I am currently looking to purchase as sub to compliment my HT system. I have an Onkyo TX-SR702 receiver, Athena AS-F2, AS-B2, and AS-C1 speakers. The subs I have looked at and am considering are the SVS 20-39 PCi and PC+. What are your recommendations on this. My room size is 20 x 25 with ceiling going from 9' to 25' as it opens to the second story of my house. I am 50% cable watcher, 25% music, 25% DVD movies. Any help would be appreciated.
If you want a cylindrical subwoofer the SVS's are the way to go. They also make good (and less obtrusive) box subwoofers--as do Outlaw Audio and HSU. I have a large room like yours and have 2 HSU subs at $599 each. In a big room 2 subs seem to keep the bass from being directional and smooth out the bass in the soundfield. But the SVS is fine if you prefer the design and performance. Cylindricals, like the SVS model, generally give you better performance at the price point, since they don't have parallel surfaces and they have a large internal volume for the size. Most people don't buy them because of the large appearance making them more noticeable and just because they are unaware. HSU used to make cylindricals, but I guess the market for them wasn't that large.