SVS SB-1000
Product Name: SVS SB-1000
Product Description: 300 Watts Subwoofer
-
Design - 9/10
9/10
-
Movies Performance - 8.8/10
8.8/10
-
Music Performance - 9.2/10
9.2/10
-
Inputs and Features - 9/10
9/10
-
Price / Quality - 9/10
9/10
Summary
Total Score
Pros
- Clear and precise bass
- Excellent build quality
- Very small footprint
- Good price for an SVS product
Cons
- Not suitable for large spaces
- It lacks the punch of bigger subs
- Doesn’t go as low as other similar subs
- The front power led can be a bit distracting
Cheapest Places to Buy :
*We are a reader-supported website. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Home Media Entertainment does not accept money for reviews.*
If you are dealing with audio and more specifically home theater sound for some time then the name SVS will ring more than a few bells. And while the company has made a name for their quality speakers in general a lot of people praise their top of the line premium subwoofers they have created over the years. And while many home theater fans tend to prefer the bigger offerings the company is manufacturing there is certainly the need for smaller sized speakers for people that cannot either afford to go big or space limitations are not allowing it.
For this specific reason SVS is offering a couple of small sized subwoofers that were created exactly for this reason. To satisfy those consumers that are limited by space but don’t want to sacrifice much in quality. For this specific group SVS created not one, but two subwoofers with the SB-1000 and the PB-1000 models covering the small-sized segment of their subwoofers lineup. In today’s SVS SB-1000 review we will be looking at the first of the two, being a sealed-type variant, and test how it behaves both in movies and music. Is this subwoofer’s size a limiting factor or is there more to it than meets the eye? Let’s find out.
Design, Inputs and Features
Exterior
When you first look at the SB-1000 the first impression it gives you is how small this thing actually is. With a cubic design the subwoofer has a rather small footprint so if you are worried about space afraid not as this one here can fit almost anywhere so it surely gives you plenty of freedom when it comes to placing it in your room. It measures 13.5″ (H) x 13″ (W) x 14.6″(D) with the grille on while it weights just 27 pounds making it one lightweight subwoofer so moving it around is as easy as it gets.
It’s design is rather simple and with it’s small size it will mostly go unnoticed no matter where you place it which we consider a good thing. It comes with nice round corners to give it a bit of character while the front is almost completely covered by the driver. The grille covers the entire front face and it has a centered SVS logo on the bottom center while it’s corners follow the same curvy design of the main body. The cabinet is made out of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) with the front panel being 1″ thick while the other panels seem to be a bit thinner at 0.75″. On the inside SVS has placed 2″ thick of damping material on all four sides.
Looking it at the front, on the top left side of the 12″ frontal driver, there is a small LED light that indicates when the subwoofer is powered on. When it receives a signal the light turns blue while when in standby it turns red. Having the light on the front is a matter of personal taste with some prefer it while others may find it a bit distracting. When you have the grille fitted the light naturally is very subtle but as many people will for sure like to have it without the grille and use it in dark environments then it may become a bit bothering. There are three color variations available with Premium Black Ash, Piano Gloss Black and Piano Gloss White being the ones you can choose from.
At the back we find all the available controls, buttons and connections that we will analyze a bit further down this article. In general the SB-1000 is a compact subwoofer and it is pretty clear why it was designed like this. If you don’t have the luxury to go big then this one here will definitely fit the bill.
Internal Hardware
The SB-1000 comes with a forward firing 12″ driver and given the small size of the outer shell it covers almost completely the front panel. The driver has a long throw design and utilizes a lightweight treated fiber composite cone along with a rubber surround. Dual high-grade ferrite magnets along with FEA-optimized motor technology for low distortion, a vented pole piece for greater cooling and low noise and a high-power voice coil for excellent thermal management complete what seems to be a light duty design.
SVS equipped the SB-1000 with a STA-300D Class D amp that is using a sledge design and can provide 300 watts of continuous power (720 watts peak dynamic power). What is particularly interesting with this amp is that it comes with an advanced DSP signal processor something that is not very usual to see in a budget-friendly $499 subwoofer. Usually most cheap subs use analogue circuits which provide less precision so having a DSP puts this subwoofer ahead of most of the competition.
The subwoofer comes with an input impedance of 47 kΩ (unbalanced RCA) / 2 kΩ (speaker level) and frequency response is 24Hz-260Hz at +/-3dB.
Connectivity
Connectivity wise the SB-1000 comes with the standard LFE coaxial port as well as a pair of line level input. Above these we get a pair of line level outuputs while below there are 2 pairs of 5 way high level speaker wire inputs. Lastly there is a 3V-12V AC/DC trigger input which is not very usual in this price range so are a bit surprised to find one here.
