieving massive performance increases across the board.

MH: So you have ported and sealed models. You want to speak on that?

NB: Certainly. One other big thing to mention before we talk about ported versus sealed is that with the new DSP chipset, we’ll be able to add auto EQ room calibration right from your smartphone. This will be an over-the-air update to the SVS smartphone control app, allowing you to use your smartphone’s mic or an external mic to perform advanced in-room calibration. You can then further refine the sound with additional adjustments in the app.

As for the ported version, it has variable port tuning. You’ll be able to use the plugs to run it in sealed mode or extended mode, depending on if you want deeper bass down to 8 Hz or prefer to trade that for more output. The tuning can be changed within the app. Meanwhile, the SB17-Ultra will have absolute pinpoint control, great fidelity for audiophiles, and as much headroom as needed for any kind of music or home theater use.

MH: Well, I've seen you guys at some two-channel shows recently, and I've noticed 2.2 systems being shown off. You used to see it as taboo for two-channel audiophiles to use subwoofers, but I've been doing dual subs since 1992.

NB: Absolutely. If you're running bookshelf or monitor speakers, they can definitely benefit from extra support on the low end. You get a more even bass response throughout the listening area, so when you have extended seating, or areas where you want a clean, authoritative bass without peaks and nulls, dual subs really help you do that.

MH: So what we’re not worried about is these having enough power, right?

NB: I wouldn’t worry about that at all. Nor would I worry about power coming from the wall to make these sound their absolute best. Those are two things we accounted for because there’s nothing worse than having your lights flicker, right?

MH: How much does it cost to add a dedicated line?

NB: That, I don’t know—you’d have to ask your electrician. But I can tell you these subs have a very modest price increase over the 16 Ultras. The PB17-Ultra will be $2,999, and the sealed SB17-Ultra will be $2,499. They’ll be available in early October, coinciding with aggressive pricing for the 16 Ultras, which will be retired soon after. So it’ll be your last chance if you want the 16 Ultra form factor.

MH: Wow, amazing. Well, it's awesome to see you guys really upping the game. This isn’t just a cosmetic upgrade—it’s a huge power upgrade. I can see that clearly. Thanks, Nick, and I look forward to demoing them.

NB: Can't wait to hear what you think. Thanks, Mark.