Controls
The subwoofer comes with all the usual control we find in such speakers. As such there is a power switch, an auto standby/on switch as well as 3 round knobs with the first controlling the volume, the second being for the phase and the third being for the 50Hz-160Hz low pass filter (LPF). We should point out that these dials are not analogue but rather digital actuators which means they provide much more precise and noise-free adjustments and this shows how much attention to detail SVS is putting on their speakers, even the lower priced ones.
Extra Features
For those power sensitive the SB-1000 consumes less that 0.5 watts when it switches into standby mode making it even more cost friendly in the long run. The subwoofer is also RoHS compliant with it’s lead-free construction for those that also care about the environment.
Performance
The “SB” in it’s name indicates the sealed-box type design the SB-1000 comes with and with such a small footprint and size things are very easy when it comes to it’s placement in our viewing area. Usually subwoofers should be placed near a wall or a corner in order to enhance the low frequencies so in our situation we placed it on the front left corner right next to the left front speaker with about 1 meter setting them apart.
Movies
For this review we decided to test a couple of films that we thought were exactly what we needed in order to see how capable the SB-1000 was with bass heavy action scenes. The first one being Saving Private Ryan with it’s 4K UHD version coming with an amazing and bombastic Dolby Atmos track. Naturally the opening scene with the landing of the Allied forces on Omaha beach provide enough material for the subwoofer to stretch it’s legs and show us if it had what it takes in order to bring to life such a dramatic scene.
The Omaha beach landing has many elements that can keep the subwoofer pretty busy. Artillery fire, German machine guns and explosions are in the menu and the first thing that was immediately apparent was the precision and clarity of the bass. And while the subwoofer seemed to keep a straight face most of the time it felt like it lacked the necessary power to make the explosions sound like real ones. All the low frequencies seemed to be reproduced faithfully but it felt like real depth was missing in order to strike us in fear.
During the climatic battle at Ramelle, tank rumble was very distinct but again we felt like it was missing the necessary weight to make us feel uneasy. Tank cannon fire as well as grenade explosions had good dynamics and made us feel some vibrations but needed a bit more punch to make them feel really menacing.
The second film we tested was Jurassic World in 4K UHD which has a very nice DTS:X audio track. The film provides plenty of opportunities for the subwoofer to give it all as it is a bit more subtle than Saving Private Ryan. Dinosaur roars felt very realistic but for they heavy footsteps we would like to feel a bit more rumble. With the film providing a more balanced execution the SB-1000 kept playing along as there was no need for so raw power that could make us feel like something was missing making us enjoy every minute of it.
Music
Next we went through a series of music tracks to see how the modest SB-1000 could handle something more subtle like music. The subwoofer showed solid dynamics and nice details during kick drums but we would like a bit more punch to give it this little extra that would make the tracks shine. Sometimes depth was missing that would make us feel more engaged and deep bass wasn’t quite there as we would like. But even with these shortcomings the SB-1000 was able to keep it’s composure and it’s really amazing that such a small subwoofer can produce so much bass. From our testings it was obvious what this little subwoofer’s limitations are but if you consider it’s size and price it’s definitely an achievement how it performs.
Final Thoughts
Closing this review we cannot but feel happy with how such a small subwoofer like this managed to behave even under stressful situations. It may not have the ability to go crazy low as some other speakers do and it was not able to rumble our viewing area in the same way as some other ported subwoofers were able to but for such a small size the SB-1000 was able to provide very clean and precise bass while we are certain that it will provide enough lows for most people that are not seeking anything spectacular.
This speaker was created with a specific mindset. To provide a quality constructed subwoofer with a price that would be affordable to most, keep as small a design as possible for those that are extremely restricted by space and all these without compromising it’s performance by much. It may not be the cheapest option in this size but the SVS SB-1000 is a subwoofer that can accompany any kind of compact audio system from simple stereo setups up to small sized surround systems and provide you with all the bass you will ever need. If you are not crazy about bass but you want a quality small sized subwoofer then look no further because here we have a winner.
For more reviews you can check our dedicated Subwoofer reviews list or even look at our Product Reviews Table where you can find the brand and specific product you are looking for.
Cheapest Places to Buy :
*We are a reader-supported website. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Home Media Entertainment does not accept money for reviews.*
Hello there,
A classmate of mine recommended this to me after he bought it a few weeks ago.
The weight and size were main reason I liked it. Well, I am not over expectant in terms of performance because of its small size.
But if you compare it with other subwoofers of its size, this one is surely a winner.
Thanks for the really in-depth review. It went a long way in convincing me it is the best fit for me.
I am glad our review helped you decide Dave. If you need any more help let me know.
My subwoofer just broke. I took it for repair but the technician told me that it costs a lot and I’ll be better of buying a new one.
I’ve looked around for a bit but I think that this SVS SB-1000 suits me the best since my place is not too large and I want it both for movies and music.
Thanks a lot for the review!
You you have a small room the the SB-1000 will definitely fill the bill Harry.
I love how the SB-1000 is so compact making space placement peace of cake since it can pretty much fit ANYWHERE. I never had an SVS before although I am on the fence of getting one as it is perfect for any small sized home theater. The price is a bit high but everything SVS is expensive. But I prefer quality over any cheap sub on the market.
Quality is one of SVS characteristics. Yes they are not cheap but as you said you buy quality and this costs a bit more. If you are unsure I will tell you to try asking for a test and then decide. But in our opinion it is a very capable little sub.
It looks like a very good one, but it isn’t for us. Why? I saw the con, and we have a huge space. It is sad, since we’re looking for one, our other one blew up, thanks to our friend. Now, I will keep looking, hopefully I find one! Anyway, thanks for sharing it with us.
If you are looking for a bigger sub you can also check out our SVS SB-2000 review which may suit your needs better.
Hi Stratos
Thanks a lot for the very thorough review and details explanation on the SVS SB-1000.
You did an excellent job by highlighting the best features of it.
I’m really interested in the SB-1000. I think it would be a great match for my current Emotive Ultra Sub 12.
The only disadvantage is the lack of a balanced (XLR) input. That one feature would make it PERFECT!
Definitely worth bookmarking this page for future use. I will surely come back here for reference.
Regards
Samm
If you need XLR inputs then you have to check a different sub Samm. Usually you won’t find such inputs in low priced subwoofers so you will have to go to a more expensive category to get these.
Hi. What are the dimensions of your listening area?
Hi David. Our testing area is around 13.5 ft by 13.5 ft (4.1m x 4.1m).
I am thinking of purchasing the sealed dual SVS SB-1000. My base dimensions are 36′ x 11′.
The subs would be strictly for a two-way stereo system. My system is 12′ from front wall, my sitting position is 12″ from stereo and back wall is 12.
My question is would two of these subs be able to do the job, giving that there is so much room?
Regards
Marty
I forgot to mention is that the reason why I’m looking at two subs instead of one is that I’ve heard from people at audio shows that it’s better to have two smaller subs than one bigger one for music.
Regards
Marty
Hello Marty. It’s hard to say when I don’t know how demanding you are on bass. For the dimensions you mention I don’t know if the SB-1000 will cut it. Going for a dual setup will certainly improve things a lot as a single SB-1000 would certainly not be enough and you will have to go for this sealed SB version as it’s more suited for music but I’m thinking if the 1000 version will be enough for you.
You know, I’m troubled because for me it’s easy to say if it will be enough or not and be done with it but the reality is that you and me hear sound differently and have different expectations of sound. So even if for me this dual SB-1000 could be enough you may find it underwhelming. But my hypothesis would be that a dual SB-2000 setup would be preferable for that space but I don’t know if your budget can go for that.
SVS products called as high quality but if you can check their most expensive subs’S amplifiers (ultra16 for example), you’ll see the cheapest chinese capacitor brand that is famous with leakage issues.Other components as well. I’d expect audio grade Japanese caps. like Nichicon, Elna, Panasonic, etc….All the fuss about ”SVS is high quality” is just a marketing gimmick.
Hello Arnold and thanks for your comment. Although I haven’t checked myself I have no reason to doubt your claim. But keep in mind that high quality is more than just what capacitors they use. Just to be clear, I am not defending SVS and if they do use such cheap components it’s surely a bad move from their side. I just want to say that with electronics you can never be sure. I had some pretty high quality devices that stopped working just after a year of light use and also some dirty cheap equipment that has lasted for ever. With electronics you always play with chances. Obviously the better components used the better the chances but you can never be absolutely sure.
But we don’t live in an age where you only take what the marketing department of every manufacturer says. With internet its very easy to find out if a product is really good or not. And when there is universal praise from home theater fans about the performance and quality of SVS products you cannot say that it’s just a marketing gimmick.
Hi
Currently i am using the Triangle Tales 340 Subwoofer (200-400 watt), to my Denon X2600H: 7:2 Amplifier, would like an additional SVS SB1000 (300-720 watt) Subwoofer, to current system.
Kindly advise, if this is a possible match….
Hey James. Look, without going very much into technical terms what I can tell you is that if you want to add a second sub ideally they should be similar. In theory different subs with different specs as the ones you want to match can be matched but can you go through all the trouble and calibration to do it? If you are up to it then by all means go. Just ask yourself what is the reason you want to add a 2nd sub. If it is deeper extension you seek you have no other option than to go for a different sub and go through all the trouble of matching them. Otherwise getting a similar or same 2nd sub is better and they will match much easier.
Hello Stratos,
Would the sb1000 be enough for a 25m² room? Or would the pb1000 be a better match for that room size?
Well, although I don’t know what requirements you have in theory it should be ok. But if you want it more for movies then I would suggest the PB-1000 better as its ported design will allow for slightly more satisfying bass. On the other hand the sealed SB-1000 has better low end response and is more suited for music. But both will do just fine in either case.